Leader’s debate IV

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 pm, September 17th, 2014 - 155 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, election 2014, john key, labour, national - Tags:

We had the quick fire fast food version of the leaders debate tonite moderated again by Mike Hosking. The leaders were offered an hour. Cunliffe agreed but Key declined.

The debate started off with questions about the GCSB and mass surveillance. Key looked particularly weak. With all the changes of position that he has shown over the past few days you really have to wonder what he actually thinks. Even Mike Hosking was scathing and pointed out that on the same day Key said the Americans could be spying on us he was saying they were not.  He asked are they, aren’t they, or doesn’t he know. Key then added a further possible position which no doubt will be the subject of further analysis and a further conclusion that Key has again shifted his position.

Hosking suggested to Key that he could not explain what was happening in relation to our intelligence agencies and Hosking is right.

Polls were discussed. Key criticised Cunliffe’s statement that on the latest Reid Research Poll Labour could form a Government. Cunliffe’s response was wonderful, “If you think that Internet Mana is going to go with John Key after all of this that’s weirder than most of the stuff that has happened over the past couple of days”.  Cunliffe rightly pointed out that the result depends on whether or not the Conservatives get over the line and used the opportunity to question what they would do to the country.

Key then mentioned Lamb Chops. I am still not sure why …

The possibility of Winston Peters being PM was raised. It was ruled out by Cunliffe and Key. But Key has not ruled out the Deputy Prime Minister position for Peters.  It seems that to a merchant banker everything is on the table.

The first hundred days policies are interesting. Cunliffe promised that Labour will

  • start raising the minimum wage
  • repeal some of the unfair labour laws
  • start the commission of inquiry into the management of our security agencies
  • broaden the commission of inquiry into John Key’s ministers’ abuse of power
  • and start turning this country around to something that is cleaner in more ways than one as well as more productive.

John Key’s list:

  • focus on the opportunity and continue to deliver for New Zealanders (whatever that means).
  • lift and support professional development for our teachers for our principals
  • sign a free trade agreement with Korea
  • continue with their plan for cancer care
  • continue to invest in infrastructure
  • continue to invest in science and innovation
  • create 150,000 jobs

Key’s list was interesting.  Most were things that NZ Inc is delivering rather than National.  The jobs target is something that regularly appears in National Budgets and has never been met.  There was a complete lack of anything new.

Near the end Key mixed up Tamaki Makarau with Te Tai Tokerau by thinking that Kelvin Davis will win the former even though he is a candidate for the latter. Way to go John. I trust the media will pick up on this.  Labour’s prospects in the Maori seats just received a big boost.

And the Herald commentators called it a draw. When this happens you know Cunliffe came out ahead.

Overall my impression was that Cunliffe was more confident and much funnier than Key. And he knew his stuff and had a vision.  By comparison Key was much better at the snarky stuff but otherwise struggled.  And I still have no idea about what National intends to do this term if they are re-elected.  And this is scary.

Result?  Clear win for Cunliffe but of course I would say this …

Some interesting tweets …

https://twitter.com/melmac21/status/512139676925181952

155 comments on “Leader’s debate IV ”

  1. Tracey 1

    I havent watched any of the debates. I hope New Zealand won.

    • karol 1.1

      I watched the first ones, but had given up by the time this one came on – half an hour of game show, celebrity politics with Hosking…. better things to do.

  2. b waghorn 2

    Would Winston be able to make keys resigning part of a deal to go nats way.

    • Lanthanide 2.1

      weka has brought that up before on TS and I just don’t think it’s tenable.

      For Winston to effectively veto who the PM is a bridge too far. The public would be in uproar over it. The resultant government would be very unpopular with the public, because a good 10% of National’s vote is largely on the basis of “that nice man Mr Key”.

      • weka 2.1.1

        Actually, that’s not quite what I brought up. If Key is Peters only sticking point, is it possible that a National/NZF govt could form without Key? If Key is already considered a liability then he may be persuaded to leave. I never said that Peters would public demand his resignation in return for support to form govt. This was speculated some time ago when there was still time for things to go very badly for Key before the election.

        • Lanthanide 2.1.1.1

          If election night result is National + Peters = Government, and then on Sunday night the result is National – Key + Peters = Government, then everyone will see through exactly what happened.

          • weka 2.1.1.1.1

            You think Peters will declare himself on election night? I think that is extremely unlikely.

            • Lanthanide 2.1.1.1.1.1

              No.

              I mean if the result on Saturday makes it clear that National + NZFirst could form a government, which is actually very likely to be a possible outcome from Saturday, but then on Sunday (or later) we find out that such a government would not include John Key as PM, it will be *very* obvious that it was Winston’s demand to remove Key in order to support National, whether that is “made public” or not. The media isn’t stupid.

              • weka

                But isn’t the most likely scenario on sat night that Peters could form govt with either left or right and that we have at least a week or two before Peters declares what he will do?

                Sorry, but the media is often grossly stupid.

                • Lanthanide

                  Um, yes. Sorry, I’m really not sure what you’re not getting.

                  • weka

                    I haven’t said anything about Peters doing the demanding. That’s all your idea.

                    Plus, Peters does his negotiating behind closed doors, sometimes over weeks.

                    I don’t think your scenario is the only way it could or couldn’t play out.

                    • Lanthanide

                      ???

                      If the election outcome is National – Key + NZFirst = government, it doesn’t matter who did what or how long it took to get to that situation, the media and the public will say it was Winston that forced Key to leave.

                      Regardless, such a government would be so monumentally unpopular that I don’t think Winston would accept it, either in making the offer himself or in entertaining such an offer from any backstabbers in National.

                    • weka

                      I would agree with all that except that it’s quite possible that Key will have to resign anyway because of what’s happening with spygate. You don’t seem to be allowing for any possibility other than him being pushed out in a cynical play to gain power.

                    • Lanthanide

                      Unless there are new developments in spygate, it’s not credible to suggest he’ll resign after the election over the evidence we already have.

                      At this point, new developments do not seem forthcoming, and it’s unlikely any of the investigations set up by the National government will find anything incriminating.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Only the press can force Key to resign, and they won’t, even though there is significant and sufficient cause.

                    • weka

                      “Unless there are new developments in spygate, it’s not credible to suggest he’ll resign after the election over the evidence we already have.”

