Left wing blogs aren’t “the same”

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, August 19th, 2014 - 165 comments
Categories: blogs, john key, Left, slippery - Tags:

On Morning Report yesterday John Key was busy casting all sorts of aspersions, and refusing to say that clearly odious behaviour by Judith Collins, Jason Ede and Cameron Slater was wrong1.

But some of the aspersions were against shock horror left wing bloggers!

As a left wing blogger I take personal umbrage.

Labour MPs don’t send us personal details to launch horrible personal attacks.

And they haven’t had the power to even think about betraying their civil servants, or tell us about doing dodgy OIAs of hastily declassified documents…

We’ve not been involved in any sort of intimidation to drive ordinary people from politics.

There is no equivalence. [Update: As also stated by RNZ political reporter Brent Edwards on Morning Report this morning (7:25am)]

Just as there is no equivalence between Key’s “left wing blogger” Keith Ng and the Labour donor hack.  Ng found out about the Work and Income loophole and told Work and Income to plug it before publishing it – without downloading any personal data.  Ede and and an unknown National Party Head Office staffer didn’t alert Labour, but would appear to have downloaded the private details with Ede & Slater having the intention to discourage people joining and donating to Labour.

In reality Labour is run on the smell of an oily rag and don’t have the resources to get as much stuff as they should get out to bloggers, before they could even think about getting the dodgy stuff out…

But then National are scrambling, which has resulted in bare-faced lies and farce, as they run the lines of “made stuff up” and “unravelling”.

Key last night was saying there’s ‘nothing new’ in the email leaks now being dribbled out – but Slater’s finding the rego numbers of Green Party activists and then tracking their names and addresses down and passing them to Ede is not in Hager’s book.

Collins is saying she only gave Slater a public servant’s name because it was already public… but it wasn’t anywhere before Slater’s blog, and if it was public why did Slater need to ask Collins?

And now they’re rolling out random robberies of MPs from a year ago.  Cunliffe’s been robbed too, and Hone’s had a bullet fired into his office – Hager and his left-wing conspiracy have been busy!

So we get to Key saying that the left is playing dirty (!) and it’s because they don’t want to debate the “big issues”.  The Left has been trying to debate the issues since Key became National’s leader – but it’s Key who’s too busy smiling and waving and being a celebrity and posing for a selfie or planking to debate the issues.  The chance to debate something substantive would be a fine thing!

We look forward to Key engaging properly on asset sales and tax cuts for the rich and bigger class sizes and where their climate change policies are sending us and… but we won’t hold our breath.

  1. How many calling for Collins/Ede sacking now?  Hooton, Garner, …

165 comments on “Left wing blogs aren’t “the same” ”

  1. Perhaps someone should ask him to show us the money..

    • the pigman 1.1

      Unfortunately Tom, I’m afraid not even Keys knows where that’s gone. It has long since been secreted away to Hawaii and subsequently invested in a number of Cayman Islands-based private equity funds running diversified portfolios consisting of ex-SOEs from places like Myanmar and New Zealand (with the odd holding in corporate media)…

  2. cogito 2

    Gawd save us all if Key gets re-elected.

    To those who are still saying that they are having trouble finding a copy of Dirty Politics, there’s a link from Craig Potton publishing and it can be downloaded in minutes.

    • karol 2.1

      I’m waiting for the second order of hard copies to be delivered to Auckland’s outer burbs.

      • Bunji 2.1.1

        You can order hard copies online from Craig Potton – that’s how I got my copy… (free postage)

        • karol 2.1.1.1

          Thanks, will do that if I don’t get one tomorrow.

          Edit: Oh, at the link it says:

          Due to high customer demand this title is temporarily out of stock and should be available from 20th August. Either order now and we will courier the book to you when new stock arrives or check with your local bookseller.

          I have my name down on the waiting list at my local bookseller.

          • grumpystilskin 2.1.1.1.1

            FYI:
            Whitcoulls in the downtown mall (opposite britomart), Akld. Still have a few and are getting more in on Weds.
            I bought mine there yesterday (monday 18th) late afternoon.

            • karol 2.1.1.1.1.1

              Thanks, but that means a trek into the CBD. I can wait.

              I’m actually not so bothered about reading it urgently.

    • NickS 2.2

      It’s also available on Amazon for US$21 for the ebook version. I’m going to grab a copy next week, thanks partly to the awesome staff at the local WINZ branch who helped bump my benefit up by $20 /evilgrin

    • Draco T Bastard 2.3

      E-book from Amazon

      US$21 dollars. Still, cheaper than NZ$35 for the hardcopy.

      • greywarbler 2.3.1

        Resist that cheaper if you buy it overseas syndrome DTB. Isn’t the desire for cheapness above all else, the thing that has taken us so far into dirty politics.

        Can you say what the cover design is?

        • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1.1

          Personally, I’m of the opinion that they should have released an ebook from their own website. I suspect that the publishers released from Amazon so that:

          1. They didn’t have to build their own webpage and
          2. So that they could utilise Amazon’s size

          They didn’t do the first because they’re cheap and they did the second in the misplaced idea that it would increase sales but as the book really only applies to NZ I doubt it would do that.

          Of course, I’m the person who thinks that the government should buy up TradeMe and have NZ ebooks on there.

          Isn’t the desire for cheapness above all else, the thing that has taken us so far into dirty politics.

