Herald loses perspective

Written By: - Date published: 3:36 pm, June 18th, 2014 - 74 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, newspapers - Tags: ,

So apparently forgetting about signing a form letter for a constituent 11 years ago is a resignable offence now.

It seemed odd when the donation story came out – even if Liu (probably) donated to Labour, cash for access (as we’ve been seeing with the Cabinet Club and Maurice Williamson) involves not just cash, but access.

It seemed even weirder when Labour didn’t seem to have any record of a donation.  And then, yes – we have a photo of Rick Barker with his partner and a bottle of wine!  That’s right, his partner definitely bought a bottle of wine at one of the dozens of Labour wine auction fundraisers each year.

Last I heard our political parties relied on donations, rather than it being a crime to accept one.

And even if it seems likely he did give a bigger donation in 2007, Labour could hardly know that National would let him buy access 6 years down the track.

But now we have what National had planned all along (as they surely knew all about the letter all along, having Liu’s immigration files in their grasp).

It’s a long bow, and far more political trap than anything actually at fault.

A form letter for a constituent – one that doesn’t even advocate for the constituent, and repeatedly misspells his name.

It shows that Liu met an electoral assistant, explained his problem with the speed of the bureaucracy, and agrees to help him press for a date for a decision.  It’s given to the MP in a pile to sign (he evidently doesn’t read it to point out the inconsistent name spelling), and the constituent is helped.

Democracy in action.

Resignable?  Well as Danyl points out, he did fall into the trap.

But really?  Is this what it’s come to?  Who can orchestrate the biggest ‘gotcha’?  It’s always going to be the government, with their hugely superior resources.

And even then Key’s failure to remember everything from TranzRail shares to calling Ian Fletcher weren’t ‘resignable’.

What about policies and who will help New Zealanders?


Incidentally John Key memory lapses:

John Key:

  • Forgot how many Tranz Rail shares he owned.
  • Unsure if and when he was briefed by GCSB on Kim Dotcom.

  • Forgot how he voted on drinking age.

  • Could not recall whether he was for or against the 1981 Springbok Tour.

  • Could not remember who was aboard mystery CIA jet parked at Wellington airport.

  • Forgot he phoned future director of GCSB urging him to apply for the job.

And the Herald’s respone to those?  To suggestion resignation?  No: get a psychologist to explain them:

“Just because you forget something doesn’t mean it’s malevolent.”

She said memory was like a plough that you had to use deeper and deeper to unearth all memories.

“Sometimes you have to have several passes through,” she said. “All he is doing is not remembering at the time he’s trying to remember, then he does fairly quickly – so I wouldn’t call that any kind of lying or conniving.”

“Now you will see people phrase things as, ‘that is how I remember it’, or ‘to the best of my recollection’, which places an out on the table. People can be wrong about the most amazing things – people can be wrong in spectacular ways,” she said.

74 comments on “Herald loses perspective ”

  1. One Anonymous Bloke 1

    Open season on Cabinet Club attendees sounds like a proportional response.

  2. Dave_1924 2

    Why point at National BUNJI?

    This is an inside job. First rule – who benefits!!

    National have been very content with David Cunliffe as leader as Labours poll returns get worse and worse.

    Look inside for your organiser of this little stitch up…..

    • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1

      That’s certainly one of the lines all the little wingnuts are pushing.

    • the pigman 2.2

      How the fuck do the likes of Trevor Mallard, Clayton Cosgrove and Chris Hipkins gain from Labour polling below 30 on election day and maybe never above again?

      The “labour in disarray” story has already been tested and the RW know its an achilles heel for the Left and sure-fire media story (look at how it worked over Shearer’s term).

      It’s National and the RW that benefit from a divided left.. just look (if you can bear it) at their crowing.

      Think about it if you’re Chris Hipkins and want to organise a coup in the party. Don’t you think you’d need to rely on an actual smoking gun rather than a piece of innocuous nothingness like the letter?

      So as much as left Labour might dislike the ABCs, I’m pleased to say it doesn’t stand to reason that they’d do it.

      • Dave_1924 2.2.1

        Really?

        National have already well established the Labour in disarray narrative. No need to go any further in my view. But if you say its the Nats… well they have kicked off a firestorm haven’t they.

        • Tracey 2.2.1.1

          answer the question. how do the dark artists benefit by remaining in opposition dave?

          • Dave_1924 2.2.1.1.1

            Actually Tracey – they may save a couple of list MP’s because the polls under Cunliffe are going one way at the moment for Labour and that is South…. A bounce back under new leaders might actually work…

            But if it is National then they have found something through ferreting around like all political parties back offices do – and the question then becomes why in hell didn’t Cunliffes team know about this so he could front foot it?

