Key’s support ebbing

Written By: - Date published: 6:45 am, September 12th, 2014 - 67 comments
Categories: john key, polls - Tags: , , ,

Two polls last night show Key’s support ebbing. Most dramatic is the Herald Digipoll:

Key support slumps in latest poll

Prime Minister John Key has plunged in personal popularity dropping by 7.3 points and Labour leader David Cunliffe has jumped by 3.9 points, in the latest Herald DigiPoll survey.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has also risen. Mr Key is still well above either of them as preferred Prime Minister on 61.6 per cent. But it is his second lowest rating in a Herald DigiPoll survey since becoming Prime Minister in November 2008.

Mr Cunliffe has risen from 14 per cent to 17.9 per cent, the best personal rating he has had in DigiPoll since taking over the Labour leadership in September last year.

The One News Colmar Brunton also has Key down 2 to 46%, with National down 4 to 46% and the Greens up 3 to 14%.

National have gambled everything on “Team Key”. They may yet wish that they hadn’t.

67 comments on “Key’s support ebbing ”

  1. b waghorn 1

    I’m going put my two nails in keys political coffin lid today. Vote early vote left.

  2. tc 2

    Nah they didnt have a choice aside from bill none of the others can smile and slither like jk and do a half decent job of it as key has been intensively prepared for this.

    With the msm in the pocket, glucina, farrar and hooten applying the diversion and spin this was factored in. Its been masterful coordinated and works on many fronts to further blur any realities, the odgers email, hootens columns etc

    Ede was conveniently out of harms way and jk had done the handy photo ops and comments about slater to frame up the ‘ its all a left wing consiracy I am just a friendly guy…’ which is easy when churnalists never ask the right question, dig deeper or persist to see if inconsistencies arise.

    Dirty politics has been in full swing since early 08 and yesterdays CEO poll in granny is another example of the many angles opened up to keep nats in powe.

    I hope enough swing voters and middle NZ wake up to the stench wafting from the hollowmen as the MSM will try and keep them sedated.

  3. Tracey 3

    Is it feasible, or just wishful thinking to wonder if Labour could get to 28% on polling day (the real polling day I mean) and that support not come from the Left? If it is more than just a fantasy would that be enough based on poll trends last few elections?

    • Clemgeopin 3.1

      I think the voters from all sides will begin to realise that Labour is the best option overall and there will be a surge in Labour’s poll ratings. I am expecting and hoping that on the polling night, Labour will be at about 33% in their party vote.

      • Tracey 3.1.1

        Wow clem. I am not that optimistic. Is that higher than 2011 or about the same?

        It needs to come from tge Right hand side though…

        • Tania 3.1.1.1

          No Tracey it needs to come from those that didnt vote last time. We can easily win this if the left all vote

        • alwyn 3.1.1.2

          33% would be much, much higher than they got in 2011. It is also extremely unlikely as I doubt that there has been a poll this year that had Labour over 30%.
          In 2011 Labour got 27.5%. It was of course the lowest that they had got since 1928 when they got 26.2% or so.

          Personally, and based on all the polls for the last couple of months, I suspect that Labour may, just, beat the 1928 figure but it is hard to see them reaching the 2011 highs.

          Remember the days when David Cunliffe was first elected leader and, being unknown to the public, basked in figures of around 37% for Labour in the polls? At the time he was boasting about how he would lead Labour to levels of 40%. Sadly, for him the Labour vote has steadily dropped by 1%/month.

          http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/parl-support/research-papers/00PLLaw2012021/final-results-for-the-2011-new-zealand-general-election

    • Tania 3.2

      well hooton says National always come down five points in the actual results so wait and see

    • dave 3.3

      i have been door knocking since Feb in labour areas we collecting date and phone numbers landlines are few and far between i was surprised i think the election result will be a surprise these people are invisible you don’t find them on the net whale oil the standard or the polls you find them knocking on there doors getting them registered even having tea there a lot anger that wasnt there in 2011,
      these areas the greens are none existent polls are going to proven unreadable
      the fact early voting is unprecedented something is happening .

