Exploiting the Charlie Hebdo attack

Written By: - Date published: 7:21 am, January 15th, 2015 - 52 comments
Categories: australian politics, Spying, uk politics - Tags: , ,

How many governments are using the Paris / Charlie Hebdo attack as an excuse to increase surveillance or otherwise remove civil protections? In the UK the Tories certainly are. But PM Cameron’s proposals are idiotic – this piece in The Guardian is particularly blunt:

Cameron wants to ban encryption – he can say goodbye to digital Britain

Online shopping, banking and messaging all use encryption. Cameron either knows his anti-terror talk is unworkable and is looking for headlines, or he hasn’t got a clue

On Monday David Cameron managed a rare political treble: he proposed a policy that is draconian, stupid and economically destructive.

The prime minister made comments widely interpreted as proposing a ban on end-to-end encryption in messages – the technology that protects online communications, shopping, banking, personal data and more.

“[I]n our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which we cannot read?”, the prime minister asked rhetorically. … This means that even in principle Cameron’s approach is darkly paradoxical: the attack on Paris was an attack on free expression – but it’s the government that intends to land the killing blow.

Terrorists must not be allowed to disrupt our way of life, we’re often told in the wake of atrocities. We must leave that to governments to do in the wakes of these attacks.

But it’s in the practicalities that the prime minister’s approach slips from draconian to dull-witted. There is no such thing as “good guy encryption” and “bad guy encryption”. The same encryption that protects you and me protects companies, protects governments, and protects terrorists.

If Cameron is proposing an end to encryption in the UK, then any information sent across the internet would be open for any company, government, or script kiddie with 10 minutes “hacking” experience to access. It would spell the end of e-commerce, private online communications and any hope of the UK having any cybersecurity whatsoever.

The response of Australia’s Abbot government displayed (of course) the same authoritarian bent. Coverage in The Age points out the futility:

George Brandis still struggling with metadata

While it is perhaps unsurprising, the Attorney-General’s latest attempt to use the Sydney siege and recent events in France as justifications for the government’s mandatory data retention laws is as distasteful as it is misleading.

The problem with citing France and Sydney as examples, apart from leveraging a number of tragic deaths for political gain, is that they are in fact fairly strong cases of why mandatory data retention may not be the critical necessity he asserts it to be.

Two other recent “acts of terror” similarly point to the same conclusion, namely the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013 and the brutal murder of Lee Rigby in London the following month. In each of these four recent examples, the perpetrators were well-known to police and intelligence agencies. The Attorney-General quotes former ASIO chief David Irvine as saying that access to metadata is “absolutely crucial” in identifying terrorist networks. As these examples clearly show, identifying the perpetrators was not the problem.

In each case, it was rather decisions taken to not commence, or to cease, close surveillance of these individuals that arguably contributed to the failures of law-enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent each attack.

For more on the Australian response see here and here. The broad European response is to increase censorship (with the “assurance” of a safeguard for “fundamental freedoms”):

Europe’s answer to France terror ‘attack on free speech’ is greater Internet censorship

Summary:After three days of terrorist attacks in the French capital, European leaders are pushing for stronger measures to crack down on online “extremist” content.

About half of Europe’s member states are pushing for greater online censorship powers in the wake of the terror attacks in France earlier this month.

In a joint statement, interior ministers from 11 European member states — including Germany, Poland, Spain, and the U.K. — expressed condemnation of the attacks, while stressing further cooperation between their law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Members of the European Union, along with a delegation from the U.S. government — including outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder — adopted, among other sentiments, a resolution to create a partnership of major Internet providers to report and remove material associated with extremism.

My guess is that the only reason that our own government hasn’t jumped on this bandwagon is that they are still on holiday. Expect to see Paris trotted out as an example next time they want to “justify” increased surveillance.

52 comments on “Exploiting the Charlie Hebdo attack ”

  1. Paul 1

    I was criticised for saying this yesterday, but until we stop behaving like sheep, all these actions by big business will go unchecked.