            If its National they have only been able to play this card, get traction from it because Labour have been banging the corruption drum all year..

            If DC wants to PM his team needs to do a damn sight better job then leaving him in front of media pack baying for blood, with no verified facts at his finger tips to bat them away….

            And in reply to “what do ABC gain” @ 2.2.2 well not a lot except satisfaction at delivering utu to a man they didn’t want as their leader in the first place….

      • ianmac 2.2.2

        Always this ABC nonsense without a skerrick of truth. A murky effort by anti-labour fellows to sow distrust and suspicion.
        Rubbish!

      • Tracey 2.2.3

        they dont. there is a concern troll pretending national are pure… of course bradbury doesnt help with his ill thought out one handed typing

    • Tracey 2.3

      bs. nats are spooked by craig.. and want to ensure they rule alone. this is classic dirty tricks and john armstrong is genuflecting so much his back may snap.

  3. Blue 3

    There’s a reason the Herald was chosen for this task. So right wing they’re practically the National Party Newsletter anyway, and with no journalistic standards to speak of.

    It’s become such a farce.

  4. James 4

    Last I heard our political parties relied on donations, rather than it being a crime to accept one.

    Actually I think the crime is not declaring it. Which it seems Labour didnt.

    • Bunji 4.1

      It would depend what size the donation was James, whether it needed declaring.
      Presuming the donation existed – the Herald have 2 unidentified people’s word on what happened 7 years ago, but no paper trail.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 4.1.1

        Have they followed up on the $50,000 auction of one of John Keys ties, that too was in 2007.

        No name listed on Nationals donation list for that amount either

    • Tracey 4.2

      then theres saying you played golf with a guy who won you for charity. turns out it was 50k to the national party and the 18 holes over at least 2 hours was with the owner of the milk company the minister of justice lied about meeting with. anyway back to cunliffe

  5. the pigman 5

    Hilarious that Bomber has immediately bought into the “Labour in disarray” narrative and tried to pin this on the “ABCs”.

    How fucking naive can he get?

    • Tracey 5.1

      he is being self serving and feeds the rwnj meme without seeing how much it helps the nats get re elected.

      fascinating to see the right and the herald suddenly think that integrity is important in a leader….

      • weka 5.1.1

        “he is being self serving and feeds the rwnj meme without seeing how much it helps the nats get re elected.”

        Either that, or he’s ok with losing this election so long as Labour go down and Mana go up.

    • David H 5.2

      And that’s why I keep away from TDB now a days. Bomber has lost it completely, or even worse he ‘believes his own press’

  6. Craig Glen Eden 6

    I actually think this is the National Party at work here rather than the ABCers. National have a big problem and they probably know now that none of their potential coalition Partners have much chance of being much help. Key has problems insde of National because none of his MPs look like standing aside for Colin Craig so they have decided lets try and discredit the major party on the other side.Its Cunliffe’s time to turn this attack into his own on National.

    • Ant 6.1

      Yeah ABCs (or the herald) don’t have the resources for this dig.

    • Anne 6.2

      I actually think this is the National Party at work here rather than the ABCers.

      Of course it is. Is this supposed to be Slater’s H bomb?

  7. Tracey 7

    can you point to your proof it was a corm letter

    • Bunji 7.1

      form letter?

      I don’t meant that in the literal pre-printed letter, just in the write dozens of these each month sort of letter. Standard fare.

  8. ianmac 8

    And this as headline from :
    Jared Savage is the New Zealand Herald’s investigations editor.

    “David Cunliffe wrote letter supporting Liu’s residency bid.”
    This factually incorrect. And as incorrect as John Armstrong’s column.
    Have emailed Jared Savage.

    • Tracey 8.1

      never thought I would write this but

      I have emailed armstrong

    • freedom 8.2

      No questioning of Liu is what bugs me most. None. Where’s the confirmation of the information Jared? Journalism 101. Verify the source’s information. Not exactly difficult to do in this case either.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 8.3

      Technically he signed the letter and its on his letterhead.

      But then again John Banks strung out his court case for 9 months on ‘not remembering’ a document he signed too. There was an itsy bitsy difference in that was a offence of up to two years for not taking any notice of what it was

  9. john 9

    It would be no big deal that Cunliffe helped Liu, or that he forgot about it.

    Except he’s been highly critical of National for helping Liu.

    It would be no big deal that Liu donated to Labour.

    Except that Cunliffe has been highly critical of National for the same thing.

    It would be no big deal that Cunliffe is wealthy.

