Foolish games

Written By: - Date published: 8:37 pm, January 31st, 2013 - 108 comments
Categories: labour - Tags: ,

As I indicated would happen in my post this morning on the Labour reshuffle, Mallard made a run for speaker today.* He and the Labour leadership tried to keep the fact he was running secret right to the last moment. Why not run an honest, open campaign? Because a vote on speaker can only be made by MPs physically present in the chamber. No proxies. Let me explain.

Mallard’s plan was to stay quiet so National MPs wouldn’t think there was a competition and, so, wouldn’t bother to show up to the chamber – with no question time today ministers would book other appointments and MPs would head back to their electorates. To try to keep it secret, the old guard went so far as to not even tell their own caucus until last night, despite having told the support parties days before.* (ouch!)

If it had gone to plan, with all the Labour, Green, and NZF MPs would have been present, National would have been short and Mallard would have the numbers to sneak in.

Mallard and the old guard seem to have thought that would be a mighty clever trick. But did they stop to think how it would have looked?

Mallard could never have had any legitimacy as speaker in the eyes of the House or the public. And it never would have lasted – the Nats would have just voted him out when next they had a majority present, or refused to accept his rulings. Labour would have got all pain, and for only temporary gain for Mallard’s ego.

Can’t they focus on stuff that matters to the people they want to vote Labour, rather than this bullshit? All it would have done is further tarnish Labour’s image and make them look like under-handed sneaks who are more interested in their personal elevation then the interests of ordinary New Zealanders – but, then, Trev and the rest of the old guard have being doing that for years.

*oops, when I let the cat out of the bag this morning, I didn’t realise it was such a huge secret because it was going around the traps long before most of Labour’s MPs were allowed to know.

108 comments on “Foolish games ”

  1. QoT 1

    These foolish games are tearing me apart.

    *cough*

  2. Lanthanide 2

    NZ First abstained anyway, and Winston said they would in advance, thus making their ploy rather unlikely to work.

    • Eddie 2.1

      are you sure? The maths doesn’t add up:

      121 MPs – 62 for, 52 against leaves 7

      3 are in Vladivostok, o vote because no proxies. Leaves 4.

      Footage also shows a smattering of empty seats, that’s your other four.

      • Eddie 2.1.1

        unless the tweet i saw of the count was wrong and the reporter just totalled all the parties for and against and excluded nzf, forgetting the missing mps couldn’t vote.

        nonetheless, it could have worked without NZF had enough Nats been missing.

  3. Eddie 3

    song titles and puns are the lazy headline writer’s goldmine.

  4. “Can’t they focus on stuff that matters to the people they want to vote Labour, rather than this bullshit?”

    A vanity vote.
    Glad he failed in his attempt to snatch himself a legacy from the jaws of recent mediocrity.
    Labour summed up by their own failed motion.
    And on a day the great ‘revival’ once again stalled in the polls.
    Epic work, caucus.

  5. It seemed to have been a ploy. Brendan Horan popped up and proposed a secret vote and indicated that he had fed it through the “usual channels”. This level of understanding was way beyond Brendan’s comprehension levels and so I believe that he was persuaded to do this by members of other parties. The Greens were being principled so I presume it was either my lot or Hone and I doubt Hone would think it was appropriate.

    Whoever it was this was really stupid. I do not care what vote it is, I want every MP’s vote to always be public.

  6. KhandallaViper 6

    Lord Trevor of Wainouimata.
    Mmmmm….has a certain ring to it!

    Seriously though folks…..

    this type of silly opportunistic destructive behaviour is a mirror of how they dumped Parker and inserted Shearer in Nov 2011.
    Even at the Elllerslie Conference in November I recall Trevor trying to use some obscure/obtuse procedural point to argue against the 60/40 motion. The boy is so sharp he cuts himself.

    Spare us.

  7. Pete 7

    Foolish games? Is that a variant of playing silly buggers?

  8. Tiresias 8

    Certainly comes across as childish and petty. Ooooh we weren’t consulted. Watch me stamp my foot.

    A simple statement that National broke with both courtesy and tradition by not going through the usual civilised motions and getting approval for Carter’s nomination but accepting Carter anyway would have been adult and sensible. Now both sides of the House have potentially politicised the Speaker and his rulings, which is a dangerously slipperly slope to get on to.

  9. The Fan Club 9

    I don’t think Speakers may be removed from office by motion of the House. Deputy Speakers may per Standing Orders, but there is no such provision for the Speaker, and McGee makes no mention of such a possibility. I think this post is simply factually wrong, and should be amended.

  10. tc 10

    Come on it’s all about Trevor.