          Not specifically. Dirty Politics is a result of a few people in politics only for the power and wealth. The desire for cheapness is the cause for our increasing poverty though.

          • TheContrarian 2.3.1.1.1

            Why should the govt. buy up Trademe?

          • TheContrarian 2.3.1.1.2

            Actually why is one question.

            Also

            How should the govt. buy up trademe given it isn’t for sale?

          • greywarbler 2.3.1.1.3

            @ DTB 20/8 9.42
            Like you idea of govt buying up Trademe. It’s been a great taonga but now being used as a plaything for large sellers etc offshore. It’s another example of a good NZ enterprise being snaffled off and the running methods changing and the income stream going to offshore people.

            I have long traded with Trademe and find it still okay but diminishing in brownie points. I understand Wheele has dropped off. Lacked dedication.

    • tricledrown 2.4

      If Key gets re elected McCready and Penny Bright will get enough crowd funding to force him and co conspirers into the justice system Key will be an embarrassment just like Berluconi!

  3. tricledrown 3

    Cameron Slater must have known in advance that this book was coming out!
    After revelations David Cameron John Keys close friend has involvement with 5eyed echelon network who have been found to be to manipulate political discourse in the UK.
    John Key No doubt has the same access to Those capabilities!
    srylands being the obvious plant!

  4. tricledrown 4

    Berend de Boer Gosman BM Puckish Rogue all following the same modus operandi at least 1 or 2 are involved in echelon as well as Key the Con-duit of dirty tricks!

  5. Awww 5

    Key is claiming the left has it’s own sociopaths, but left wing policies aren’t usually sociopath friendly.

    • dv 5.1

      “Key is claiming the left has it’s own sociopaths
      Does that mean he is admitting that Slater etc are sociopaths?

    • crocodill 5.2

      At least he admits National is full of sociopaths. If he keeps this up his name will change to Honest John. And let’s not be unkind or ignorant. A sociopath isn’t an inherently bad person. Depending on the style of expression of their personality they might be well suited to administrative work. What we’re seeing is closer to criminal psychopathy. Mr. Key probably shouldn’t deal in terms that few people know the real meaning of – though possibly his intention is to disrupt.

      • emergency mike 5.2.1

        ‘A sociopath isn’t an inherently bad person.’

        You might want to check up on a definition of sociopath crocodill. Some people argue that there is no meaningful difference between ‘psychopath’ and ‘sociopath’.

      • greywarbler 5.2.2

        One slogan for a billboard about honest john – when a signwriter got confused.

        Honest Car – Used John Dealer.

  6. Peter 6

    Has there every been anyone anywhere who can simply make stuff up on the fly and get away with it as he does. Key is an embarassment to all New Zealanders. I cringe reading this stuff.

  7. unsol 7

    I would say that in many ways the only reason why the left may not be proven to be as dirty is because, like you say, you live off the smell of an oily rag & because you haven’t been the party in govt.

    I suspect had this kind of tech been available in the 2008 election, some of you would def have attempted to stoop as low as Slater & some would love to now…if they could. Just look at the way Bradbury writes about Slater & Key etc. no evidence of trying to take the high road at all yet seeks to assert moral superiority. That’s Slater all over and he would no doubt love to have the kind of access Slater does, but about the right….and in fairness, Slater is actually keen to get dirt in any pollie he doesn’t like…left or right. He certainly doesn’t conform 100% to a right wing agenda as has often done things to undermine the current govt. For example look at the conversations he had with the ex prostitute in the Herald or the many posts he has written on the senior political figure in the National Party he calls Mr B.

    So from an observers point of view I reckon the left is capable of dishing out plenty of vitriol & malevoilenc when it suits….especially in the comment section even if the posts are calm & rational (which Slater’s rarely are!)! 😉

    That said Slater, his ‘army’ & Ede are still in a world of their own when it comes to the level of bottom feeding they are prepared to do. I don’t have an issue with them tracking down the rego or address of the election board vandals, but using the info to target the person/s instead of passing it onto the police is vigilantism which is completely unacceptable as is the Nat’s enabling of such behaviour. I’m just surprised Slater didn’t publish their addresses!

    • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1

      I’m sure you can find examples in comments here at The Standard. At least, of contempt expressed for Slater or Key. Contempt which Hager shows their actions merit entirely. Show me the equivalent posts. Show me the equivalent comments and/or posts orchestrated from the leaders’ offices of any Left party.

      • unsol 7.1.1

        I agree – there is no Slater equivalent of left-wing posts…partly because the left doesnt have access to the same level of $$ & resources & the world wasn’t quite as techy pre 2008, but also because, apart from Bradbury (whose bark is admittedly often worse than his bite)…..there is just no blogger that could ever be quite as vile as that guttersnipe Slater.

        My point in my longwinded way 😉 was that the left may not be the same in terms of stooping to the same kind of bottom-feeding Slater et al are so comfortable doing, but that doesn’t mean they have always been completely honourable or would be completely honourable if they had access to the same stuff.

        The difference is that the left wing bloggers tend to intellectualise things more than they care to incite violence. And it is this that I think will be Slater’s undoing as he is just too toxic now, it is not politically expedient for the Nat’s to align themselves with him or anyone close to him, including Collins.

