Key on the Nation

Written By: - Date published: 9:59 am, June 16th, 2012 - 93 comments
Categories: john key - Tags:

Well, the same old lines just aren’t working now. Maybe its a factor of having 3 journos interviewing him (3 young, hungry journos enjoying the opportunity to take on a Prime Minister on the way down, not comfortable, old members of the club), but they are just rejecting Key’s spin outright – they know that the lines are fundamentally misleading, so they just brush them off and ask tougher questions. He’s getting his arse kicked on everything from schools to the economy. I predict this’ll be one of Key’s last long-format interviews.

Key has listed his domestic drivers of growth other than Christchurch and I note that none of them are working or would work – labour market reform (which actually depresses the economy by lowering wages), the convention centre (which is a net drain on the economy), open slather mining (which would take years, all the profits would go overseas, and ruin tourism), and return to surplus (which he won’t achieve, and actually depresses the economy if its done with austerity). No wonder the economy is so fucked.

Key has dismissed saving $3 billion a year from superannuation that could be put into eliminating poverty. It’s ‘only 0.7% of GDP’. Christ.

93 comments on “Key on the Nation ”

  1. David H 1

    Yes was good to watch. And even the ‘scrunchy nose’ thing didn’t work either. Snake Oil salesman exposed!

  2. Dr Terry 2

    One simply hopes the populace will be intelligent enough to recognise exactly the direction in which it is going.

    • David H 2.1

      Straight down the crapper. And here he is harping on about being one of the only govt that’s stable in it’s second term, only because the polls are the same as election night, Yep they are, when they probably poll in your own electorate . How deluded has he become?? The country is getting ‘unhappier’ by the day over his arrogance on Asset sales. Acc Education. It’s going to be a scary ride boys and girls, unless Dunne gets turned around. And the chances of that happening are ?

  3. Foreign Waka 3

    The only way to really make things work is by having sufficient employment with a living wage for every adult person. No matter what age retirement is mentioned, until this has not been put on the forefront of the agenda nothing will change. In fact things will deteriorate and a big chasm between the have and have not will widen even further. This in turn will leave indelible marks on society in the future. No more egalitarianism, fair go, honesty etc. The kids will learn that the only way to get ahead to be like their idols, just don’t squirm when you step over the body of someone else. The scars will be deep and will take another 200 years to heal. Well done! A vision of society as we all like it?

  4. Jackal 4

    What’s up with Key likening gambling machines to alcohol? The big difference is that if you prohibit alcohol, people just make their own, whereas people can’t make their own gambling machines.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1

      A few garage poker games with a still handy will at least foster interpersonal communication and strengthen community links.

      • Someone 4.1.1

        “whereas people can’t make their own gambling machines.”

        Cards + money + people = gambling ‘machine’.

        • CnrJoe 4.1.1.1

          Really? a ‘pump money in relentlessly zing zing machine’ is comparable to a game of poker? or fish? or snap?

      • Rodel 4.1.2

        Hehe!

  5. bbfloyd 5

    please excuse an old ignoramus that never watches tv except for rugby tests, and bob’s burgers…. what channel is the nation on?

    • aj 5.1

      9:30am TV3 Saturday

      Repeated 8am TV3 Sunday

      • deuto 5.1.1

        Here is a link to The Nation on the TV3 website, but today’s programme is not up yet on On Demand, and I think they don’t put it up until after the Sunday replay (but i could be wrong). As i also want to see today’s interview, will check again later today.

        http://www.3news.co.nz/TVShows/TheNation/tabid/1300/Default.aspx

      • bbfloyd 5.1.2

        thanks ….

        • bbfloyd 5.1.2.1

          Looks like he has the wrong rug on today,,, or he’s using the wrong dye on what’s left…

          Usual weasel words… nothing new there…….

          Creepy watching him try to suck up to the blond john. the old insincere flattery trick…..

          Boring.

          • seeker 5.1.2.1.1

            “Usual weasel words… nothing new there……. Boring”

            Totally agree bb. Have just tried to watch the interview- I only lasted 5.37 minutes for the above reason, plus the weasel expressions. Had to log out as my repulsion and exasperation at his weaselness was beginning to cause a nasty sensation of rising blood pressure. Alex Tarrant seemed to be questioning him quite well, but the fact that John Key, imo, could not give a straight, honest answer if his life depended on it drives me mad.