    New Zealand’s apathy towards anything other than house prices, rugby and reality TV is not helping. It is complicit in the corporate take over of everyone’s lives.

    If some folk don’t like the word sheep then maybe ostrich would be a better description. They bury their heads in the sand and hope the problems will go away.
    They won’t.

    It’s no point just blaming the politicians. New Zealand voted these people in. People deserve what they get.

    • That was me Paul. I just find the sheep analogy to be unhelpful.

      “People deserve what they get.”

      My point around this is we know the propaganda and the challenges that people constantly face in our capitalistic exploitative society – we all put our heads in the sand whether in big or small ways. If we want to help people realise the truth and make real changes that make a positive difference in their and our lives then the starting point isn’t to call them derogatory terms – that doesn’t work – for some reason people get defensive when we do that and even when they know they should adjust they don’t because their defenses are up.

      imo selfishness, myopic thinking and inability to look past our own noses are the byproducts of our society but i think they are unintended and when recognised, unwanted.

      • Paul 1.1.1

        Yes I would agree with you in part.
        However if people don’t take responsibility for their actions, we’re going nowhere.
        1 million people voted for this government. Clearly the majority of those golf will not benefit from this decision.
        They are more likely to vote in NZ’s Got Talent than participate in any form of democratic action.
        Meanwhile the world burns.

  2. vto 2

    Yes interesting isn’t it…….

    sole reaction to the middle east’s reaction to the wests actions in bombing the middle east for 15 years is ……. more warmongering (this post) and more bombs (French sending aircraft carrier to bolster yanks)…….

    there is one hell of a long way to go in this war yet ……. it hasn’t even got through the start-up phase yet

    murderers

  3. Tracey 3

    rOb, a couple of days ago I posted a pdf link tot he GCSB manual for all departments about handling information. Iain Fletcher’s big work which covers alot of IT stuff. I am not an IT person so alot of it was another language to me. I wonder if any here with IT background peeked through it and understood the implications, good and bad which might relate to whether the kinds of measures intended by Cameron Abbott and when he comes back from holiday our own Mr Key?

    http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCsQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gcsb.govt.nz%2Fassets%2FGSCB-NZISM%2FNZISM-2014-November-Release.pdf&ei=tLm2VPDSJ4qH8QWE64K4CQ&usg=AFQjCNGqMai3Fegy2y2hnqtJBzh03iaxQw&bvm=bv.83640239,d.dGc

    • RedLogix 3.1

      At a quick glance it seems mostly related to the typical kind of concern everyone operating any kind of system has these days.

      My particular area is industrial control systems, and the chapter headings look like the usual familiar topics relating to the concept of “defense in depth”. I’m not pretending to be an expert in this niche – unfortunately until very recently most clients (in my field at least) have either ignored security, or it’s been a total afterthought that came after the system was running.

      Not all of the GCSB’s remit related to active collection of data – there was another portion which related to a legitimate need to reduce NZ’s vulnerability to industrial espionage, hacking, and unauthorised access etc.

      It’s been a live concern in my field for about a decade – but in the last five years there is no question the credible threat level has ramped up considerably. And there is a real shortage of good specialists available. In that sense this work by the GCSB to provide a some locally relevant standards and good practise guidelines is probably quite welcome.

      (The US based NIST has done similar work I used in the past.)

      • Tracey 3.1.1

        Thanks Red

        I am wondering how easy it will be to justify withholding information on the basis that wording or phraseology is vague, something I can’t tell because I dont have the expertise technically.

        • RedLogix 3.1.1.1

          It’s a fair question. I haven’t read the whole thing for fish hooks. Even then I might not spot them.

          But at first glance it’s purpose is not dissimilar to this document I’m pretty familiar with:

          http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/drafts/800-82r2/sp800_82_r2_draft.pdf

          • Tracey 3.1.1.1.1

            Any reason we couldnt have saved money and just copied that one? IT language is universal, no? and systems?