    • Murray Olsen 7.2

      One difference between Bomber and Blubber Boy is that Bomber doesn’t generally make stuff up. He has a tendency toward hyperbole, but is not nasty like Blubber Boy.

      You seem to be quite a cunning little Tory, but I’m convinced you are one. You always go a wee bit far with your posts, unsol.

  8. Harriet 8

    “…..There is no equivalence…..”

    HA HA HA LOL.

    Spare the cynicism.

    Most lefties commenting here in the past month — thought that Hamas using children to protect their missles, and Israel using missiles to protect their children, was equivalence. Of some sort. It obviously wasn’t.

    You lot don’t know the meaning of anything. Ever. Your definatly not like us Christian Conservatives.

    • ianmac 8.1

      What on earth is that about Harriet? Makes no sense at all to me.

      • vto 8.1.1

        It’s how right wing people think and analyse ianmac. Grab the closest bunch of knee-jerk reactions, mix them in a bowl, and throw around with great glee and abandon.

        Harriet sounds like a long time expert.

        • greywarbler 8.1.1.1

          It’s right wing popcorn! Throw the bits into a bowl yes, apply heat, overcook them, then open the lid to let it all fly out.

      • Tom Jackson 8.1.2

        Harriet comments frequently on Kiwiblog and is regarded as an unhinged nutter by most of the unhinged nutters who post there.

    • millsy 8.2

      ” Your definatly not like us Christian Conservatives.”

      Yeah, we dont go off on daily progroms against homosexuals, or do we burn books on evolution.

      • Puckish Rogue 8.2.1

        The amount of anti-semitic comments directed towards John Key makes your comment rather amusing

        • One Anonymous Bloke 8.2.1.1

          The amount of evidence that anti-semitism is a Left wing value is zero.

          • Puckish Rogue 8.2.1.1.1

            The amount of anti-semitic comments against John Key on National hoardings is concerning but its ok because its against John Key

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.2.1.1.1.1

              Said no-one ever, apart from you.

            • McFlock 8.2.1.1.1.2

              so everyone who defaces a national hoarding is left wing, even if they used right-wing symbols and concerns?

              fuck you.

              • Puckish Rogue

                I would suggest that someone defacing a right wing political party hoarding is more likely to vote left wing however I would also suggest that the left wing plonkers doing this type of defacing are probably as thick as two short planks (so probably GIMP voters) and don’t realise the full implication of what they’re doing

                • Tracey

                  is this your justification for key, collins, slater, lusk, williams, odgers, hootons behaviour?

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    Of course not, its really to show that politics is a dirty game (which i think we all know) its really all about who can plausibly deny or sufficiently muddy the waters (as the case maybe) to win power

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      No, no, no. Cut!

                      Will you please at least try and follow Dear Leader’s line, that this is a smear campaign to distract from the real issues!

                      And stop projecting. Not everyone has your low character.

                    • framu

                      but your using a comparison between senior govt members running a smear machine and some random nob ends defacing billboards to do so

                      doesnt that strike you as somewhat ineffectual?

                • McFlock

                  maybe they’re farther right wing than nat?
                  Maybe they’re non-voters who have latched onto chapman’s mob as a result of our brighter future?

                  I would suggest that you find it convenient to blame “the left” for anything bad, even if the actual perpetrators might quite literally have right wing bumper stickers.

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    I do find it convenient to blame the left when its right wing hoardings being targeted, just like I’d blame the right when its left-wing hoardings being vandalised

                    • framu

                      ever considered random acts of vandalism?

                      In regards to election hoardings i would be willing to bet they are inflicted on the govt more than the opposition.

                      Nothing to do with tribal or partisan politics and everything to do with being young and stupid (an affliction that both rich and poor kids suffer from)

                      did you never rebel against your parents as a teen or something?

                    • McFlock

                      funny, because last election in epsom the nat candidate was ripping down signs in favour of him that he didn’t actually put up. Someone took pictures, and everything.

                    • Anne

                      You might be interested to know far more left-wing hoardings have been damaged/destroyed than right wing hoardings in my electorate.

            • adam 8.2.1.1.1.3

              The assumptions begin again from PR. Play a different tune mate, tired, old, and boring. Anti-Semitism has a long history in NZ and the overwhelming majority is right wing hate groups. Get a grip, Neo Nazis hate neo-liberalism too PR. So stop with the assumptions, it’s becoming like a tired L.P, and your hurting my ears with your lies. Look to your own, they have the track record.

              • Puckish Rogue

                So right wing types are targeting the only real option for a right wing governments hoardings or left wingers are targeting right wing hoardings

                Yeah I’m going to have to go with lefties are bad on this one

                • framu

                  how about the fact the putting up offensive grafitti is pretty much stock standard behaviour for any young hoodlum since the year dot?

                  Or is every swastika the work of a committed anti semite?

                  your insistance that this is some leftie action is stupid in the extreme – youve been going on it for weeks now – give it up – its really dumb and has been explained to you repeatedly

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    Sigh Its not about whats right or wrong its about what the public believe, its about muddying the waters, its about anything that gets your message over and above the opposition or nullifying it

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      Yes we know that. Interesting that you choose now to confirm it. Weary of malevolent deceit?

                    • framu

                      its you who is saying its the work of left wing activists – why cant you accept a very real and quite likely scenario that its just random vandals?

                      whats this “Its not about whats right or wrong its about what the public believe” bullshit?

                      you are putting forward a scenario – repeatedly. Others point out the flaws in said scenario.