            “I predict this’ll be one of Key’s last long-format interviews.” says Eddie. Good say I. The less I hear from this (unfortunately) repellent being, unless it is in a court of law with him in the dock for ‘confidence trickery and theft’, the better my health will be.

          • deuto 5.1.2.1.2

            Not a convincing interview at all IMO. Agree with all the other comments here including how refreshing it was to have three fresh and younger interviewers prepared to actually question some of his answers. I found their body language interesting in that none of them seemed convinced with and taken in by Key’s answers.

  6. gobsmacked 6

    I watched the whole interview live.

    It was noticeable that Key’s defence of Collins was lukewarm (“You’ll have to ask her about that”). He’s keeping his distance, with good reason.

    Most of all, it was remarkable how often he talked about the opposition – Labour the Greens and Winston all got a serve, repeatedly. Attacking your opposition is fine in an election campaign, but it’s a bit desperate so soon.

    Credit where it’s due, Key is a pretty skilled bullshitter though – with a weak moderator like Sainsbury, he would beat stumbling Shearer. (Just calling it as I see it, no rose-tinted specs. Shearer has to learn how to deal to crap in an instant, not constantly look like he’s thinking things through, as if he was having a reasonable conversation with like minds. That’s not how it works on telly).

    I agree with Eddie about the journos. They did their job. Makes a refreshing change.

    • BernyD 6.1

      I Agree, the opposition needs to come up with appropriate solutions and stick to them.
      Constantly rebutting the policies of the ruling party just make them look lame.
      They lost the election because of this I believe.
      It’s more than just a political direction, they need to apply themselves to actualy running the country, even though they are in opposition people won’t support them if they have nothing to offer.

    • Murray Olsen 6.2

      I think Key is a terrible bullshitter. He uses every slimy conman trick in the book and I can’t understand why anyone believes a word he says.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.2.1

        Because the conman tricks actually work. If they didn’t then the conmen wouldn’t use them.

  7. BernyD 7

    Even if National “Steal” the ideas, it’ll still help the country, and everyone will know it.
    The thing they have to watch out for is speaking “Evil” to them, they will act on it and then blame us for “Asking for it” ….. Thats the N**i way.

  8. BernyD 8

    They need to analyse John Keys’ responses , they are very limited.

    He basically just says “And how are you going to pay for it?”

    An appropriate answer is “We will find the money”

    • BM 8.1

      Which he would then reply
      “What, by raising taxes?
      Then Shearer would look like a bumbling arse as he tries to explain how all these promises would be paid for.

      • Colonial Viper 8.1.1

        “What, by raising taxes?

        Exactly. You raise taxes on the top 5% who own a third of the country, to pay for public services for all, and on the way, generate 50,000 new living wage jobs.

    • jack 8.2

      I like Winston Peter’s answer to Key’s question to “where’s the money?” during the debate with Goff. His answer if you recall is,” your mates got it.” Undo Key’s last tax cuts and we’ll see 1.2 billion a year more. My wife got 15 dollars a week in the hand more, but that was taken up by the rise in petrol prices and Key’s ets scam.

  9. BernyD 9

    If raising taxes is the only option then “Yes” would be an appripriate answer, the Nats are happy to increase them when it suits.

  10. BernyD 10

    It’s not scary for the public they happily accepted higher GST.

    As long as it helps this country to progress everyone will grin a bear it.

    The poroblem is the Nats should have done it 3 years ago, they’ve left it so long that the increase is really going to hurt people now.

  11. Ordinary_Bloke 11

    Nice

  12. The unsurprising Winston stance on the Super age, plus a challenge from John Key that only paints himself further into his own super corner, as a double kick in the guts for cross-party super discussions.

    • BernyD 12.1

      Maybe a rethink on the definition of retirement is in order.

      Perhaps they could take an “Equivalent” pay for mentoring someone into the job they leave behind.

      It’s only a thought, some people need to retire for physiscal reasons, but many would be happy to pass on knowledge.

      • Pete George 12.1.1

        I think creative ideas like this are well worth considering in the whole mix. A mentor on super helping someone off unemployment could have many benefits. Especially if we want to allow for some people choosing earlier retirement.

        • BernyD 12.1.1.1

          Exactly, it’s a drawback of the Governmental approach, they think they have to tell people what to do, and always fall back on historical precedent when they do it.
          It’s a form of retrospective polling that isn’t valid in todays world.