    Excepts he’s been highly critical of others for being wealthy.

    Then of course he was highly critical of anonymous donations.

    WHILE running his own secret trust to hide donations.

    His problem is his criticisms simply don’t have any credibility anymore.

    • James 9.1

      Dont forget John – Hates overseas people buying houses – then helps overseas people buy houses.

      Any he wonders why people think he’s slimy.

    • Craig Glen Eden 9.2

      Really thats the best you can come up with John.Cunliffe said he didnt advocate for Liu which his letter show’s he didnt. Cunliffe is crfitical of the current practice of cash for access when has National or anyone proved Liu got special treatment from Labour like what he got from National.Cunliffe attacked Key not over where he lived but the fact that he dosnt care sbout others less fortunate.Cunliffe has never been ashamed of his money he just thinks everyone should have a chance to do well not just Nationals mates.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 9.3

      John, you’re plagiarising other people’s lines again.

      A trust that is declared isn’t secret, by definition, you fucking idiot.

      Criticising people for pulling up the ladder is not criticism of wealth, fool.

      Asking questions for a constituent is not the same as trying to get a donor off charges, you partisan hack.

    • Tracey 9.4

      so to summarise you are saying because nat cabinet and pm have no principles is of no import how they behave?

      no wonder some say we are only a year or 2 from gfc number 2 with dupes like you turning a blind eye

    • um..!..john..have you ever seen the blip-list..?

    • Lloyd 9.6

      I am not sure that your criticisms have credibility any more John

      • john 9.6.1

        Whether you think my criticisms have credibility is irrelevant.

        What matters is much of NZ can see Cunliffe make complaint after complaint while secretly doing the very things he’s complaining about, then continually getting caught.

  10. fdx 10

    John Armstrong is a wheezing old hack overdue for his appointment at the glue factory.

  11. swordfish 11

    Did somebody say “Tranz Rail” ?

    Time to take a wee stroll down Memory Lane…here… http://tvnz.co.nz/content/2097819/425825/article.html

    Here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaEXa202Q6M

    And take a moment to have a wee laugh at John’s body language 0.26 – 0.39 when caught out here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeJSFVWKnsE

    • Tracey 11.1

      apparently thats ok because apparently cos john and co dont say they have principles.

  12. Draco T Bastard 12

    Labour needs to use this to point out the double standards present in the MSM. After all of John Key’s lies not one of them has called for his resignation.

    • Ant 12.1

      I think Key brushes it off better, Cunliffe looks like he takes it too seriously so it makes it seem like a bigger deal.

      If Cunliffe says he is relaxed about stuff he needs to look relaxed.

      • Tracey 12.1.1

        do you mean key lies better?

        • Colonial Viper 12.1.1.1

          Basically, and the MSM prefer to swallow like goldfish when Key does it

      • Oh, so Key is so entitled that ethics don’t bother him, so it’s okay for the MSM to ignore his faults? If he ignores or brushes it off, it should get worse for him. His reputation for slipperyness is really unearned- it’s far more a matter of how the media treats Key than any innate quality he has.

    • Tracey 12.2

      I would like to see the greens launch it.

      • Draco T Bastard 12.2.1

        The left in general. Look at the attacks on KDC, Hone Harawira and now Laila Harré.

        • Tracey 12.2.1.1

          agree. jeanette fitzsimmons could pop up and make some comments.

          • Colonial Viper 12.2.1.1.1

            Jim Anderton putting his 2c in would also send the right signals to the Left throughout the nation

  13. Skinny 13

    It is a stretch trying to hang Cunliffe to any shady donations, especially dating so far back. Of course National call in a favour from their print media propaganda mates the NZH.

    This is all about National countering the public’s total disgust at the Cabinet Club cartel.

    • Tracey 13.1

      remember when bennett was asked in the house about cabinet club meetings. she answered. when asked weeks later on camera she denied any knowledge of cabinet club meetings. this woman oversees the vetting of beneficiaries for dishonesty. apparently that is a non story…

    • Anne 13.2

      And I doubt it is a coincidence it’s happening why Key is in the USA pretending to be a statesman. Very convenient time to have Cunliffe smeared as the liar.

      • Colonial Viper 13.2.1

        NATs are really good at playing this game

        • Skinny 13.2.1.1

          I had a little chuckle seeing John Key next to Helen. He looked like a submissive light weight compared to her.

          Such a loyalist to Labour, Helen comes out in true heavy weight style to bolster Labour’s election campaign by firing up to stamp her authority. Worth 3% to 5 % if she gains traction.

