Complaint over Key’s prison rape stunt upheld

Written By: - Date published: 11:51 am, August 25th, 2016 - 65 comments
Categories: john key, Minister for International Embarrassment - Tags: , ,

As it should be – Complaint over prison rape joke involving PM is upheld

A prison rape joke involving the Prime Minister “went too far and showed poor judgment”, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has ruled.

The media regulator upheld a complaint about the radio stunt which involved the hosts of The Rock asking John Key to enter a cage and “pick up the soap” – a reference to a movie prison rape scene.

Key responded by saying the soap “smells real bad” and was “wet and greasy”, and he didn’t know where it had been. A host told him: “You’ve got a pretty little mouth Prime Minister”.

Hilarious. Add it to the list – John Key’s most cringeworthy moments. Ladies and gentlemen, your Prime Minister.

65 comments on “Complaint over Key’s prison rape stunt upheld ”

  1. Nck 1

    Raping NZ, one asset sale at a time, one bad law after another…… A criminal

  2. Rosie 2

    Onya BSA.

    You know, it was only after this stunt that I realised that the PM was a White Ribbon Ambassador. The worst possible choice for a white ribbon ambassador. He was also an white ribbon ambassador at the time he persistently harassed and then assaulted Amanda Bailey.

    I wrote to the White Ribbon Campaign and asked them why they continued to allow such an inappropriate person to hold such a position. I wrote several times and never got a response. I can only assume they didn’t want to upset the PM, but by doing so they supported his actions.

    I believe that the PM should have resigned over his treatment of Amanda Bailey. It would have been the most appropriate action for a leader of a country to take. He never apologised for actions towards her or towards rape victims he may have re traumatised during his participation in the radio stunt with creepy Tom Furniss.

    Now, in light of this ruling it, would be a good time for him to step up and make a genuine apology to all those he has hurt and offended. He needs to man up.

    Oh, and step down as a white ribbon ambassador. It’s not too late.

    • weka 2.1

      I found the (non) response of the White Ribbon people really disappointing too.

      As for Key, I think we’re well into the territory of no ethical concerns so long as they keep power (“I”m comfortable with that”).

      I also think he has a high degree of supporting rape culture relative to the general population. The accusations shouted at the opposition about supporting rapists and murderers is another good example. Roastbusters. I think I started a list somewhere.

      • Rosie 2.1.1

        And don’t forget his attitude towards Tania Billingsley, his lack of apology and his arrogance at a time when she needed the support of the government given the circumstances with the Malaysain diplomat. He was more interested in saving face in the botch up with letting the diplomat go than caring for the experience that had.

        I fully agree with you that the PM demonstrates a high degree of supporting rape culture. There are far too many examples, some of which you’ve stated. It’s a very poor trait in a leader. Just shameful really.

        He gets away with this yet David Cunliffe got crucified for standing with women who have experienced abuse, assault and rape and asking men to take responsibility.

        • NZJester 2.1.1.1

          Looks like I was typing my reply about Tania Billingsley at the same time as you wrote yours.

        • Leftie 2.1.1.2

          +1 Rosie.

        • srylands 2.1.1.3

          “And don’t forget his attitude towards Tania Billingsley, his lack of apology and his arrogance at a time when she needed the support of the government …”
          ___________

          No. That is not the role of the Government. At all. It is the role of the police and the courts.

          • McFlock 2.1.1.3.1

            …and, in this case, MFAT who “miscommunicated” the situation regarding diplomatic immunity, rather than explicitly requesting it be waived.

            And then the PM and ministers for bullshitting about it.

            So – government.

          • Rosie 2.1.1.3.2

            srylands. There is no point in you replying to my comments. I know you are not interested in genuine discussion, and I will not respond to your attempts to provoke me into a reaction. This is how you operate with everyone on this site and I’m just not interested in playing.

          • Anno1701 2.1.1.3.3

            “No. That is not the role of the Government. At all. It is the role of the police and the courts.”

            what you mean those organs of the state ?