      • prism 12.1.2

        Benny D
        Yes I’ve wondered about that as a useful job that experienced well-trained old people could do
        and be counted in the doing things in society group. I’m also for retired people having volunteer work being counted as at least being half the equivalent of paid hours. (My experience with older volunteers is that they can be patchy in work commitment and slow to update when there is some change in methods.)

        • BernyD 12.1.2.1

          Experience still counts, they may be out of date with current practices, but they understand what’s required, and that counts for a lot. And if it gives them a chance to retire a couple of years earlier then it’s a plus for them.
          Not everyone would be able or willing, but that’s why an incentive like this would work.
          The rest get to retire at 67.

        • Carol 12.1.2.2

          I reckon if it’s useful to society it should be paid.

          But we need to rethink the whole retirement concept.

          In my early 60s, with a little bit of retirement pension coming in from the UK, I’m happy to work part time, in a lower paid position than my main life career. I’m doing things that interest me, keep me motivated, keep up to date with stuff that I pass onto some other staff. I have no interest in a promotion but I have certain pressures to be part of the team, and do the best I can in the circumstances..

          Also, the value of work needs to be re-configured. It should be de-linked from notions of consumerism and dodgy GDP stats, and linked more to what is valuable for society as a whole.

        • Pete George 12.1.2.3

          Good to get ideas going here.

          Labour and United Future have specifically backed me to push for discussions on NZ Super. I have the support of David Shearer and Peter Dunne to encourage discussion and gather ideas (other parties have shown interest) and NZ Super Discussion has been set up to faciliate this.

          If you have specific suggestions to worth considering post them on Super ideas.
          If your ideas might justify a separate post email to nzsuperdiscussion@email.com

          • Colonial Viper 12.1.2.3.1

            Drop the super age to free up employment positions for the younger generation.

          • BernyD 12.1.2.3.2

            Your welcome to post it, I’ll keep thinking.
            Cost of living is the real driver.

            And we have to accept that Living is more than a roof over our heads and a full stomach.
            Ultimately we’re all going to retire, if we can afford it, we will do it when it suits us.
            Otherwise we wait , and hope we can survive on what we get.

            In the modern day, people could “Mentor from home” and a salary could be split.

            Allowing people to effectively retire and still have community/business input would be a civilised way to address peoples lives at that age doing it this way as Colonial Viper says may even allow us to drop the age limit.

          • RedLogix 12.1.2.3.3

            The best way to deal with any problem is to eliminate it at root. The best way to deal with ‘retirement’ as a problem is to eliminate the entire concept. No I’m not being extreme.

            The simple answer is a Universal Income combined with compulsory Kiwisaver accounts. A Universal Income set at around the current single unemployment benefit (say $12,000 pa) would be payable to all adults over the age of 18yrs. All other benefits and superannuation would no longer be required and thus become irrelevant to the discussion.

            The entire vexed question of a ‘retirement age’ would then become irrelevant as people could choose exactly when and how they chose to work… at any stage of life.

            At the same time we need to copy the Australian Superannuation system that would then provide a ‘top-up’ over and above the Universal Income and could be drawn down at any time after a person stops working at whatever age.

            Combined these two sources of income should yield a comfortable level and dignified life for every aging person while at the same time being both flexible and fair to everyone. It would mean that those who save for their old age and not penalised, those who choose or need to stop full-time paid work early can do so without being forced into unemployment for up to a decade while waiting for an arbitrary ‘retirement age’to kick in, while at the other extreme those who choose or are capable of working into their 80’s can do so as well.

            Simple, flexible and totally fair. Problem solved.

            • fender 12.1.2.3.3.1

              “The simple answer is a Universal Income combined with compulsory Kiwisaver accounts. A Universal Income set at around the current single unemployment benefit (say $12,000 pa) would be payable to all adults over the age of 18yrs. All other benefits and superannuation would no longer be required and thus become irrelevant to the discussion.”

              doesn’t sound too good for a single parent raising 4 kids

              • RedLogix

                I was only relating the details as they might apply to people reaching the end of their working life. Replacing the DPB would be very similar; the Universal Income would be received as of right by all adults then something similar to the current arrangement to top it up according to the number of dependent children could apply.

