Carter must go

Written By: - Date published: 9:43 am, November 28th, 2010 - 86 comments
Categories: corruption, religion - Tags: , ,

Agriculture Minister David Carter has been exposed abusing his ministerial powers to protect the trade interests of his private investments. Earlier this year, Carter banned Jewish religious slaughtering practices because of perceived risks to the meat trade with Muslim nations after being briefed by companies he owns that take part in the trade.

The issue was this: both Jewish and Muslim religious practice requires animals that are about to be slaughtered for food to be prayed over and have their necks slit. In an exemption from normal practice, New Zealand has dispensation from some Muslim clerics to stun the animals before halal slaughter. No such exemption exists for animals killed under shechita, the Jewish rules (nothing in this post should be taken as defending shechita or halal, it’s about rule of law).

As I understand it, most of the meat produced in New Zealand is slaughtered according to halal because its easier that way for the meat producers sending meat to the large Muslim markets. In contrast, just 2,000 chickens and 300 sheep a year are slaughtered for the small observant Jewish population.

The right of the Jewish community to continue its practice had been affirmed numerous times in the past decade on human rights grounds.

Meat exporters feared that if Muslim importers became aware that Jews were being allowed to slaughter animals without stunning them while Muslims were being required to make an exemption to their rules and allow stunning, they would perceive it as special treatment for Jews over Muslims and refuse to buy New Zealand meat. This had not happened in all the time the meat exporters had been raising their concerns but still they were worried.

Then along came the new minister, David Carter, who just so happens to own shares in Silver Fern Farms and Alliance Group, both of which export halal meat to the Muslim market and “a 1200ha cattle breeding property in Teddington, a fattening unit at Southbridge and shares in a property in Waiau.” The meat exporters, including ones he part owns, lobbied him on the issue of banning schechita to protect the halal trade.

What Carter should have done when considering the issue of shechita slaughter is say ‘well, I’ve got major financial interests in one of the parties that has skin in this game. There is no way I can make a decision without a perception that my personal interests have coloured my judgment. I have a conflict of interest’. He should have then passed the issue on to his associate minister.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he handled the issue himself and decided to ban shectita.

To compound the conflict of interest, in making his decision Carter broke the rules. The law around animal slaughtering does not allow the minister to consider trade implications. Carter was only allows to consider animal welfare in making his decision. Yet the paper trial clearly shows that Carter did consider trade implications. Not only did he have a conflict of interest that should have barred him from making a decision in the first place, when it came to making the decision, Carter broke the rules to take special note of the consequences for companies he owns.

I’m going to say that again because it’s very important: in making his decision, Carter broke the law and the conflict of interest rules by considering the business implications for companies that he has a financial interest in.

What followed was the Jewish community taking a judicial review of Carter’s decision (where a court decides if the decision was made according to the rules). It appears Carter had lost one case and was about to lose another when he suddenly agreed to drop the ban on shechita. Crown Law won’t say how much the taxpayer has spent trying to defend Carter’s corruption.

I don’t see how a minister who acts with a clear conflict of interest to make a decision that advantages his personal financial interests and breaks the law to do so can be allowed to remain in office.

John Key, according to the report, is ‘relaxed’.

86 comments on “Carter must go ”

  1. ianmac 1

    “It is the Opposition’s job to catch us and not our Minister’s job to be ethical or open to scrutiny. If we do get caught out, the Boss says just say sorry for getting caught and cover up the error,” said the spokesman for the Minister. 🙂
    Weren’t there questions about the Minister possible conflict of interest in relation to irrigation in North Canterbury?

  2. nilats 2

    Must be hard for you guys here to stick up for the Jews since they are the elite. I don’t think this is a big deal in the scheme of things. A few thousand beasts. For that amount of beasts I think the Kosher should be carried out by smaller boutique slaughter houses, it will cost more but it is a value added service that is being requested so they will pay the price.

    • Marty G 2.1

      it doesn’t matter which religions or other groups are involved.

    • Kaplan 2.2

      I think you just exposed your own prejudicial thinking process a bit too much there nilats.

