Gower plays a shocker

Written By: - Date published: 8:46 am, January 29th, 2014 - 96 comments
Categories: Media, tv - Tags: , ,

You are NOT the story

You are NOT the story

The last couple of days have been interesting.  There has been a well orchestrated media onslaught on Labour’s Best Start policy.  And when you have a look at what is being said you have to wonder about the independence of the media.

An example of this is the behaviour of TV3 and Paddy Gower.

Yesterday Gower tweeted that “David Cunliffe has just walked off on a press conference refusing to answer questions about the baby bonus”.

Here is the video.  Watch it and form your own opinion.  Count the number of questions on Best Start that Cunliffe answered.  Wonder about the phrase “walked off”.  Question also the description of the event as a “press conference”.

Clearly Cunliffe spent over 9 minutes answering questions and then politely excused himself on the basis that he had to attend a caucus meeting.

Later on Gower criticised Cunliffe and the policy because those that were on paid parental leave would not receive best start, that is the policy was not generous enough, and then criticised Cunliffe because theoretically a couple earning just short of $300,000 per annum could qualify, in other words the policy was too generous.

The paid parental leave criticism is particularly weird.  Labour and Sue Moroney have advocated for 26 weeks paid parental leave but the suggestion is that it is somehow disingenuous because both paid parental leave AND Best Start will not be paid simultaneously really makes you wonder at the degree of spin being applied.  The introduction of either will improve the plight of kiwi families.

The question of coverage always arises when new policies are proposed.  If and when the policy is introduced then these details will be worked out.  But the unnervingly negative spin that Gower and TV3 applied really makes you wonder.

Compare and contrast this with the treatment of National’s education policy announcement.  And note the lack of questioning on how that policy can be afforded.  After all it is the thick end of $400 million being spent over four years so if implemented it will have a significant effect on the country’s finances.

Gower has clearly bought into the idea that the practice of media is akin to engaging in a blood sport where success and prestige is measured by the number of scalps that you accumulate.

This year is going to be a long and important year.  As a mainstream media organisation TV3 owes it to the country to report the facts and to leave the spin out.

96 comments on “Gower plays a shocker ”

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  1. Enough is Enough 1
    29 January 2014 at 8:54 am

    It is really scary how the media are playing this right now.

    The contrast between National’s Education policy and Labour’s Best Start policy is incredible. One is positive bull shit spin, the other is negative rubbish.

    Neither narrative is an accurate description of the actual policy or how it will effect ordinary kiwi kids.

    Don’t worry about Key this year. The biggest challenge will be the media.

    • well I never 1.1
      30 January 2014 at 6:18 pm

      almost every article I read tells me more about the “journalist” than the person they are writing about these days. Trouble is, I don’t really care about what their politics are, as they are not running the country, should someone mention that to them?

  2. Lionel 2
    29 January 2014 at 9:05 am

    Paddy Gower is a typical tory reporter who can,t see past his idol Key

    • gem 2.1
      29 January 2014 at 11:12 am

      ”Paddy Gower is a typical tory reporter who can,t see past his idol Key.”
      No, he can’t see past himself.
      Oh, and why not drop the chummy beltway-esque ‘Paddy’ to refer to him.

  3. philj 3
    29 January 2014 at 9:17 am

    This looks like a media scrum. The media is a major issue in this election campaign. And is biased pro National.

  4. The Outrider 4
    29 January 2014 at 9:18 am

    This on top of Paul Henry’s outright rebuttal when Cunliffe stated his assumption he was a ‘neutral journalist’ can only mean that TV3 are rapidly turning into Fox NZ. If the rumours surrounding the future of Campbell Live’s uncertain future turn out to be true there will be little value in watching this network for news content.

    • North 4.1
      29 January 2014 at 9:42 am

      There are how many millions of dollar reasons to understand that TV3 will do as expected ?

    • Anne 4.2
      29 January 2014 at 9:49 am

      What rumours are they The Outrider?

