I Fought the Law

Written By: - Date published: 8:28 pm, April 28th, 2015 - 148 comments
Categories: Ethics, human rights, john key, law, Minister for International Embarrassment, national, uncategorized - Tags: , ,

There have been quite a few questions raised about the legal and political implications of the Prime Minister’s harassment of an Auckland cafe worker, Amanda Bailey. Former National Party MP Marilyn Waring aced it when she said “I’m getting tired of it being called anything but illegal”.

So, I thought it would be useful to look at the areas of the law that potentially impact on the matter, from the factual to the fanciful. Hopefully I’ve covered all the bases; readers can always add to the list if I’ve missed any legal options. For the avoidance of doubt, this does not mean that the author or the Standard are definitively saying that John Key or others involved are guilty of any specific crime or have breached any Act. That is something for the judicial system to determine, as legal processes roll out.

Firstly, the cafe.

The Prime Minister has admitted repeatedly physically touching the cafe worker. Amanda Bailey says that she asked him to stop and that he continued. She also told her manager, who tried to intervene. While obviously there is no direct employment relationship between Key and the staff member, as a client of the cafe, his behaviour impacts on her employment. Employment law expert Susan Hornsby-Geluk notes that workers have the right to work “without harassment from members of the public”. I think most of us kinda take that for granted in our jobs, but harassment is a constant issue in the hospo industry. Drunks obviously, but men drunk on power too, it appears.

All employers are required by the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 to ensure the safety of employees by taking all practicable steps to provide and maintain a safe working environment. If the cafe manager was aware and failed to stop the behaviour, Amanda Bailey probably also has an Employment Relations Act claim for unjustified disadvantage. That is, the employer has failed to take reasonable steps to protect her and this failure negatively impacted on her employment.

Further, if, as has been claimed, the employer deliberately allowed Bailey to talk to a journalist while she was under the impression the interview was for the cafe’s own PR purposes, it is entirely possible she has a claim under the ERA for breach of trust and/or disadvantage, and under the Privacy Act or the Human Rights Act for deception that compromised her privacy.  Readers might recall the ‘Cake’ case from a few months ago. While not directly comparable in regard to the circumstances, it shows the result of an employer deliberately harming an employee’s work prospects and public standing can be substantial, both in terms of financial cost and reputational damage.

If I was advising the cafe owners, I’d say settle. Fast.

Secondly, The New Zealand Herald.

If it is true that the journalist concerned, Rachel Glucina, lied about her role (claiming to be doing her alternative job of PR, when she was actually intent on writing a story for the paper), then she may face disciplinary action from her employer and censure from both the Press Council and PRINZ, the peak body for PR professionals. There is also a chance that a Privacy Act/Human Rights Act claim could be taken against both the paper and Glucina.

The constantly changing story about whether the cafe worker was properly informed certainly suggests Granny was worried that an ethical line might have been crossed. If it’s proven that Glucina got the interview under false pretences, then it’s all rather embarrassing for the paper and its editor. If the Herald is anything like the Murdoch media, they’ll throw the ‘rogue’  journalist under a bus rather than admit any systemic failings. Systemic failings like hiring Glucina in the first place.

Lastly, the PM.

He has admitted the harassment. He could potentially be a witness in an ERA case. He is now facing a Human Rights Act claim, accused of sexual harassment by private prosecutor Graham McCready. Key could also be charged with multiple assaults. Quoted in the Herald, University of Auckland law professor Bill Hodge believes Mr Key could be investigated for common assault for “hostile touching”.

The testimony from the Police officers in Key’s Diplomatic Protection unit who witnessed the events will be fascinating. Kinda makes you wonder why they couldn’t spot what appear to be repeated assaults, but hey, given that they’re just glorified golf caddies, that’s probably too much to ask. McCready has also begun proceedings against the police for what appears to be dereliction of duty.

Obviously, if he is charged with assault, Key will have little option but to stand aside as Prime Minister. If he is convicted, there’s no way back. As the John Banks case showed, under the Electoral Act 1993, conviction of an offence that carries a potential two year or more prison sentence (even if it is not imposed) disqualifies the guilty person from being an MP .  It might also make visiting the Hawaiian holiday home tricky; last time I heard US Customs weren’t big on letting violent crims into the country.

The same stand down scenario probably should apply if he faces ERA, Privacy Act or Human Rights Act cases, but I suspect Key would try and wriggle out of his moral obligations there, claiming they were less serious than criminal charges. Or that Labour did it too.

The Police could also decline to prosecute assault or harassment charges, taking the ‘not in the public interest line’, but given that some of their own sworn officers are witnesses to or even passive enablers of the repeated assaults, that would look mighty weak.

There is some possibility that actually being charged or sued will do Key a favour; the media will be reluctant to report on a case that is going before the courts. Dr Catherine Strong points out the downside of that msm caution, noting that this “would be disappointing because the overall issue needs to be aired and discussed by the public.”. Happily, I think the public will be discussing this for quite some time, whether or not Key’s charged. This one ain’t going away.

Whatever the legal outcomes, Key is likely to be spending the next few months, or even years, cleaning up this mess. For example, the John Banks case is still before the courts five years after the offence was committed. It hasn’t helped Banksie’s political career one little bit. Of course, the taxpayer will be paying for much of the legal advice Key will be getting. No doubt the Taxpayers Union will be keeping a close eye on the bill. Or not, as the case may be.

While Key has damned himself by saying he is NZ’s most casual Prime Minister, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t put the hours in. Being PM is a tough, demanding gig. Doing that job and fighting protracted legal battles to minimise the damage of things he has already admitted doing is going to hobble him. It’s one thing to defend accusations; another thing altogether defending accusations you’ve already admitted are true. Even if he grimly hangs on Key is now being openly laughed at. Not with, at. That’s gotta hurt. And the rest of his caucus knows that, well, weirdos don’t win elections.

No, I think the best thing for Key, and the National Party, is for him to resign and deal with the legal fallout as a private citizen. But he won’t want to do that because he knows, despite his desperate denial that there is a power imbalance in this matter, that if he doesn’t have the power that goes with being Prime Minister there’s every chance the judiciary might treat him just like any other middle aged man who admitted repeatedly playing with the hair of a young woman against her wishes.