    • I don’t think this is a big deal in the scheme of things. A few thousand beasts.

      I’ve never quite understood how one can be guilty of manslaughter or murder or assault by harming just one human, yet those who torture animals for either their own sadistic pleasure, their profit margins, or some archaic ritual allegedly promulgated by their particular Imaginary Friend, tend to have their actions evaluated at least partly on how many victims are involved.

      I’m not implying human and animal life are equal, of course – or I’d be calling for imprisonment of everyone who worked at an abbatoir, and for supermarkets to be charged as accessories. What I am saying is that causing unnecessary fear, pain and suffering to one animal is a serious matter, deserving of punishment in and of itself. More than one simply means the offender deserves greater punishment, IMO.

      And those involved in ritual slaughter puzzle me – they seem like cowards. The rules requiring the practice were written at the same time as the advice that, if you really wanted to impress your Imaginary Friend, you’d sacrifice your first born, never mind some helpless goat or cow. Isn’t it about time you manned up and did what’s really being asked of you, rather than hoping the blood of enough animals will appease Him?

      As for David Carter… words fail me. I’ve come to expect deceit and self-interest from politcians. But to have clearly no thought whatsoever for animal welfare, so much so that you’re happy to use it as a bargaining chip for commercial advantage… well you’ve just hit a new low.

      • QoT 2.3.1

        Be fair, Rex. You’d only have to sacrifice your firstborn if the dude in the sky said so because he was testing if you reeeeeeeeally loved him. (/respectsreligionbutdoesnotgetthatfuckingstory)

  3. KJT 3

    These are all sideshows. What about the total conflict of interest when a stooge of the people, who are ruining us, is bought (AS in paid for) into power as Prime Minister.

    We are going to see another bailout of finance company insider traders shortly to prop up the system advocated by a charismatic talking head.

    As someone said. Successful countries are buying up infrastructure and resources and investing in training for the future. The unsuccessful, like us, have NACT standards and bank bailouts.

  4. Bill 4

    If his decision was to be guided by considerations of (cough, cough) animal welfare, then I can’t see where the conflict of interest comes in if conflict of interest is gauged according to financial considerations.

    Jeez. Then I read the post again and the point you had been kind enough to repeat in bold.

  5. ghostwhowalksnz 5

    A worry too is he is using Crown Law to bully the journalist into not writing the article and using court confidentiality to cover his arse

    Fulstow (Crown Law) contacted the Herald on Sunday on Friday to warn against printing material relating to the court case.
    Fulstow said she was calling to warn about a confidentiality order at the urging of Carter’s lawyer.
    The call came within minutes of questions from the Herald on Sunday to Carter’s ministerial office

    • Colonial Viper 5.1

      That’s good, hopefully Carter will add fuck up upon fuck up just like Wong and the NZ Herald journalists will finally figure out what this Govt is about.

      • ianmac 5.1.1

        You would hope that even the Herald would react to not printing order/request, by printing as they have done, though no outrage, yet.Of course there is only one week of Parliament left when I suppose Carter will be elsewhere and not available to answer questions.

        • Jum 5.1.1.1

          Maybe the mps of this government should be kept tabs on during the next couple of months. If they can get away with this criminal behaviour in full public view and with a toady press just what can they get away with out of public view.

  6. JM 6

    It is outrageous that taxpayers money has been wasted defending this minister’s appalling decision whilst a small community has had to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting for their basic human rights because of it. How many other decisions has he made to protect his own interests which are going to cost us in the future? He needs to go now.

    • KJT 6.1

      Why is it a basic human right to be cruel to animals, or people, because of any form of sky fairy fruit -cakery.

      Oh. I forgot. It is OK to treat Palestinians like cattle because they are not Jewish.

      Or to bomb Afghanis because they are not Christian.

      • Marty G 6.1.1

        not really on topic. The particular ethnic/religious groups involved is incidental.

        • KJT 6.1.1.1

          Trying to make the point that any religious group should not be able to use their beliefs as an excuse for cruelty.