      • idlegus 4.2.1
        29 January 2014 at 12:38 pm

        there are rumours on the internet that the show is to be cancelled. i have seen nothing official so i do wonder if its a bit bs. if true it would be pretty sad as far as mainstream telly news media goes.

        • Anne 4.2.1.1
          29 January 2014 at 12:54 pm

          If they dump Campbell Live then you would definitely have to wonder about interference coming from the government and John Key in particular. Not direct interference of course but coming through Mediaworks. An attempt to “get rid of John Campbell” in Election year? It wouldn’t be because Campbell is left wing because in my view he’s not. But he isn’t afraid to call out bull-shit when he sees it.

          • The Outrider 4.2.1.1.1
            29 January 2014 at 1:14 pm

            Hopefully the rumours are indeed bs but we shall see. I agree Anne, Campbell’s value is that he is not partisan in his approach to political coverage and NZ needs journalists who can retain at least a modicum of professional objectivity

            • You_Fool 4.2.1.1.1.1
              29 January 2014 at 1:36 pm

              Given how many people watch and thus how much advertising $$$ the show brings in, I cannot see MediaWorks dropping JC, even to please the evil overlords.

          • Geoff Lye 4.2.1.1.2
            29 January 2014 at 4:22 pm

            Yeah government pressure due to the help mediaworks got from the goverments coffers at our expense.

  5. geoff 5
    29 January 2014 at 9:19 am

    Fantastic video, MS.
    Seems pretty obvious that Paddy Gower is just plain dumb! The questions he asked illustrated that he doesn’t even have a basic understanding of the policy, and DC had to talk him through it like he was a child.

    And a very confident performance from David, he’s really getting into his stride.

  6. LynWiper 6
    29 January 2014 at 9:25 am

    So how is he made accountable for his biased reporting? Certainly not what one would expect from a professional journalist. Do journalists have an ethics code? What responsibility/ accountability do National News teams have to the public? They certainly hold a very powerful position so surely there must be some professional guidelines. It appears some work on the belief ‘all’s fair in love, war and politics!’
    Mickey, love the ‘You are Not the story’ although perhaps the You should be shouted as well!

    • weka 6.1
      29 January 2014 at 11:08 am

      I love that photo caption too.

      Complaints about the broadcast can go to the BSA

      http://bsa.govt.nz/complaints/formal-complaint

      • karol 6.1.1
        29 January 2014 at 2:46 pm

        I added that caption to that picture a while back for a post. I used it to make a particular point about the current MO of our infotainment media: journos report from in front of some scene that makes them look like they are on the spot and/or an authority.

        Journos like Gower, (and Garner when I created the caption), report from in front of a picture of parliament – it creates an air of political authority, as if they are in the know about what is happening in politics, and are an expert.

        After Cunliffe finished his State of the Nation speech on Monday, Gower was quick to get to the fron of the hall, in front of a camera with its lights on. Presumably he was aiming to have Cunliffe in the background behind him as he was coming down off the stage.

        All tricks of the current spin trade, that helps to mask the biases of the likes of Gower, and Garner in his time at TV3.

  7. North 7
    29 January 2014 at 9:25 am

    Gower might well have cause for career concern in the context of a change of government. He really has no choice but to go for broke given his displays of Cunliffe phobia going back some time now. Strange person. Really does seem to understand that HE is the story.

  8. greywarbler 8
    29 January 2014 at 9:29 am

    I get the black oblong for the video but no controls so all remains dark on my old computer.

    • mickysavage 8.1
      29 January 2014 at 9:41 am

      What browser are you using gw? Do youtube videos normally play properly?

      • greywarbler 8.1.1
        29 January 2014 at 10:19 am

        I use opera usually. And lately youtube videos often stop after 20 seconds or I get a message right at the beginning that the video can’t be played and come back later. My old computer may be past it, we have been monitoring noise on our line, and thinking about things I personally am not up with. So I’d have to talk to my son for the detail.