    More sterling well thought out work from the mallarfia, good to see they’re working on the important stuff.

    • David H 10.1

      They need to tell him that he is NOT wanted to represent where ever it is he haunts these days. And it’s dumb stunts like these, that make people say FFS not again. And then either not vote, or vote elsewhere. No wonder Labour is Flat-lining. If it was a patient in Hospital it would be on a Deathwatch!

  11. Hang on, How does this fit in with what Winston had to say re an unprecedented move of National’s to select a speaker without conferring with the other parties first?

    • Yawn 11.1

      The old guard consulted him on Mallard…. before they consulted Labour’s caucus.

      • CV - Real Labour 11.1.1

        That’s what I call real teamwork: trusting Winnie ahead of trusting your own Labour MPs.

    • Nope, I’m referring this:

      There is another aspect of the transition that cannot be overlooked. Given the importance of the role of the Speaker as Parliament’s man or woman, we were deeply disappointed that the Government chose not to involve all political parties in any of the background considerations regarding the selection of a new Speaker. We are committed to a well-organised and effective democratic parliamentary process. We would have contributed constructively and thoughtfully to a dialogue around the selection of a new Speaker, which has been the long tradition of this Parliament. We want this House to work and to work well in the interest of our democracy. So it is our view that it would have been consistent with the values and spirit of our democracy for the Government to engage with other parties over the appointment of a new Speaker. This was not done, and there remains outstanding any explanation as to why it was done this way—or even to have a debate today on this very unprecedented selection process. ~ Winston Peters

      January 31st 2013 Parliament

      [emphasis mine]

      i.e. That the Government didn’t involve other parties.

      I read Labour’s activities (of putting up another speaker) as attempting to emphasize &/or mitigate this travesty.

      Appalling that Labour didn’t tell their own colleagues, yet isn’t there a bigger story here?
      Or is the Government beyond reproach these days??

  12. The Fan Club 12

    Basically Speakers are normally chosen by the Gov’t and then run by the other parties in a sort of vaguely consensus driven but not really way. Key didn’t bother — or did so in an offensively cursory way, I dunno — and so Labour (fair enough) saw an opportunity for a spot of advantage by running Mallard, and talking to the other parties in an attempt to outflank Key.

    Why not, Speaker’s a traditional role surrounded by traditional gamesmanship and cleverness. But anyway they lost, and Labour & the Greens shook hands with Carter and said fair play. Winston, on the other hand, saw a chance to start needling and looking oppressed and such, and went on a rather petty rant.

  13. vto 13

    The biggest fool is always the one who does not know he is a fool, namely David Carter.

    Waffling shit about respect for great tradition blah blah fucking blah. The prick shits all over this particular tradition and shows it absolutely zero respect by firstly tearing up democracy in Canterbury so his constituents can steal what they couldn’t legitimately acquire and secondly by not following the tradition of consulting other parties on the speaker.

    David Carter shows no respect.

    David Carter gets no respect.

    He is just your typical white bread rich white boy christc college inherited money privilege average man. Average or less. Actually the average man in the street I would back over Carter to stand up for what is right and wrong. What a c%#t.

    And you know, the above assessment lines up with his early political days in some halls around Chch and his arrogant, smarmy, deceptive ways and nasty put-downs of people, with little intellect to back up his ways.

    David Carter = Belowaverage Man

    • The Al1en 13.1

      He should use that on his cv as a reference. 😆

    • He is just your typical white bread rich white boy christc college inherited money privilege average man. Average or less. Actually the average man in the street I would back over Carter to stand up for what is right and wrong. What a c%#t.

      Actually vto, Carter is an old boy of St Bede’s, along with Clayton Cosgrove and Damien O’Connor

      • mac1 13.2.1

        And along with Peter Dunne and Gerry Brownlee. I am an old boy, too. St Bede’s was not a ‘private school’ in the moneyed sense. Sons of West Coast miners mixed with scions of North Canterbury dynasties.

        The school motto is “Fide et Opere.” This translates as “By faith and by good works.” I would hope that the second part of the motto has been translated into actuality by these ex- Bedean parliamentarians. Something has to be in the water of the Dirty Mary, the creek that runs at the back of the College, for this many MPs to come from one school!

        • Rogue Trooper 13.2.1.1

          man, could I tell you some stories from under the Redwood round Daniels Road going down on Dunedin Street (wonder if the bark of the open pipes Big Block still echoes?), oh, and then there was car sex…and the big villa before Belfast…and Macs Black…oh and those couple of naughty nurses who raised my temperature…used to overnight at Sturrocks after Holy Trinity

          • mac1 13.2.1.1.1

            “oh, and then there was car sex…” Ah, rogue trooper, what memories that brings.