And, well, I’m sure we would all agree it would be a terrific shame if Key missed out on a fourth term because he was serving a first term. But it’s possible, it’s possible.

 

 

148 comments on “I Fought the Law ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Lanthanide 1
    28 April 2015 at 9:00 pm

    “Obviously, if he is charged with assault, Key will have little option but to stand aside as Prime Minister. If he is convicted, there’s no way back. ”

    It must be noted however, that this is only if he is *convicted*. The Maori King’s son was found guilty of drink-driving and theft, but the court decided not to convict him, citing it would be disproportionate to the offending and he had already been punished enough in the court of public opinion. Thankfully the court of appeal later reversed this decision.

    But it’s quite possible this would happen in Key’s case – as far as assault goes, and general criminality, it really is on the low end of things – which after all is the whole reason he’s still in the job and wasn’t forced to immediately resign. Convicting him of assault and therefore forcing him to end his tenure in the highest office of the land could be seen as disproportionate, and that being found guilty and the subsequent public discussion would be punishment enough.

    • weka 1.1
      28 April 2015 at 9:26 pm

      If he is charged, do you think he could stay on as PM in the lead up to the trial?

      • Lanthanide 1.1.1
        28 April 2015 at 11:16 pm

        Hard to say.

        He’d probably do his utmost not to stand down. He could try and play his “I had my private citizen hat on at the time” card.

        • Tracey 1.1.1.1
          29 April 2015 at 7:21 am

          “Hard to say”

          What is your opinion Lanth, in such a circumstance do you think he could or should stay?

          • DoublePlusGood 1.1.1.1.1
            29 April 2015 at 9:58 am

            Kind of a meaningless point really, when you consider he should have resigned >10 times already.

          • Lanthanide 1.1.1.1.2
            29 April 2015 at 10:09 am

            I’m really on the fence. Like I said, in terms of assault, either violence or sexual, it really is on the very low end of the scale, and that’s why he hasn’t resigned for it.

            So the question is, if charges were to be laid, would that interfere with his ability to do his job as PM? It could interfere with his ability to campaign, given all the photos of him touching children’s hair while campaigning. But day-to-day PM responsibilities? I don’t really see that it would interfere with them.

            It’s no different from people being investigated for a crime that has no bearing on their ability to do their job – a traffic violation for example.

            I guess you can extend his responsibilities of PM to representing the country and all individuals within it, and setting a high moral standard for everyone else. In that capacity certainly he has difficulty. But I don’t see that criminal charges would make a difference there – he is already held in disrepute by the public for this, but hasn’t resigned (and I haven’t heard much pressure for him to resign over this).

            • Tracey 1.1.1.1.2.1
              29 April 2015 at 10:29 am

              Thanks Lanth

              There is also the Cabinet Manual, which he has breached and which includes how he behaves in his personal capacity…

              Yet, Key accepted (forced?) Gilmore’s resignation… he touched no one..

              • Lanthanide …
                29 April 2015 at 10:41 am

                Re: Cabinet Manual, that would tip me just slightly over to the “he should stand down if charged” side. I don’t think he will, though, simply because of the contempt this executive holds for the cabinet manual.

                Re: Aaron Gimour, Key’s active physical touching is inarguably worse than Gimour’s verbal harrassment. What really differentiates the two however is the repeated nature of Key’s abuse, especially after he had been told and the waitress had made it obvious that she didn’t like it and wanted him to stop.

                • freedom …
                  29 April 2015 at 12:02 pm

                  I am unsure why people keep referring to the Gilmore case.
                  Is it simply because the offending occurred in a place that wasn’t an ‘official workplace’ of the offender?

                  New Zealand is the PM’s workplace as far as I am concerned.
                  Isn’t the Sutton case a closer fit, as it did actually involve repeated and unwelcome physical contact?

                  • McFlock …
                    29 April 2015 at 12:11 pm

                    Yes, sutton is probably closer on those grounds, but Gilmore is also similar because it is the type of relationship that key had (customer:hospo) and the same attitude (I can say or do what I want to you and you must take it and thank me for the privilege of serving me). Although key was apparently sober, whereas Gilmore might well have been drunk.

                    Drunkenness doesn’t excuse Gilmore, but can explain the lack of the little angel telling one to shut the fuck up

  2. Sacha 2
    28 April 2015 at 9:09 pm

    Glucina does not belong to PRINZ. Nor is she much of a ‘journalist’. Her editor and publisher on the other hand may have cases to answer to the Press Council for their role.

  3. Sacha 3
    28 April 2015 at 9:12 pm

    “The testimony from the Police officers in Key’s Diplomatic Protection unit who witnessed the events will be fascinating. Kinda makes you wonder why they couldn’t spot what appear to be repeated assaults …”

    Apparently their standard practice is to face away from the PM and scan for risks to his safety rather than look at what he is doing. Not good witnesses, then.

    • weka 3.1
      28 April 2015 at 9:30 pm

      Hard to either intervene or give evidence if you think that sexual harassment is instead a social act.

      Mr McCready has also made an official complaint to the Independent Police Conduct Authority, asking it to look at whether two members of the Prime Minister’s diplomatic protection squad should have intervened during the incidents.

      However, C4 Group chief executive Chris Lawton – a former police officer and bodyguard – said yesterday that it was not the job of the protection squad to tell the Prime Minister how to act socially.

      He said in a private social situation like a cafe visit, diplomatic protection staff would be taking a backseat approach.

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/272079/hurdles-for-private-ponytailgate-prosecution

      • blacksand 3.1.1
        28 April 2015 at 11:04 pm

        I can just imagine how much of a backseat approach they’d be taking if I tried to fondle his hair in such a “private social situation”.

        I dare say my backseat would be hitting the ground pretty damn hard, and I can’t imagine many of the sycophants of the last week having much sympathy.

      • Hanswurst 3.1.2
        29 April 2015 at 2:07 am

        That’s a ridiculous analysis. They don’t have to tell the Prime Minister to do anything. They could ascertain the woman’s views on the situation, talk to management or inform their own superiors, who would be better capable of following it up objectively and without conflicts of perspective due to being directly involved with Mr. Key.