          Carter is just one of many dishonest politicians. But this piece of dis-honesty is insignificant compared with other things they are doing.

          • Redbaron77 6.1.1.1.1

            The treatment of the Palestinian’s by Israel has no relationship with the New Zealand Jewish community’s right to prepare kosher meats locally..

      • Steve 6.1.2

        KJT, not sure Palestinian cattle could ever be ‘kosher’. They’re too busy being offered up to the Palestinian sky fairy fruit cakery by Afghani Christians whilst blowing themselves up as freedom fighters in P lab restaurants owned by MP David Carter. I suspect you feed at the same trough strictly reserved for anti-Semitic, pig swilling, blood drinking cretaceous boorish oafs. So if NZ now seems too kosher for you, then get on a plane, loaded with ‘suicide bombers’ and leave.

      • dAp 6.1.3

        Its a basic human right to be able to practice your religion whatever that may be .

        If there is shown a valid scientific and ethicall argument that jewish ritual slaughter is significantly crueler than stunning which so far hasn’t been established and would be very difficult to establish then there would perhaps be some merit to placing such a ban – however even then you would have to adress the issues of homkill and hunting regulations etc otherwise you are simply targeting minority groups and turning a blind eye to the rest – called prejudice – Ps you might want to also reconsider your staments re palestinians and jews and Afganis they are equally as uninformed and pathetic.

        • KJT 6.1.3.1

          I don’t much like hunting, battery chickens or some homekill methods either (Thats why some of us were running around dressed up as chickens outside Kentucky fried not long ago)..
          Using religion to justify cruelty should not be part of a civilized society. Freedom of religion does not extend to bypassing laws against cruelty toward people or animals. Should we allow female circumcision also, because there is an equally valid freedom of religion argument for that.

          The human right to freedom of religion stops against other human and animal rights to live free from cruelty.

          • Stef 6.1.3.1.1

            Shechita has long been regarded as a humane method of slaughtering. Let\’s face it, there’s no nice way to kill a sentient being but slitting its arteries and windpipe in one quick go with a razor sharp blade is pretty darn quick and painless. Unless you think a metal bolt in slammed into the front of the head is better a la modern methods. I’ve got an idea: why doesn’t KJT try out both methods and let us know which he prefers? On second thoughts, a metal bolt through his head probably wouldn\’t result in a significant difference to his conscious state.

        • Jum 6.1.3.2

          dAp

          KJT has a very good point.

          Practising religion sometimes involves taking a 5 year old girl to see an old woman (don’t you just love how women continue to attack their own so the girl will get a husband later) who with a rusty razor blade hacks off the fleshy parts that supposedly give women pleasure, and/or to stop these parts growing into a penis apparently, then she sews them together except for a tiny hole for peeing out of and menstruating from which when the girl is married off will be split open by her new husband. That’s if he still wants her when the smell of unhealed sores from leaking urine and blood hits him. Often the girls die before then, which may be a blessing. Even if done in a hospital, that doesn’t make it all right.

          But then, it’s not about religion at all really. And we can’t be sure it doesn’t happen here, either.

          One day, they say it will stop, people will evolve past these savage rituals, but somehow I doubt it. Not while the cruel parts of religion and superstition hold sway. Not while women are seen as less than men, both here and in other countries.

          • Stef 6.1.3.2.1

            Are you equating female genital mutilation with kosher slaughtering of animals? Are you insane? Oh wait, you think that KJT has a good point so you maybe you are…

            • Jum 6.1.3.2.1.1

              Stef Please apply your own “4. There are some serious arseholes commenting on this post” to your insane assertion that I was ‘equating female genital mutilation with kosher slaughtering of animals’.
              Read KJT properly: “Freedom of religion does not extend to bypassing laws against cruelty toward people or animals. Should we allow female circumcision also, because there is an equally valid freedom of religion argument for that.” and my reply:
              “But then, it’s not about religion at all really. And we can’t be sure it doesn’t happen here, either.