        The vid is available now. Did you do something, or do you think it was a matter of time.? I have the idea that a slower system can’t access content if a faster one is competing.
        Anyway I have to go and do some weeding before it heats up outside so will look at the vid later.

        What do you think of making use of the Labour web site to list the malinformation going out from the media, and making a statement that corrects the bumf to prevent the lies from getting set in stone? I think there is mention of the fiction-as-fact being picked up by other media and repeated.

    • ropata 8.2
      29 January 2014 at 10:08 am

      greywarbler, try this link instead: http://youtu.be/Bj7LkmwHtVc

  9. Blue 9
    29 January 2014 at 9:29 am

    Everyone knows Paddy’s a wee bit special. Political reporting is really not his forte.

    The media bias is something Labour has to live with, unfortunately. They are not going to get any favours from the MSM and because of that they have to fight harder. Lucky for us that DC is so awesome at it.

  10. Colonial Viper 10
    29 January 2014 at 9:35 am

    A retraction and correction from Gower is in order, I think.

    Until that happens, just delay all press material going to TV3 by one hour. In any press conference, select and respond to TV3 questions only at the very end of the session.

    No media channel likes being behind their competitors. I’m sure Gower’s managers will quickly ensure editorial and journalistic standards are properly set.

    • greywarbler 10.1
      29 January 2014 at 10:27 am

      CV
      That’s clever thinking – we need to use strategy in this war of words and meaning and facts twisted to become factoids.

      • Colonial Viper 10.1.1
        29 January 2014 at 10:24 pm

        It’s aggressive and has some risks, but considering the grilling over fuck all in the last two days, why not.

    • gem 10.2
      29 January 2014 at 10:45 am

      ‘Until that happens, just delay all press material going to TV3 by one hour. ‘
      Press releases go online when released, on websites like Scoop, TDB, and TS and others, so that’s a bit pointless.
      Carrots work better than sticks anyway.

      • Colonial Viper 10.2.1
        29 January 2014 at 10:23 pm

        Press releases go online when released, on websites like Scoop, TDB, and TS and others, so that’s a bit pointless.

        No, it makes a big difference.

        The result will be that TV3 can only post what other outlets post without having access to full appendices and references etc. And, they will be 10 minutes later online than everyone else even if they do a copy and paste.

        Carrots work better than sticks anyway.

        I think the combo works better than either alone.

        • lprent 10.2.1.1
          30 January 2014 at 12:30 am

          We already pick up the Green and Labour’s press releases in the feed. But I see that Labour doesn’t appear to have any at present. Be nice if someone told me when they were changing their feed URL (YET AGAIN) Bozos…. FFS – how hard is it to maintain the old URLS. It is usually just a redirect.

        • gem 10.2.1.2
          30 January 2014 at 1:24 am

          ”And, they will be 10 minutes later online than everyone else even if they do a copy and paste.”

          TV3 uses copy sourced from wire services for the website (as well as having its own online staff); will your ”aggressive” strategy halt this feed from an external source, or at least delay it by a few minutes?

          • Colonial Viper 10.2.1.2.1
            30 January 2014 at 1:37 am

            Effectiveness isn’t necessarily the point of every measure. There’s lots of ways to send the message that Labour expects solid coverage, professional and fair criticism.

            I’ve outlined just a few.

            Access is oxygen to journalists. I could keep going on detailing strategies if you like.

            • gem 10.2.1.2.1.1
              30 January 2014 at 1:53 am

              ”Effectiveness isn’t necessarily the point of every measure.”

              I see; your desired outcome is not an effective media strategy, but one that generates stories for TV3 and other news outlets about how Labour is strong-arming a network. Good one.

              ”I could keep going on detailing strategies if you like.”

              I wouldn’t if I was you; you patently know very little about how the media works.

  11. felix 11
    29 January 2014 at 9:36 am

    Fuck him.

    Cunliffe should ignore Gower’s questions until he apologises and sorts his shit out.

    Plenty of other journos to answer.

  12. BM 12
    29 January 2014 at 9:38 am

    I reckon Cunliffe should invite the media up to his Herne bay mansion for some beers and a BBQ.