      • Tracey 3.1.3
        29 April 2015 at 7:24 am

        Russell Brown suggested it here

        https://twitter.com/publicaddress/status/590977331902054400IF the bodyguards didn’t feel they could intervene (assuming they knew it was illegal or inappropriate behaviour) how on earth can people think she should have stood up for herself earlier?

    • McFlock 3.2
      28 April 2015 at 11:25 pm

      Well that will probably be the procedure if they were required to testify: “I was looking away at the time”.

      But they’d still be watching people in proximity to the PM for fear of someone pouring coffee of the jerk’s head. So if nobody on his detail saw his repeated behaviour, they should be fired for gross incompetence.

    • Murray Rawshark 3.3
      29 April 2015 at 12:05 am

      In a lot of photos I have seen, at least one of them is usually watching FJK as he interacts with people. They don’t actually have a perimeter to defend, they have to watch in all directions.

      • Tracey 3.3.1
        29 April 2015 at 7:25 am

        of course, cos the person Key is interacting with could be the biggest threat, so at least one saw.

        • miravox 3.3.1.1
          29 April 2015 at 7:31 am

          If that’s the case, they didn’t intervene in a situation where they’d presumably be tut-tutting the the general public for standing and watching.

          At what crime level do they see themselves as being responsible citizens I wonder.

          • Tracey 3.3.1.1.1
            29 April 2015 at 7:34 am

            I suspect to defend themselves they will be saying that she didn’t behave as though she was uncomfortable or objecting.

            • freedom 3.3.1.1.1.1
              29 April 2015 at 10:33 am

              from the original post from Amanda
              “I told his security that I was sick of having my hair pulled and one day I’ll snap and I’ll punch him in the face.”

              “I had told his security, his wife had told him, I was getting pretty close to physically stopping him given half the chance, and he still didn’t care ”

              As the PM has not denied the details, surely the security detail will have a tough job denying them.

            • Sacha 3.3.1.1.1.2
              29 April 2015 at 2:03 pm

              “she didn’t behave as though she was uncomfortable or objecting”

              Apart from telling the bodyguards what she felt like doing.

          • Tracey 3.3.1.1.2
            29 April 2015 at 7:41 am

            Although, this from Louise Upston (masquerading as Minister for Womens Affairs and taking money for same under false pretences), suggests that would be no excuse

            “Hon LOUISE UPSTON : The Prime Minister has taken responsibility for his actions and has apologised to the person concerned. I want to take this opportunity to highlight the fact that it is an issue, any time anyone, male or female, is subject to words, texts, messages, or touching that is unwelcomed, and that, absolutely, they should stand up, they should comment, and they should express that. Also, it is important for anyone who sees that or who is around that behaviour, whether it is in a workplace, a home, or in the community, to speak up. “

  4. Sacha 4
    28 April 2015 at 9:14 pm

    “Whatever the legal outcomes, Key is likely to be spending the next few months, or even years, cleaning up this mess. ”

    So long as the oppostion does not overplay it, yes.

  5. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrel 5
    28 April 2015 at 9:30 pm

    The police may find a prima facie case but decide it is not in the public interest to prosecute. I seem to recall some precedent.

  6. Rosie 6
    28 April 2015 at 9:46 pm

    I’ve been questioning and speculating upon this topic half the afternoon so thank you for your helpful contribution Te Reo Putake. Starting to get a clearer picture of the legal implications now.

    Thanks too for the evening earworm, and the memories. Joe strummer went too soon.

  7. linda 7
    28 April 2015 at 10:02 pm

    can we crowd fund to make sure the moneys there to do key

    • Hanswurst 7.1
      29 April 2015 at 2:11 am

      Good idea. A fund could be established with the promise of assisting any court action against Key, and should none eventuate, that the funds would be channelled into producing an enormous statue of him, made entirely of pure lard, sporting a typically revolting grin and yanking on a couple of ponytails.

  8. rational thinker 8
    28 April 2015 at 10:13 pm

    “This just in. National to amend section 62 of the human rights act under urgency. Amendment will be retrospective.

    • McFlock 8.1
      28 April 2015 at 10:40 pm

      no conflict of interest, either. The amendment will be voted on in his role as prime minister, the harassment took place in his role as creepy fuckwit.

    • sckiwireddevil 8.2
      28 April 2015 at 10:56 pm

      Have just read section 62, could you please tell me what amendment has been added/changed with urgency?. Is it to protect Donkey from any form of prosecution?

      • Lanthanide 8.2.1
        28 April 2015 at 11:19 pm

        I think this is a joke.

      • Tracey 8.2.2
        29 April 2015 at 7:29 am

        I think it is a dual reference;
        1. to retrospective change to GCSB to make their illegal spying legal; and
        2. change to law to prevent care workers suing the government for discrimination (after they won that right in Court)

        “Prime Minister John Key has defended the urgent passing of controversial legislation which restricted who could be paid for caring for disabled family members, saying that the Government faced further legal action if the law was not changed.

        The legislation has been slammed as rushed, unconstitutional and lacking transparency after it was passed under urgency on Friday, a day after being introduced by Health Minister Tony Ryall.

        While the bill allowed some carers to get paid for looking after adult disabled family members, it also prevented carers from taking legal action against the Government in future on the grounds that they were being discriminated against.”

      • dukeofurl 8.2.3
        29 April 2015 at 8:09 am

        Human Rights Amendment Bill was introduced in 2011

        Cant see any urgency on this, but it is order paper for discussion today. Seems to be minor housekeeping changes

    • Draco T Bastard 8.3
      28 April 2015 at 11:15 pm

      That wouldn’t really surprise me.

      • sckiwireddevil 8.3.1
        28 April 2015 at 11:45 pm

        Me also. Upston was shitting herself today trying to answer questions about her Dear Leader, looked as though she hadn’t washed for days, she needs to wash her hair before going out, what a sight.

        • rawshark-yeshe 8.3.1.1
          29 April 2015 at 7:48 am

          Hard for a holllow sock puppet to bite the hand that feeds it, all the while said hand is up backside of said sockpuppet.