                      We cant discuss the motivations of the mythical people in your scenario because we havent yet accepted the damn scenario to begin with

              • JKV

                [deleted]
                [lprent: A particularly stupid troll. ]

                • NickS

                  Oh look, another lying idiot parroting the point refuted a thousand times (aka PRATT) that the Nazi’s were left wing just because they had “socialism” in their name, cutely ignoring the Nazi’s actual political policies and actions 🙄

                  What next, that they were homosexuals?

                • framu

                  OK thicko

                  do all jews live in israel?

                  do all jews support the current israeli govt?

                  Ergo – is the govt of israel the same thing as all jews everywhere in the world ever?

                  The marches are anti israeli govt – not anti jew

                • adam

                  What are you on JKV (john key victim?)? Seriously have you read no history? are you quoting that Muppet from Fox?

                  Do you not understand the political spectrum? The authoritarian left are Stalinist or Maoists – the libertarian left are communal anarchists, communists or syndicalist, post ecological or green. The near centre of the left is the social democrat’s and socialists.

                  On the Authoritarian right are dictatorships and Fascism. (which Nazism is but one of a verity – see also Spain or Italy). The libertairan right, which are individualistic anarchists- capitalist, primitive, nihilists and egoists. Near the centre are the conservatives (traditional meaning not to be confused with Colleen Craig) and liberals

                  Like the Tax payers union JKV, names are full of oxymorons. You banged one right on the head.

            • greywarbler 8.2.1.1.1.4

              Oh Puckish R are you concerned? Tut tut. Do you keep a score card for counting the number of your concerns in a day? So you can see that you are still alive. What is your highest score? And if you take an interest in the world you will live forever. Somehow I feel that would be the true hell.

        • millsy 8.2.1.2

          I didnt know Kyle Chapman and his mates were left-wingers.

        • Murray Olsen 8.2.1.3

          I haven’t seen any anti-semitism directed at Key on this blog, or at least not that I can remember. I have seen a heap of garbage posted by pukish rogue.

          • William Guy 8.2.1.3.1

            Hey Murray, good to see I am not the only one up this late.

            There is a new left wing collective that I am involved with starting up – it’d be great if you could check us out.

            We are at fundamental.org.nz

    • framu 8.3

      jesus would be disgusted by your sick and immoral support of brutality

      • Harriet 8.3.1

        How are they ‘brutal’?

        The IDF is the most moral millitary in the history of warfare.

        They use very expensive guided missiles so as to limit collateral damage. And under the rules of war they don’t need to do so. The IDF also load the missiles with small warheads so as to limit damage, and again that is not called for in the rules of war.

        I don’t see a problem in they way that they defend themselves.

        And besides, fighting a war for almost three quarters of a century, and from only having just survived a holocaust prior to the start of the war – surely then some ‘understandable collateral damage’ by Israel can be forgiven – given that their current opposition wants the same eventual outcome for the ‘Jews’ as that of the Nazis.

        • vto 8.3.1.1

          defend themselves against an imprisoned population.

          you sound like South African president PW Botha.

        • Draco T Bastard 8.3.1.2

          The IDF is the most moral millitary in the history of warfare.

          No, they’re not. They haven’t changed from when they started with outright terrorist actions against innocents.

          • Harriet 8.3.1.2.1

            Learn some history.

            They had a millitary prior to the IDF. The Last one took on the Romans.

            Get used to it. Where else are the Jews ever going to go – to be safe after 2000yrs of general persecution?

            They can only fight to the death.

            And that’s what Iran wants anyway…. isn’t it?

            • Draco T Bastard 8.3.1.2.1.1

              Learn some history.

              I’ve learned some history which is why I know that Israel was born in the blood of innocents spilled by psychopaths.

              The Last one took on the Romans.

              And lost which is why the Jews don’t have a country any more.

              Where else are the Jews ever going to go – to be safe after 2000yrs of general persecution?

              Well, the USA seems to be overly concerned about them – perhaps they’d be willing to give them Texas. But, of course, the corrupt USA and her toadies were really only interested in giving them someone else’s land.

            • tricledrown 8.3.1.2.1.2

              Harriet go to the Gaza strip and live out your bigoted dream!
              The Israeli Defence Force is stopping moderate Israeli’s from protesting against their fundamentalist Govt action!

        • NickS 8.3.1.3

          /facepalm

          Because a “moral military” so totes uses anti-personal flechette shells in a built up area with a very high risk of civilian causalities: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/20/israel-using-flechette-shells-in-gaza

          Let alone uses artillery on targets surrounded by fucking houses, rather than sending in troops on the ground to minimise civilian causalities. Like they did the last two intifada’s with minimal IDF losses and far less civilian deaths.

          But you’ve been told this before, and still repeat the same line of bullshit and probably don’t regard the civilians in Gaza as human, making you a shit of human being and on the moral level of islamist fundamentalist fuckwits who think suicide bombings on civilian targets is okay as long as infidels die. Or in your case, those “others” that are Palestinians trapped in Gaza, for which the murder of is of no importance.

          • McFlock 8.3.1.3.1

            Nothing says “moral high ground” like a baby with phosphorous burns, I guess.

            Awesome spectator sport, apparently.