    Cunliffe really needs to work on his PR, at the moment he’s about as popular as a dirty arse in an elevator.

    • felix 12.1
      29 January 2014 at 9:52 am

      You need to work on your colloquialisms. You sound like an inbred Grammar boy trying to talk working class.

      • greywarbler 12.1.1
        29 January 2014 at 10:24 am

        felix
        😀 You’re like a welcome breath of fresh air – after that elevator door was opened.

      • Mainlander 12.1.2
        29 January 2014 at 11:32 am

        So you meant to say BM sounds like your latest messiah Cunliff the original Herne Bay working class man, well spotted felix

        • felix 12.1.2.1
          29 January 2014 at 10:08 pm

          Nah, Cunliffe is a well educated, sophisticated, eloquent man. BM just sounds like Cameron Slater.

        • Colonial Viper 12.1.2.2
          29 January 2014 at 10:27 pm

          Yeah Cunliffe knows the working class well; he worked as a shearer when young and was in as an apartment building caretaker as a student.

          On the other hand, what the fuck as Key done, he can’t remember – or so he likes to tell the judge.

    • Rodel 12.2
      29 January 2014 at 10:42 pm

      Bm You are silly..just silly. Are you 6 years old?

    • well I never 12.3
      30 January 2014 at 11:20 pm

      BM stands for bowel motion in health speak

  13. captain hook 13
    29 January 2014 at 9:40 am

    sorry but I never watch TV3. They have nothing of value and now that parvenu pipsqueak gowere has made a meal out of nothing I dont think I will even bother to reconsider my decison.

  14. greywarbler 14
    29 January 2014 at 9:52 am

    There should be an official report on the Labour blog about any lies or wrong information put out by the media either claiming to quote speakers, or putting wrong inferences on anything they said – or didn’t say.

    For instance indicating firmly that silence after a question indicated a certain action or attitude, that a statement that it was up for negotiation meant more than there was an open mind to arguments about the subject.

    Labour has their own outlet where they can make their own statements with their own point of view without media spin. When there is spin in the media, this should be pointed out in a cool and clear manner with the names of the organisation stated, their political news manager and their flunkey monkey also mentioned.

  15. Philj 15
    29 January 2014 at 10:06 am

    Xox
    What better justification for Labgren establishing an independent non commercial PUBLIC broadcaster. And do it properly this time around, free from party political, or Government influence. Being challenged by a commercial media boof is a sort of payback for not doing it, I suppose.

  16. alwyn 16
    29 January 2014 at 10:28 am

    Cunliffe may want to do some of the things that people here are suggesting.
    He will however remember the remark attributed to Mark Twain “Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel”
    I wonder what the version for electronic media would be?

    If Cunliffe takes the view that he has been defamed (and I don’t mean that in the legal sense) the approach he should take is to demand time on their program to respond. If he is any good, and properly prepared, he can do what Key did to John Campbell regarding the GCSB bill and demolish them.

    • Francis 16.1
      30 January 2014 at 11:40 am

      I found Key incredibly arrogant during that interview, and I really cannot understand how people think that talking over the interviewer and reading out pre-scripted lines is “winning” an argument.

      However, if you say something enough times, people perceive it to be true. That’s how National gets away with most of their crap. With assistance from the bias media, they simply repeat a line of spin over an over again until people automatically think that way (eg Greens = Far Left).

      In the case of that interview, the commentators did their job for them, in consistently saying that Key “won” the interview (though how you can win an interview is beyond me. And Key certainly didn’t win the argument).

      So, while people may have a different opinion if they had watched the interview in isolation (ie without having heard any commentary about it) and if they didn’t know anything else about John Key or John Campbell, after expecting Key to have “won” it (and having predefined opinions on Key and Campbell), that’s exactly what they will think.

      If you had switched Key for Cunliffe but had exactly the same interview otherwise, I can almost guarantee people would consider that Cunliffe was incredibly arrogant during it.