                      Just as well I haven’t suggested that then.

                    • Lanthanide

                      @ CV: I don’t think there’s sufficient cause in the spygate stuff in isolation, but the conduct of this government since the start of this year has been appalling and I think a ‘fair’ media would be putting much more pressure on them than we’re seeing, if not outright calling for resignation. Probably the only reason they aren’t is because of Key’s high polling – I think if National were in the high 30’s the media would have a very different tone; but it is of course a chicken and egg situation.

                    • weka

                      “Only the press can force Key to resign, and they won’t, even though there is significant and sufficient cause.”

                      Maybe. Or maybe things are starting to change post-Slatergate. I think he will get away with much less from now on, and it will be harder for him to pull off the smile and wave. His mask has slipped, we all now know he is a liar and only the most dedicated will be able to pretend otherwise.

          • Hanswurst 2.1.1.1.2

            Not to mention that there has been an entire narrative built up by the media and National itself around a vote for National being a vote for Key. On national.org.nz, we see a National Party banner with the slogan “Working for New Zealand” in the top left-hand corner, with the hashtag #teamkey given pride of place next to it. On mynational.org.nz/support, the exhortation is to “join Team Key 2014”. National’s campaign website is called “teamkey.co.nz”. For National to ditch John Key would be as much of a betrayal of campaign promises to the electorate as increasing class-sizes, deciding to run annual deficits or authorising mass surveillance.

            In the event of a right-wing coalition or minority National government without John Key, the opposition would crucify the government on a narrative that everything in Dirty Politics and the Greenwald revelations was accurate and went right to the Prime Minister, that the National front bench was trying to save its own arse by making him a scapegoat, that National was in such a shambles that it couldn’t even cement its (and the electorate’s) candidate for prime minister, and that the government was headless and in disarray. National would take a swift and permanent hit in the polls, as would every associated party, and the government would be gone by lunchtime.

            • Lanthanide 2.1.1.1.2.1

              Yip, although not entirely sure about the “gone by lunchtime” bit. If the deed were actually done, it’d require a vote of no confidence or extraordinary intervention by the GG to bring about a new government / parliament.

              But they would be utter dog-tucker in the polls, and exactly the opposite of the ‘stable government’ they’ve had as their only real mantra in this campaign.

              • Hanswurst

                I’m not entirely sure about the “gone by lunchtime” bit, either. However, I don’t get the impression that National can agree on a leader or even a public direction without John Key. Most of the available coalitions would probably have such a wafer-thin majority that Peters would not feel confident of pulling of his post-1996 gambit of splitting off to take the moral high ground from opposition without bringing down the government; thus he would rather throw his lot in with Labour if implosion were a realistic danger to a suddenly Key-less National-led coalition (which it would be).

                A coalition involving the Conservatives would be a different story, of course, but I doubt they’d be interested in getting rid of Key, so it doesn’t matter.

                So basically, the government probably wouldn’t be gone by lunchtime on account of National’s governing without Key, but only because National’s major coalition prospects wouldn’t touch the proposition with a ten-foot barge-pole and it therefore wouldn’t happen.

            • weka 2.1.1.1.2.2

              Leaving Peters out of it for a moment, what if after the election National form govt and then Key is forced to resign because of the GCSB shit. Surely you are not suggesting that National can’t replace him with someone else and would instead have to send the country back to the polls?

              • Lanthanide

                If the resignation was some months after the election, then it could feasibly be accepted. If that resignation were to happen prior to the formation of government, or within mere weeks of it, I think the public would be very angry.

                Even him resigning after a few months would crater National’s polling, and potentially cause his coalition partners to desert him.

                • weka

                  Ok, so if something happens say in two weeks time, separate from the election, that would ordinarly mean that Key should resign (eg definitive proof that he lied about the GCSB), you are suggesting that he shouldn’t or he wouldn’t resign because the public would be angry? That doesn’t make sense.

                  • Lanthanide

                    I don’t think that’s likely to happen, but sure, if that were to happen, then yes he would resign.

                    But I think such a resignation, so close to the GE, would put the government under immense pressure to go back to the polls. Certainly if it were National + NZFirst = Government situation, I think Winston would vote no confidence and form a government with Labour instead.

                    • weka

                      “But I think such a resignation, so close to the GE, would put the government under immense pressure to go back to the polls.”

                      Is that because of these circumstancs (as opposed to say if Key got ill)?

                      Can the government be changed via a vote of no confidence or does there definitely have to be a new election?

                • Tracey

                  I am not sure what the mechanism would be though Lanth. Sure public might be angry BUT it would require a no confidence vote in Parliament to actually force the new eelction, unless the GG stepped in?

            • dave 2.1.1.1.2.3

              win or lose there going to
              cusify national over dirty politics aduse of power next 3 years for national are going to be hell on earth even if they were in oposition dirty politics has ripped national open and its not going to go away

            • Theodora 2.1.1.1.2.4

              The last part of your comment is my secret fantasy scenario. It’s like sticking the knife in your own back.

        • Local Kiwi 2.1.1.2

          Good wrap Mickey,

          I thought Hosking’s and Cunliffe won.

          Key looked gaunt and unsure of himself trying to cover it up when he tried to shrill over bit all.

          I was surprised how much he interjected when motor mouth Key tried again to runaway with piffle about how great thy Team key was doing.

          I saw some very black looks key gave Hosking’s so bad that mike must’ve had to change his briefs afterwards.

          David Cunliffe really has grown legs and went over the most assured confident of the two, and always clearly threw up responses quicker than Key.

          I’d say 50/30/20 respectively from all three parties in that debate, Cunliffe/Hoskings/key.

          • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.2.1

            Hoskings did hold Key to account a number of times. Unfortunately Hoskings also made some parts of the debate more about himself than the actual candidates for PM.

            Overall though, my estimation of Hosking has gone up, and even though my criticisms of him as an elitist Tory shit bag stand, I think he can (on occasion) do a very professional, sharp job – when he feels like it and is mildly pushed to.

          • Tracey 2.1.1.2.2

            On a news clip this morning, on TV1 I think, Key put his hand on Cunliffe’s arm at one stage to stop him speaking…

            I am beginning to wish someone would secretly film a Nats Cabinet meeting and leak it… Cos if what we see in these debates is the restrained cos the public can see Key…

            • Theodora 2.1.1.2.2.1

              Agree. ‘Smiling Assassin’ aside, you don’t get to the top of the forex by being nice.