          Such were her verbal contortions yesterday.

          Upston looked like someone who could feel her career trembling beneath her feet. The most useless women’s affairs minister ever, and she knows it.

    • Tracey 8.4
      29 April 2015 at 7:26 am

      LOL… and yet…

  9. Maui 9
    28 April 2015 at 10:33 pm

    This is all depending on the victim laying charges though isn’t it…

    There hasn’t been much focus on the ordeal she has been through over the last week. People are either in the let’s nail the PM camp or let’s protect him camp, not the I wonder if the waitress is alright camp. The last thing she probably wants is a court case to relive the time when most of the country was talking about her. Then again she might be keen to go after damages at some stage when it becomes clear how much of a toll this has taken (publicity). We need to spare a few thoughts for her in this.

    • Murray Rawshark 9.1
      29 April 2015 at 12:21 am

      Amanda is important and I hope she has supportive friends. I’m in the build a better country camp and I think that will be easier when people who abuse power are held to account. FJK may have just given us an opportunity to make the hospitality industry a lot more pleasant for its workers. Given the way the suited mobs act around the help, maybe we need a law specifically to protect waiting staff? That’d be a great contribution FJK could make to Aotearoa. We could call it the Key law.

      Someone above mentioned that he might have trouble getting into Hawaii with a conviction. I suspect he has US citizenship.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.2
      29 April 2015 at 12:24 am

      This is all depending on the victim laying charges though isn’t it…

      For many crimes that is true but some of these that have been reported anyone can lay the complaint. It is this fact that McCready is using to take FJK to court.

      • Maui 9.2.1
        29 April 2015 at 1:47 am

        The RNZ article talks about the McCready complaint being useless because he doesn’t have any of the detail of what happened. She will have to come to the party, unless JK wants to fill out the forms for her – he would have a good idea of what happened lol.
        http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/272079/hurdles-for-private-ponytailgate-prosecution

      • Tracey 9.2.2
        29 April 2015 at 7:32 am

        There certainly is a lot of prima facie evidence on public record via media reports which is not the case in most accusations of wrong doing. Including Key’s admission.

        However, I hope at this point the Opposition stay out of it. I would have liked to see Little say that any kind of unwanted intrusion into people’s lives and person is unacceptable and it is for the leadership of NZ to provide the best example, otherwise they could be providing people with an excuse to behave badly (if he has said that, I apologise).

        • rawshark-yeshe 9.2.2.1
          29 April 2015 at 8:55 am

          I wonder if mother or father of any of the young girls who had hair ‘fondled’ is willing to take it further ? Likely not, but I do wonder ….

          • Maui 9.2.2.1.1
            29 April 2015 at 10:57 am

            I imagine having your daughter shown on regular news clips (on tv and the internet) in a creepy context isn’t the nicest of feelings for any parent, you might feel quite angry… I wonder if one complaint develops and goes to court, others might follow.

    • Tracey 9.3
      29 April 2015 at 7:30 am

      Last night there was a news item which was relating to a sexual violence case in which the police said they didn’t need a complaint to proceed. It struck me cos of the Roastbuster claim that they needed a complaint.

      • dukeofurl 9.3.1
        29 April 2015 at 7:57 am

        happens all the time- see man who murdered his children in Dunedin- Police can often not know the law, even if they are a specialist unit in that particular area of law.

  10. Redzone 10
    28 April 2015 at 10:44 pm

    Thanks TRP – great post covering the potential legals.
    Can’t wait for our not -so – smart- casual PM to come home to face more music, though he is probably looking for any excuse to stay away!
    Royal baby visit anyone?
    Frankly I hope this has legs for years to come one way or another. That will be justice.

  11. tricledrown 11
    28 April 2015 at 10:55 pm

    Marlin Waring should get a Damehood for not being afraid to speak out against mysoginistic National PM,s

    • McFlock 11.1
      28 April 2015 at 10:59 pm

      seems to be almost the exact opposite of what it takes to get an honour from the current regime, though…

  12. Atiawa 12
    28 April 2015 at 11:05 pm

    We can surmise all we like as to the legal implications and outcomes for those players but these matters are invariably now best left for the public to decide.
    The court of public opinion with all it’s failings and misguidance will decide their fate.

  13. mary_a 13
    29 April 2015 at 6:58 am

    All it takes is only one investigation against him and our Johnny boy won’t be looking at a knighthood!

    Oh dear, what a shame, never mind 🙂

  14. b waghorn 14
    29 April 2015 at 7:42 am

    If any one thinks for one second that someone as rich and powerful as key will see the inside of a courtroom over this they are dreaming .
    There are 2 sets of rules in this country always has been always will be.

    • Tracey 14.1
      29 April 2015 at 7:47 am

      I agree with you. BUT many very wealthy people before him have avoided Court but not the political fallout.

    • te reo putake 14.2
      29 April 2015 at 8:15 am

      Plenty of folk said John Banks would never be in the dock, bw. But the best example would probably be Trevor Mallard, who, like Key, admitted his guilt and apologised, yet still found himself charged.

      • b waghorn 14.2.1
        29 April 2015 at 8:34 am

        I hope to be proved wrong but a would imagine there is already a huge amount of pressure being applied and lawyers being payed to stop it happening ,banks and mallard wouldn’t have keys level of backing.

      • Tracey 14.2.2
        29 April 2015 at 8:35 am

        and still using his money to undo it all TRP,

        • te reo putake 14.2.2.1
          29 April 2015 at 8:41 am

          True! But at least his political career is over. So however it ends up for him in court, NZ is better off as a result.

          • Tracey 14.2.2.1.1
            29 April 2015 at 8:43 am

            “BUT many very wealthy people before him have avoided Court but not the political fallout.”