  4. irascible 4

    When a political party campaigns using a robot programmed with little else but a series of empty slogans and no policy the public begin to realise that those from Planet Key are not connected with reality or commonsense.
    The Botany National candidate, blessed with the same robotic, planet key delivery and thought processes (often fed from the Slater blog) was unable to cope when his delivery was interrupted by a questioner and had to plead with the Chair to prevent anyone interjecting during his robotic delivery. A total loss of credibility!!

    • Hami Shearlie 4.1

      I think Jamie Lee Ross models himself on Get Smart’s “Hymie the Robot” – except that Hymie was much more entertaining – and had wayyy more hair!!

      • irascible 4.1.1

        Hymie did display a modicum of intelligence if I recall Get Smart scripts accurately. I can’t see Jami-Lee being able to outwit Hymie at draughts.

    • disturbed 4.2

      Well said irascrible, Key is a puppet of big business or a “stool pigeon”as my old dad used to say.

      Hope we see a lift in labour, green, NZ First, they will go well together and save our beautiful land from being stolen from us under the guise of “recession”.

      All of it all was engineered By the Bilderberg Group at secret meetings to make the worlds resources easily & cheaply bought by the global elite.

      John Key is included in this scheme with the Bilderberg group, as he attended a secret meeting in 2011/12.
      See the attendance list and Key never advised the NZ public he was involved.

      http://twochurchesonly.com/supmat/03/most_influential/bilderberg_group/list_of_bilderberg_attendees.pdf

  5. Anne 5

    Is it feasible, or just wishful thinking to wonder if Labour could get to 28% on polling day…

    If they don’t and National forms the next government then I hope they will have the courtesy to give David Parker a knighthood. After all they owe a great deal to him. What a brilliant strategy it was to bring in a CGT and to raise the age of superannuation to 67 and spend two years spreading the word around the country. Splendid stuff. Not only will we be blessed with another three years of a Nat -led government but we will have that adorably cute but brain-dead Colin Craig and his little band of fellow flat-earthers ruling over us too. (sarc)

    • Tracey 5.1

      Agree. IF you are going to champion those two things and you know the kind of opponent you are up against you need to have a very good “meme” to spead.

      They havent.

      So scared are they of not winning middle minds they havent said the obvious… Only those with multiple properties need to consider a tax on their profit IF they sell.

      • Chooky 5.1.1

        +100…Labour don’t seem to be able to help themselves

        • Anne 5.1.1.1

          Labour don’t learn from past mistakes so they are destined to make them again and again. Each new generation of Labour politicians think they know it all and won’t listen to those who have been around the political traps for many years.

          National views the average punter with healthy disregard. They know what a lazy, ignorant, gullible lot they are when it comes to politics and treat them accordingly. Labour insists on naively believing the punters have the brains most don’t have, and produces wordy policies few of them have a chance in hell of comprehending. The one time they saw the light was under Helen Clark. Policy was reduced to simple language – rarely using more than 4 to 5 letter words and a maximum of 4 to 5 sentences. She couched everything in a way that wouldn’t frighten the horses.

          National run their simplistic slogans past 5 year olds, and if they understand them they know the punters will understand them too. Look at their policies for this election. ZILCH – apart from a vague promise of a tax cut sometime in the distant future. Yet the idiot punters are flocking to them. This, despite the level of corruption and blatant unlawful behaviour which extends to the very top tier of government and through to the prime minister himself.

          I rest my case.

          • disturbed 5.1.1.1.1

            Anne a bit over the top, how can we teach new dogs old tricks.

            Follow Greens they are inventing themselves every day and getting to sit in TV studios where NZ see them on TV.

            This Labour has failed at, and Metiria has done a fabulous job here.

            Anyway my Daughter works at Now Communications in Napier and a email came five minutes ago saying;

            ” That moment when David Cunliffe visits your workplace’, police, security, and reporters are everywhere.”