      • DS 2.1.2

        Peters wouldn’t care though. It’d just be an incredible case of trolling the Nats, and seeing if they would be prepared to backstab Dear Leader in return for three more years.

  3. Lanthanide 3

    “Near the end Key mixed up Tamaki Makarau with Te Tai Tokerau by thinking that Kelvin Davis will win the former even though he is a candidate for the latter. Way to go John.”

    This ‘mixup’ plays to Key’s base. They don’t compete in the Maori seats, they don’t care about TTT or Kelvin Davis, so this is not really a gaffe on Key’s part.

    I watched the commentators discussion streamed live on tvnz afterwards, with Hooton, Williams, presenter woman I don’t know and the woman organising Vote Compass.

    Hooton said this debate was won by Key and that Key won the whole series. The other three all said this debate narrowly won by Cunliffe and that Cunliffe also eked out ahead in the whole series.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1

      This ‘mixup’ plays to Key’s base. They don’t compete in the Maori seats, they don’t care about TTT or Kelvin Davis, so this is not really a gaffe on Key’s part.

      Correct. Good of you to remind us that Key always only talks to his base. He is not talking to the general NZer.

      • Lanthanide 3.1.1

        Not saying it was deliberate by Key, but it’s pretty much irrelevant. If the left and/or media even try and make a big deal out of it, they’ll just look stupid.

        • Inky 3.1.1.1

          Fear not, there’s no chance in hell that our blue rosette-wearing media will ever make a big deal out of anything Key stuffs up. You’re mistaking him for Cunliffe — they even make a big deal out of things he hasn’t stuffed up.

    • Tracey 3.2

      Hooton is on there? Hooton who supplied Hager’s address to someone who wanted it to harm Hager?

  4. vto 4

    3. My other better halves reckoned Key looked like a cornered rat

    2. Did Key actually push Cunliffe’s arm away at one point?

    1. Key at one point said something very derogatory but it has slipped from my decreasing mind … time for bed

    • Lanthanide 4.1

      2. Yes. They replayed that on the commentator live-stream, but I didn’t notice it myself during the debate. Hooton didn’t think it was any big deal, the political compass woman thought it wasn’t a good look.

      • Tracey 4.1.1

        Hooton wouldn’t. see my post above about his ethics around human contact

      • vto 4.1.2

        That’s what I thought. Imo that was very telling and indicates that Key is losing it. Stressed and frustrated he has resorted to physical action, no matter how small.

        Points to Key being right at the very ends of his abilities and desires – in fact probably past those ends.

        It is all over for the poor man and I think he has known it for the last three weeks.

  5. b waghorn 5

    Cheers lanthanade just looking for silver lining incase of worst happening

  6. SPC 6

    A vote for National is a vote for the TPPA and subordination of New Zealanders to more than mass surveillance by the Americans, also subordination of our national sovereignty to their corporates agenda for profit making.

    • Sable 6.1

      Oh and you think Cunliffe won’t sign too? Don’t kid yourself. The only thing that will stop this odious betrayal of NZ becoming ratified is a government that includes a strong representation from the Greens and Internet Mana.

      • mickysavage 6.1.1

        Read Labour Conference remits on the subject. There are that many conditions I would be amazed if a Labour Government ratified it. The most difficult is that Labour will not support a TPPA if the state was opened up to being sued if it changed local law. There is no way that Labour activists will agree to this being changed.

        • Tracey 6.1.1.1

          “Thank you for your email to Hon David Cunliffe concerning the Trans Pacific Partnership trade negotiations. Apologies for the delay in my reply.

          There is genuine concern about what might be included in the final outcome of the negotiations, which the Government has not adequately addressed by making clear where it stands on important issues in the negotiation.

          Labour demands more openness and transparency from the Government. As Minister of Trade negotiating the China and Asean Free Trade Agreements in 2008, I involved a cross-section of groups in the process including the Council of Trade Unions and Greenpeace as well as businesses and exporters. That helped ensure we got good input and it also won trust and confidence in what we were doing.

          Those trade agreements hugely helped economic growth and jobs in New Zealand with New Zealand exports to China increasing from $2 billion to over $7 billion dollars in five years and closing the trade deficit with that country. It helped save us from suffering as badly as the US and Europe from the Global Financial Crisis.

          Labour has also set bottom lines for support for a TPP agreement. It must result in a clear and significant net benefit to our country. It must be a high quality agreement allowing New Zealand to gain access for our major exports to countries like the US, Japan, Canada and Mexico, removing barriers like the current exorbitant tariff rates on dairy (200-300 per cent), tight quotas and behind the borders barriers. For our services and manufacturing industries we would also want access to government procurement contracts, a market in the US alone worth $334 billion from which we are currently excluded.

          Labour recognises that the TPP is not just a trade agreement but deals with behind the borders issues and could impact on domestic policy settings. New Zealand must not sacrifice Pharmac or give up our sovereign right to regulate and legislate such areas as health, the environment and economic policy or in areas like gambling, tobacco and alcohol. The policy protections must be tight enough to prevent multinational companies from winning law suits against us when we regulate in these areas to their commercial disadvantage. We support intellectual property protection but not where it goes to extremes which would hinder innovation and create excess profits at the expense of the consumer. The Government needs to heed the concerns of smaller companies in New Zealand including those in the IT sector.

          Labour supports trade deals which genuinely benefit our country. We need growth in exports so we can close the gap between the value of what we export and import. A trade deficit which has persisted over 40 years has meant New Zealand having to borrow to pay the difference. Growing debt has resulted in us increasingly losing ownership of our own country.

          We need growth for jobs and higher incomes. We need growth to increase government revenue to pay for higher quality services in areas like health and education.

          The Petri study from Brandeis University shows that a TPP would likely lead to export growth to New Zealand of over $5 billion a year. The Parliamentary Library, based on the Brandeis study, states that could lead to job growth of up to 22,000 jobs.

          Half of our trade goes to the TPP countries. If we did not participate in a successful agreement our exporters would be disadvantaged by facing barriers in the key TPP markets that our competitors do not.

          We continue to insist that the Government better inform parliament and civil society as to its negotiating objectives and its position on issues of concern. Only then can the public be involved in an informed and mature debate. Labour will support a deal only if it is genuinely in the interests of New Zealand.