    • karol 16.2
      30 January 2014 at 11:45 am

      Where has Cunliffe stated he’s been defamed? Are you confusing micky’s views in the post with Cunliffe’s

      And Cunliffe has taken up right of reply on Firstline this morning.

      • alwyn 16.2.1
        30 January 2014 at 6:38 pm

        I don’t think you can possibly suggest that what I say can in any way be interpreted as saying that Cunliffe has stated such a thing. I only commented that he MAY feel like doing some of the things people have suggested but he won’t be so silly.
        If he has gone on TV3 he has done what I suggested he should do. Was he as good as Key was with John Campbell, by the way? Perhaps you aren’t the right person to ask.

  17. greywarbler 17
    29 January 2014 at 10:45 am

    alwyn
    I agree that Cunliffe should demand retraction.
    But if there is a record also of the various media miscraptions on the Labour site, with names, dates etc. that also would be there and be a weapon of fact that couldn’t be denied. It would show the continual and continuous behaviour of every offending media organisation and its flunkeys.

    It would be a silent accusation that could be referred to and checked by anyone.
    It would be like Blip’s list and that silent list could be a major factor in making the point to voters that often they are hearing bullshit, and that we need to get away from sloshing the dairy effluent around pretending that it is 100% pure quality, healthy essence of NZ life.

    • alwyn 17.1
      29 January 2014 at 11:42 am

      You are right, and it could be a permanent record of the media’s perceived sins.

      However how many people, other than the political tragics like you, me, and the other people who read this site are going to bother looking at it? After all, although there are many hits on the most popular web sites, Whale Oil, Kiwiblog and this one say, how many different people look at them and how many are from the general public?

      There isn’t much point in telling dedicated followers of one political viewpoint that the creator of the list you propose agrees with them. If you are trying to get a reaction from the general voting public, who correctly take the view that they have better things to do than read websites, I think the only way to do it is to get onto the main TV networks where most people get all their political news.

  18. stargazer 18
    29 January 2014 at 11:02 am

    incidentally, where does the $300,000 figure come from in the post? i thought it was maximum family income of $150,000?

    • weka 18.1
      29 January 2014 at 11:10 am

      Good point. Is that a mistake in the post, or was $300,000 used in the interview?

      • Seti 18.1.1
        29 January 2014 at 11:26 am

        From the TV3 link –

        If Labour wins power, all families who earn less than $150,000 will get the bonus. Mr Cunliffe says that limit would be judged when they had the baby and were down to one income.

        “It applies to income at the time they are applying for the $60-a-week benefit,” says Mr Cunliffe.

        That means a couple earning a total of up to $300,000 would get the bonus if one took leave to be with the baby and they fall under the $150,000 mark. But before this could be properly clarified, Mr Cunliffe walked off.

        • weka 18.1.1.1
          29 January 2014 at 11:36 am

          Thanks.

          If a couple both earn $149,000, and the woman stops working to have a baby, why would they go for the $60/wk when they could instead get paid parental leave?

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 18.1.1.1.1
            29 January 2014 at 11:43 am

            Because the point of the Op-Ed piece was for Paddy to attack the proposal, not to report upon it.

          • Seti 18.1.1.1.2
            29 January 2014 at 12:07 pm

            So once the ppl ends they would be entitled to the $60?

            And if income is assessed only when the baby was born then is there is no limit to what the partner taking leave was earning if they were the sole income or the other partner was below the $150k threshold?

            • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.1.2.1
              29 January 2014 at 12:17 pm

              You shouldn’t be trying to bring successful, rich people down. It’s so sad to see this politics of envy from the Right Wing.

              • Seti …
                29 January 2014 at 12:29 pm

                Just trying to establish that when my partner Victoria Ransom and I have our child we will still get the baby bonus as I’m under the $150k.

                • lprent …
                  29 January 2014 at 12:49 pm

                  Is she working?