            The “GOVT” you could almost say …..

      • reason 2.1.2

        I see white ribbon as part of the problem and part of the pretend and extend when it comes to not doing anything meaningful regarding sexual violence or domestic violence ……

        Remember Key and the nats scuttled our Alcohol Law review and immediately ruled out recommendations which would have lowered Alcohol abuse and the crime wave that goes hand in hand with that abuse of this drug.

        Restricting Advertising of this drug was one recommendation ignored ….. and over $200 million is spent pushing booze at our young and others per year in ‘marketing’ …

        What does white ribbon and other similar outfits spend in comparison ??

        I think they exist so we can pretend something is being done …….. I bet Key gets a good laugh by being their ambassador.

        John Key is proud to be the type of man to twist the words and mock a person speaking out against our shameful rates of domestic violence ……………… when we hold the world cup for doing the most of it in the developed world.

        He’s probably never heard a rape joke that did not make him laugh …………..

    • NZJester 2.2

      Don’t forget his statement that if he knew who the victim of an alleged sex attack involving a Malaysian diplomat was he would apologize to them.
      Then when the victim was brave and got her name suppression lifted he then changed his story and refused to apologize to her.
      That should have lost him his white ribbon ambassador status right there also!

      The only person Key has apologized to is the most lest deserving person in New Zealand who runs the blog I will just refer to as sleazeoil as its real name does not deserve a mention.

      • Leftie 2.2.1

        +1 NZJester

      • Rosie 2.2.2

        Oh, yes, thanks for reminding me of his “I would apologise if I knew the identity of the person” and his appalling callous flip flop when he was informed.

        With Key, there are often multiple points of lying, denying and general idiocy in any given timeline of his grand stuff up’s. It’s hard to keep up with them all.

        • Hanswurst 2.2.2.1

          He is comfortably the most ham-fisted prime minister NZ has ever had. It’s a mystery how he managed to get re-elected after one term, let alone two.

          • NZJester 2.2.2.1.1

            Actually, there is a book that explains how he was able to accomplish that.
            It’s by this guy called Nicky Hager a New Zealand investigative journalist that the right claims made up his entire book. ;-p

    • Leftie 2.3

      If it had of been any other PM, that person would have been forced to resign Rosie. The msm played their part in keeping that abuser in his office.
      Completely agree with you also about White Ribbon, they have certainly lost my respect and support.

      • Rosie 2.3.1

        Exactly Leftie. Ordinary people lose their jobs over such behaviour and as a leader Key should have set an example of demonstrating accountability and stood down.

        He always tries so hard to play the “ordinary bbq and beer guy” but the rules change to suit his whims. “ordinary guy” for photo op’s “extraordinary guy” when it comes to getting away with stuff.

        • TC 2.3.1.1

          Key is accountable to their backers and has shown time and again the power he holds is to achieve their objectives.

          He is the classic lying bully when confronted with consequences.

    • srylands 2.4

      “I believe that the PM should have resigned over his treatment of Amanda Bailey. ”

      Ridiculous. The guy did show poor judgement pulling her pony tail. But is the leader of the nation going to step down because of that? The rest of the world would be disbelieving.

      He behaved like a bit of a dick. He apologised to her.

      It was also a reminder to waiting staff not to have pony tails. It is unhygienic, apart from attracting dicks who like pulling hair. A French roll is a better choice.

      Anyway you are being OTT in my view. The PM was a dick but he was never going to resign over it.

      • framu 2.4.1

        ” The guy did show poor judgement pulling her pony tail”

        repeatedly, over several months, even seeking her out after attempts were made to avoid him

        thats called stalking

      • Andre 2.4.3

        “It was also a reminder to waiting staff not to have pony tails. It is unhygienic, apart from attracting dicks who like pulling hair. A French roll is a better choice.”

        Outstanding bit of victim-blaming there. Maybe they should just wear burqas.