        • The Murphey 3.1.1.2

          It is a manual which has been reproduced centrally and distributed into ‘local markets’. The GCSB did not author this document

          While the standards are ‘robust’ as outlined inside the manual there is unlikely to be many entities including the ‘spooks’ who could match the standards due to lack of specialist skills required to implement and maintain even a percentage of the standards in perimeter security alone

          Development of systems since early industry and the practice of ‘solution delivery’ are such that meeting the standards outlined in the manual is almost impossible to achieve. It could be described as impossible even if resources were ‘unlimited’ certainly from ‘top to bottom’ it would be impossible to match the standards in the manual

          Legislation wording is where you should be analyzing word use not this manual.

          That said the manual is likely to be reproduced with components used in proposed bills leading to becoming ‘laws’ and certainly in compliance which government departments at all levels are bound to meet. That they do not and will continue not to meet the standards and the reasons why is another discussion

          • RedLogix 3.1.1.2.1

            It is a manual which has been reproduced centrally and distributed into ‘local markets’. The GCSB did not author this document

            Most local standards owe a lot to work done elsewhere. For the most part I see that as a good thing.

            But otherwise yes, what I see is that most organisations look at a document like this and select the bits they see as the ‘low hanging fruit’ – the implementations which give the best results relevant to their situation and budget.

          • Tracey 3.1.1.2.2

            Sorry, but Ian Fletcher clearly claims to have authored it.

            • The Murphey 3.1.1.2.2.1

              Q. Does claiming something or having a name on it prove authorship or production ?

              Fletcher neither authored or produced that document and the reasons why he did not are quickly identifiable

              Good link

              Thank you

              • Tracey

                having your name on it is prima facie evidence you authored it. You are right though, Fletcher is merely “commending” it to CEO’s and others. Copyright belongs to the Crown but the document is definitely purporting to have been written by the “GCSB”.

                Perhaps an OIA might resolve the issue, and the cost 😉

  4. Colonial Rawshark 4

    So much for those “world leaders” marching for civil liberties the other day.

    • Skinny 4.1

      All propaganda when you consider the anti democratic invasions air strikes/drone warfare. Like many I found the gate crashing Isreli was insulting.

      The National Party spin merchants will be gearing up to serve New Zealanders with a full on ANZAC memorial blitz. Expect an announcement that we will be joining the wars in the Middle East and the need for tough new measures to counter the threat of terrorism. All though the later could happen earlier with the pending Cricket World Cup.

      • Wayne 4.1.1

        it is pretty obvious that Prime Minister Netanyahu was there because of the attack on the Jewish supermarket. But on this site I am not surprised at the usual anti-Israel theme. It seems to be a requirement for any fully paid up member of the Hard Left.

        I was more surprised at Prime Minister Abbas being there. But perhaps the two of them chose to be in Paris so they could also have private discussions on the Israel/Palestine issues

        • Skinny 4.1.1.1

          “it is pretty obvious that Prime Minister Netanyahu was there because of the attack on the Jewish supermarket”.

          More like the thug Netanyahu was there (uninvited I might add) to bolster his election chances back home. The French Leader was quoted as “fuming Netanyahu gatecrashed” the event. Given the crimes against humanity that the Israelis have inflicted on the Arabs, your view is oneway traffic.

        • tricledrown 4.1.1.2

          Wayne Kerr Rogers brother.
          Charlie Hedbo sacked a journalist 12 days before this fundamentalist jihadist abhorent attack!
          The journalist poked fun at fundamentalist Jews!
          But it’s okay to poke at one and not the other!
          Fairness is what Most posters want on this Site Wayne!
          Framing us as bigotted shows how narrow your world view is!
          The Ethnic cleansing that the right wing fundamentalist Jews have perpatrated on the Palestenian Arabs since 1947 is one of the main reasons Muslim Fundamentalism has got out of control!
          A recent poll in Israel showed 56% of Israeli’s were against the way its right wing govt was treating the palestinians.
          This right wing netenyahu lead govt is deliberatly settling fundamentalist Jews on Palestinian land,using the IDF to take the land by force,while none of these fundamentalist jews have to serve in the the IDF as their cultism says they are superior to ordinary Israeli’s!
          fundamentalist extremism has grown out of control,the other main reason was the unescessary invasion of Irag And Afganistan this has opened up a hornets nest that George HW Bush warned his son against publicly but was silenced quickly by the Chaney Cartel!
          You are just a yesman Wayne no research of historical fact!
          Trying to shut down free speech in New Zealand the very thing you claim to be defending!
          Wayne that makes you a tool a bigoted naive tool of the propaganda war aligning all Muslims!