        • framu 8.3.1.4

          ” surely then some ‘understandable collateral damage’ by Israel can be forgiven ”

          holy fuck!

          fuck off you disgusting little peddler of filth

        • Tracey 8.3.1.5

          But who will you vote for?

          Key? Nope he is involved in feeding and supporting someone who has no morals
          ACT? 17% of their MPs have been convicted of deceit
          Dunne? He stands up for family values but thinks dirty politics is ok, and will support its biggest proponent, Key
          Colin Craig party? He has been very slow to condemn key, collins and theit tactics

          Labour?

          Where does a good christian such as yourself go?

        • ghostwhowalksnz 8.3.1.6

          Ask the people in the suburb of Beirut flattened by the IDF about the nice rules of war Israel uses
          “The Dahiya doctrine is a military strategy put forth by the Israeli general Gadi Eizenkot that pertains to asymmetric warfare in an urban setting, in which the army deliberately targets civilian infrastructure. [1] The doctrine is named after a southern suburb in Beirut with large apartment buildings which were flattened by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the 2006 Lebanon War.[2] Israel has been accused of implementing the strategy during the Gaza War.” Wikipedia

    • Colonial Viper 8.4

      You lot don’t know the meaning of anything. Ever. Your definatly not like us Christian Conservatives.

      So explain something to me…how come the staunchest supporters of Israel are Christian Conservatives like yourself. For starters I thought that Israel as a Jewish state doesn’t even recognise Christ as the Son of God.

      Yet you support Israel and the wiping out of Palestine? So what’s that all about?

      • millsy 8.4.1

        Some of these god-botherers are still stuck in the Crusader era. They think that the children of Gaza are dirty Saracens who want to take the Holy City.

        It’s ironic that the Christian Conservatives hate Muslims so much. The seem to agree on 95% of issues.

      • Harriet 8.4.2

        Islam is the religion of peace?

        Well with all the Muslim’s literaly at each others throats – that’s not peace as Christians understand it – for Israel or elsewhere.

        And why would you ever think that Israel isn’t deserving of the love and support from Christians – what has Israel ever done to Christians?

        • millsy 8.4.2.1

          Why do you think it is OK to Israel to butcher and murder innocent civilians?

          • Harriet 8.4.2.1.1

            No they don’t.

            The Israeli government decided after 13 yrs that having missiles lobbed almost daily into their country was never going to be accepted as ‘normal’ by the general populace. So too did lots of other countries in the UN, namely all 17 African countries who are currently fighting muslim war mongers. Those countries back Israel as it gives them leverage for western support. Most have large Christian populations too.

            Anyway, it was kinda funny to see the left here moan when the Israeli people threw away the ‘old ideas’ of ‘normal’ and ’embraced the new’.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.4.2.1.1.1

              Who would Jesus bomb?

              • Harriet

                Jesus you may recall did not walk this earth 2000yrs ago hugging, kissing, smiling, waving, dreaming, and basket weaving. He was not a time waster. He wasted no one’s time in pointing out the Truth to them.

                If you read about His time here you will find he had some very very unpleasant things to say – and said them very very sternly.

                He didn’t suffer fools gladly. Either.

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  This fool asked you a question. It wasn’t “who would Jesus scold ?”.

                  • You_Fool

                    I am pretty sure he is on record saying to not bomb the shit out of heathens, cause his dad will sort them out in the afterlife, which is way cooler than this shitstorm of a realm anyway

                • McFlock

                  he also fed the hungry and healed the sick.

                  by reputation, he wasn’t one for shelling schools or hospitals.

                • Tracey

                  your comments on tnis thread are all predicated on your invisible friend being real. He isnt.

                • Minarch

                  He certainly wasted your time by the sounds of it harriet

                  a whole lives worth of time……….

                • tricledrown

                  Harriet he didn’t suffer fools lightly I am 100% sure you would be one of the first he would ask god to strike down!
                  Bigoted brainless fool that you are just because you know some convoluted scriptures doesn’t stop the fermented evil and hatred in your heart.
                  lighten up learn to love yourself and turn the other cheek;

                • tricledrown

                  Harriet parting shot excuse the pun!
                  I have read a lot on psychology in my social work!
                  Racial Bigots don’t come in for kind mention low IQ poor education poor social skills!

            • thatguynz 8.4.2.1.1.2

              There’s something brutally ironic about getting lectured on peace by a proponent of christianity..

            • tricledrown 8.4.2.1.1.3

              Harriett the reason why Muslims are fighting because of the way Israel has treated its Arab population.
              Israel is making millions out of selling arms to these countries!
              Now you are supporting a race that has 2,000 year old grievance but you r racist fundamentalist fervour back in New Zealand is Hypocritical a mere 170 year old treaty with Christian Maori doesn’t count!

            • framu 8.4.2.1.1.4

              pretty sure the IDF kills innocent kids – why just recently there were two news stories about exactly this happening

            • Minarch 8.4.2.1.1.5

              There not missiles, they are rockets with no guidance system & a very small payload

              and completely ineffective against the irondome

              Its like throwing rocks at a tank…

        • Macro 8.4.2.2

          They crucified Christ for a start. Then they systematically went about hunting down and murdering his followers… But you must know that.