                  • Lanthanide …
                    29 January 2014 at 12:53 pm

                    I expect the $150k/year income includes investment returns, so unless she literally stored the cash under her mattress or invested it in something that had a 0% return, she’d very likely still be earning over the threshold.

                    Of course why we’re even pretending Seti isn’t just making shit up I’m not sure.

                • weka …
                  29 January 2014 at 12:54 pm

                  Yes, once PPL ends, as long as your combined household income is below $150,000 and remains there, you can get the $60/wk until your child turns 1. After that the child support is income tested and abated, up to the child being 3.

                  My question to you Seti: will you claim the $60/wk for the second 6 months of your child’s life, when you patently don’t need it?

                  • Francis …
                    30 January 2014 at 11:47 am

                    Of course, if your partner did earn $100,000 per year (for example) which put you over the threshold, and they decided not to work for that year, you’d be earning $100,000 less anyways. The $60 per week (about $3,100 per year) wouldn’t come close to making up the difference.

                    If people who’s combined income is over $150,000 intend to have one parent stop working for the first year in order to bypass the threshold, it’s a very large sacrifice for a tiny gain…

                    Having said that, it’s probably very good for the child in the long-term, so it’s probably worth considering.

        • Lanthanide 18.1.1.2
          29 January 2014 at 12:32 pm

          Or you know, actually, you could have a family income of $1.2M, then both decide to stop working and therefore be eligible for the $60/week because your income would be less than $150k.

          Or any other amount of income you choose.

          When you look at it like that, Paddy is making mountains out of molehills, because the policy quite clearly depends on your expected annual earnings for the year ahead, and it doesn’t matter what you used to earn.

    • Molly 18.2
      29 January 2014 at 11:33 am

      Gowers framing was that two income earners at $140,000/annum each, who go down to one income when the baby is born is an example of higher income earners being able to access the policy’s $60/wk.

      Cunliffe’s response could have been – “Yes, the $60/wk will go someway to addressing the $140K shortfall for the first twelve months of a child’s life” – but Gower was confusing in his questions to say the least.

      Using this analogy – a household earning just under $300K per year will be entitled to the policy IF one of those parents is no longer earning an income in the first year.

  19. Skinny 19
    29 January 2014 at 11:10 am

    The head of TV 3 needs to reign in all their staff for such bias reporting. Watching the headlines prior to the main 6pm news and then the actual news item, I was left bemused as to how this was a walk out by DC. Paddy was over dramatising things as per the norm with him.

    Let’s hope viewers saw it for what it was, trashy sensational gutter journalism. It may actually work in Labour’s best interests, Kiwi’s like backing the under dog when they feel their being stiffed.    

    • Hanswurst 19.1
      29 January 2014 at 11:37 am

      “Paddy was over dramatising things as per the norm with him.”

      He was not over-dramatising. He was lying.

    • Colonial Viper 19.2
      29 January 2014 at 12:18 pm

      As I said before, simply supply TV3 with delayed media materials and impaired access to Labour MPs and news until some semblance of journalistic integrity is returned.

      • weka 19.2.1
        29 January 2014 at 12:56 pm

        Like a boycott? So give access to other media but not TV3? I like the idea, although how would you decide which other media had a semblance of journalistic integrity?

        • Colonial Viper 19.2.1.1
          29 January 2014 at 10:30 pm

          No – not a boycott: you still answer all questions but say only if they are provided in advance in writing, etc.

          Plenty of different ways to make a journo’s life difficult if they insist on being pricks and making the news about themselves.

        • Colonial Viper 19.2.1.2
          29 January 2014 at 10:34 pm

          No, not a boycott. You want to say that you ARE in fact answering all of Paddy’s questions. But only if they are submitted in advance, in writing.

          And of course you will do a live interview with TV3 News. But only if the interviewer ain’t Paddy.

          Plenty of ways to make TV3’s job less easy if they insist on letting this BS continue.

          • gem 19.2.1.2.1
            29 January 2014 at 11:29 pm

            ”And of course you will do a live interview with TV3 News. But only if the interviewer ain’t Paddy.”
            You do not do this. To punish a political editor you ignore their network in favour of another network or news outlet.
            No news organisation is going to let politicians call the shots about how jobs are allocated.