        • Paul 4.1.1.3

          Hard left…hard left….hard left…

          A little repetitive Wayne.

          Personally I’m not a Maoist.
          Have you looked up Overton’s Window yet?
          Typical of the extreme right to see Social Democrats as communists.
          You should google McCarthyism, Wayne.

          • Skinny 4.1.1.3.1

            “Hard left…hard left….hard left…”

            In Wayne’s World it’s “Fully paid up member of the Hard Left” whatever that means?
            I hope we don’t permit an Israeli embassy here, not after their spy agents were caught using false New Zealand passports. No doubt up to no good, like murdering people from other nations.

            Wouldn’t mind handing you over to my elderly 90 year old uncle who has a framed photo of Gobbles on his wall. He will give you some hard left alright.

        • The Murphey 4.1.1.4

          I’ll ask you again Wayne as you did not respond a few days back.

          In your comment above it can be interpreted that your position is ‘pro Isreal’ because you are not “hard left”

          Q. What is your position regarding Isreal and its ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people ?

          Q. Do you believe anti war anti murder and anti genocide perspectives to be “anti Isreal” ?

          Q. Are you an Isreali citizen or decendent or have jewish heritage such as John Key claims ?

          Q. What is you view on influence exerted by AIPAC for example and the influence of the dual Isreali citizens occupying swaths of US legislative and departmental positions at the highest levels ?

          • Colonial Rawshark 4.1.1.4.1

            clearly, we’re OK with military and economic occupation of foreign lands and foreign peoples, as long as it is our friends who do it.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.1.5

          Wayne Mapp, I doubt you are ignorant of the difference between criticising someone’s behaviour and attacking therm personally.

          So on the one hand people criticise Israeli behaviour in Palestine, and on the other you make up dehumanising labels for the critics.

          It looks deliberate, and speaks volumes about your moral compass.

          • Tracey 4.1.1.5.1

            You’re walking by a shallow pond, and there’s a child who’s drowning there. And you could wade in and save this child easily, but if you do this, you’re going to ruin your new Italian suit. (In something I wrote, I said, “It cost you $500.” And my colleague Dan Gilbert says, “They cost a lot more than that, Josh.” (Laughter). Two-thousand-dollar suit.) Now, you say, is it okay to let the child drown? Most of us would say, you’re a moral monster if you say, “I’m going to let this child drown because I’m worried about my Armani suit.”

            Now, next case: There are children on the other side of the world who are desperately in need of food and medicine, and by making a donation smaller than $2,000, you can probably save at least one of their lives. And you say, “Well, I’d like to save them, but I have my eye on this Armani suit, and so I think I’m going to buy the Armani suit instead of saving them.” There, we say, well, you ain’t no saint, but we don’t think that you’re a moral monster for choosing to spend your money on luxury goods, instead of saving other people’s lives.

            Peter Singer

        • Tracey 4.1.1.6

          No one could get flights to Nigeria Wayne?

        • Naturesong 4.1.1.7

          What anti-Israel theme?

          Or are you talking about Skinny pointing out Netanyahu’s hypocrisy?

        • Naturesong 4.1.1.8

          When you say hard left, what on earth are you talking about?

          Or is it simply a divisive rhetorical device to create an “other” group to be demonised?

          • Tracey 4.1.1.8.1

            he means people who don’t agree with his world view/

            • Naturesong 4.1.1.8.1.1

              It’s not just that.

              I’ve seen this “Hard Left” label used quite a lot lately.

              The idea is to create an identifiable group that the writer’s supporters can identify as an “other” group whose interests are opposed to yours.