        Dick.

        • Draco T Bastard 2.4.3.1

          +11111

        • Siobhan 2.4.3.2

          Don’t worry…I suspect srylands may be some sort of neck pervert. French rolls are usually messy by mid morning.

          • Andre 2.4.3.2.1

            I didn’t even know what a French Roll was until you made me curious enough to look it up. So that’s my “learnings” for today.

            Reckon you’re onto it, neck pervert it is.

      • Rosie 2.4.4

        Like I said at 2.1.1.3.2 I’m not interested in your view. Or your victim blaming either.

        What happened to your ban anyway? It must have run out while I wasn’t looking. Shame.

        • te reo putake 2.4.4.1

          You raise an interesting point, Rosie.

          If I was to ban srylands for a month just because I had the power and couldn’t control my urges, do you reckon I could excuse it as ‘poor judgement’? What if I made it six months coz I was ‘being a bit of a dick’?

          If I made it a permanent ban because Srylands didn’t wear his hair in a bun, dya reckon the world would be disbelieving?

          I don’t know the answer to these questions, but I think if he keeps defending the indefensible, we may very well find out.

          • Rosie 2.4.4.1.1

            If he keeps prodding and poking like he incessantly does, then yes, he, and we will all find it. See if the shoe is on the other foot and he calls it “poor judgement”. See if he victim blames then. Your call TRP!

            One day the severe style of srylands twatism might just push you to press the ban button. And you can sing Galvanise by the Chemical Brothers as your finger hovers over that button.

          • Naki man 2.4.4.1.2

            I dont think saying someone behaved like a bit of a dick is defending them.

            • In Vino 2.4.4.1.2.1

              Of course it is. The implication is that behaviour on this occasion was temporary, and not reflecting his true noble nature , that we all have bad moments, and he is a man of the people – in fact maybe far superior to those who are unfairly blaming him so over-severely… Crap.
              “He behaved like the total, permanent dickhead that he is’ would qualify as not defending him.

        • Observer Tokoroa 2.4.4.2

          .
          Hi Rosie – well done!

          . It is important that slimey Srylands be ignored.

          . Life is simply too short to waste time on the stink of underdeveloped objectionable school kids.

          We should all follow your lead Rosie.

          .

          • srylands 2.4.4.2.1

            Why can’t you people debate issues without becoming vile and abusive? It is such a common trait here.

            • Paul 2.4.4.2.1.1

              You don’t have to be here.
              A lot of people are heartily sick of the fact you would defend absolutely anything this government and your fanboy John Key has done to this country.

              You defend 305 000 children in poverty.
              You defend a surveillance state.
              You defend people living in cars.
              You defend foreign warships defend the PM abusing vulnerable workers.
              etc, etc, etc……

              Your views are frankly sociopathic.

            • reason 2.4.4.2.1.2

              Srylands bragged once about donating money to whaleoil ……. I think he thought arseholes were about to become the new cool in NZ

              http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/201779410/dirty-politics-players-back-in-the-frame

              Why don’t you spend more time over there in the pooh pit you support srylnds ……. you’ve paid cash supporting Nationals previous epicenter for far worse vile and abusive behavior.

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Politics

              ‘WhaleOil was hacked some time after he posted a blog post with the headline “Feral dies in Greymouth, did world a favour.”…….
              Three other children in this family had already been killed in accidents and the post provoked a ‘furious public reaction’.

          • Rosie 2.4.4.2.2

            Hi O T. I don’t mind if folks with different views want to discuss those views and compare them, out of curiosity and in a spirit of genuine debate but srylands has never ever shown any respect to that value, in the years he’s used this site.

            Yeah, you’re right, life’s just too short and actually full of enough problems already to bother with such nonsense.

      • RJL 2.4.5

        @srylands: “Ridiculous. The guy did show poor judgement pulling her pony tail. But is the leader of the nation going to step down because of that? The rest of the world would be disbelieving.”