      • gem 19.2.2
        29 January 2014 at 1:15 pm

        That’s naive bully boy stuff that mostly backfires.
        And anyway, do you think caucus unity is sufficient that MPs are going to shun journos they probably like, and in the process risk lack of exposure for the issues they are trying to push?
        I do think it’s reasonable however to ask for a retraction, because DC did not flounce off. Deal with the issue at hand.

        • Colonial Viper 19.2.2.1
          29 January 2014 at 10:41 pm

          Sorry mate, I disagree with you. It’s not David Cunliffe who is being the “bully boy” here.

          • gem 19.2.2.1.1
            29 January 2014 at 11:20 pm

            You misinterpreted my post.
            My use of the phrase bully boy referred to your ham-fisted and reactionary suggestion about how to manage the media.
            I have no doubt Messrs Cunliffe, both leader and media manager, have a few more clues about how to manage the relationship.

  20. Papa Tuanuku 20
    29 January 2014 at 11:42 am

    I’m liking how people are talking about coordinated responses to reporting that is:

    – untruthful
    – partisan
    – anti-democratic

    This is about more than a shoddy report by Gower, it’s about calling out and dismantling the organised backlash by redneck media – gower, henry, hoskins, every night! A healthy media environment should have at least one non-commercial and neutral source or news and analysis.

    what’s the bigger picture strategy? what did Obama do?

  21. Naki Man 21
    29 January 2014 at 12:06 pm

    Gower is just balancing out that hard left infomercial on TV3 Communist Live

    • framu 21.1
      29 January 2014 at 12:30 pm

      so making shit up is some sort of balance to you?

      jesus wept, your really a rather sad caricature of what you think you are arent you

      • Lanthanide 21.1.1
        29 January 2014 at 12:51 pm

        What with reality having a leftward bias, they *have* to make things up in order to create ‘balance’.

    • Arfamo 21.2
      29 January 2014 at 12:32 pm

      John Campbell is a communist? Oh my lord. Lol. You really are a scream funi man.

      • Naki Man 21.2.1
        29 January 2014 at 1:17 pm

        John Campbell may not be a communist but he is far left of labour.
        Gower and Campbell are both very misleading at best.
        Helen Clark called Campbell a sanctimonious little creep and I agree with her.

  22. aerobubble 22
    29 January 2014 at 1:54 pm

    What changed this weak. Oh, yeah, Henry. Could this anti-labour been some response to keep attention away from Henry and so kill off his new show. And really, which are we going to remember, $60 a week, or Cunliffe rushing for a Chorus meeting.

  23. emergency mike 23
    29 January 2014 at 3:04 pm

    Paddy Gower – “Why did you stop beating your wife?” journalism.

  24. rod 24
    29 January 2014 at 5:27 pm

    I read somewhere that Gower used to work for the NZ herald, well, that says it all.

  25. Tracey 25
    29 January 2014 at 5:44 pm

    National and act supporters understand personal responsibility and wld never rejig their finances to get a extra 60 buck.

    In the meantime heres something the public wont hear from gower

    @publicaddress @@rsalmond Agreed. Still big impact policy, nothing to be ashamed of

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  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    49 mins ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 hour ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
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    3 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
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    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
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    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    8 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
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  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
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  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
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    Skeptical Science
    16 hours ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
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  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    16 hours ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
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  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
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  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
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  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
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  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
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  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    19 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    20 hours ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    23 hours ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    23 hours ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    23 hours ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
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    6 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
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    19 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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    20 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
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    22 hours ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
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    23 hours ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
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    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
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    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
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    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
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    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
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    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
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  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
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    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
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    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
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    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
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    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
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    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
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    4 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
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    7 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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    7 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
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    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
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    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
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    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
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  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
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    1 week ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
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    1 week ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
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    1 week ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
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    1 week ago

  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
    The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
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    1 week ago

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