            I became a teacher specialising at one time in Health and especially Relationships including use of condoms etc. I used to tell the boys in my classes that I was very committed to good sex education since all that I received as a school boy (taught by nuns and priests) was this one bit of advice from a woman journalist of all people.

            “Beware of cars, boys. They are bedrooms on wheels.”

            They all agreed that a little more knowledge would have been a good thing.

            • Rogue Trooper 13.2.1.1.1.1

              good friend is a sexual health nurse up here. sadly we have some dreadful stats for STI’s
              (wasn’t all my doing) Seriously though, it’s not looking good. Did you read of the unrecognized health implications apparently from toxoplasmosis? (I was Recreation Officer at BIR’s Unit briefly, seriously, it was an occupational allied role, and also aided in physio department; that’s where I aquired my health politics / professional capture “bias” from, and years in disability support,TIL for ABI) After years of competent, or above, experience, even with my *convictions*, I am unable to return to the field now as risk management rules, and I can’t stand politics :). (ironically, was an R.N CSM colleague (close, yet no cigar) who was found to be funding her lifestyle to the extent of about 100K from the clients trust funds) One of the many life experience reasons I’m such a rogue…(+ as you can imagine, when I turned the critical gaze upon the professionalization of Nursing in Stage 1″ Socio-economic determinants” paper, they wouldn’t accept my essay (I already held an A- / B+ undergraduate degree (in guess what?) 🙂 said I had to rewrite it, and being the old dog that I am, I accepted my A average passes in the other papers cocked my leg, and went back to fixing buses, maybe you saw me in the Redbus breakdown 4-Wheel drive. So naughty…if I hadn’t already been released I’d be getting aroused about now 🙂

    • yeshe 13.3

      Maybe I shouldn’t say it, but, horribly, he reminds me of Richard Nixon. Ooops,there, I’ve said it.

      • Hami Shearlie 13.3.1

        We’ve been saying it for years as well, Yeshe, and we all know what happened to “Tricky Dicky”!!!!

    • Blue 13.4

      ” his arrogant, smarmy, deceptive ways and nasty put-downs of people, with little intellect to back up his ways” Now be fair, it sounds just like Trevor Mallard (without the psychopathic tendency for violence)

  14. Jane 14

    Looks like this is the plan to pry Mallard out of his seat on the cabinet bench after they win the election. Is an old ploy, if you can’t demote of fire someone then promote them out of the way.

  15. One Tāne Huna 15

    Unbefuckingleivable.

    Stupid, petty, puerile, posturing, pathetic.

    So bloody angry!

  16. tracey 16

    It shows that sometimes some MP forget we pay them, they are our paid servants, not there to embark on self aggrandizement.

    If Mr Mallard and a few others remain on the front bench of the opposition benches post reshuffle then mallard et al will still be driving the truck… and it is heading toward a very steep cliff.

    Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

  17. SpaceMonkey 17

    Good one Labour… once again they demonstrate a complete inability to stay on target, focussed on the topics that matter. Every shenanigan like this means one less minute/hour/day that they could be hammering home the failings of this inept National Government.

    Politics is just a f**king game to these guys… colossal egos engaged in a perpetual w**kfest with each other. NZ needs real representation and until the Labour hierarchy get this notion, they can be assured of a diminishing share of the vote.

  18. felixviper 18

    I don’t really care about the silly game, but Mallard as Speaker?

    FFS.

  19. Rich 19

    If Mallard wants to retire from politics, why doesn’t he just do it.

    With Lance Armstrong and all the other elite cyclists who took drugs (e.g, all the elite cyclists) retiring, there should be room for a middle aged larger bloke in top level competition.

  20. chris73 20

    What I don’t get and I’d like someone to explain it to me is why is Trev in the position hes in?

    If you look at McCully you may not agree or like what he does or how he operates but the guy is smart, hes got a few brain cells.

    I look at Trev and I just think to myself “this is the best Labour can come up with?”

    There are some intelligent people in Labour (I’m guessing) so how/why is Trev still there?

    I’d run through his litany of cock ups but not really worth it is it…

    • The Fan Club 20.1

      Are kidding? McCully’s career highlights include a spectacular failure to restructure MAF, and a resignation in 99 over unlawful payments. He’s a clown too. Mallard, for all he’s supposedly useless, would appear to be a damn sight better at playing the game than any of you guys.

      Still waiting for the correction on the Speaker’s term of office — it’s pretty inept to not get that one right.