          Your view of what constitutes Christianity is not mine. Jesus was profoundly non-violent. Does turn the other cheek not mean anything to you? On His arrest his followers drew their arms but he told them to put them down, this was not a time for retaliation. “Love your neighbour as yourself” – Is this how Israel treats the Ghetto of Gaza? Israel, more than any other Nation on Earth, should understand what it is to be incarcerated in a Ghetto.

          Christians, along with everyone else, need to be counselling Israel on moderating and desisting in its aggressive behaviour towards Gaza, and assisting in humanitarian efforts to relieve their suffering. Only then will true peace be achieved.

          • Colonial Viper 8.4.2.2.1

            It’s my belief that most of today’s “right wing conservative Christians” use the name of the lord and saviour Jesus Christ to do nothing more than propagate teachings, activities and attitudes which are 100% contrary to what Christ himself espoused.

            And you know what that means they have become.

          • Harriet 8.4.2.2.2

            Last time I looked Israel allowed people to drink and have homosexual relations. And prostitute themselves. And gamble. They don’t refuse so called Palestinians from doing so. Isreal! is very liberal y’know.

            If the Arabs have really been living in a ghetto, then why haven’t all of their ‘oil brothers’ not been more charitable?

            A billion dollars from Arab countries and the UN spent on tunnels and missiles in a decade?—-

            —– the NZ teachers union wouldn’t have that —- not with the high cost of a liberal education —- and in a country of less than four million.

            • Colonial Viper 8.4.2.2.2.1

              Israel is a liberal and open democracy if you are Jewish; just like being white in apartheid South Africa gave you all the privileges of participating in a liberal and open democracy.

              Remind me again why as a “conservative Christian” you are supporting a Jewish state? Didn’t the Jews crucify your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

              • adam

                Deicide, is a odd argument to put C.V. Indeed the last government to use that line of argument, rolled tanks into Poland.

                As an argument, it was used to start Pogroms, and has a long nasty history with radical Anti-Semitism.

                Indeed, it was one of the fundamental tenants of Christian Anti-Semitism. The majority of Christians now reject the deicide argument. Most agree with the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), when the Roman Catholic Church issued a declaration which repudiated the belief in the collective Jewish guilt for the crucifixion of Jesus.

                • Colonial Viper

                  Since when did the Christian Right recognise Papal edicts?

                  Palestinians are semites. They are in fact, more truly semitic than Jewish immigrants to Israel from Europe, the Americas and Russia. You don’t seem to have any problem with anti-semitic action which targets Palestinians.

                  The Israelis have turned Gaza into an open air ghetto with slowly starving occupants. So yes, they did learn from post-Weimar Germany, didn’t they.

                  • adam

                    When have I ever said anything other then attacks on Gaza are wrong?

                    I called you out for using deicide, and you go off ranting in a different direction.

                    Do you need a link for deicide?

                    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deicide

                    I’m saying, you comment was ill informed and quite frankly, racist. But, no lets play the blame game, it so much simpler than maybe looking at the language we use and deciding it quite crappy. But feel free -rant some more, prove your own ignorance.

              • JKV

                [deleted]
                [lprent: A particularly stupid troll. ]

                • Murray Olsen

                  The Zionists are complicit in the death of Gaza.
                  Why do Arab Israelis have a different identity card to Jewish Israelis?
                  Would you like a ticket to the Sderot cinema. Maybe the deluxe prize would include a visit to an artillery base, where you could write hate messages on shells before they’re fired. I understand it’s quite popular, especially with young kids. Almost seems like an official activity for young Zionists, but surely not with the most moral army in the world?

                  Stick your Hasbara lies where the Sun don’t shine.

              • Murray Olsen

                CV, the Republic of South Africa was no liberal democracy for the whites. It was the type of society Colin Craig would have felt at home in. It was very stilted and conservative.

            • framu 8.4.2.2.2.2

              all i really have to say harriet is israel has learned the lessons and language of the historical oppressors of the jewish people all too well

              you are a text book example

              warsaw ghetto – west bank and gazza – is there any difference apart from whos locked up?

            • Tracey 8.4.2.2.2.3

              speaking of prostitues have you read dirty politics?

            • Murray Olsen 8.4.2.2.2.4

              As far as I know, I don’t have any homosexual relations. All my family are boringly straight, but it’s good to know that, if I had a lesbian cousin, Israel would let me live. Unless I was at an address in Gaza, of course.

              Jeez, Harriet, did the Hasbara department forget to give you the psych test before they hired you? Or are you a high level Hasbara operative like Whalespew, and therefore exempt?

        • framu 8.4.2.3

          umm – “killed jesus” would be my first bet 🙂

          if your going to defend israel on ancient history then ancient crimes would apply as well

      • TheContrarian 8.4.3

        “how come the staunchest supporters of Israel are Christian Conservatives like yourself.”

        Because the book of Revelation states that when there is peace in Israel Jesus comes back…and slaughters the Israelite’s.

        • Colonial Viper 8.4.3.1

          yeah I’ve heard about this being an underlying driver, but I suspect you are more informed on the details than I am.

          • TheContrarian 8.4.3.1.1

            The Conservative Christians in the US are convinced the Bible is literally true and Revelations is prophecy yet fulfilled.

            When Israel is at peace and inhabited by the Jew it is said Jesus will come back so the Christian Conservatives of course want to hasten this along. Ironically for reasons that are not in the Israelites favour

            • grumpystilskin 8.4.3.1.1.1

              A lot also believe it’s not a prophecy, but a blueprint.
              Think about that..