            So he is out on the hustings but more early morning 2 minute chats as the greens are doing will also help.

            • Anne 5.1.1.1.1.1

              No way disturbed. That is how it is. But I often use allegories to paint a picture of reality. They’re not meant to be taken literally. My suggestion that National run their slogans past 5 year olds is one such allegory.

  6. lurgee 6

    Labour + Greens + NZF = National.

    I remember the heady days when it was just Labour + Greens = National.

    Will the Greens decide it would be better to try mitigate National by working with their natural enemy, or watch the country get destroyed for another 3 years?

    • Tracey 6.1

      I dont believe the Greens consider their potential alliances based on the concept of natural enemies but rather compatible or compromiseable policy.

      IF we are to be pillaged by the nats for a third term i would rather see some green policy amongst tge mix than none at all.

      • weka 6.1.1

        So do you think the GP should support National on C and S?

        • Tracey 6.1.1.1

          not sure. first thought is no…

          • weka 6.1.1.1.1

            “IF we are to be pillaged by the nats for a third term i would rather see some green policy amongst tge mix than none at all.”

            I wouldn’t. First, if the GP enable the formation of a National govt, it will destroy the party. Second, if NZ doesn’t vote for change this election, then we are better off letting the destruction of that be fully apparent. If the GP get too involved in environmental issues with a third term National govt, they will be used as greenwash and set us all back many years. They will become untrustworthy.

            It’s worth remembering that the GP didn’t renew its MOU in 2011. There were good reasons for that, not least that there is so little common ground between the two parties’ policies. People think that because National say they want to clean up waterways that this means they support GP policy on this. They don’t. As Norman said on RNZ this morning, National want to run a pollution economy, the GP want to run a smart green economy. Worlds apart.

            • Sans Cle 6.1.1.1.1.1

              Agreed. Green Party in Ireland met this fate in 2007. (pathetic time to join a corrupt government). Years upon years of doing the hard yards, establishing themselves as a respectable party, getting rid of the sandals and candles image in the Irish psyche was wiped – by association with the deal they made with the devil…..all for two ministerial seats. Greens here shouldn’t and I think wouldn’t make such a mistake. Now let’s stop talking about Green/Labour loyalty – its what the MSM is trying to make us do. let’s not be pawns in their game. Carry on and vote left!

        • bearded git 6.1.1.2

          you must be joking weka?

          • weka 6.1.1.2.1

            About what exactly? bear in mind that my comment was made in the context of Tracey being unsure whether the GP should support National on C and S.

    • weka 6.2

      “Will the Greens decide it would be better to try mitigate National by working with their natural enemy, or watch the country get destroyed for another 3 years?”

      Depends on what you mean by work with. If you mean support the formation of a National govt, then no, they won’t do that, as they have stated clearly. If you mean work on individual policy on a case by case basis then yes, that’s what they’ve already been doing.

      The GP have been consistently clear that they will not support any govt that is so far from their own policy. FFS, they didn’t even have a MOU with National this time round. Please stop partaking in the smear

      • Lanthanide 6.2.1

        “then no, they won’t do that, as they have stated clearly”

        Actually Russel Norman went to great pains this morning on the radio to say it was “highly unlikely”, not an impossibility.

        • weka 6.2.1.1

          Two things,

          Norman said this morning they won’t support National on C and S (~ 2:50 in the RNZ audio). Unless you think he is being tricky and wants to include the possibility that the GP will form an actual coalition with National, that means they won’t support a National govt.

          Second, the GP’s stance for a number of years has been that they would only form govt with parties who they have common ground with policy wise. Ergo, no support for National at this time.

          • Lanthanide 6.2.1.1.1

            So why did Russel say it was “highly unlikely” they would reach a confidence and supply agreement, and repeat that several times, if he really meant “never”?

            • Dialey 6.2.1.1.1.1

              Never say never…maybe the Nats will do an about turn and follow the bue green path…unlikely I know, but all things are possible, aren’t they? Never is a long time

            • Zolan 6.2.1.1.1.2

              Leaving the door open for Nats to change, rather than being at fault for slamming it shut.