      Suppose the only thing this did was tie up Nat resources for an afternoon, and force Shearer to negotiate with the Greens/NZ First/Dunne/whoever. Isn’t that a worthwhile outcome? It isn’t like anybody who isn’t in the game would even know this happened. (And if they’d got Mallard in that would have been a real coup; apart from anything else the National whips would be heavily disgraced and probably have real trouble maintaining internal credibility.)

      • quartz 20.1.1

        Is that you trev?

      • chris73 20.1.2

        Well McCully as chief strategist for National appears to be doing a better job than Trevs doing for Labour (unless you don’t think winning elections is important)

        Lessee of the top my head:

        the Heineken beer bottle incident
        the homophobic attacks on chris finlayson
        trademe ticket scalping
        assaulting other politicians (I’m prepared to forgive that one)
        treatment of cunliffe

        anyone think of any else?

        • quartz 20.1.2.1

          2011 decision to chase marginal seats.

          Campaign period bike race with blogger.

          Boob jokes on facebook.

        • The Fan Club 20.1.2.2

          McCully was also involved in such sparkling moments of Nat history as “Don Brash” and “Bill English” and “Jenny Shipley”. He’s not actually that good. (Not that Trevor’s a super star, but if he’s pulling the strings he’s a damn sight better, than, ooh Cunliffe.)

          Mallard also made a lot of the running on Collins/ACC, and is by all accounts a perfectly competent shadow leader of the house.

          • chris73 20.1.2.2.1

            You mean Don Brash that take over after Nationals shellacking and almost managed to take the next election?

      • tc 20.1.3

        ‘Suppose the only thing this did was tie up Nat resources for an afternoon..’

        I wouldn’t call them resources, just placeholders doing as told. The real talent and drive doesn’t sit in parliament but lurks beyond dictating the agenda.

    • tracey 20.2

      McCully is a bully and he knows where bodies are buried… Mallard will know of a few too

  21. Adrian 21

    Oh,Shut the fuck up. If it had come off it would have been biggest bloody nose the Nats had had in the house in 4 years and would have highlighted how their incompetence is a direct result of their arrogance. Even the papers would have torn them a new arsehole, not to mention how having our own referee might have evened things up a bit.

    • quartz 21.1

      Surely you joke, Adrian. Nobody outside of Labour’s inept strategy team could possibly believe that. That said, you seem to be taking it very personally…

    • Lightly 21.2

      you did see the bit when the gallery laughed at the idea of Mallard as a speaker, didn’t you?

      If he had won, solely because National was duped into not being fully present, they hardly would have greeted that as a good thing.

      And then there would have been a no confidence vote in him immediately.

      • The Fan Club 21.2.1

        You can’t fucking no confidence a Speaker, you idiot. They sit until resignation or the next election. And if Mallard had won the gallery would have loved it. Best story of the year so far, Nat incompetence, Parliament’s hilarious idiosyncrasies, and guaranteed good copy for the next forever.

        • quartz 21.2.1.1

          You should probably spend some time outside of the precinct, Trev’s Fan Club. People don’t like Mallard and they don’t like all this politics as in-joke stuff. The Nats know that and would have eviscerated Labour for it. Sure a few in the gallery might have played in nice for a start but many would point out that this was going to go down like a cup of cold sick with the electorate.

          And if you don’t think the government could make the life of a usurping speaker untenable then you’re not the big time player you seem to think you are.

          One more thing. Labour’s never confirmed this strategy and I’ve not seen anyone else but the Standard posit it. But you and Adrian have made it clear you believe it was in play. Do you know something the rest of us don’t?

          • The Fan Club 21.2.1.1.1

            People don’t know who the fuck Mallard is. If you don’t care about politics-as-in-joke, you won’t care who the Speaker is. If you’re a voter and you do care, and someone tells you Labour pulled a swifty and got their guy in the Speaker’s chair it’s fifty-fifty you’ll think it’s a laugh.

            It’s not usurping, it’s having the numbers in the room, every pol knows that’s legitimate, and the Nats are no exception. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this would be for the Nats? Outwitted on Parliamentary practice (entirely fairly) and the Whips couldn’t get the numbers in the room? Brownlee and the Whips would have so much egg on face it wouldn’t be funny.

            Playing tricky games with the Speakership election is pretty much traditional. Tapsell. It’s part of Parliament’s rich tapestry, and no one thinks it’s unacceptable.

            Finally, how can the Government make the Speaker’s life miserable? Mallard would play it straight, to be clear, but if the Government started attacking the Speaker, the Speaker could slaughter them. The Government needs a fairly quick, fairly open House, and not to get screwed in Question Time. The Speaker can deny them those things. And it’s not like anyone outside the precinct would even have a clue what was going on.