        The bit that the rest of the world would be disbelieving of, would be that the person holding the office of PM could be such a complete and utter prat.

      • marty mars 2.4.6

        The unhygienic thing is keys dirty little hand not a ponytail. A failure as a PM and a failure as a man.

        • whispering kate 2.4.6.1

          Seriously who would ever want to shake hands with the man, god knows where they would have been. For me personally, it would be “thanks, but no thanks”.

      • Stuart Munro 2.4.7

        He’s not the leader of the nation – he’s merely a public servant who doesn’t do his job and steals from his employers.

      • Paul 2.4.8

        No, the PM should resign for his handling of the housing crisis and for his failure to tackle inequality in this country.

      • Anno1701 2.4.9

        ” A French roll is a better choice.”

        you idiot

        you never fail to surprise me of the s#*t that comes out of your keyboard…

        i mean where do you even get this stuff from FFS…

      • mikes 2.4.10

        “It was also a reminder to waiting staff not to have pony tails…”

        srylands = Fuckwit

    • Draco T Bastard 2.5

      I believe that the PM should have resigned over his treatment of Amanda Bailey.

      I think he should have been convicted of assault. Such a conviction carries a possible sentence of more than two years jail which would have removed him permanently from government.

      He needs to man up.

      He needs to but he’s simply too weak and pathetic to take responsibility for his actions.

      • Rosie 2.5.1

        I agree DTB, but doesn’t a complaint have to be laid by the victim of the assault to trigger an arrest and a charge? How does it work with the Polizei?

        • Draco T Bastard 2.5.1.1

          but doesn’t a complaint have to be laid by the victim of the assault to trigger an arrest and a charge?

          I believe that there’s an exception on the case of sexual assault in that someone else can file the charge and I believe someone else did but don’t think it went anywhere.

          • Rosie 2.5.1.1.1

            Oh, Ok, thanks. I think that Graeme McGreedy guy attempted a private prosecution and it failed.

    • Scott 2.6

      “I can only assume they didn’t want to upset the PM…” ??

      I have an alternative explanation for you. They don’t care what you think. Why should they?

      Key was the butt of this infantile joke. It was not his joke. He plainly has nothing to apologise for in relation to the joke. If you cannot see that, the White Ribbon people did very well not to respond and point out the blatantly obvious.

      When I see people trying to make political mileage out of rubbish like this the only thing it does for me is to belittle their other opinions. I write them off as not worth listening too, much like the White Ribbon people may have done your correspondence.

      If anyone owes an apology over this joke and the related media reports and posts like this, it is you and the others attacking Key for no sensible reason over this joke.

      You “man-up”, it’s not too late.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 2.6.1

        The Prime Minister is a servant. Extremely poor judgement has seen many a servant summarily sacked. This particular servant has form in this regard.

        • Scott 2.6.1.1

          What aspect of his involvement in this infantile joke warrants an apology from him?

          None. He was the butt of the joke. End of.

          By resorting to criticisms of him over things like this people are begging to be written-off as shills and ignored. If they also have some other potentially valid things to say, well in the end people stop listening.

          As Little rightly said (but is having trouble sticking to), the opposition cannot be barking at every passing car. If they do, in the end all people do is wind up the windows.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 2.6.1.1.1

            Have you heard of the comedic role commonly known as “the straight man”? Perhaps you can figure the rest out on your own.

  3. Adrian 3

    Yes well this is just indicative of the elephant in the room, namely, we have a prison system in which we all know extreme violence and rape occurs as a matter of course, yet we seem to be happy to let thousands of our citizens (men and woman) go through this system knowing they are being brutalized, year after year, generation after generation..
    Then the press will come out in some sort of moral outrage when prisoners are released and go on to reoffend.
    Now people get all upset at Key joking about it, but when has there been a serious conversation, let alone any serious action to end this contemptible situation we put or prisoners in, from the people I know in and working in this system, never.
    Prisoners deserve protection from violence, of any sort, as much as any other member of our society.
    I am not defending Key here, I am just saying that is not what this conversation should be about, there is a much more serious issue at the heart of this, which needs to be talked about.