  15. Tautoko Mangō Mata 15
    29 April 2015 at 8:00 am

    Case Study (From the MoBIE website http://www.dol.govt.nz/infozone/myfirstjob/employees/starting/obligations.asp

    For example, John (aged 18) worked for a supermarket. After work one evening, he and some of his workmates popped into the pub across the road for an after work drink. While they were there, they got into an argument with another patron, and a fight between John and the other patron ensued. The patron was a truck driver for the food distribution company that supplies the supermarket John worked for, and he was easily able to identify John and his colleagues as supermarket employees because they were wearing their supermarket uniforms. He complained to the supermarket, and after an investigation, John was instantly dismissed for bringing the supermarket into disrepute and his colleagues reprimanded for their part in the matter.
    John raised a personal grievance with his employer, claiming he was dismissed unfairly. He argued that what he did in his personal time was his business, not that of his employer. The matter eventually went as far as the Employment Court, which found that John’s actions had an adverse impact on his employer’s reputation and business as he was identified as being an employee of the supermarket, and his behaviour seriously breached the trust and confidence in the employment relationship. The Court upheld John’s dismissal.
    http://www.dol.govt.nz/infozone/myfirstjob/employees/starting/obligations.asp

    This could be rewritten easily:
    in place of supermarket uniform, put DPS
    in place of supermarket employees, put PM
    in place of his employer, put NZ citizens

    • Tracey 15.1
      29 April 2015 at 8:33 am

      and the cabinet manual also covers personal capacity

      Conduct of Ministers

      2.52 A Minister of the Crown, while holding a ministerial warrant, acts in a number of different capacities:

      in a ministerial capacity, making decisions, and determining and promoting policy within particular portfolios;
      in a political capacity as a member of Parliament, representing a constituency or particular community of interest;
      in a personal capacity.

      2.53 In all these roles and at all times, Ministers are expected to act lawfully and to behave in a way that upholds, and is seen to uphold, the highest ethical standards. Ultimately, Ministers are accountable to the Prime Minister for their behaviour.

      2.54 Holding ministerial office is regarded as a full-time occupation and is remunerated as such. Accordingly:

      accepting additional payment for doing anything that could be regarded as a ministerial function is not permissible;
      accepting payment for any other activities requires the prior approval of the Prime Minister.

      • NZJester 15.1.1
        30 April 2015 at 1:11 am

        I have a question in regards to Conduct of Ministers parts 2.52 to 2.54 of the cabinet manual. Do those sections not contradict John Keys claims in the past that he was acting as a private citizen and not as the PM such as when he sent those texts of support to Wale Oil over the fall out he received about the dead boy that Wale Oil referred to as feral and making disparaging comments about the boys mother?

        • te reo putake 15.1.1.1
          30 April 2015 at 8:42 am

          Good point, NZJ, and yes, they probably do contradict Key. But given that just about everything he says is bullshit, I imagine he’s relaxed about it.

    • ianmac 15.2
      29 April 2015 at 8:40 am

      The matter eventually went as far as the Employment Court, which found that John’s actions had an adverse impact on his employer’s reputation and business as he was identified as being an employee of the supermarket, and his behaviour seriously breached the trust and confidence in the employment relationship. The Court upheld John’s dismissal.
      Mr Key’s behaviour brought the National Party into disrepute so the National Party could eject him from their Party.

      • Tracey 15.2.1
        29 April 2015 at 8:44 am

        He brought the country into disrepute but we have no impeachment mechanism. I wonder if anyone is lobbying the GG who has the power to dissolve a parliament.

        • Rosie 15.2.1.1
          29 April 2015 at 10:51 am

          ” I wonder if anyone is lobbying the GG who has the power to dissolve a parliament.”

          I wondered about that too Tracey.

  16. Malconz 16
    29 April 2015 at 9:48 am

    And as was oh so predictable, the saga has had almost no impact on bloody FJK’s popularity. He’s dropped only 0.8, according to the Herald. He’d have to eat live kittens in public to make any impression on this apathetic electorate. Sigh.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11440058

    • rod 16.1
      29 April 2015 at 10:06 am

      Yes Malconz, but it must be remembered that it is a Herald tory rag Dodgy Poll.

    • George Hendry 16.2
      29 April 2015 at 10:16 am

      As per a Herald-Digipoll?!!!!

      Hardly impartial, conflict of interest in plain sight.

      To rig a poll (eg to dishearten progressives), simply buy the result you want and lay a confidentiality clause on the polling company (not hard if you are part of it).

      The bought result of last year’s Key-Cunliffe electoral debate polls could lead some to assume that when National want a particular result they will always buy it that openly. To make you think that not openly bought means not bought.

      Any Herald poll should be seen as being as manipulable as a bought journalist : propaganda, a statistical nullity.

    • te reo putake 16.3
      29 April 2015 at 10:34 am

      “He’d have to eat live kittens in public …”

      I heard the kittens had strong political opinions. So they got what was coming to them.

  17. Sable 17
    29 April 2015 at 10:33 am

    I’d be surprised if much comes of this legally speaking.

  18. Hateatea 18
    29 April 2015 at 10:53 am

    An interesting post, TRP, as well as the usual mixed bag of thought provoking responses.

    • te reo putake 18.1
      29 April 2015 at 11:26 am

      Cheers, Hateatea. That’s the great thing about the Standard, there’s a vast wealth of intelligence, experience and wit evident in the comments section of each post. I’m happy to include a few of the rightwing regulars in that assessment too! It’s why TS is easily the most informative and entertaining political blog in NZ.

  19. Amanda Atkinson 19
    29 April 2015 at 11:31 am

    This whole thing is a circus. If she went to the cops instead of Bradbury, things would be very very different. The whole thing has the look of a left wing political hit job, rightly or wrongly. I don’t know her motivations, and neither does anyone else. But, if she felt so violated, she should have went to the cops instead of a left wing blog. Even if she is politically motivated, she would have done more damage to Key by laying an assault charge, and, that whack job McCready wouldn’t have jumped in giving the issue even less credibility.

    The extent of the violation or assault is for her and her alone to decide, not you, not me, not the media, and certainly not McCready. If she feels it’s sexual and or physical assault. Fine, go to the cops and lay charge. That’s the litmus test. And, it’s her call, no one else’s. I am sick to death of people taking offense to things on behalf of others.

    • Plan B 19.1
      29 April 2015 at 12:45 pm

      She can actually do whatever she wants to do about the events that happened, she has the right to write what she wrote, to say what she wants to say , when she wants to say it. This should not be a surprise to anyone.