            • One Tāne Huna 21.2.1.1.1.1

              This is the same Trevor Mallard who can’t sell tickets without the media making a song and dance over it? You underestimate the level of contempt in which he is held. Perhaps you’ve spent too long in the beltway.

              • The Fan Club

                The same Mallard who’s banging Jane Clifton, who’s probably the foremost parliamentary reporter of her generation? I think you overestimate the contempt in which he’s held. Perhaps you’ve spent too long in the Beltway?

                Let’s be serious: if Mallard was Speaker the gallery would think it was a hoot, the Nats would be very embarrassed, he’d settle down and do a competent job, and then probably retire at the next election. There’s plenty precedent for Speakers not from the government ranks, and there’s plenty precedent for sharp practice in elections for Speaker. In the end, no one really cares.

                • Lightly

                  “foremost parliamentary reporter of her generation” Which generation is that?

                  The Nats would never accept a speaker who got there by subterfuge (they would do a no confidence motion – as they did against Wilson , except this time they would have the numbers)

                  Neither would Armstrong, Watkins, Small, Edwards, or James – and that’s your press gallery right there.

                  Oh, and the public would see it as Labour playing dirty again because you can bet that National would beat Labour in the spin game following a Mallard election.

                  • The Fan Club

                    It’s not subterfuge, ffs. There’s no rule requiring notice of motion. If the Nats want to win a vote in the House, it’s up to them to get the numbers, it’s not up to Labour to do the Nats’ Whips’ job for them. That’s why the Whips exist, for god’s sake. Losing a vote because one lot has fewer people in the chamber than the other lot is pretty much the classic Westminster parliamentary loss.

                    I don’t think the motion of no confidence in Wilson was in order, and even if it passes, there’s no provision to unseat the Speaker on a no-confidence motion.

                    • One Tāne Huna

                      Get out of the way you miserable hack: you’ve spent too long “playing” “the game”.

                  • CV - Real Labour

                    Foremost indeed. For fucks sake our democracy’s Fourth Estate is in dire straits if that is true.

                • One Tāne Huna

                  Um, I don’t live in the beltway. In layman’s terms, I’m nobody. I don’t give a fuck who he’s “banging” – that you advance it as some sort of bona fides is pathetic. Embarrassing, in fact; perhaps I touched a nerve. Diddums.

                • Murray Olsen

                  Is “banging” the fashionable term among you guys? I suppose it’s better than rooting, but whatever you call it, wtf does it have to do with his (lack of) worth as a politician?
                  I liked the bit about him retiring though.

            • Anne 21.2.1.1.1.2

              Playing tricky games with the Speakership election is pretty much traditional. Tapsell.

              How many times has TFC been caught out talking bullshit now?

              After the 1993 election, the National Party had a majority of only one seat. The appointment of the Speaker, therefore, presented a problem – if National selected a Speaker from among its own ranks, as was traditional, it would lose its majority, since the Speaker was not permitted to vote at that time. Therefore, Prime Minister Jim Bolger decided to offer the Speaker’s position to a member of the Labour Party, thereby retaining the crucial vote. Tapsell was the person chosen by Bolger for this role.

              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Tapsell_%28New_Zealand_politician%29

              Oh, and btw… I remember it clearly. Labour was consulted and agreed to Tapsell taking the position before the final decision was taken.

        • Lightly 21.2.1.2

          National put forward a motion of no confidence in Wilson in 2006 (they withdrew it before a vote, if memory serves). http://tvnz.co.nz/content/797304/425825.xhtml

          There was also one in 1980.

          You idiot.

          • The Fan Club 21.2.1.2.1

            (a) if the Speaker ruled it out of order it wouldn’t be heard, and (b) even if it had passed, it doesn’t mean the Speaker’s unseated, it just means the House has no confidence.

            • IrishBill 21.2.1.2.1.1

              You may be right procedurally, I’m no expert on the minutiae of the house, but I doubt that the situation would be tenable. It would force National into creating chaos and they would have blamed it on Labour. Given the fact they have both greater resources and a more highly skilled media team, I’d pick that Labour would take the greatest hit.

              Even if Labour didn’t take the biggest hit they would be dedicating limited resources to defending this play that would have significant opportunity cost elsewhere. In my opinion the debacle would also contribute to an increase in enrolled non-vote in 2014 as the public were further alienated by a parliament fixated on playing elite games in Wellington.

              Rather than trying to bite of more than they can chew with this kind of bullshit Labour should be spending its energies on doing proper diligence on their housing policy so the leader has some good clean lines on it.