          Yours sincerely

          Phil Goff

          Hon Phil Goff
          MP for Mt Roskill
          Labour Spokesman on Defence
          Trade, Ethnic Affairs, Veterans’ Affairs
          Associate Foreign Affairs
          Private Bag 18 888, Parliament Buildings
          Wellington 6160, New Zealand
          T: + 64 4 817 6775 | F: + 64 4 817 6461

      • SPC 6.1.2

        Once you consider who Labour’s coalition partners would be then you realise that saying that Cunliffe would do the same as Key is just wrong.

        A Labour NZ First coalition requires Green support to sign TPPA. That will not happen.

        • weka 6.1.2.1

          no they don’t. Labour can use any party’s vote, not just the left’s.

          • SPC 6.1.2.1.1

            Do you think Greens would continue to provide confidence and supply to a government that brought in TPPA?

            If Labour was inclined to support a TPPA agreement by seeking backing from National they might find Greens would go to the polls on the issue.

            • Tom Jackson 6.1.2.1.1.1

              That is a very astute point.

            • weka 6.1.2.1.1.2

              Personally, I would hope the Greens would withdraw C and S over such an issue. I don’t know how that works though. Do we have precedent? Many commentators say that forcing an election tends to work against the party that forces it (they get punished by the electorate).

              • Draco T Bastard

                I don’t know how that works though. Do we have precedent?

                Only one I can think of ATM is Marilyn Waring crossing the floor bringing down Muldoon’s Government.

                • weka

                  I thought of that too, but Waring says she had no idea it would trigger an election, so it’s a bit different than if the GP withdrew C and S (as opposed to just one policy vote) knowing full well that would bring down the govt.

                  • Colonial Viper

                    It;s up to Labour to be smart enough not to force the Greens to ever consider doing such a thing…and in fact to use that pressure from the GReens as a platform and justification for doing the right thing by the TPPA – scrapping it and putting safeguards in place preventing anything similar arising again.

              • DS

                There are three precedents that come to mind in New Zealand, and none of them forced an election.

                In 1912, the group of independent MPs propping up the minority Liberal Government switched to supporting Reform. You had a change of Government without an election.

                In 1930-31, Labour pulls its support for the minority United Government (Labour had been giving it C and S since 1928). United forms a Grand Coalition with Reform instead.

                In 1998, the National-NZ First coalition collapses. Jenny Shipley props herself up with an odd band of renegades from NZ First, plus Alamein Kopu.

                • Tracey

                  Therein lies the irony of the scare mongering of the Right about a coalition of the Left. The ONLY failure under MMP was between National and NZ First.

              • Tracey

                They could make it a conscience vote not C and S on anything to do with TPP

    • AsleepWhileWalking 6.2

      Yeah, disappointing DC didn’t say that in the first 100 days he would pull out of the TPPA. This country isn’t going to the dogs, it’s going to America (which might be ok if their country and reserve dollar status wasn’t going downhill fast).

  7. Sable 7

    Not that its even remotely possible for so many reasons but I see Cunliffe ruled out NZ offering Edward Snowden asylum. Would have been nice to see Labour take the moral high road and at least make a positive gesture by saying they would consider it were it feasible.

    Its easy to see why traditional Labour voters like myself have walked away in disgust. As to their debate, really who cares. Since when was MMP “just” about these two characters.

    • Lanthanide 7.1

      Cunliffe desperately needs to distance himself from KDC as much as possible, so even ‘vaguely plausible’ ideas need to be talked down. Silly ideas need to be killed stone-dead, which is what Cunliffe did.

    • mickysavage 7.2

      Offering Snowden asylum would be silly. There is an extradition treaty with the US that they would then immediately invoke if Snowden landed in Aotearoa.

      • Lanthanide 7.2.1

        I thought the point of ‘political asylum’ is that people use it to get away from their governments, which would by definition be used to prevent extradition?

        • ghostwhowalksnz 7.2.1.1

          Not if they evidence of a crime, see KDC v USA.

          Brazil is more likely to be the place , no extradition treaty with US. Trouble is he has to get there and US has record of pulling people off planes in stopovers so they can be ‘rendered’ to US territory

          • Lanthanide 7.2.1.1.1

            KDC was granted residency, not political asylum.

            Sure, they may be treated exactly the same under extradition law, but you didn’t actually state that.

      • weka 7.2.2

        Plus it’s really the wrong time to even be talking about this. People have far to much to deal with with everything else that is going on, let alone having to think through the issues involved in giving assylum to Snowden.

        • Lanthanide 7.2.2.1

          +1

        • Tracey 7.2.2.2

          Did Cunliffe retort to key’s surmising that Cunliffe needed Internet Mana that the only poll that matters is Saturday and he focuses on what new zealanders want not want 6 different polls say

  8. politikiwi 8

    I actually laughed out loud at Key’s list.

    150,000 jobs in three months?

    Tell me more…

    • Lanthanide 8.1

      Yeah, I really wished Hoskins had said “you’re going to do that in 3 months? Those other things you said don’t sound like things you can complete in 100 days either”. Cunliffe actually answered the question, Key just gave his rehearsed “reasons to vote for us” bullshit.

      • tc 8.1.1

        Agreed.

        Complete BS allowed to pass by hoskings who has been consistently awful so he didnt dissapoint me in that regard.

    • Inky 8.2

      Maybe he’s thinking lots and lots of Hobbit extras for the next movie? Seriously, 150,000 jobs is a bad joke, but it’s one the sheep will swallow.

  9. AsleepWhileWalking 9

    +1

  10. Jrobin 10

    John Armstrong must finally be worried about the thousands of comments he has been getting on his own column about his obvious bias. Thanks John but too late to save your reputation. After the Liu smear campaign you have reached joke status.

    • tc 10.1

      Yeah right, he would wear that as a badge of honour and you assume he reads them.

      Just another sad old out of touch press gallery trougher in a stable alongside audrey, clare, fran etc

  11. BM 11

    Does Cunliffe not realize he comes across as a rude arrogant fuckwit?.

    I’ve never seen such a dislikable individual, no wonder labour is polling around 20%

    Worst Labour leader ever.

    • weka 11.1

      🙄

      Even for you that’s a bold lie BM

    • gobsmacked 11.2

      Whateva.