    • Tracey 19.2
      29 April 2015 at 2:16 pm

      Yeah I agree. People need to stop doing things for other vulnerable people. I notice your post made not a single reference to John Key’s behaviour.

      • Amanda Atkinson 19.2.1
        29 April 2015 at 3:09 pm

        Oh yes of course McReady is doing it for her, silly me. What I think of Keys behavior is irrelevant, that’s my whole point. What you think is irrelevant too. It only matters what the victim of this thinks and feels, no one else.

        • Tracey 19.2.1.1
          29 April 2015 at 3:23 pm

          Have you read her letters? There is some insight into what she feels and why she did what she did.

          “But, if she felt so violated, she should have went to the cops instead of a left wing blog”

          Remember she told cops she didnt like his behaviour, and he carried on… she told her manager and he carried on… his wife told him to stop… and he carried on… she told HIM… and he did it again…

          I guess she just didn’t think any of the “usual” outlets would take her seriously and let her air her views. Can’t think why.

          • Amanda Atkinson 19.2.1.1.1
            29 April 2015 at 3:27 pm

            Keys minders are not cops. If she laid a formal complaint with the cops, the first time it happened, it WOULD HAVE stopped, immediately.

            • Tracey 19.2.1.1.1.1
              29 April 2015 at 3:34 pm

              You do not know that it would have stopped immediately. BUT the point which you constantly want to avoid is the

              PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND SHOULD NEVER HAVE STARTED IT. NOT EVEN ONCE.

              “The Diplomatic Protection Service (DPS), sometimes referred to as the Diplomatic Protection Squad, is a branch of the New Zealand Police that provides personal security for both national and visiting diplomats and VIPs. National VIPs that receive constant protection are the Prime Minister and the Governor General, while Ministers of the Crown, Members of Parliament, the Judiciary and the Leader of the Opposition receive protection as needed.[1] Protection is provided both in New Zealand and abroad. Previous visiting VIPs afforded DPS protection have included Tiger Woods during the 2002 New Zealand Open,[2] and FBI Director Robert Mueller.[3] The DPS also patrols foreign embassies, consulates and high commissions.

              The squad is based in the capital Wellington, where the majority of foreign diplomatic missions are. Officers are experienced members of the New Zealand Police, who pass the DPS course at the Royal New Zealand Police College. The course has training on topics such as diplomatic immunity and unarmed combat. Squad members usually operate in plain clothes,[4] and both genders can be squad members.[5]

              The New Zealand Police established the DPS in the mid-1970s, to meet New Zealand’s obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Consular Relations.

              In the 2011-12 financial year the squad spent approximately $5.2 million – $1.1 million over budget.[6]”

            • McFlock 19.2.1.1.1.3
              29 April 2015 at 3:42 pm

              Yes, key’s “minders” are indeed police officers paid for by the taxpayer.

              I’d be worried if they weren’t, frankly.

              • Tracey …
                29 April 2015 at 4:05 pm

                It was interesting to hear last week, on RNZ (I think) a snippet from a guy who works for a security company talking about how the detail couldnt (and can’t in his company) worry about anything else…

                Given the PM’s squad are actually police officers and not hired guns for a security firm didn’t seem to cross anyone’s mind… muddied the waters though.

                • McFlock …
                  29 April 2015 at 5:52 pm

                  Yeah, but what is his company policy about clients breaking the law?

                  I would assume that if his client assaults or harasses someone, would he expect his employees to do nothing and become accessories – doubt it. And his employees are private contractors, not employees sworn to uphold the law. If that’s a conflict of interest, then that’s the case only because the PM chose to break the law.

  20. adam 20
    29 April 2015 at 11:40 am

    Silly question – but the two bottles of wine being offered – were they a bribe? And as such, was them being offered to pervert the course of justice?

    No Idea – legal minds will know better than me.

    • te reo putake 20.1
      29 April 2015 at 1:01 pm

      I doubt it has any negative connotations, adam. The plonk was offered before there was any talk of legal action, so I guess we should see it as a sign of contrition once he realised that the assaults weren’t welcome.

      • adam 20.1.1
        29 April 2015 at 1:35 pm

        Thanks for that, te reo putake. I’m not sure Key can feel contrition, well the sincere remorse part of it. Guilt, yes. Sincere remorse – I’m not seeing it.

        • Tracey 20.1.1.1
          29 April 2015 at 2:19 pm

          I agree with TRP. The wine seems just a clumsy notion of making things better… the waitress describes him dashing in, handing her the wine saying sorry and dashing out before she could reply… small transgression requires small compensation (in Key’s mind)

          it puts me in mind of a child whose mum as said “go back in there and say you are sorry to that girl”, child goes back, no eye contact, speaks quickly and runs out. You know, taking full responsibility for the consequences of his actions.

          • adam 20.1.1.1.1
            29 April 2015 at 5:36 pm

            Great analogy Tracey – I was thinking the same thing.

            So our PM is a two year old in his mentality – that really does explain a lot of his action. And why so many people support him.

    • Stuart Munro 20.2
      29 April 2015 at 1:03 pm

      The wine was a different kind of bribe – intended to solicit an attraction that Key’s caresses had failed to stimulate.

  21. John 21
    29 April 2015 at 1:27 pm

    So many people showing fake outrage. If only they knew how silly they sounded.

    Or are the police expected to be diverted from burglaries, assaults rapes and murders so they can attend 7000 pony tail pullings every day?

    What sort of sad life do you have to have before you can devote so much time to minutiae?

    • te reo putake 21.1
      29 April 2015 at 1:54 pm

      Um, it’s not a diversion from the police’s job of investigating assaults as you claim, John. It is an assault. In fact several assaults. Oddly enough witnessed by police officers, who did nothing to stop them occurring. It’s also NZ’s Prime Minister using his power and privilege to bully and buy off a vulnerable young woman. So, plenty of reason for outrage, actually.

      • John 21.1.1
        29 April 2015 at 2:05 pm

        So you’re going to go running to the police any time you see a pony tail pulled – yeah right.