              One day, they say it will stop, people will evolve past these savage rituals, but somehow I doubt it. Not while the cruel parts of religion and superstition hold sway. Not while women are seen as less than men, both here and in other countries.”

              Arsehole.

              The jury is still out on your other assertions too.

              Stef 25
              2 December 2010 at 11:15 am

              1. Shechita is no less humane than ‘modern’ methods of slaughter
              2. Jewish religious tradition has for thousands of years take the issue of animal welfare seriously
              3. There is NO praying over an animal when it is slaughtered according to Jewish methods
              4. There are some serious arseholes commenting on this post.

              It amazes me how intolerant people are about religion’s place in today’s society when others seek to question them in an objective way, i.e. just wanting to debate. E.g. finally the Pope allows his followers to consider using condoms to avoid Aids. It was a modern decision to fight a modern problem. Yet for so long he allowed people who through religious and male traditions fell victim to sexually transmitted diseases to die. Why? To increase the worldwide Catholic population? Probably. But he rethought his position when he discovered too many were dying…

  7. Sanctuary 7

    This sort of lazy cronyism and low-level corruption is becoming the dominant trait of this government. The ministers of this government behave with a cavalier indifference toward norms of good government and constantly seek to blur the difference be private business and public office.

    Key and his elite cronyists seem to think the NEw Zealand state exists to be used and looted for their benefit.

  8. ghostwhowalksnz 8

    Tell me again why we have an exemption from animal cruelty regulations for religious practice ?
    As the point in contention only seems to relate to the stunning of the animal before cutting the throat
    Islam allows it while Judaism doesnt.

    we have rules about conflict of interest for ministers who are making decisions
    National allows it

  9. Jum 9

    captcha: nasty

    That bast*d – but what can you expect from the devilspawn of Pondscum Inc. The face of the water is calm and ‘relaxed’ but underneath is spawning misogyny, greed and a Mexican lifestyle for 80% of Kiwis.

    Every time I see Carter’s face, it reminds me of Richard Nixon. Corrupt.

    Next he’ll be pushing for live sheep exports. He has done nothing about improving the lives of pigs or chickens. New Zealanders are only as fine a people as their treatment towards their most vulnerable creatures – children and animals.

    New Zealand does not deserve credence internationally as a worthy country to live in. Pointing out we are better than some other countries means nothing. We know better. Some countries don’t.

    A 21 year old told me that animals are the ones to fight for now. New Zealanders can’t think outside of their greed and if governments won’t fight for their animals to be well treated right to the end, and that includes all avenues like stunning, I am inclined to agree. This is New Zealand and the rights of our vulnerable are more important than religious rites. All creatures to be killed for eating should be stunned before the savagery of slitting their throats commences. The slaughterhouses breed fear in the animals and any rules that can make these places more sensitive to that should be made law.

    No country or religion has the right to control our animal welfare code. The fact it seems to exposes the greed, cowardice and corruption in New Zealand.

    In Britain, a couple of decades ago there was a major investigation into a killing field meatworks after an undercover reporter discovered that in order to make more money (workers were paid per animal slaughtered) they were slaughtering without stunning, which saved a few seconds. The bosses turned a blind eye because of their profit markup. So much for humans evolving. The 21 year old is probably right. Start with the animal welfare and work your way up. Trouble is the cretins in charge of this world are even greedier than the rest and they are in control, at present. The Capitalist/psychopath comparison is so true.

    Greed will often turn a blind eye in any industry that makes money from increasing output.

    Sack Carter, not just for this corruption but for all his corrupt activities and his total disregard for animal welfare.
    Key knows Carter is corrupt if he is not following the law about conflict of interest.
    Key knows Wong is corrupt if she is not following the law about use of taxpayers funds.
    Key knows Key is corrupt if he covers up, and he has covered up his own greed and conflict of interest just as Nixon did.

    Nasty Pondscum Inc. Nats. If the Act, Maori and United Future sidekicks don’t call on the government to kick out David Carter they are just as guilty.