      (see, I can quip!)

      • BM 11.2.1

        Honestly he’d win so many more brownie points if he just shut up for a minute.

        Everything I’ve read is
        “that Cunliffe what a rude arsehole,

        “Cunliffe, I didn’t think I could hate the man any more”,

        “Cunliffe put a cork in it for a second and let the other guy have his say”

        etc…….

        The man seems utterly oblivious.

        • mickysavage 11.2.1.1

          You should read more left wing comment on the debate.

        • gobsmacked 11.2.1.2

          He should have said Key has a fat butt?

          Be Prime Ministerial, you mean?

        • Richard 11.2.1.3

          Seriously! as Hoskings was giving Key all the talk time. Hoskings was asking Cunliffe a question but would not let him reply.

          I’d be trying to interrupt to get my point over too.

          BM you want Key to glow in the spotlight so you can hear him fair enough mate but be fair did Cunliffe get to do the same even once? I saw Cunliffe STFU 3 times and let key have time and key just would not stop until hoskings HAD to stop him, then we went and argued all over Cunliffe.

          So want to talk about the debate? or just wave the blue flag like a dick.

        • Inky 11.2.1.4

          BM, you sound like Key’s campaign henchman, lol. A debate involves two people having a say, not Key lamely trying to talk for the full 30 minutes so he doesn’t have to answer any questions and Cunliffe is denied a chance. You’re simply used to Key being given open slather by the blue rosette-wearing media every time he opens his lying pie-hole. Well, Cunliffe isn’t John Armstrong. He’s not going to sit mutely, dribbling from the corner of his mouth, while John XKeyscore fills the airtime with BS. Dishonest John still spoke the most anyway, yet said nothing.

    • Rodel 11.3

      BM
      ‘ I’ve never seen such a dislikable..(dislikable?) … blah bah blah.
      Hey BM…Look in a mirror.
      Sorry you are so upset. I wonder why?

      Maybe because Key appears confused and disconfident but Cunliffe is intelligent and proconfident.

    • DS 11.4

      You’re confusing Cunliffe with Geoffrey Palmer, I think.

    • appleboy 11.5

      BM you are totally hilarious – you’ve been a bit quiet of late. I wonder why. Dislikable? Slater? Lusk? Jordan Williams? Cactus Kate? John Banks?

      Jesus you right wingers never cease to amaze me. If Cunliffe is dislikable please do tell, on Planet key, what are the words you use for your attack dogs?

      • BM 11.5.1

        I’ve been converting a java web start app to a javascript webgl app.

        It’s been taking up most of my time.

    • Lanthanide 11.6

      In the debates, I think Cunliffe has been a bit too eager to interrupt and talk over John Key.

      But I can’t blame him, he’s so written off by the media that he has to get cut-through and make an impact. It also doesn’t help that Key repeats glib lies about his own record and mis-representations of Labour policy and potential coalition parties, so I can see why Cunliffe gets the urge to interrupt.

      So while I’m not hugely enamoured with is style, I’m not going to hold it against him.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 11.6.1

        It’s the moderator’s job to guide the tone of the debate. If they allow Key to get away with constructing a false frame and then weaving another of his lies around it what is Cunliffe supposed to do?

        In future debates, I’d like to see a genuinely neutral moderator with control over the candidates’ microphones.

    • the pigman 11.7

      FIFY BM

      Does BM not realize he comes across as a rude, arrogant fuckwit?

      I’ve never seen such a dislikeable individual, no wonder Gosman, Naki Man, srylands, rich the other, Pete George and the Hoverboard Kid barely visit anymore.

      Worst RWNJ ever.

      • lprent 11.7.1

        Some of them are on bans that terminate a few days after the election.

        I figured earlier in the year that I had enough reading and moderation to do leading up to the election so anyone banned tended to get ones that terminated after the 20th.

    • Inky 11.8

      BM, so you think John XKeyscore is an honest PM who wouldn’t hide the truth from the people while pushing through a major spying bill that had huge ramifications for those citizens’ privacy?

      Well, the fact is he did. That’s one of the reasons why I want him out and Cunliffe in.

      Here’s a tip. I’m not young enough to be bothered with naked selfies or videos of my girlfriend or myself. But if you have some of those, then thanks to your beloved John XKeyscore, spooks here or in the US could be having a perv right now. Maybe they’re admiring, maybe they’re guffawing, who knows. Or they could be reading your email, having a squizz at your blog posts, seeing what you bought online or looking into what sort of books you’ve checked out of the library in recent years.

      I don’t like the prospect of any of that happening to any Kiwi. So that’s why I’d take Cunliffe over John XKeyscore any day of the week and twice on Saturday if it were legal.

    • Hanswurst 11.9

      Does Cunliffe not realize he has come across a rude, arrogant fuckwit?

      FIFY.

  12. gobsmacked 12

    Cunliffe met Key according to Hosking rules, and did fine. Nobody will care much.

    But I just wish he’d torn up the rules. Labour’s essential problem (it was Goff’s and Shearer’s too) is that they seem to believe they can win by appeasing these fuckwits. They can’t.

    “Mike, what are you on about? Are you on your soapbox again? I’m here for the next half hour, are you?”

    or similar, even stronger.

    Accept their premise and you’re already losing. Should be tattooed on every Labour’s leader’s hand.

    • Lanthanide 12.1

      I don’t agree. That would be seen by the commentators, therefore MSM, therefore public at large, as an arrogant bully not ready to lead the country.

      • Richard 12.1.1

        Depends mate, some will see it as I did a one sided ref letting one team have to much waffle and the other argued with, therefore they will sympathize with Cunliffe trying to get a word in and defend the lies key was making up about them. Like needing IM.

        Some it will put right off keys team for being arses and using hoskings, Armsgtrong, oSullivan, Snakeoil and all the multitudes of media to make out they are so popular. people are smart, you have to have faith.

        If I can see through the media backing of National so do others. I see it so clearly if labour win I am going to email them ten times a day until they sort out the NZ media’s bias towards political parties and their predjudiced influence until it does get sorted out.

      • Colonial Viper 12.1.2

        I don’t agree. That would be seen by the commentators, therefore MSM, therefore public at large, as an arrogant bully not ready to lead the country.

        NZers like to vote for a bit of arrogant bully.