      • Chooky 13.2.2

        we always knew the NACTs would be lighting brush fires like crazy all over the place

        …best ignore it as a form request at a low level amongst tens of thousands of others

        … dealt with by office assistants and signed pro forma…easily forgettable !

        ….Labour needs to dismiss it and get some really good policy on the table to attract the voters ( eg. bring down the age of retirement …and secure retirement savings ….student interest on loans abolished)

      • Anne 13.2.3

        oh shit… should be”it’s happening while Key…” @13.2

  14. dimebag russell 14

    the herald has always been a crummy little rag and now its going tawdry. for all its big city pretensions it has the brain of a small town gossiping tattler.

  15. Clemgeopin 15

    The National dirty tricks brigade is active in its gutter. They forget that the great Labour party, its policies, principles, values and vision can not be silenced by these muck raking evil anti Labour propagandists. From the reports so far, Cunliffe has not lied. He did not influence the immigration. A letter written eleven years ago as an MP on behalf of a new immigrant to inquire how long the immigration decision may take is not a corrupt action. To expect an MP to remember all the letters he or she has signed 11 years ago when a reporter somewhere suddenly springs a question out of the blue and to characterise a lack of immediate recollection of such a letter as being corrupt is plain wrong. I still retain my full confidence in Mr Cunliffe and the Labour party. Voters should be caucious and alert not to be victims of the evil spin and tricks of the National party dirty tricks machine, nor be fooled by the affable cunning and feigned innocent persona of tricky Key.

  16. chris73 16

    How about not giving them any ammunition in the first place?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10173411/David-Cunliffes-catastrophes

    • BM 16.1

      LOL

      Who ever said that any press is good press obviously had never read that article

      I voted Herne Bay doer-upper btw.

      • chris73 16.1.1

        So did I

        how anyone can claim that Cunliffes highly intelligent when you just have to look at what hes brought on himself…

  17. Adrian 17

    I was told a few years ago by a relative of a senior NZH staff member that the paper gave the Nats free advertising in the last week of the 2008 election because they were the “underdog”. Very hard to prove without the money that has obviously been spent on this smear, but if true it is a criminal offence. Even if it was only a bigger discount than Labour got, somebody would go to jail.
    Time the Herald died .

    • ghostwhowalksnz 17.1

      Its a discounted service so has to be put as a ‘donation’.

      More likely they gave a discount as a volume buyer, but the boot was on the other foot when Len Brown got free rooms as a frequent guest.

  18. ghostwhowalksnz 18

    What Im interested in if Seven Sharp does its usual fluff pieces on what ever today or will Hoskin
    push them into a full blown outrage.
    This story broke after his radio show finished, but like the Oil Orca hes got a voice pipe to the PMs office so could have been aware something was coming

  19. Adrian 19

    No Ghost, I believe the charges have to be the same for all parties. It’s a fairnest thing, a strange concept for Herald and the Nats of course. But I was assured it was pretty secret i.e, no charge.

  20. Chooky 20

    Malcom X

    “If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/06/18/comparing-key-to-cunliffe-and-john-armstrongs-demand-that-david-resigns/

  21. Rodel 21

    Just read Armstrong’s article, heard Duncan Garner on radio, watched Hoskings briefly on TV1, manage to avoid Henry most nights and listened to dumb questions on Campbell live tonight and Campbell pretending to conduct an interview and preening himself (I think it’s called celebrity journalism) when he was acting like a clown and shouting at Cunliffe. I remember Helen Clark walking out on him in disgust.

    The left has an uphill battle to counter the propaganda of New Zealand’s radio, newspapers and television who are simply PR agents for National.

    Professionally they all are on the same level as Slater and Bradbury.

    Thank goodness teachers, surgeons, nurses and pilots and hey even lawyers, don’t have the same vocational values as these apologies for journalists.

  22. appleboy 22

    This is all bullshit. Key forgets major events left right and centre, Cunliffe forgets an 11 year old letter that says nothing wrong. Fucking media are a bunch of twats. Listening to Andrea Vance and reading John Armstrong made me puke today.

    Are the media that fucking biased or are they just whipping up junk stories because that’s what modern journos are ‘supposed’ to do.

  23. Davethebroken 23

    The letter isn’t a big deal – normal in fact. Not remembering it is also normal. Having a team of staff and not knowing about it is bad management. On the back of the attacks Labour have mounted against Nats, it just seems to reek of hypocrisy. If it was his first gaff, then no one would care but a picture is starting to appear and it’s not good for David Cuncliffe

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    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
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    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
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    9 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
    11 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,” ...
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    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. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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  • 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 ...
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  • 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 ...
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    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 ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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    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 ...
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  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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