  10. uroskin 10

    It’s not just the (desert) stone age cruelty to animals that needs banning – halal and shechita both – but also the knifing of male newborns. The Coalition of the Circumcised has more in common than it is ready to admit.

  11. pete 11

    Touching naivety from DPF:

    I don’t think the issue is he had shares in an agricultural company, and there is no way at all he would have been motivated by how it personally affects him (he is very rich). The issue for me is having the trade issues involved at all.

    • Jum 11.1

      Someone said just because you’re rich doesn’t mean you couldn’t be richer, more successful, have more power. It’s an addiction like everything else when it has taken your whole being to achieve it, you don’t just stop. That also is the hallmark of the capitalist psychopath.

      • Colonial Viper 11.1.1

        Exactly FFS, for starters how exactly does he think these people got “very rich” in the first place if not by taking commercial advantage everywhere it can be taken?

  12. BLiP 12

    Good work by The Herald!

  13. Tigger 13

    I assume Key will send him off to the cupboard under the stairs, where Pansy Wong is already hiding, for a few weeks until this blows over so Carter can emerge, blinking into the light but without any serious reprimand…

    • Jim Nald 13.1

      Another Nat Minister/MP about to go into exile.
      Not to worry. Even at this rate, there should be enough countries to host the whole donkey cabinet .. or make that, caucus.

      Oh, just read Granny Herald and seems that Dan Carter’s shakey boot is signalling this shonkey government might go to the polls before the RWC.

      • Zorr 13.1.1

        I have always said that they would. Why rely on a situation that is out of your control and relies on the ABs performing at their highest standard over a period of weeks against the rest of the best. Not going to happen and they will be calling that election early.

        • Jim Nald 13.1.1.1

          With the worms coming out and about to come out some more from the woodwork, it’d be better for NACTs to go for an early election, with or without the RWC factor.

          Some of my astrologically inclined Asian friends are saying NZ has been hit with too many bad news under Key and the country should have a go at a new govt to shift the vibes sooner rather than later. Hah.

  14. Irascible 14

    This is, in Key’s mind, the second wrong making his policies right.
    How many more examples of corruption does it need for the trial by media to really begin in New Zealand??? It must take a lot when it comes to NACT as the Labour govt was on such a trial over crosby-textor generated “issues” as “paintergate” and “light bulbgate”.

    • Draco T Bastard 14.1

      Trial br MSM doesn’t happen to the National Party as the MSM is owned by the National Party and their rich mates.

  15. MrSmith 15

    Key to spin doctors. Carters in trouble what have we got.

    Spin doctors. Well can’t do another mine disaster like for Wong , how about we play the race card where’s Don .

  16. MrSmith 16

    John: Great that worked well for us last time didn’t it ? hang on Don I think last time you spoke there it cost us the election.

  17. bobo 17

    someone with a better memory than me might recall not long into nationals term they sounded the idea of resuming live exports as an option i wonder if it might be related to this?
    30 March, 2009 4:00 AM Negotiations to resume exports of live sheep for slaughter are continuing but Agriculture Minister David Carter says a ban will remain unless they meet the highest welfare standards.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 17.1

      The live sheep exports arent a winner for any businesses Carter owns.

      The companies like Silver Fern are opposed to live sheep exports, since they cut into their market share and also drive up the prices for sheep in NZ ( good for the farmer but not good for those exporting lamb meat)

      Dont expect him to change any time soon, as he ‘so concerned about the welfare’

      • bobo 17.1.1

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/2287062/Live-sheep-exports-to-resume

        “There’s a particular breed of sheep Saudi Arabia was interested in obtaining,” Mr Carter said.

        “If we can provide the security and safety around the arrangement with the Saudi Arabian government, I see it as being another opportunity.”


        Maybe the breed isn’t the sort that would directly effect carters own business interests as such.. but the deal at the time if it went through could have had some influence over his other dealings in saudi arabia if that makes sense? The idea was always a no go as it would have caused wide outrage but maybe he had to air the idea to show who ever was lobbying him..