  13. Richard 13

    Cunliffe won but not because he won the debate in my opinion but because of the unfairness from Hoskings, I gave it to him for not getting a fair go, but when he did, he made excellent points that outweighed the lack of detail from Key.

    Second point is I’ve never seen a PM that flip floppy in any country in my life and I’ve been to Albania twice. Key makes Edi Rama Albanian prime minister (socialist) look honest. Edi’s been linked to the mafia and drug smuggling to germany so that tells a lot.

    Lastly keys choices of Klingons are feral and dim, talking Jayme and what’s his name oh Dunne, then theirs that fruit loop Colin walk like a thunderbirds puppet with some reasonable policies and some fairly out there. Keys slagging the five headed labour monster just bit his lying arse.

    This is what happens when all you do is slag people off and call people names, you lose the last ounce of respect most people had for you.

  14. ghostwhowalksnz 14

    Key also delivered the best punch-line when he was asked what he had learnt from the campaign.
    “Expect the unexpected,” was Key’s response.”

    If he was honest he would say NEVER give the date of the election away so far in advance.
    Old Muldoon had it right back in 84. ” It doesnt give my opponents much time either-slurred.

    • yeshe 14.1

      slurred ? try drunk as a skunk. and look how it ended for him? Funny example you offer.

      But on anothr level, it is perfect. 1984 election day was snow, rain and cold across the whole country, identical with out forecast for this weekend.

      It produced a tsunami turnout overthrowing Muldoon.

    • Rodel 14.2

      ghost
      Best punchline? Hardly- and hardly original.
      Said years ago by many, including Charles Kennedy, Oscar Wilde and others (probably eminem too).

      “The one thing we can all be sure about in politics is you are as well to expect the unexpected.”
      Charles Kennedy

      “To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.”
      Oscar Wilde

  15. blue leopard 15

    Wow! Mickey Savage, somehow you managed to make some sense out of that er…’debate’.

    I switched on a bit late at which point it appeared to be Hoskings debating Cunliffe.
    Later Hoskings commented how Cunliffe was hated by his colleagues (words to that effect – can’t remember the exact wording)
    Hosking balanced it up by calling National’s bunch a 5 headed Hydra.

    Key looked awkward at times

    Well actually they all looked awkward and mismatched sitting around that little table. It looked like one of those plastic things people put outside in their garden, you know the ones they plan to have BBQ’s around but never do.

    What a horrible, nasty, mess, one can’t in all sincerity refer to it as a debate.

    That really was pathetic all round.

    The whole thing was a complete disgrace.

    Is this really the best we have for conveying potential members of the government to everyone?

    I would have thought New Zealanders were sick of this bullying. bitchy carry on by now.
    I know I am.

    Lift your game TVNZ

    I hope the next government does something major with the state of broadcasting in the first 100 days.

  16. Brendan 16

    150,000 jobs in 100 days? Key’s joking right? They haven’t done that in six years.

    • ropata 16.1

      Easy to do mate, just take 50,000 existing fulltime jobs and farm them out at 15 hours per week. Unemployment solved! Key’s brilliance has saved NZ again!!

  17. philj 17

    Totally agree BL. Our media is a disgrace. The media have taken over the circus for their commercial/ corporate interests.

    • blue leopard 17.1

      Just commented on twitter, it probably seemed even worse after having Greenwald providing us with his intelligence and real journalism in the last few days.

      🙁

      • Lanthanide 17.1.1

        Yes, I had that feeling when watching him at the MoT.

        Had the same sort of feeling when Kim Hill gave us a glorious 2 weeks on MR last year standing in for Geoff.

  18. Draco T Bastard 18

    Key then mentioned Lamb Chops. I am still not sure why …

    Perhaps he’s been taking advice…

    Lamb Chop is a three-star general.

  19. newsense 19

    DC looking really relaxed and having a laugh. Hope all the Labour candidates are looking that good out on the trail.

  20. infused 20

    It was a shit house debate. Glad it went for 30 mins.

  21. felix 21

    Yeah, so was Keys.

  22. North 22

    Two days out from an election we’re at the business end. What else might we expect but this tissue of rubbish and misrepresentation from FranKey O’Sullivan ?

    The comments below this cheerleading slide of the pen reflect that very nicely.

    Like John Denver aye FranKey ? – “It feels so good……to be back home again”.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11325841

    • adam 22.1

      I enjoyed the comments – that is pretty much what I’ve been hearing as well. The economic illiterates who bang on how good the economy is doing – or the other one – a stable well run government – crack me up the most though – I almost wet myself.

    • Theodora 22.2

      I agree with your point absolutely, but also want to point out that using cute names can comr across as an ad hominem call and can dilute your argument. But yeah, from what I have read it sounds like she is turning down the chance to do some once-in-a-lifetime journalism. If you are a journalist and giving this Government an easy ride, then you are working in the wrong department. You need to go to Public Relations and leave reporting the hell alone.

  23. dv 23

    I thought it was weird that Hosking cut Cunilife off when he brought up Acts guns in dairies.

    Was there some sort of rule/agreement that they would not talk about other party policy.
    …No that could be right cause Key had a fair go at talking about greens policy.

    Or did i not hear that right?

  24. Tanz 24

    Cunliffe lost my support with his ‘right wing weirdos’ jibe.

    What is wrong with common sense policies. Didn’t hear much policy last night, just shouting. The worst debate of the lot. Winston Peters was indeed lavished upon. Roll on Saturday, so very interesting!! The Cons will be the first small party to make it in, without the gifting of a seat. A great achievement.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 24.1

      Hey look everyone, a lying weasel.

    • dv 24.2

      ‘The Cons will be the first small party to make it in, without the gifting of a seat.
      Nope Tanz

      NZfirst
      Greens
      Maori
      mana
      Alliance

      Of the top of my head.

    • Crunchtime 24.3

      If he lost your vote with that line, he never had it in the first place.

      With crazy Colin’s press secretary resigning today (and Colin saying he just thought she was taking a break! LOL!) …and calling him manipulative, I can see Conservative failing to make 5% now.

      • Tanz 24.3.1

        Really? I haven’t heard of that happening. Do you have a link? Supposed to be going to their winning party, by the way…never mix politics with weekends or fun…!!

  25. Ad 25

    Can anyone imagine anyone else in the Labour caucus getting the best of Key like this, live on television? Shearer? Goff? Robertson? Ardern?