        If it wasn’t Key, no one would devote a second of their life to it.

        It’s blatantly obvious the “outrage” is fake.

        • te reo putake 21.1.1.1
          29 April 2015 at 2:13 pm

          Actually, I suspect I would have intervened if I saw it, John, no matter who the bully was. But then I was bought up to confront injustice, not turn away from it.

          This caught my eye today. How do think John Key would have reacted? Bugger the hug, I just wanna play with your hair?

          http://iceafoundation.com.au/blind-social-experiment-aboriginal-girl-puts-her-faith-in-humanity/

        • McFlock 21.1.1.2
          29 April 2015 at 2:13 pm

          Run to the cops? Nah. On the rare occasions I do any running, it’s to the bar and never more than couple of paces.

          But if there were several police officers within a few metres, I’d expect one of them to do something about it.

          • Tracey 21.1.1.2.1
            29 April 2015 at 2:24 pm

            But they were looking for rapists McFlock…

            • McFlock 21.1.1.2.1.1
              29 April 2015 at 2:37 pm

              Hmm.

              I suppose that the cops protecting key could arrest him and take him to the station without compromising his safety in any way, so in that way they can multitask by enforcing the law “without fear nor favour, malice nor ill-will” and protecting the PM at the same time.

              • Tracey …
                29 April 2015 at 2:43 pm

                I think what John is trying to say, is that investigating stolen property is much more important than harassment or assault of a young woman.

                • McFlock …
                  29 April 2015 at 2:54 pm

                  Yes, in his mind that seems to be the case.

                  But in this specific case it seems that the police could have responded to the assaults without compromising the task for which they were taken off frontline duties (John’s straw concern). Indeed, key would be safer in a gaol cell than in the street.

                  • Tracey …
                    29 April 2015 at 3:25 pm

                    Yes, they could have got an easy collar and their stats would have shone, and had a cuppa and scone at the same time.

        • Tracey 21.1.1.3
          29 April 2015 at 2:29 pm

          mine is real. prove it isnt.

          • John 21.1.1.3.1
            29 April 2015 at 2:46 pm

            Because if you outrage wasn’t fake, you wouldn’t just be after this pony tail puller – you’d be after pony tail pullers everywhere.

            But your outrage is only because it’s Key – not because of what was done.

            So your outrage is patently fake.

            And a thousand much worse things happen every hour of every day, but I don’t see you devoting hours of computer time fighting them.

            More evidence you outrage is fake.

            Now I’ve wasted two minutes on this trivia. That’s two minutes too much.

            I’ll leave you to waste the rest of your week to making no difference to anything.

            • weka 21.1.1.3.1.1
              29 April 2015 at 2:56 pm

              Yeah that’s right, none of us here have ever discussed sexual harassment or worker’s rights at length on the standard before.

              /sarc

              your faux outrage is unconvincing.

              • Tracey …
                29 April 2015 at 2:57 pm

                In fairness, John doesn’t actually understand that we are discussing sexual harassment or worker’s rights.

            • Tracey 21.1.1.3.1.2
              29 April 2015 at 2:56 pm

              *sigh*

              Your knowledge is so lacking. I am after people who commit assault. You need to understand that this man called John Key, he is the Prime Minister, the highest ranking representative of our law-making body and he has just told NZers that as long as you (the perpetrator) are having fun it can’t be bad, wrong, or a crime?

              Nothing you posted is evidence. Cos, apart from anything else, you have no evidence to support your new thoughts which you think are evidence of your previous thoughts.

              I am glad you are leaving though, has mum arrived home and found out you wagged school today?

          • Hateatea 21.1.1.3.2
            29 April 2015 at 4:21 pm

            Mine is too, John. Don’t you presume to know what I think, feel, believe and / or what actions I have taken because of my experiences, feelings and values.

    • Tracey 21.2
      29 April 2015 at 2:23 pm

      that you express faux outrage at rapes not being investigated is an indictment of your spinning for the PM.

      Sexual violence (against women) is about how females are seen and regarded, as vassals for men, property, play things (as in porn), a thing to make them feel powerful and important and there is a spectrum of behaviour.

      tugging a young woman’s hair for months, not noticing (seemingly) her discomfort, and continuing after she says “NO”, is on that spectrum, albeit at the seemingly less serious end of it.

      Fondly a young female child’s hair is also on the spectrum. It shows a disregard for the personal space and privacy of females. He shakes hands with bos and men which requires their consent…

      Yours is the sad life, that you need to have concepts such as respect and privacy explained to you and why it is important that a Prime Minister be held to account for his line-crossing.

      Of course pretending he only did it once or maybe twice, makes your faux boredom funnier.

      • Amanda Atkinson 21.2.1
        29 April 2015 at 3:23 pm

        You disrespect any woman who has been sexually assaulted. Shame on you. Be very careful who you talk about his issue around if you think a little tug on a pony tail is sexual assault. Be VERY careful. Personally, for me, it’s an insult.

        [It was repeated assaults on a woman, so it has a gender aspect to it. Whether it was a sexual assault is probably something for Key and his psychiatrist to discuss. Or maybe the courts if it goes that far. Your instructions to Tracey and the use of capital letters looks to me to be threatening her. Don’t do that again if you wish to continue commenting here, Amanda. TRP]

        • Tracey 21.2.1.1
          29 April 2015 at 3:31 pm

          IF I have disrespected ANY survivor of sexual assault ( statistically 1 in 3 female readers on this site) I am sorry.

          Look up spectrum Amanda, even the sexual violence spectrum contains behaviour at one end that is not sexual violence per se but could/would include sexual harassment.

          I have got sick and tired of prefacing my comments with “I dont think Key is a paedophile”, because, I don’t think he is.

          For my part, as an aside, cutting my hair and playing with my hair was one way my abuser isolated me from my family to enable his abuse. Even with THAT past I have never suggested Key is a paedophile because he pulls a womans hair and fondles a girl child’s hair .

          I have written and stand by my belief that his behaviour is on a spectrum of attitudes toward women which shows a disregard for the personal space and privacy of females. He shakes hands with boys and men which requires their consent… to be completed.