              This ensures that there can be no conversation, no meeting of ideas, no discourse at all; IT IS POISON

              That this is an ex Member of the New Zealand Parliament employing this type of language fills me with sadness and a deep sense of shame.

              • Colonial Rawshark

                +1

              • Tracey

                he does seem to be using it to create a meme…

                but the kneejerk reaction of otherism is quite common, Wayne is succumbing to his stone age wiring.

                AND current Law Commissioner…

              • Skinny

                Mapp was no great shake as an MP, didn’t know if he was Martha or Arthur, started in Labour but they didn’t want a light weight. The LP read it well he got shuffled out the back door in the end. Bitter old man by the looks.

                • Tracey

                  “started in labour”

                  source please

                  • Skinny

                    Oh please Tracey your so demanding lol and more importantly interrupting my drinking time while watching one day cricket.

                    ” He even stood against Phil Goff for the Labour nomination for Mt Roskill in 1981″.

                    I remember hearing this, a quick google search shows up with a reference on Kiwi Blog of all places, more an attack on Mallard I note.

                    • Tracey

                      i googled first and couldnt find any mention. i guess he is ashamed 😉

                      you have your computer in the wrong room. i can ask you questions and watch the cricket…

                  • Anne

                    Yes Tracey he was a member of the Auckland Central Labour Party during Richard Prebble’s reign. That would have been in the late 70s and 80s. I don’t know when he parted company with Labour but am guessing it was sometime during the David Lange era. I was involved with Labour in the 1970s up to 1984, then had a long break from politics. I have no recollection of ever meeting Wayne Mapp during that time so he can’t have been all that active.

                    • Skinny

                      Or relevance I may say. Although he would have inadvertently added to Prebble’s longevity, which as history shows hurt the Left.

                    • Tracey

                      go to wiki…. it seems he wants no one to know. mind you it gives an insight to how ” hard right” that labour govt was

        • adam 4.1.1.9

          As a member of the Hard left. I’m offended you think fluffy, whimsical, and middle of the road leftist who do dominate this site could be on any planet called hard left. Wayne you’re delusional, and just on some bad drugs for such utterances. Try pot, it may amp you’re paranoid moments, but lots of loud music and time by yourself, may just help you overcome that.

          As a hard lefty I oppose all theocracies, and ones who lock up and kill children are just a little hard to justify, unless you’re a right wing nut job. But, hey go ahead – defend the killing of children there Wayne. I wait with baited breath – nah I know you’re not going to, it’s important not to criticise Israel as a rogue state. States which kill children are just OK by Wayne. Wayne, the child killer by proxy.

        • joe90 4.1.1.10

          it is pretty obvious that Prime Minister Netanyahu was there because of the attack on the Jewish supermarket

          Netanyahu was politicing.

          After the French government began to send invitations to world leaders to participate in the rally against terror, Hollande’s national security adviser, Jacques Audibert, contacted his Israeli counterpart, Yossi Cohen, and said that Hollande would prefer that Netanyahu not attend, the source said.

          […]

          According to the source, Netanyahu at first acquiesced to the French request. In any case, the Shin Bet security service unit that protects public figures considered the arrangements for the prime minister’s security to be complex. And so, on Saturday evening, Netanyahu’s people announced that he would not be flying to Paris because of security concerns. Netanyahu told the French he would come to France on Tuesday for a Jewish community event.

          […]

          However, on Saturday night, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett announced their intention to go to Paris and take part in the march and meet with the Jewish community. When Netanyahu heard they were going, he informed the French he would be attending the march after all.

          According to the source, when Cohen informed Audibert that Netanyahu would be attending the event after all, Audibert angrily told Cohen that the prime minister’s conduct would have an adverse effect on ties between the two countries as long as Hollande was president of France and Netanyahu was prime minister of Israel.

        • Anne 4.1.1.11

          Wayne @4.1.1

          I’ve had enough of your hard left meme. It’s crap and you know it. I’ve actually stuck up for you once or twice in the past on this site because I gave you credit for being better than the Hootons, Keys, Joyces and Slaters of this world. I didn’t think you would stoop to this kind of cretinous C/T nonsense. I was wrong it seems so I won’t be sticking up for you again.