    Cunliffe has done what we expected: beaten John Key in the media – the most popular Prime Minister New Zealand has ever had.

    And yep, that’s a message to the Labour caucus.

    I reckon if it’s an 80%+ turnout, Labour will have their shot with Jerry Mateparae.

    OK Mr Talbot, reap your harvest. Workers are ready.

  26. Dont worry. Be happy 26

    To Key….”For a man who can’t remember a lot of things..who doesn’t know much….who won’t read anything inconvenient…you sure have a lot to say”

    To Hosking…”mike, your’e the Ref here. Have you swallowed your whistle or sold it?”

    To the Country….”Stand by me and I”ll stand by you. Throw this Government out on its arrogant ear. Fair go NZ. Fair go.”

    To Kelvin Davis…..(in private) “Ah Fargo Kelvin! Where are we going to get 4 seats from if you Beat Hone? Yes, your chiselled jaw and dimpled chin is amazing but Kelvin, man, we need those 4 seats more than we need you. Settle down”

    Sorry…just dreaming…

  27. emergency mike 27

    Myself I thought it was a mess. The 30min slot was not enough. All three players were rushing to get their points and slogans in. Neither leader came over particularly well. Cunliffe had good points but struggled with the assertive/pushy borderline at times. While Key just sat there looking shifty and talking his usual drivel.

    While many of us grudgingly admitted that Hosking did an ok job in the previous debate, I thought his bias showed last night. He offered up leading questions that contained right wing spin (at one point he told Cunliffe as a matter of fact that his caucus didn’t like him), and interupted him while he was giving answers. Key was allowed to give full lengthy answers.

    Largely all this was the fault of there not being enough time. And we all know who said no to another 30mins.

    One thing that really annoyed me was when Key said that the Green party had last week “said that they were abandoning Labour”. They never said anything of the sort. When Cunliffe challenged that his justification was that “he can watch the news”, referring to last week’s ridiculous Slateresque media beat-up. His statement was of unqualified fact. It was a brazen outright lie.

    • blue leopard 27.1

      Good summary, Emergency Mike.

      I agree re Hoskings bias in this one.

      TVNZ had a huge range of more professional and balanced presenters to choose from.

      Their choice was an appalling one.

      As I said further up, this show really was a disgrace.

  28. Phat Psycho Hen Joky 28

    Public Media, The Perception Machine, The Rise of Managerialism,. Asymmetric Power and Normalisation of the Status Quo:

    The Question asked by RNZ that was never going to be allowed to be answered even though it knew it, itself.

    The question (hopefully the theme is correct) was asked by Kathryn Ryan on RNZ on the interview with Labour leader:

    Why is it that Labour are not doing so well in the polls even though they have well developed policy and the recent dirty politics and spying allegations against National?

    Would this be a question maybe that you don’t want to answer, because if you do, you’re in a bind. Wouldn’t you appear less than confident

    I was compelled as to why Kathryn could not elucidate on her own question, essentially, why is it that the perception machine is not working for labour, yet it is for National. This kind of question I thought would be bread and butter to the media machine and could answer its own question.

    Here is a go to answer it:

    Isn’t it obvious, Labour are competent, its just that National have years of infrastructure that have been put in place that is used to dominate perception (note that does not make Nationals argument right). In fact, it’s the halo effect, were big businessmen, say, you follow us and well be ok (please ignore the fact that even if you become more efficient we will still give you a poor pay rise).

    They appear to have the majority of the MSM (from news to TV shows basic programming etc) on their side, bloggers in their ranks, money, and the backing of big etc.

    They appear to have influenced the structure of RNZ and are now focusing on Maori TV. In other words, your all getting spoon feed from the same can even though it has different labels and different Nannies (Henry, Hoskins, Gower, Hooten, Some RNZ staff etc). The problem is, that your getting cat food. Years and years of being feed from these cans, you wont think anything else exists, and actually you won’t think.

    You will end up picking your politicians like your sports team. With the introduction of Henry and Hoskins, they are even now attempting to bolster (normalize) the infrastructure of Nationals media machine (how brilliant).

    Snoopman offers a great example here: http://snoopman.net.nz/2014/09/11/armed-with-microphones-part-ii-how-two-good-news-cops-from-two-major-tv-news-got-the-show-back-on-the-road-track-for-the-beleagured-national-party/

    “The different treatments in ‘paired examples’ of news stories, from a similar point in time, can reveal institutional allegiances and the underlying power relations, as described by American media scholars Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky in their book

    Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media.[i]”

    From what I can gather of his analysis is, keep saying the same message, but do it through different organisations and experts that appear independent of the current government.

    Actually, aside, why is it that people like being spoon feed the news and never dig deeper (rhetorical question?)

    It appears as if there is a rise of Managerialism within the ranks of state funded broadcasting systems. Is it driven by National? I suspect so. From a brief review of the boards of RNZ and TVNZ you see themes develop, that is Banks, Alcohol, and Primary Industries etc. That seems to be the majority. Thats not even taking into consideration the boards of Fairfax, Herald, Dom Post, Research Institutes etc. Also if your own Government advisors and policy analysts don’t agree with you, just restructure or ignore.

    These same mangers keep popping up here and there, one week with a power company, the next with a radio station. It’s not so much that they don’t contribute, or are competent in their own way, its more that it is like a closed club of thought. Once you’re allowed in, and you follow the clubs meme, you’ll be ok mate. There are massive advantages to this. Also, some, not all, feed off the technically competent people for their ideas, sucking them dry before running off to their next victim. It becomes worse when democracy becomes involved.

    Willard F. Enteman points to the danger of Managerialism
    http://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/0073.htm

    It transcends national boundaries, and what is more, ‘presents a lethal challenge to democracy because it discounts the importance of the individual in general and, more specifically, it discounts the importance of voting in regard to social choice.’”

    Remind you of recent changes to Maori TV anyone?

    So, how do you illustrate this, would it be good to maybe focus on the last public news stations that are seen to be non biased and analyze recent events to understand if perception is being manipulated, yes only a snapshot I agree.

    Is there is a little bit of canned laughter in the state of Denmark (public broadcasting)?

    Lets wind the clock back and see how the independent news develops.