                We could go the next step and eliminate the DPB and WFF altogether by re-establishing the Universal Child Allowance we once had.

                http://www.ncwnz.org.nz/a-review-of-the-financial-support-for-new-zealand-s-children/

                and here

                http://www.greens.org.nz/factsheets/universal-child-benefit-some-frequently-asked-questions

                • fender

                  WFF is basiclly child support with another name, but flexible so that the family income is taken into account when deciding how much is paid. This directs resourses to those most in need when raising children. But of course it doesnt address the poverty in the most needy of families because its not paid to a single parent on the DPB, so its not Working for All Families as yet.

                • KJT

                  What about a GMI for kids under 18 as well.

                  Discriminatory for it to only apply to adults.

                  $12000/year is too low. Should be set at what it costs to live. Starting point the current super level. 60% of the average wage.

                  • RedLogix

                    What about a GMI for kids under 18 as well.

                    Well that’s more or less exactly the same thing as I’ve suggested above KJT.

                    Virtually all the problems we have with our current tax system arise because we attempt to ‘target’ various groups whom we like to think ‘deserve’ helping. Which only results in inefficiencies, disincentives and resentments.

                    My ideal tax system gets rid of targeting altogether and treats all citizens exactly the same. It is the single most vital reform we could implement, it’s well known and well studied. We can afford it and it can be phased in incrementally. There is nothing stopping us from fixing a whole bunch of problems here except our own timidity.

                    • I agree with this. I don’t have a clear opinion on what the end result will be but I have a determination to push for wideranging discussions. I’ll add my two bobs worth, but if the process is good and based on weight of support I’ll accept whatever the outcome is.

                      There should be two common goals:
                      1. That we need more widespread discussion on major issues.
                      2. We need a durable process to enable informed decisions.

                    • RedLogix

                      Pete,

                      Thanks… it’s a whole bunch better when you come right out and say what you mean.

                      I’m serious about the whole UBI concept. I originally dreamt it up on my own about a decade ago while contemplating the stupidly high effective marginal tax rates experienced while moving from a benefit to low paid employment.

                      But very quickly I discovered that the idea has been around for quite some time, and has very respectable intellectual roots. The more I’ve been exposed to all the issues around tax, the more convinced I am that it is the solution to most, if not all, the problems we currently have with the existing system.

                      The three crucial elements that make it so powerful are:

                      1. In terms of total tax the system it’s moderately progressive…. appealing to those with a left-wing perspective. While at the same time the marginal tax rate for everyone is exactly the same and totally flat, which appeals to those with a right-wing mind-set.

                      2. In treats every citizen, regardless of age, income or capacity exactly the same. It eliminates the humiliation and stigma associated with asking for what should be yours as a birth-right.

                      3. The tax system would become a neutral with regards to investment decisions, no longer would there be any incentive to game the system or distort decision-making simply in order to be more ‘tax-efficient’. The country could get on with being productive.

                      I’m not on my own here; lot’s of people already understand the elements of this and I truly believe that with a little political courage it could be phased in over the next decade or so.

                    • I doubt there will be enough political courage unless there is sufficient public pressure. And it would probably have to be implemented in good economic times – but that means preparing for it in advance of the optimum time.

                      Many campaigns are reactionary and not at a time they can have much effect. The TVNZ 7 campaign is an example, far too late. Same with Hillside workshops in Dunedin. Even the asset sale campaign is likely to be too late for at least the start of MOM and the first IPO or two.

                      I think it’s necessary to try and channel a reactionary people into visionary people power. With support and the extensive online and communication tools available the poortunity is there, if enough are willing to put aside minor differences to push for a major step forward.

                    • Draco T Bastard

                      Thanks… it’s a whole bunch better when you come right out and say what you mean.

                      Yep, he came right out and said that he agreed and then said that we need more waffling.

                    • fender

                      “My ideal tax system gets rid of targeting altogether and treats all citizens exactly the same. It is the single most vital reform we could implement, it’s well known and well studied.”

                      Without fixing the huge wage disparity that exists today this sounds like a widening of the gap, an ACT wet dream.

                    • KJT

                      Your last one arrived after my reply. But. Point taken.

                    • RedLogix

                      Without fixing the huge wage disparity that exists today this sounds like a widening of the gap, an ACT wet dream

                      Yes the reforms I’m proposing here are different to the existing system; but before you just react against them how about informing yourself about what is actually being suggested?

                      The basics of one possible UBI system for this country has been laid out by Gareth Morgan and Susan Guthrie here. It’s been researched and costed; it would unquestionably work.

                      It’s one version; there are many variations and tweakings possible.