              It was a stupid play, Fan Club, and it shows exactly the blinkered, short-sighted, and house-focused strategic view that has blighted the party for the last four years. It would have wrecked Shearer just as he’s getting traction and you’re very very lucky it didn’t come off. You should be thankful Labour was saved from itself.

              My advice to Labour is to take a lesson from the Greens and start focusing on getting the basics right. You’re delusional if you think you’ve got the chops for the big plays before you get the fundamentals sorted.

              • The Fan Club

                Of course I’m right on the procedure, I’m just reciting McGee and Erskine May.

                If you don’t know that a Speaker can’t be unseated by a motion of the House, and you don’t know that it is well within the opposition’s rights to put a government to a division on a motion if they think they can win, without warning the government whips, why on earth should I trust your views on what National can or can’t do as a matter of Parliamentary practice?

                Admit it, you guys don’t know how the House works and are just flailing in a rather embarrassing attempt to attack the Labour Party.

                (In practice, of course, Mallard never had a hope. But suppose he had won, and he takes the chair. The first call is to the Government. What do they say? Because they have to hit their lines straight away, within seconds of the election. The next call is to Shearer, then Turei or Norman, then Peters, all singing Mallard’s praises, then to Dunne, Banks, and Horan, who are hardly credible political figures. Then the House stands adjourned for two weeks, and Shearer and Mallard lead the evening news.

                In a fortnight’s time, the House sits, and the Nats can either wage an incredibly difficult and destructive campaign to unseat Mallard [i.e. it will be fought out in the Supreme Court, or worse, the G-G will be dragged in, and either way the House will not function for the duration of the crises], or they can accept him. If they do fight, they will not be able to move forward a single item of business until Mallard is gone, and I think it is impossible to remove him, so I would say they are risking losing a term of legislation. They won’t fight.)

                Finally, Irish, if you don’t understand that the incumbent almost always loses in this set up, you should not be talking about politics. (But I guess given you seem to think it’s ok to run your mouth without understanding the Speaker’s office, or, you know, the basic Westminster rule that the side with more votes wins divisions, then yeah.)

                • Colonial Viper

                  The Fan Club rules on who is good enough to speak! All obey The Standard’s new Speaker!

                • One Tāne Huna

                  “…house-focused strategic view..”

                  Just don’t get it, do you, Fan Boy? Irish summed it up in just four words, and still you blither on is blissful denial.

                  • IrishBill

                    What One Tāne Huna said.

                    • RedLogix

                      In a way I can see that for someone close to the Beltway like TFC seems to be, the ‘Mallard hijacking the Speaker’s role’ idea must have some appeal.

                      After all National has been routinely arrogant and hi-handed around democratic and Parliamentary convention throughout their term; the opportunity to get one back on them must seem like pretty good karma.

                      But outside the Beltway IB is absolutely right; it would go over with voters like the original cup of cold sick.

                  • Te Reo Putake

                    Ahem, at the risk of being seen as wilfully contrarian, The Fan Club is correct in so many ways. Not only does TFC have the parliamentary procedures right, the Mallard move appears to have struck a chord with voters, if the conversation I overheard in a large factory donko yesterday is any guide. A group of print workers at the next table to mine were having a laugh at how well Labour played the speaker election, then moved on to ask, and I quote, “what’s wrong with Key?”. That wasn’t a question asked in support of the PM, it was an enquiry into his health.

                    MP’s shouldn’t be chastised for trying their best in the house any more than the AB’s could be criticized for playing rugby on a rugby field. The snide responses to TFC are not merited.

                    • One Tāne Huna

                      Yes, you’re absolutely right, how could I be so stupid. After all, it’s all about who one bangs, isn’t it?

                    • Te Reo Putake

                      Don’t apologise to me, OTH! Your lovemaking failures are none of my business.

                    • One Tāne Huna

                      “…none of my business”.

                      Funny, that’s exactly what I thought when Fan Boy mentioned Jane Clifton.

                    • just saying

                      MP’s shouldn’t be chastised for trying their best in the house any more than the AB’s could be criticized for playing rugby on a rugby field.

                      That’s the whole point TRP. Unlike rugby, parliamentary politics is not a game. Parliament has power over all our lives. MPs treating it like a grand game is insulting.

                      TFC’s views appear to mirror those of the leadership team, and are symptomatic of the arrogant, small-minded, out of touch, and elitist attitude, that so many of us here object to. This kind of approach turns everyday people into nameless, faceless pawns, to be manipulated, played with, and carelessly sacrificed, for the benefit and amusement of the big boys.