            • Liberal Realist 6.2.1.1.1.3

              To try and pick up soft National (swing) voters who would traditionally have swung to Labour?

            • KJT 6.2.1.1.1.4

              Because that is party policy, as decided by the members.

              In the unlikely event that National gains a degree of sanity and advocates for clean rivers and reigning in excessive wealth, we leave the door open.

              .

            • weka 6.2.1.1.1.5

              “So why did Russel say it was “highly unlikely” they would reach a confidence and supply agreement, and repeat that several times, if he really meant “never”?”

              This got covered in OM.

              The GP won’t give C and S after the election to National. That is very very clear. If you don’t believe me, read the actual policy document. And listen to Norman saying it again on RNZ.

              He’s not commiting the GP to future election promises, because he doesn’t have a mandate to do so. That’s why he can’t say never. Again, read the document.

              The GP has intentionally positioned itself as a policy focussed party rather than a partisan one. This is why they won’t come out and rule out National for the rest of eternity. Or rule Labour in for the rest of eternity for that matter. People who think this means that the GP are willing to support a right wing govt are completely missing the point. If a right wing govt supported GP policy, then yes, the GP would work with them. Do you think we will have a right wing govt that supports GP policy in general?

              I really don’t understand what is so difficult to understand about this.

  7. JRT 7

    Fastest growing demographic in NZ? Chinese living in Auckland. A breakdown of a Stuff poll a day or two ago showed 70% of Chinese vote National, 15% vote Labour. NZ is no longer reasonably evenly balanced between left and right voters, and to make it worse many left voters feel disenfranchised and don’t vote. We are an unusual country in that we allow non-citizens to vote.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1

      [multiple citations needed]

      A Stuff poll you say? Whizz-bang Scientifiness.

      • JRT 7.1.1

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/polls/10483648/Aucklanders-happy-with-Nats

        “It showed that National had far more than its overall 52.6 per cent support among Chinese voters (69.1 per cent) while Labour only had the backing of 15 per cent of Chinese voters, against an overall score of 26.1 per cent.

        Labour was strong, though, among Pasifika voters (65.9 per cent against 15.8 for National) and among Maori with 36.6 per cent against 25.6 per cent for National.

        Those voters who identified as Indian gravitated to the two main parties with 54 per cent supporting National and 37 per cent for Labour. Just 4.7 per cent said they backed the Greens, with virtually no support from the Indian community for any other party in our sample of more than 7000 voters.”

        • Tracey 7.1.1.1

          “.Fastest growing demographic in NZ? Chinese living in Auckland… ” source?

          “.. NZ is no longer reasonably evenly balanced between left and right voters ”

          But is it really cos of the percentage of 170,000 chinese living in NZ?!? If you add the latest poll results into left and right, how disproportionate is this divide of which you write?

    • Tracey 7.2

      What percentage of Chinese immigrants make up our population?

      Your post is a little unsettling but not for the reasons you offered.

      The census reports from 2013

      If “fastest growing” is measured in percentage, chinese growth is well vehind Indian and Filipino…

      “..During the seven-year period between censuses, the Chinese population increased by 16 per cent to 171,000 people, the number of Indians increased by 48 per cent to 155,000 and Filipinos more than doubled to 40,000 ”

      Of these many will be children and not eligible to vote.

      So, we have a maximum of 170,000 Chinese in NZ of whom some will be under 18.

      So I am calling misinformed ignorant BS on your post.

      • JRT 7.2.1

        Tracey, I’m not trying to stir up trouble here, just trying to point out what may be a contributing factor to the left/right imbalance in NZ. NZ used to be very slightly left in voting preferences, we got quite a few National governments because of first past the post, but often in elections National won, the popular vote showed a slight advantage to Labour. This doesn’t seem to be the case anymore, and the demographics of NZ have certainly changed in a big way over the last decade or so.