                    • fender

                      Yes Gareth Morgan has said many things worth listening to in the past, but he might have become infected recently if yesterdays dribble and swipe at the Greens is anything to go by.

                    • RedLogix

                      fender;

                      I’m a long-term paid up member of the Green Party. But Morgan still makes sense on this issue.

                      Besides the Green Party has long had various policies closely aligned to the UBI concept.

                    • fender

                      RedLogix;

                      Yes the UBI has merits and deserves serious consideration.

                      Cant see National supporting changes like this though, especially as Gareth Morgan costed it with a proposed Comprehensive Capital Tax. Gareth may have altered his view now that he is seemingly perplexed that the Greens havn’t entered into coalition with National at all.

          • Ed 12.1.2.3.4

            Pete George,
            Congratulations on your specific backing by Labour to “push for discussions on NZ Super.” I missed any announcement of such specific backing – do you have a reference to it, or is it more the tacit support for any discussion on the topic that many politicians are encouraging?

            • Pete George 12.1.2.3.4.1

              I’ve had direct contact. No reference to it, but as I and Labour and UF (and a couple of other parties possibly) are openly talking the same approach it should stack up.

          • mickysavage 12.1.2.3.5

            Labour … have specifically backed me to push for discussions on NZ Super

            I must have missed the memo …

            Petey stop trying to own the debate.   UF’s poodle status means that nothing beneficial will come of this.

    • Shona 12.2

      With an ever increasing constiuent base of superannuitants. A very large clearly defined and steadily increasing in size type corner Pete.

    • John M 12.3

      Yeah, just like how he and Peter Dunne have painted themselves into a corner over asset sales. Key’s already admitted a large number of people who voted National at the last election are against asset sales. The people are going to win this one, Pete, and I’m going to enjoy reading your drivel-fuelled pseudo-analysis of the back down.

  13. captain hook 13

    Nation, what nation.
    Key does not recognise NZ as a sovereign entity in any way or form.
    all he sees is the B-school case study of how to rip off the people of New Zealand and escape back to US asap and forget all about it like it was a bad dream.

    • BernyD 13.1

      B grade is right, I think that our politicians should have qualifications that are vetted before they can run for parliament

      • Draco T Bastard 13.1.1

        Not qualifications as politicians actually need a broad understanding rather than specialisation but a psych exam to see if they’re psycho/socio-paths.

        • BernyD 13.1.1.1

          Absolutely, we as a civilisation need to analyse the actual Qualifications required. but it’s most definitely more than one degree.

        • BernyD 13.1.1.2

          An observational science degree would be a good start

  14. Carol 14

    TV3 news tonight is promoting Key’s car salesman pitch, that his asset sales policy is “edgy” and his (presumably meant to be heroic) spin that he’s prepared to take a slight popularity hit over it.

    Pah! Hair dye on an old bald geezer!

    • BernyD 14.1

      Indeed, He might as well say “They’re gonna hate me but I don’t care”
      Laughing at the questions means “I’m ready for that one :-)”

      The fact is they spent any “Fat” the previous Government acquired in his first year of office, including the Tax breaks for his buds.

      Then the recession hits and he’s selling off our assets , realistically to pay for his BMW

    • Carol 14.2

      And just like a performing puppy, this morning, John Armstrong came out with an “edgy” Key headline…. even before Key used the line on The Nation this morning.

      • BernyD 14.2.1

        He’s good a plagerising, one wonders why they love the man so much.
        It’s almost a knee jerk reaction as far as I can tell, their ides get shot down so much they just support him from spite

        • Carol 14.2.1.1

          But does JA have inside PR knowledge. He seemed to use the edgy line (posted online at 5.30am) before Key went public with it on The Nation.

  15. BernyD 15

    Occoms Razer should answer that 4 you.
    As far as I can tell it’s a 2 way thing. They’ll pickup on any direction he takes …. but ….

    Based on what I see when JK’s interviewed or making some statement, he doesn’t have any beliefs at all. It’s all just hype and it’s the right wing media are actually setting the direction that he takes.
    Only they’d know that for certain.

    But based on “Old School” doctrines, some smiley faced deal between them, spoken or not is very likely something that’s on JK’s mind.