            • Anne 8.4.3.1.1.2

              The Conservative Christians in the US are convinced the Bible is literally true and Revelations is prophecy yet fulfilled.

              Yeah well… they’re all stark raving bonkers then aren’t they and should be kept in secure gated communities far from the rest of the populace as possible. 👿

    • tricledrown 8.5

      Harriet the southlander extreme right wing racist ACT party supporter equal rights for all except which race do you favour over others.
      Harriett the Hypocrite hater!

    • adam 8.6

      Christian conservative, you mean a legalistic Christian. Who wouldn’t know the Sermon on the Mount, if they rolled down it. A legalistic Christian, who thinks the old testament has the same weight as the new. A legalistic Christian who thinks the gospels are optional. Conservative Christians, code for any old bat shit, as long as your wearing a cross around your neck.

      How about Harriet, you go back and read the gospels, drop the prejudice, like Jesus said, and then will talk.

      • Harriet 8.6.1

        I too rant and rave about all the fallen Christian people of this world. Yes they do need to go back to reading the Gospels.

        Keep up the good work.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 8.6.1.1

          Correction: Harriet rants and raves.

          Adam makes a clear and considered response that articulates some hard truths.

          As an atheist, I think you’re both claiming ownership of basic humanist values that date at least as far back as Lao Tzu. Well, when I say “claiming ownership”, Harriet only pays lip service.

        • adam 8.6.1.2

          My goodness look at your language Harriet. ‘Fallen’, that lets me know your church is close to being a cult. Going fruity theology there Harriet – Taken from the worshippers of Ahura Mazda. Please look at cult watch see if you church fits in to what is described as a cult.

          http://www.cultwatch.com/

          Matthew 19:21

          24 You cannot serve both God and Money.

          • NickS 8.6.1.2.1

            Heh, I think your post succeeded in driving her off, though given the information available I doubt anything but a major shock to the system will get Harriet to become a better person, rather than treating those who are “other” to her as less than human.

        • Roy 8.6.1.3

          But which one? The gospels contradict each other so much.

        • tricledrown 8.6.1.4

          Harriet I will start the good work what’s in your head is pure BS!
          What’s in your heart is pure evil!What ever happened to tho shalt not kill!
          Your an ACT supporter a Whyte racist supremacist !
          How does incest sit with you!
          Selfishness

    • The Al1en 8.7

      “Your definatly not fuc*ed in the head like us retarded Christian Conservatives.”

      Fixed it for you (not including the spelling mistakes).

    • unsol 8.8

      “Hamas using children to protect their missiles, and Israel using missiles to protect their children”

      You’re obviously just trying to stir the hornets nest, but you could still at least try & get your observation right; the left argue that there is simply no equivalence in terms of sheer destruction on the Israelis vs what they do to the Palestinians. How you missed that is beyond me….but then given you use text lingo & can’t spell “definately” correctly I guess I am not surprised.

      Well done on your capitalisation of the term Christian Conservatives though, it is important to get the name of your cult right!

  9. ianmac 9

    I’ve been waiting and waiting to hear a response from interviewers to Key’s, “The Left do it too.”
    When will a reporter ask “Can you give one example of this PM?” As Tom above says, “Show me the money Mr PM.”
    Of course the PM is not giving any more interviews to National Radio since Guyon did such a great job of holding him to account.
    The only example given so far is that Mike Williams went to Australia to check on the accuracy of Key’s employment timeline. Hardly counts.

    • For some reason, specific examples of the same nature are not thought to be needed.

      All that needs to be said is ‘if’ emails from a left-wing blogger or Labour Party person were exposed ‘then’ it would be the same. (Even Patrick Gower makes this claim, without evidence.)

      Despite the fact that one of the (invalid) criticisms of the claims in Hager’s book is that there is no evidence (only jumping to conclusions) that criticism doesn’t seem to apply to the claim that ‘they do it too’.

      Presumably the hope is that it is too tiring for people to point out – again and again and again – that the logic being applied is inconsistent.

    • You_Fool 9.2

      I am waiting for the better question, even if the left do it too, didn’t John Key promise us a higher standard of ethical politics? Surely being the same is not being better?

      • Hanswurst 9.2.1

        Why not put both questions, the one directly after the other? Then all that will be left for Key to say is, “At the end of the day, what we’re looking at is a left-wing conspiracy that New Zealanders will see for what it is.” Oh, wait…

  10. disturbed 10

    “Left wing bloggers not the same”

    National are using “McCarthyism” here, as we are not left wingers at all and why are we now restoring to blogging?

    Because Government ignored our community call for help, and below our NGO has been provoked to respond here as threats as “Left wing bloggers” emerges as National’s policy of “Dirty Politics” continues to emerge.

    We are not left and have never been “a left wing blogger” until six weeks ago, this is a deliberate smear against even non aligned like us, and wish to add our record leading up to, and then why we became one in the first place.

    This may be similar to why others have needed to get their voice out there finally as is clearly being displayed as strong feelings, on blog sites now.

    In the 1990’s.
    Our family has never been hard core left voters.

    We have resisted any communication on blog sites until recently beginning as last month.

    Our History as a family.

    We came back to NZ to live out our lives in the 1990’s after ten years away overseas.