        I see no harm in asking some questions. If immigrants are changing our political landscape, then how do you educate new immigrants that the good things, the healthcare and education for all etc they came to NZ for, were largely created by the left, and that by voting for the neolibs in NZ they will in the end create the dog eat dog society they moved away from? And should the privilege of voting be only for citizens of NZ, that is people who were born here or have made a commitment to the country? You have to be a citizen to vote in Australia.

        • Tracey 7.2.1.1

          You can askbut your statement that chinese are tge fastest growing demographic was plain wrong.

    • Sanctuary 7.3

      First generation mainland Chinese with no experience of democracy and the rule of law do tend towards authoritarian parties because a) they are terrified of authority and want to stay onside with the state at all costs and b) they imagine authoritarian right wing parties behave in ways they understand, i.e. cronyist, nepotistic and corrupt (which is where Judith Collins comes in).

      I would guarantee though that voting patterns amongst assimilated ‘banana’ second and third generation Chinese would be little different from the rest of the background population, because they would have grown up with an innate understanding of what “democracy”, the separation of powers, and the social contract is all about.

  8. Gosman 8

    The trouble for the left is that while support for National may be ebbing somewhat it is pretty much static for Labour and The Greens. The main beneficiaries of the lower support for National are NZ First and the Conservatives. That doesn’t help the left a huge deal.

    • Te Reo Putake 8.1

      Not so, Gossie. It’s been obvious for yonks that we would need support from a third party to form a government. And, like it or not, that party was always going to be NZF. On the other side, if the Conservatives fall short of the 5% mark, then every party vote they get directly hurts National. And given that their current coalition partners are the biggest losers this time round, Keys options are getting pretty thin.

      The greatest change from the last election is that the media cannot put off potential Labour voters by saying it’s a ‘done deal’ this time. Don’t bother isn’t an option this election.

    • ScottGN 8.2

      Your statement is totally untrue Gosman. According to the TVNZ Colmar Brunton poll support for the Greens has increased 3% in a week.

  9. dave 9

    We must have a corrupt government being Scottish I have a choice shortly a torry rat infested country or a fresh start in hopefully in dependant torrie free country
    Alex salmond is better option than a corrupt banker like key

  10. Blue 10

    The trouble for National is that they have given people absolutely no reason to vote for them. They have hardly any policy, most of it is minor stuff, their only ‘headline-grabbing’ one is tax cuts maybe in three years.

    Their biggest asset, Key, has been absolute shite in the debates. He’s trying, but he looks like he has one foot on a Hawaiian beach already. That crap line about NZ ‘being on the cusp of something special’ has been widely mocked for the empty, patronising tripe that it is. The John Key of a year or two ago would never have used a line like that.

    Then there’s the Dirty Politics saga, which has so far resulted in one Cabinet Minister going down and an inquiry into the SIS allegations. Polls show most don’t believe Key’s denials. His reputation is going to the dogs.

    In short, there is no earthly reason to vote National and I will be very surprised if their vote doesn’t sink like a stone as we get closer to election day.

  11. Sable 11

    Given roughly only a third of New Zealanders actually voted for Keys with a 1 million people staying home last election Keys actual support base is quite small. These absurd polls give a very inaccurate representation of his popularity and for that matter his opponents as well.

  12. karol 12

    The big story here is that Keys and the Nats vote is slipping – One News making it about another party is a major diversion.

    Listen to the main news here. Key’s vote is slipping.

    • Tracey 12.1

      It was never about anything other than selling assets and cutting wages and conditions…

    • Rodel 12.2

      Come on. These ridiculous polls are little money making jobs where they ask 750 people (usually on a 1970’s land line) who they’d vote for are a farce.
      Winston knows that.

      Their margin of error 3% or whatever is a statistical farce. Anyone who has studied statistics 101 knows that margins of error are statisticians’ way of pretending to cover their arses when they get it all wrong. ( Statistician say, ‘Man with one foot in an oven and the other in a deep freeze is on the average quite comfortable.. margin of error 98%’)

      The only value in polls is that they wrongly persuade voters that their votes are worth nothing.
      Ignore silly polls and take your friends out to vote.Do it now!