                    • Olwyn

                      You’ve hit the nail on the head Just Saying. Well said!

                    • Te Reo Putake

                      Rugby isn’t a game, it’s a business. So’s most sport these days, so it’s a pretty apt analogy, IMHO. And the arrogance you talk about can be found in spades in rugby as the grassroots game is sacrificed to pay for the elite.

                      However, I accept what you say is a genuine risk; isolation from real life can lead to some amazing arrogance from parliamentarians. Rodger Douglas screeching “I’m entitled” always springs to mind. The point I was making is that the speaker election appears to have connected with workers if the small sample I overheard is a guide. So why criticise Labour for getting it right?

                      Anyway, I look forward to the post putting the boot into the arrogant, small-minded, out of touch, and elitist Greens who voted for Mallard as speaker. Won’t be long now ….

                    • CV - Real Labour

                      Anyway, I look forward to the post putting the boot into the arrogant, small-minded, out of touch, and elitist Greens who voted for Mallard as speaker. Won’t be long now ….

                      Just inexperience on the part of the green Greens. You shouldn’t be too hard on them.

    • SpaceMonkey 21.3

      “…would have highlighted how [National’s] incompetence is a direct result of their arrogance.”

      Disagree. It would’ve done nothing of the sort. Labour should be focussing on the issues and stating what they’re going to do differently from National, not wasting time with this sort of stunt.

    • Elizabeth Bourchier Real Labour 21.4

      “Adrian”
      That may well have been the short term play out if events within the beltway.
      Did you think how it would play out with many members, given the divisions in the party ?

      • Olwyn 21.4.1

        Elizabeth, I think you have hit upon an important point. Clark won people over. It is true that she did not win everyone over, but she won enough people over to win elections for nine years. Among supporters, she was affectionately known as Aunty Helen, or just Aunty. The present lot have not done that, but they keep presupposing that they have, and doing things that only work if you have. For example, you modify your position when you have already established one and galvanised people around it, you do not set out with a pre-modified position. Similarly, this speaker stunt might have looked like a real lark if they were riding high in the polls and on the verge of bringing the government down. Without such conditions in place however it just looks like playing silly buggers.

        • The Fan Club 21.4.1.1

          Olwyn, it was not exactly affectionate. It was a rather ironic joke referring to her lack of personal warmth and her iron control over the Party apparat, rather like Uncle Joe…

          (Yours, someone who burst into tears when Helen resigned.)

          • Olwyn 21.4.1.1.1

            In the circles that I move among it was used affectionately, perhaps initially by riffing off the ironic use that enemies made of it. And I also cried when she resigned. However, my point was that she managed to galvanise people. That some of us cried when she resigned is evidence of this.

            • Anne 21.4.1.1.1.1

              some of us cried when she resigned.

              I guessed it was coming so I went to bed. Couldn’t even face seeing and hearing her resign – at least not on election night.

              As for The Fan Club: he/she is a troll! Anyone who suggests she had no personal warmth clearly never knew her or anything about her. She was full of personal warmth as anyone who has ever been associated with her can testify.

              • Anne

                Further to my 3:40 comment:

                Part of the reason (I suspect) her warmth was not so apparent in her public persona is because she knew it would be misrepresented by an antagonistic, NAct-leaning media pack as… weakness, instability or something equally as pernicious.

              • Anne

                Oops: I apologise to TFC. He/she may not be a t—l. (escaping moderation) I misread his/her 21.4.1.1

                Even so, it surprises me that TFC was not aware of Clark’s personal warmth.

                • RedLogix

                  Yes. I only met her once (working in the Beehive late one weekend) and without giving anything away I can testify that the encounter was a hoot.

        • CV - Real Labour 21.4.1.2

          Those who still didn’t like Clark, certainly still respected her (apart from the haters and wreckers of course). She had the charm and charisma to win over most people in most audiences.

          • Rhinocrates 21.4.1.2.1

            I didn’t “like” Helen Clark the PM, but neither did I dislike her – it was irrelevant I’m not sure if she wanted to be “liked” anyway (I suspect that if I had met Helen Clark the human I might have liked her – someone I know who has worked with her does like her). I respected her competence greatly then and I miss it now.

            That attribution of competence, which seems like faint praise isn’t. Politics is hard. I can’t find the attribution, but there was someone who laughed at Dwight Eisenhower’s presidential ambitions – not because they thought that he would be bad at the job, but that the former SCAFE’s (Supreme Commander, Allied Forces, Europe) who had been used to people obeying and implementing orders in a war would then have to depend on people who were incapable – and who had no intention – of doing either.