    1. Kathryn Ryan interviews with Sir Bruce Ferguson (ex director GCSB) and then later Laila Harre (Tuesday 16 September 2014)

    2. last night’s TV debate between John and David (lets just analyse basic content)

    3. RNZ from about 06:30-12:00 and how last night’s debate (and associated agenda) affected the news etc.

    1. Kathryn Ryan interviews with Sir Bruce Ferguson (ex director GCSB) and then later Laila Harre
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/20140916

    Did you notice the difference in interviewing style of Kathryn with Sir Bruce Fergursion vs Laila Harre. From this perspective appeared to be more reverent and softly spoken with Sir Bruce, allowing him time to finish etc. It was like listening to someone who wanted approval from an authority figure. Although asking for definitions of mass surveillance etc, I don’t recall her asking how many of our Government staff and Private sector workers have been spied on and did you have access to historical data, or were you at the very least informed for 3rd parties?

    Contrast this with Kathryn’s interview with Laila, this was more irreverent and dogmatic in nature, interruptions etc, etc. The theme coming through was, oh, there is nothing new, no evidence, we expect this of our spies etc, its just normal, the SO Called (TM) Moment of Truth was a fizzer! You are the accuser Laila. At not one point was there any reference to the asymmetry in power, knowledge that the Brian would have over Laila Harre. What I find scary is the normalising of the argument. No asking, well hang on, if John Key uses the spies to further the TPPA, is that normal? Normalising bad events seem to be rife in the media.

    So lets play the normalisation game (normalise this – horrid example), About 120 million girls around the world – slightly more than one in 10 – have been raped or sexually assaulted by the age of 20,a UN report says.
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-29071073

    Is that normal? In one twist it may legitimate certain surveillance to rid this out of our world.

    Oh and aside, it backs up a recent politician’s speech, that men can be a bit horrid. Yes I know not all men.

    Or lets play

    All NZers data has been stored retrospectively such that at anytime 5 eyes members can access their data in order to? Oh I don’t know send them cheezels and candy canes with scratch and sniff Christmas cards. Its not a Panopticon with eyes that can see the past and predict the future.

    Is that normal?

    The problem is the governments and governance are in constant flux, they can be abused and abuse. There is a legitimate need for spying, however its the governance structures that need to be set in place that ensure we don’t have SIS suddenly being “involved” in events with a certain incumbent party. Its the fact they cant even say who had given certain authorizations even though they have world class spy systems. They cant even use X Keyscore to validate KDCs Moment of Truth e-mail.

    Is that normal? (Never mind the dirty politics and a certain National party)

    2. last night’s TV debate between John and David (lets just analyse basic content)17.09.2014 Wednesday Night

    The stage is set, spying is normal. We have the mighty non biased interviewer Mike Hoskin poised to ask the leaders in a long, long, long interview (0.5h) that will get to the heart of the matter, oh and the agenda set

    •Spying/Dot Com
    •Polls and coalition (clearly no time to talk policy, just about speculation of polls, no shifting in sand here)

    So thats going to address those issues of poverty, housing etc, oh wait a minute, its going to frame it. How could this be? So you frame the debate to ensure it sticks to something that is having almost no effect on the polls or essentially you cannot hold the Prime Minster to account as they time is too short, therefore never getting to grips with the issue (i.e. maintain status quo).

    Then better still you talk about the speculative polls and at no time do you examine or even talk about the key polices or differences in policy between National and Labour. At no point is National put under the spot light for their lack of policy? Nice, well done, who would that suit,. Hummmmm, no I’m lost.

    But wait, will this frame flow through to the morning news and current affairs on RNZ, I wonder if it did:

    3 RNZ from about 06:30-12:00. Rough summary (bits missing/could be wrong so check facts) sorted into themes (no particular order):

    SOUND BITES FROM DEBATE (no mention of after about 10:00)

    •First sound bite of the morning goes to Jk accusing Labour of going with KDC and internet Mana

    •Later DC gets a sound bit….something about Right Wing loonies

    •Suzie Ferguson gets in a comment about Lamb Chops from JK (cutting edge news there)

    •Overall (could be biased) JK seems to get more soundbite time

    CURRENT AFFAIRS:
    •Income deficit rising (not necessarily a bad thing? Foreign companies making more money WTF)

    •6:30: Apparently Fonterra ditched by Daone (this is never mentioned again during the 6:30-12:00 spot but just quietly placed on RNZ site, oh how odd for such massive news)

    •Mention terrorist raid in Australia (i.e increase discussions on terrorist raid while reducing discussion on spying/Kim Dotcom scandal during the 6:30-12:00 spot, essentially end with no discussion about Snowden, all about bad Terrorists in Australia)

    •Get an expert to refute comment by Peter Sherwin from yesterday that the poverty gap was not increasing. That was good, but, in comparison this person was questioned more than Peter Sherwin, who practically had a free sound bite. Note, yesterday, Peter Sherwin was never challenged on why the Poverty Gap is not getting better, or why we shouldn’t have such a large gap (maybe another case of normalisation). Are we not getting more efficient, shouldn’t pay rise? Worse still this should have been in the debates (all 3). No reference to Richard Wilkinson’s work on increasing poverty GAP given this year.

    •Greens pushing for better Governance on spying

    INTERVIEW LEADER OF OPPOSITION
    Ask him about the polls and spying (would they change legislation) and why lastly you don’t think despite your best efforts your not wining. Don’t ask about Policy, except for that concerned with spying, ignore child poverty.

    CONCLUSION:
    If you were asked why are you not doing so well in the polls even though they have well developed policy and the recent dirty politics and spying allegations against National what would you reply

    I would personally say this

    Manufacturing Consent

    However, you cant…..

    Remember this:

    “The Normal is the good smile in a child’s eyes:-alright. It is also the dead stare in a million adults. It both sustains and kills-like a god. It is the Ordinary made beautiful: it is also the Average made lethal.

    Peter Shaffer, Equus

  29. Phat Psycho Hen Joky 29

    Oh, a few last comments
    Get all RNZ interviewers to talk about the polls incessantly, even, mention the process of polling (i.e speculate).

    Dont really talk about policy and constantly ignore NZ First and Labours reuqests that they wont discuss coalitions until after the election.

    Again, dont talk about policy and Nationals lack of

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  • 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
    12 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
    17 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
    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 ...
    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
    5 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
    10 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
    12 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
    13 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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