          There is no one who is hard left on this site – particularly among the authors. Sure… there are a few commenters who can be a bit extremist in their choice of words, but no-one who is hard line or even marginally dangerous. They wouldn’t last long here of they were.

          So bloody grow up and stop behaving like a slimy rwnj trole!

          Edit: that’s telling you mate how it is mate.

  5. The Murphey 5

    Q. It is possible as the frequency of such ‘events’ rises the rhetoric and actions of the ‘actors’ will become transparent to greater numbers of people who may have previously related to great surveillance as ‘necessary’ ?

    Q. Or is it more likely that ‘greater numbers’ will simply tune out of any discussion making it easier for the hypocrite actors to deploy ‘crazier rhetoric and tactics’ against the populace ?

  6. Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 6

    My guess is that the only reason that our own government hasn’t jumped on this bandwagon is that they are still on holiday.

    When this National Government gets on to squeezing every bit out of the issues to play politics and promote the surveillance state, let’s hope the Labour Caucus and Party will not play origami with themselves.

    Labour’s call on the bill being pushed under urgency last month was weak and very difficult to explain or justify over family Christmas dinner and New Year’s drinks. Let’s hope Labour will demonstrate its true principles and stick to them, and actually give, to those of us who care, a party that we can really support without excuses or embarrassment.

  7. Dave 7

    Banning encryption would be as difficult as stopping movie piracy. It is nature of technology that allows users to ran. What they want or create new ideas like uber it can’t be stopped look at the movie and music businesses general purpose devices can configured any way a user likes

  8. Philip Ferguson 8

    One of the best writers on the issue of ‘race’, difference, critical of identity politics and the growth of irrationalism, is the anti-racist veteran Kenan Malik. Kenan was a key figure in Workers Against Racism, which was the main group organising physical defence of Asian families under attack by racist gangs in Britain in the 1980s and also campaigning for the repeal of all immigration controls.

    His take on the murders at Charlie Hebdo is well worth reading:
    https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/charlie-hebdo-radical-islam-pusillanimous-liberals-and-free-speech/

    I’d suggest it is read in conjunction with his much longer piece on secular leftism, multiculturalism and Islamic fundamentalism:
    https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/secular-leftism-multiculturalism-and-islamic-fundamentalism/

    Phil

    • Ad 8.1

      Rushdie’s own memoirs on the fatwa give the insiders’ view to the extraordinary challenge the state faced to assert Rushdie’s rights as citizen against extremist Muslim death threats – both statist and individual.

    • Tracey 8.2

      Thanks Phil. I couldn’t agree more with the expression in the first link. I am enjoying your linking btw and don’t always come back to indicate I have read them, but I am.

  9. Iron Sky 9

    The surveillance guys don’t seem too concerned if you die early from poor wages and naff jobs. They are not worried about the back handers from Stadium builds, roads of no significance and BS convention centers.

    Instead they chase pumpkins:

    “But Gedalah had something in mind. He sent four men to collect a dozen pumpkins, and he had them set in the pylons that supported the overhead power line that ran the train, one pumpkin to each pylon.

    “What are they for?” Mendel asked.“Nothing,” Gedaleh said. “They’re there to make the Germans wonder why they’re there. We’ve wasted maybe two minutes; they’re methodical, they’ll waste a lot more.”

    “…We also have friends among the railroad men, and they tell us that so far the Germans of the garrison haven’t dared touch the pumpkins. They’ve blocked the line and have brought in a team of mine detectors from Cracow. They’re more worried about the pumpkins than about the car you stole.”

    ― Primo Levi, If Not Now, When?

    Lessons Learned: Make pumpkins (lots of them, cyber space, real space etc…. keep them employed and feeling important)

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    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    14 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    15 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    16 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    17 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    19 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours 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
    13 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
    15 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
    15 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
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    5 days ago
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