  13. David H 13

    And Toby Manhire in the Herald today said pretty much the same thing. Out of ideas, stale, 3rd term itis.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/election-2014/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503581&objectid=11322978

  14. Penny Bright 14

    FYI

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/keys-preferred-pm-rating-slumps-latest-herald-digipoll-ck-162284#comment-668131

    Key’s preferred PM rating slumps in latest Herald Digipoll

    NZ First surges above 8%. PLUS: Poll frenzy continues with latest OneNews-Colmar Brunton survey, which has National slipping. UPDATED

    __________________________________________________________

    My comment – yet to be published:
    __________________________________________________________

    Good.

    At last the public are starting to realise the TRUTH about Bank of America shareholder John Key and whose interests he’s really serving?

    Hint – follow the dollar …….

    http://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/00CLOOCMPPFinInterests20141/2e04287ad20ee5da12a308149e59bb16d7f47ce5 (Pg 30)

    Rt Hon John Key (National, Helensville)

    2 Other companies and business entities

    Little Nell – property investment, Aspen, Colorado
    Bank of America – banking

    Penny Bright

  15. Plan B 15

    NZ ‘being on the cusp of something special’
    yes we are , it is called our firstLabour Greens Government

  16. Michael 16

    The Nats are still well ahead of Labour, which will be lucky if its Party Vote equals its 2011 score, which was its worst ever. The Greens aren’t quite ready to replace Labour as the lead opposition party but they’ve made impressive strides this campaign. Labour is a tired and timid party of the status quo with nothing relevant to offer people.

  17. Tautoko Viper 17

    You are right, John Key
    “We are on the cusp of something special.”
    An example of a cusp is the top of a hill.
    It’s all downhill from now on.

  18. Jack the Rat 18

    Winston could crack close to 10% and I am guessing Key could be around 44% or less I think its game on for Key + ? vs Labour/Green/NZF

    Key has been well stage managed since breaking out from his State House Roots, he has been managed by the likes of Michelle Boag and the Tory Machine, amazing the power of PR. Unfortunately the compliant masses are gullible to this type of trickery.

  19. Jack the Rat 19

    The Left need to realise and understand that “butter does not melt in John Keys mouth” especially in the eyes of the media.

  20. dv 20

    Interesting Tony Ryall announced today that the carers would get travel time

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10491518/Cabinet-approves-travel-hours-for-in-home-carers

    Under the proposal, home support workers will be paid for the time taken to travel between clients, at the minimum wage rate, from July 1, next year and mileage of, at least, 50 cents per kilometre from March 1, 2016

    Note 2016!!

    Arn’t the Nats good (Sarc)

  21. mike s 21

    Following is copy / paste of my comment in another thread as this is the more relevant thread for it…

    This is off topic sorry, but can someone please explain to me the preferred prime minister polls and how they work. John Key is down to 61.6% in the latest one, his second lowest ever but at 61.6% is still miles in front of Cunliffe who has risen to his highest at 17.9%

    My question is that at 61.6%, does that mean that there are quite a few left leaning voters who say they would prefer Key as prime minister??? Because there certainly isn’t over 60% support for rightwing parties. If so then WTF!? I certainly couldn’t imagine any labour voter preferring Key? So who?

    Or is it that some respondents only know the name John Key so just put him down coz they don’t know the names of any of the others? How is the poll done, is it just a list of party leaders names and you tick your preferred one for prime minister?

    I just find it hard to believe that large numbers of labour, greens and NZ first voters would prefer Key as prime minister. These preferred pm polls have always nagged at me, I would have thought that they would more closely resemble the party support poles, maybe I’m missing something

    Fuckin’ polls…

  22. You are all forgetting Honi and his mates .My prediction Labour/Green / Mana .
    A Solid left majority .The young first time voters are going to vote for the so called Dot.com party .

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    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
    10 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
    22 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 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
    3 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
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days 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
    4 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
    6 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
    7 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
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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