          • Hateatea 21.2.1.1.1
            29 April 2015 at 4:19 pm

            Controlling my hair style, pulling on my hair, pulling my hair out by the roots violently was a part of the sexual violence, power and control behaviour that my abusive ex husband did so don’t you dare tell me, Amanda Atkinson, what was my lived experience.

            I have worked with children that have had hair ‘play’ as part of the grooming / abuse process so yet again, DON’T TELL ME what is or is not a part of the sexual violence scale.

            If it isn’t within your lived experience maybe you need to STFU!

            Whether YOU feel that it is a sexualised behaviour or an assault is irrelevant. It was not you (nor was it me) that had this particular experience, but another young woman did and I have no intention of standing idly by while anyone trivialises or minimises what a very powerful man has admitted to doing.

        • Anne 21.2.1.2
          29 April 2015 at 4:50 pm

          Your comment Amanda Atkinson is an insult to all women who have been abused and harassed. Who do you think you are that you think you can step into another woman’s shoes and judge them. Of course there are degrees of harassment and of course some instances are much worse than others, but ALL harassment is serious and can have a deleterious effect on the victim.

          And as you appear to be uninformed, this young woman experienced more than a little tug on a ponytail. He kept doing it to her over and over again starting in August last year (during the election campaign) and continuing through to March of this year. He knew she hated it but he continued to do it. That was puerile harassment and an attempt to dominate her:

          I’m the PM, I’m powerful so if I wanna pull your hair I’ll pull it girl.

          Such an arsehole is not fit to be prime minister!

          • Penny Bright 21.2.1.2.1
            29 April 2015 at 5:43 pm

            What concerns me is that if Prime Minister John Key can repeatedly and arguably unlawfully harass / assault a waitress by [pulling her hair -what message does that send to the nation?

            How many (particularly middle-aged men) who have engaged in similar behaviour, are trying to ‘make light of it’, and trivialise behaviour that arguably they wouldn’t like if it happened to them (especially if was carried out by someone whose political views they didn’t support)?

            As a former waitress – my personal ‘policy’was one of zero tolerance to unwanted and inappropriate touching.

            Let us not forget that this waitress was dealing with the arguably most powerful man in New Zealand, who was personally protected by staff who were there to help ensure no untoward or unlawful acts happened to him?

            Surely the ‘power imbalance’ could not have been bigger?

            Óne law for all’?

            Let’s see it.

            Penny Bright

  22. Rosemary McDonald 22
    29 April 2015 at 5:01 pm

    I was going to link to Amanda Bailey’s original post so Amanda Atkinson can read it ….properly…

    And TDB has GONE!!!!

    Please tell me that someone was bright enough to copy the post.

    My heart breaks for this young woman….shame on the Prime Minister for using his position of power to torment her so.

    It was without doubt seriously creepy, and very probably sexual assault.

    FWIW…I think she did the right thing telling her story through the blog that is supported and supports the union for hospitality and food workers.

    The ‘cops’ had handled her complaint by what.? Suggesting their boss say a quick sorry and sweeten her with wine???

    Ditto Anne….

  23. Penny Bright 23
    29 April 2015 at 5:28 pm

    Caught up with Graham McCready today, after he presented his charging document for filing at the Auckland District Court.

    Here is a photo of of this document:

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1026691887343503&set=ms.c.eJw1yskJACAMBMCOZI~_Yo~%3B~%3BGRMHvMIQyR9kBAoPFB~_wuhzf8QXWHzAMALgoC.bps.a.852990618046965.1073741825.100000081045781&type=1&theater

    (For the record – Graham has tried to contact the waitress concerned).

    Seems that ‘Ponytail gate’ isn’t going away any TIME soon?

    Check out tonight’s news …

    Seems that the waitress is going to take steps to defend herself – by going to a UNION?

    Heaven forbid!

    Whatever next?

    Of course, Prime Minister John Key is not going to take all possible steps to defend himself?

    Of course – no ‘power imbalance’ here – in terms of access to money and resources to defend his allegedly (repeated) unlawful behaviour?

    What stops will be pulled out – in order to try and prevent the private prosecution of (Prime Minister) John Key for alleged ‘male assaults female’ charge, which was PRESENTED for filing today (Wednesday 29 April 2015) in the Auckland District Court, by arguably serially successful private prosecutor, Graham McCready?

    Óne law for all’?

    We shall see…….

    Penny Bright

  24. barry 24
    29 April 2015 at 7:58 pm

    I am sorry, but suggesting Key shoudl be charged with assault is a little bit desparate.

    I agree that pollies should be subject to the same law as the rest of us. That means that they shouldnot be protected from prosecution on account of their office, but also means that they should not be treated more harshly.
    The test should be “would a member of the public be likely to be charged under the same circumstances”. In borderline cases then the benefit of the doubt should be to prosecute and let the court decide to protect against bias from the police.

    In this case it is very unlikely that someone else would be prosecuted.

    The cafe management did take measures to try to stop the harrassment and the next step would have been to trespass Key. Now if Key had been given a traspass notice for harrassment (and the press had heard of it) he would almost certainly not be able to live the embarrassment down. I think the cafe would be reluctant to do that (even if they weren’t National supporters). So yes the employment law would have been breached had it continued.

    As for the disgusting behaviour with Glucina. I certainly would not recommend anybody working for the employers. Nor would I knowingly buy coffee from them. It is doiubtful that they have broken any law though.

  25. NZJester 25
    30 April 2015 at 12:41 am

    “It might also make visiting the Hawaiian holiday home tricky; last time I heard US Customs weren’t big on letting violent crims into the country.”
    He might have no problem getting to his Hawaiian holiday home as it is my understanding that some people think he might also have duel US citizenship and they can not bar a US citizen even if they have such a conviction from entering Hawaii.
    OIA requests others have sent to ask if he has duel NZ/US citizenship have in the past been denied, so I am unable to confirm if he does or not.

Recent Posts

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    6 mins ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 hours ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago

  • 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
    12 hours 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
    12 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 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
    13 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    14 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    16 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    17 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • 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
    1 day 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day 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 - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • 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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-19T10:29:50+00:00