  16. chris73 16

    IMHO united futures idea about having the retirement age start at 60 but at a lesser rate up to 70 at a higher rate is an idea that should be looked at as well as means testing for the pension

  17. Carol 17

    Peters is still on the ball when Key tries to attack him (as reported this morning by Stuff, but pretty much ignored by the NZ Herald):

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7116517/Peters-fires-back-at-PM-about-pension

    But Peters took exception. “Tricky am I? I never worked for a company that took the American people to the cleaners and then went broke and got the American people to bail them out,” he said, referring to Key’s time with investment company Merrill Lynch.
    [..]
    Key was “running out of friends, support and excuses”, Peters said.
    […]
    “This is about people’s lives, not some sort of tawdry deal in the dealers’ room.”

    While super wasn’t a deal-breaker next election, he said asset sales were. “Everybody knows it’s a bottom line. We walked out over the sale of Wellington airport, and we would not go down that road again.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10813528

    But Peters refused to be tied down yesterday on whether the pension age or even asset sales issues would be deal-breakers in any post election coalition talks in 2014, saying NZ First still had “options”

    • I’m disappointed to see the same old political pointscoring crap from both Key and Peters on this. Super is one issue that needs wideranging cross-party discussions – with open minds at this stage.

      Both Peters and Key have fobbed off addressing this now, saying nothing needs to hapen until next decade anyway. Except that many people who will retire next decade need to know what to expect and what to plan for.

      And it will take some time to discuss and work out how to go forward with Super for the next half century.

      If Key wins next election or Peters holds the balance of power in the next Government does that mean ignoring Super until 2017? Not if I (and a lot others) can help it.

      • jack 17.1.1

        I think Winston is right, don’t panic, calm down. Winston believes what he is saying, Key is posturing and manipulating with political questions. Calling Winston tricky coming from Key is like Hitler calling a petty thief a killer.

  18. Carol 18

    I am a bit disappointed that the interviewers let Key get away with more on ACC than ey did on the other issues. They didn’t contest Key when he said ACC had been in big trouble financially, but under Key’s government they had turned thigns around.

    Geez! But how easy is it to contest Key on all his spin and false lines…. wind him up and he’s moto-mouth, spin, spin, spinning away with all the con-man lines…. am I right, am I right?! Hard to ge a word in edge-ways.

    Desperate spinning, but unfortunately, his diversions and pseudo-facts will make some people, who are not up with the facts and arguments, think he’s telling it like it is.

    • yeshe 18.1

      Also he contradicted something Collins said in the House this week — I understood her to say that Hugh Rennie QC was a PRIVATE consult for John Judge, not ACC. Key today said it was ACC request. Anyone know ??

      Worth finding Think Tank on TV3 on demand also from this morning .. John Tamihere with guests David Shearer, Professor Jane Kelsey and Winston Peters.

        • deuto 18.1.1.1

          Thanks for that link – not a programme that I even knew about not being a regular TV watcher.

          Well worth watching, and I highly recommend it to others interested in the partial asset sales for the great discussion. Good performance by Shearer as well.

          • Anne 18.1.1.1.1

            +1 deuto.

            I stopped being a regular TV watcher years ago because of the deteriorating quality. The downside is missing good current affairs programmes because you don’t know they exist. Once upon a time TV stations used to regularly advertise them around the 6 – 7pm news time but it no longer seems to happen.

            Take note TV3. You are doing a superior job to your main rival when it comes to keeping the populace informed on current affairs. Please advertise these programmes more frequently so that the discerning amongst us get to hear about them.

  19. Ed 19

    Key cannot help himself with his lies. Regarding ACC he said “The corporation was in a real state of financial disrepair” – of course it was not; in fact Labour had improved its financial position from that which they had inherited.

    He also referred to wildly inflated numbers of jobs from the Casino buy-off.

    I was disappointed that he was not called on either of these – they are matters of fact that need not have taken much time to have at least raised a red flag for the audience.

  20. felix 20

    I predict this’ll be one of Key’s last long-format interviews.

    Yep. It’s also one of his first.

  21. jack 21

    Key is a conman, a real derivative trader, trading paper for money.. paper with no value. He’s sees an incredible opportunity to sell off New Zealand and he has no plan and could care less for the small niceties like education, health, welfare, the whole lot. I disliked Helen Clark but I wish she were back now.. Key is truly ruining this country and he has no conscience. He sold his sole to the devil long ago. How niave people are when they bring up his humble beginnings.

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    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    7 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    8 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    9 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    10 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    13 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    13 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    15 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    18 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
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