  18. Treetop 18

    Maybe Key will resuffle the cabinet in the New Year, this would be a solution to the conflicts of interest regarding some cabinet ministers who are either very disliked or who need to be sorted out. Pansy Wong is another matter altogether.

  19. my thoughts 19

    Carter must go for ignoring the human rights of a minority group, for corruption and for stupidity. Most Muslim countries don’t accept stunned killed meat as properly halal. So there goes Carter’s big market. Both Halal and Kosher slaughter of meat should be permitted- they are more humane than stunning. Have you ever had a short electric shock?Compare that with a cut. The electric shock is far more painful and the animal is still conscious when its killed.

    • Jum 19.1

      Greens where are you? Do you agree with ‘my thoughts’ about stunning being less humane than stepping up and slitting throats?

      • toad 19.1.1

        I am a Green and a supporter of animal rights, and smell a nasty stink here.

        Carter was supposedly concerned enough about the suffering of chickens in the last minute or so of their lives to ban shechita killing, but is still quite happy to continue to allow them to spend all their lives to that stage suffering while being jammed up together in battery cages, unable to walk, and pecking the feathers off each other.

        I call bullshit. I call hypocrisy. And I call corruption.

        Of course it was the trade implications that motivated his decision. The fact that he hasn’t goven a shit about any other aspect of animal welfare during his tenure as Minsiter would lend weight to that.

        And the fact that he was briefed on it by his own company and then used that briefing in making his decision makes it look downright corrupt.

        Time for Carter to take the Wong road and resign, methinks.

        That good enough for you Jum?

        • Jum 19.1.1.1

          I agree with your post Toad but the poster ‘my thoughts’ has stated that stunning is less humane than just moving the animals through and cutting their throats. I think otherwise. What do you think? Why would the western countries be stunning their animals if it was less humane. I don’t get that. Stunning puts the animal into a subconscious state and therefore feels nothing – surely.

          I’d like Carter to take a walk on meat row so he can get the feel of the fear.

    • Draco T Bastard 19.2

      got proof that the animal is still conscious and can still feel pain?

      • Zorr 19.2.1

        Can we test the pain level of electric shock with the pain of having your throat cut on you “my thoughts” because somehow I doubt you have personal experience of either. You could scrawl down how you are feeling when your throat is cut in your own blood because if it doesn’t hurt that much you should still be cognizant enough to give the rest of us insight.

        • clandestino 19.2.1.1

          As far as I see the Jewish practice of throat cutting without stunning is inhumane and should be outlawed. They should practice their barbaric ‘cultural’ rite by buying homekill like many other new zealanders do. It’s actually a magnanimous backdown by muslims to accept halal meat killed through stunning rather than cut throats. Only an imbecile would think there was more pain this way.
          As for whether we call this ‘corrupt’, I would hazard a guess most people would see it as a good thing so…who cares?
          The point about exporters being worried we are contradicting ourselves is a valid one….why on earth does it matter that carter has skin in the game? he has money to invest! he wants NZ companies – and the one he’s got something in – to grow, the halal game is much bigger than a few odd jews here and there complaining they can’t torture an animal before it dies. it’s not like there are kosher competitors out there shit.

          • Marty G 19.2.1.1.1

            “The point about exporters being worried we are contradicting ourselves is a valid one”

            No, it’s not. It is illegal for the minister to consider trade implications when deciding animal welfare rules.

            And, Carter compounded that by making the decision when he had a conflict of interest because of his shareholdings in concerned parties.

  20. Santi 20

    Yes, DC should go voluntarily. Otherwise, JK should sack him.

  21. Tanz 21

    Like Labour’s Carter? You need to put first names in the post title, to avoid confusion. Am I allowed an opinion here?

    • Zorr 21.1

      You are allowed an opinion. I just wouldn’t expect it to be given much weight or creedence.

      • Tanz 21.1.1

        And yours are?

        • Zorr 21.1.1.1

          –shrug– In this case I don’t actually believe my opinion is that important. It is an issue that further highlights the inadequacies of the current government but other than that I don’t really hold an opinion on this one.