            Key’s supposed “likeability” has always been a repulsive smarminess to me, but he’s run a team and relied on his marketers well. I also disagree – purely on semantic terms – with those who say that every minister has been incompetent. They haven’t; Ryall, Joyce, English and even Bennett have all done exactly what was required of them by the party and its sponsors. They’re all awful, but they do what their constituents require. For all the talk of dissent and rivalry within National, it’s never made the headlines.

            Shearer can’t even manage the crude efficiency of Key; his authority is tenuous, he has no core principles, he’s a poor communicator, his party base is alienated and even the ABC club aren’t inspired to put themselves out in public to support him.

            That is actually what is most telling: for all their antipathy to Cunliffe, Shearer’s supporters in caucus are still not presenting themselves as a team supporting the next PM, let alone a government in waiting. Goff and King are vaguely professional, but Mallard’s a joke, Chippy’s… well, I can only say that I never met him, but I did step in him once… and all of them look like opportunists sailing under a flag of convenience.

            Shearer’s supporters said that his experience working for the UN made him a great team builder. Well, he hasn’t done that and a club is not a team. The ABCs find him “useful”, but they’re not loyal, not committed to him – look how lazy they are.

            Contrast that with Helen Clark, who made former rivals Michael Cullen and even Douglas’ Mini-Me, Goff, into not only supporters, but assets.

            The current Labour caucus is devolved so far that its sole focus, its sole performance indicator, is whether it serves the caucus, or even less than that. The one thin thread of hope that I have is not that the whole caucus will see that it needs a parliamentary leader who supports and communicates Labour values, but that enough junior and low-listed MPs realise that they could lose their meal tickets at Bellamy’s.

            • CV - Real Labour 21.4.1.2.1.1

              +1 Smith and Collins are also very competent National Ministers. It’s a mistake to underestimate Key’s Cabinet.

            • The Fan Club 21.4.1.2.1.2

              Comparing Shearer now, to Clark in 99, is hugely misleading. At this point in Clark’s tenure she was still pretty much engaged in open warfare with Goff/Cullen/King etc.

              • Anne

                Bollocks TFC. They went to Helen Clark expressing their concern over the disappointing leadership poll results. What’s more I’m pretty sure it happened sooner in Clark’s tenure. There was no open warfare. All behaved as mature adults are expected to behave.

              • Olwyn

                I made just one point about her; that she was able to galvanise people, which I think is in most cases needed for electoral success on the left of the spectrum.

            • VivaciousViper 21.4.1.2.1.3

              @ Rhinocrates, I never liked Clark either,much because of her term as health
              minister and her policies,which were more right wing than left wing,mum and
              i used to have some terrible rows over Clark, mum was a hard line Clark
              believer and you dare not say anything against Clark, mum was an active
              labour person,sadly passed on,but boy i remember her defence of Clark.
              I never voted for Labour while Clark was in power because of my own political principles,but i have to hand it to Clark she knew how to run a tight ship and because
              of that i admired in that way.
              I actually e-mailed Clark and let her know how i felt about her turning her back
              on the people and unless she included the people she would loose badly in the
              election and that is what happened, i felt no sympathy for her tears, at all.

  22. Afewknowthetruth 22

    Daffy Duck Mallard, the idiot Minister of Energy who told us Peak Oil would not be until 2067. Only 60 years out.

    How could anyone vote for the idiot for any reason?

  23. Do nothing Parker wrote a letter to the late Dr Peter Lloyd in 2006 saying peak would be between 2021 – 2067 http://oilcrash.com/articles/parker01.htm

    The scariest is a letter from the fat one dated 1June 2010 “The Government’s position on peak oil, therefore, continues to be that oil production will not change significantly until 2030, or some date beyond this”
    GB

    I asked Pete if he would sign this letter ….. http://oilcrash.com/articles/hodgson.htm ………today
    He said NO

    Yet Helen said quite clearly in 2006 that ‘we’ were close to if not already there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxIp5h0Xtuc Then she oversaw the lie that is the oil/energy/growth dependent ponzi saving scam Kiwi Saver ..
    Yeah go Labour
    Yeah go all politicians
    And Yeah go all the fools that think voting for these fucking liars is going to do anything good.

  24. Coronial Typer 24

    I’m sorry I think Mallard would have made a great Speaker.

    He knew the rules, he knew the bodies, he’d slept with everyone.

    Would have ruled like Caligula.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    1 hour ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    5 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    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 Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    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
    10 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
    11 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
    12 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
    13 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
    15 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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 ...
    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
    4 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
    8 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
    10 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
    11 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
    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
    6 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
    6 days ago
  • 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T07:43:13+00:00