  4. Siobhan 4

    It’s amazing how little coverage or activism there is around rape in Prisons, infact the only time it seems to be an issue is when the Trans activists (understandably) bring it to our attention.
    I know, and know of, people who have been in prison and good old fashioned smash’em round ‘borstal’, and people who work in prison…so I know it goes on.
    And here we all are, decent people outraged at rape jokes.
    But it’s time to ask our politicians what their policies are around lowering our incarceration rates. We could start with looking at our laws, marijuana convictions for one are what I call a gateway criminal charge.
    A lower prison muster would allow more money to be spent per prisoner on Drug and alcohol and general psychiatric counseling, literacy and job training, more money for building better facilities, more money for Guards and medical staff.
    If all this were to happen I suspect rape in prisons would be a far rarer thing.
    And that’s just for starters.

    • Rosie 4.1

      +1 Siobhan

    • weka 4.2

      +2 Siobhan

      I also think when you put humans in cages they’re going to act badly, especially the ones socialised into hierarchical violence. Some people think this is just. Some think it’s not just but reasonable. Me, I think it’s inhumane and cruel, and that removing people from society in order to protect society should be a last resort. If we seek to punish people cruelly, it’s pretty basic human psychology and group dynamics that they will pass that cruelty and punishment on to whoever is around them.

  5. Macro 5

    “Acshully I’m completely comfortable with that…”

    “wat me worry?”

    Am surprised the BSA had the balls! Now had it been Hoskin ………

  6. joe90 6

    Vile piece of shit masquerading as an adult says aww ref, it wasn’t me, it was some other bloke…,
    /

    “I think it’s the radio station, it’s nothing to do with me.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/83544220/PM-on-prison-rape-joke-Its-nothing-to-do-with-me

  7. Observer Tokoroa 7

    .
    .To: Draco T Bastard .

    I think you are correct.!

    “I think he (John Key) should have been convicted of assault .. Over his treatment of Amanda Bailey. Such a conviction carries a possible sentence of more than two years jail which would have removed him permanently from government.”

    We all know that if it had been you or me, we would have been severely punished.

    It is very interesting that the United Future Party has endorsed and encouraged J Key
    It is very interesting that the Act Party has endorsed and encouraged J Key

    The Maori Party idolises J KEY always and everywhere.

    The National Party have totally lost any sense of justice and morality and have degraded themselves with their slavish praise for their very flawed uncontrolled manchild.
    .

  8. maninthemiddle 8

    Key Derangement Syndrome is alive and well here.

    • Paul 8.1

      Please could you repeat your cliches on another site.
      Your trolling is not appreciated.

      • In Vino 8.1.1

        Maninthemuddle is actually suffering from that derangement syndrome, in that he does not realise that the tendency to forgive every bungle and deliberate deception by our beloved leader is what drives its proponents to keep talking about it. It is a malaise suffered by those who raise it as a topic, only to project it upon others.

        • reason 8.1.1.1

          100% In Vino ……………. Reddellusion let the cat out of the bag when he told me about Deranged Key Syndrome …… I’m sure its a real thing…..as surely no troll could be stupid enough to stuff up a three word parrot squawk ?????

          RedD was pretty tight lipped once he let it slip …… but I think it’s a disease which makes the infected lie, cheat and admire bad behavior …..

          In an ironic twist one of the revealing symptoms is to actually squawk out Key Derangement Syndrome when the host is under attack …. its like a modern version of being the village idiot ………. combined with a greedy sub prime mind 😉

          KDS KDS squawk squawk 🙂 ……… Trolls got a sub prime line 🙂

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    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Funding hole for tax cuts growing by the day
    The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s brave climate change promise
    The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles  and that ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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