          All the animal rights activists probably enjoy jumping over the fact that it is ultimately to do with “kosher” preparation of meat and the trade implications around that. With the fact that the animals are stunned before being slaughtered in order to prepare them for sale to Muslim markets, I have no issue with that. The fact that meat is prepared in order to please the Jewish population in a way that is inhumane is disturbing to me. However the slaughter of the animal is just the end point for it – I feel a greater issue is more to do with battery hens and sow crates that put the animals in incredibly disgusting conditions for the entirety of their lives. Compared to that, having your throat slit unstunned must be more of a release from hell than anything else.

          • Stef 21.1.1.1.1

            On what do you base your statement that shechita is inhumane? Jewish religious tradition imposes an obligation on animal handlers and slaughterers to treat animals humanely, to avoid any unnecessary suffering. I really can’t see how the proper practice of shechita can be any less humane than the ‘modern’ methods of stunning etc.

  22. Santi 22

    The crooks David Carter and Pansy Wong have been exposed and caught. This dishonest pair should resign immediately.

    • Tanz 22.1

      Pansy Wong is a good player in the House, she speaks from the heart, and has done nothing that other MPs haven’t done, English with his housing rorts, Chris Carter and Hide, with their travel perks, etc. Big deal. Stop whipping her through the mud. If she must resign, how come Key lets her stay in Caucus?

      • Zorr 22.1.1

        Please name the other MPs and their specific abuse of the travel perk system? I doubt they will rival Pansy’s abuses that break very specific rules and mix her roles as both an MP and a government minister in with her partners private business interests. This is not to say that they are “better” but that Pansy is the low lying fruit of a rotten bunch.

        • Tanz 22.1.1.1

          Hello. Sigh. I have named the MPs, and the media has reported widely on their abuses of perks. And that’s the ones we know about. What an inflated sense of entitlement our politicians often have! Bet they never had to survive on the minimum wage, etc…

          • Zorr 22.1.1.1.1

            I know you named them but unless you actually have something to add to their personal lists of transgressions that we are aware of then none of them rival Pansy in their abuse of the perk system. At the end of the day, she put herself in this situation and she only has herself to blame.

            A lot of the issue here is the hypocrisy. If the Nats had come in saying “Look NZ, be prepared for the ride of your life because we’re here in the Enitlement-mobile and are going to abuse you until you wish the cows would come home”. However, Jonkey came in promising increased accountability and a more prudent government when it came to the abuses. Not only has he failed on being accountable for his own minister’s actions, his government is currently doing their best to better any previous records for levels of corruptness and blatant stupidity. My ass hurts and I wasn’t one of the people wanting to sign up for bending over.

            • ianmac 22.1.1.1.1.1

              Tanz. What crime did Chris Carter commit? He travelled a lot but it was legal? Can you help me there?

              • Colonial Viper

                Usual Tanz sideshow, abuse of miscellaneous perks by some Labour MP is supposed to be in the same league as a Minister of the Crown misusing their official powers for personal/business financial gain.

              • Tanz

                Yes, his travel holidays were legal, but in poor taste, with an emphasis on travel lots, while you can. Ask the boss, Phul, he was not happy with the sheer volume of Carter’s trips, anyway!

                • ianmac

                  How would you class Bill English’s double-dip Tanz? Was he more or less culpable than Chris Carter, or in this case with David Carter who, like Wong, has actually appeared to act unlawfully?

  23. Steve 23

    Shechitah pre-dates all other forms of meat processing. Over thousands of years the technique to ensure that the animal does not suffer has been studied and perfected beyond the ‘stunning’ process. Stunning still leaves the animal completely conscious and aware of what is happening and they do not die instantaneously. Shechitah is the process used to ensure that at all times the animal and the process including the ‘shochet’ is kosher. It is not a sacrifice or a slaughter as is down currently with non kosher kills. There are no magical utterances dedicating the animal to a deity.
    Carter used taxpayers money to commit a fraud. He abused his position of power to turn on a minority group of NZ citizens who have lived here for more than 180 years so he could sell them out and make a buck off them.
    Shame on you clandestino for supporting such treachery and thinking that being non kosher could ever be kosher.

  24. graham 24

    You townies amaze me with your ignorance
    both silver fern(ppcs) and alliance are co-ops which farmers have to be shareholders in order to supply
    the old max shareholding for ppcs was 10 k but i think it was increased a couple of years ago to 15k
    that is less than two hundred lambs
    So Every sheep farmer in new zealand is involved with a company in some way in this country sorry this wont fly just another beat up by fools

    • ianmac 24.1

      But if you use your position as Minister to advantage your shareholding against the protocols and against the law, surely this is different from Farmer Brown, shareholder?

      • insider 24.1.1

        But if most farmers are shareholders, they are all similarly affected aren’t they? So, doesn’t a decision that favours one favour the industry as a whole?

        You could argue that the MoA should not be a farmer because, the way the indsutry is structured with a number of co-ops, he is far too likely to be conflicted somewhere along the way.

        • graham 24.1.1.1

          spot on insider
          Farmer politics means that carter is trying to help the whole sheep industry not himself i cant see why you guys dont get that
          what next ban any ex union member from voteing on employment matters
          to think that owning a few ppcs shares means he is corrupt is laughable

          • Colonial Viper 24.1.1.1.1

            Apparently now Carter giving a Ministerial hand up to his own share portfolio is OK because OTHER company shareholders would also benefit!

            LOLZ you guys, so do you really think corruption is OK as long as the goodies are shared around enough?

            to think that owning a few ppcs shares means he is corrupt is laughable

            Whoops maybe you do. There goes Key’s pre-election promise of an ethical and transparent NAT Govt.

            • graham 24.1.1.1.1.1

              So the union movment was involeing the labour party in corruption under helen clark
              They gave money to labour to change laws they didnt like which they got a montry gain from

              I repeat clare grow up

      • graham 24.1.2

        they are all stakeholders of the industry
        every suppler of a co-op has to have shares. In the south alliance and ppcs must control 95% of the killing space(may be out by a fraction)
        Believe it or not not evey thing a tory farmer does is about self interest
        What he would do is put the interest of the industry first so that everyone benifits

        • Colonial Viper 24.1.2.1

          As I said above:

          LOLZ you guys, so do you really think corruption is OK as long as the goodies are shared around enough?

          • grumpy 24.1.2.1.1

            graham makes a very good point. Another point is why do we have these barbaric slaughter methods in the first place, why not just tell the halal and shechitah demanders to either buy our humanely killed products or FO?

            • graham 24.1.2.1.1.1

              For money

              personaly i am with you on that one grumpy
              but i am a ex sheep farmer who now milks cows so it isnt fair for me to sand bag the sheep industry

          • graham 24.1.2.1.2

            Do you know what the biggest joke is though do you think a 10 k investment in a co-op is worth being corrupt over
            i mean that would be less than a days production for me
            or less than a weeks interest on my loan
            only a bennie would think 10k is alot of money

  25. Stef 25

    1. Shechita is no less humane than ‘modern’ methods of slaughter
    2. Jewish religious tradition has for thousands of years take the issue of animal welfare seriously
    3. There is NO praying over an animal when it is slaughtered according to Jewish methods
    4. There are some serious arseholes commenting on this post

Links to post

Recent Posts

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    1 hour ago
  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    1 hour ago
  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    1 hour ago
  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    1 hour ago
  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    1 hour ago
  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    1 hour ago
  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    2 hours ago
  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    2 hours ago
  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    2 hours ago
  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    8 hours ago
  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    10 hours ago
  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    11 hours ago
  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    12 hours ago
  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    13 hours ago
  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    14 hours ago
  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    15 hours ago
  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    18 hours ago
  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    19 hours ago
  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago
  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    21 hours ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    22 hours ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    24 hours ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    1 day ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    1 day ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    1 day ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    1 day ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    1 day ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    2 days ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    2 days ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    2 days ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    2 days ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    2 days ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    2 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    4 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    4 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-19T18:02:47+00:00