    We simply were devoid of any political activities, and then spent many hours enjoying the beach life and reunions with our old friends from our life ten years prior to us leaving to work abroad and bring up our family elsewhere.

    But in 1998 we saw a change in Government coming as Jenny Shipley’s Government was unravelling, and another change was on the horizon as is happening now.

    During the last decade we have become concerned in community health and environmental declining issues such as more trucks in our communities causing pollution and degrading residential community health.

    Our main focus has always been to assist the restoration of rail as our prime freight task again rather than sole reliance on road based freight and this has been our virtual sole focus over the last decade.

    Due to our Community group founding charter as an NGO, we have maintained at a neutral distance from any political affiliation whatsoever despite many asking us for an affiliation.

    We are not nor ever could be affiliated with any Political party.

    But we began communicating by email during the periods of Helen Clark and John Key with three issues that were beginning as community issues.

    We joined others in the community as we began communicating by email with both Political parties on our core subjects of Transport, Community public health and the environment essentially three core subjects we were chartered to pursue.

    For the records we were tasked with retaining through the last 14 yrs.’ we have now a clear record of the positive and negative results of our pursuits with engaging both Labour from 1999-2008, and 2009 -2914. with National.

    Our NGO emailed 54 emails to the collective group of Key National Ministers representing Prime Minister, and Transport, Environment, Health, and Tourism and local M.P. responses.

    The picture is very sad and revelling;

    Our community during the last six years have had very little response to over 54 collective separate emails sent to each Minister including the P.M. from our non politically aligned NGO.

    Under National.
    No Minister has accepted to meet with us.
    No Minister has responded to work with our community NGO.
    No Minister has offered assistance for our community issues.
    Three email responses only total from 54 emails.

    Although our NGO emailed that collective group of Key National Ministers representing in Transport, Environment, Health, Finance, and local M.P.s.

    Only on one occasion did our local National M.P. (after several attempts) allow us to meet and chat with one Minister during an opening of a facility in our region, not an official binding meeting to show evidence and work with this Minister.

    Labour equivalent M.P.s’ during the previous 9 yrs.’ received 23 emails from our NGO in total and here are the records of response.

    Under Labour.
    Six meetings were arranged with three Transport Ministers.
    Two meetings were arranged with Minister of Environment.
    Four meetings with Minister of Finance.
    31 Emails were received from 23 emails sent separately to all ministers by our NGO from eight Ministers.
    Of those 31 emails received, many were offering assistance.

    If National offers only silence and this lack of support and communication with our community NGO’s, while Labour did display community support the average voter should have an easy choice who to support.

    This email (blog) should say it all without prejudice.

    • karol 10.1

      disturbed, I can’t make sense of what your comment is about. Is it a quote from somewhere? if so, can you state what part of your comment is a quote, and what is the source?

    • millsy 10.2

      …what Karol said….

  11. disturbed 11

    Hi Karol, “I can’t make sense of what your comment is about. Is it a quote from somewhere? if so, can you state what part of your comment is a quote, and what is the source?”

    Bunji said “John Key was busy casting all sorts of aspersions”,

    Our response is simply aspersions – a provocation from National/Key that all who blog here are conducting a left wing dirt campaign.

    We are clarifying our position as members of an NGO (Non Governmental Organisation ). we are not a left wing organisation or individual.

    See it clearly Karol, some don’t lie to be placed by key in a certain category, I this case “left wing” which we are not.

    We happen to be agreeing with all that the left wing are saying now, but this does not makes us left wing.

    Key is desperate and resorting to a simple McCarthy revival and believe it as we heard on several MSM the suggestion that National is trying to turn this around as this.

    We have gone very far trying to get consultation with This administration and we could not so we have to let the electorate and other similar affected bloggers that may also have been affected by this wall of silence you now see from Mr Key, as in the National Party it is endemic, as are my aspersions.

    After reading our NGO experiences how can anyone ever believe the National slogan “National working for you”?

    • karol 11.1

      Who is “we”? Again, are you quoting from somewhere? What NGO organisation are this “we” from?

      You’re still not being clear, disturbed.

      • adam 11.1.1

        No offence disturbed, but context is the missing part. You know it well I assume, me I’m confused.

  12. disturbed 12

    Karol,

    We rather want to remain anonymous in the current climate as our members reserve the right to be kept confidential.

    We don’t want a hate campaign here as others don’t.

    Remember Rob Gilchrist?

    You need to take the context as is that we are a non aligned community organisation that has issues with the current Government o/k that would rather remain independent from being tagged as either left or right as many others do

    As for we do you want our names placed on the site? answer no. .

    Hope it helps clarify.

    • Rich 12.1

      I don’t think there is a right and left anymore just those who cling to the little democracy that we have left and those who are trying to destroy it.

      • Tracey 12.1.1

        Nicely put.

        • disturbed 12.1.1.1

          Thank you, Tracy & Rich.

          Democracy is all about our freedom and some do not wish to be completely open about affiliations.

          For my family we are genuinely for Egalitarianism, and we surely can’t be labelled as Left as I born during the last world war and grew up with Labour’s values of an egalitarian society we obviously are closer to Labour than National with this value we cherish.

          Of course you will see National commanding that their supporters were boldly supporting anything they do.

          This was vividly shown after we heard the Media was warned ahead of the election to watch their P’s and Q’s, by someone in Government, so we see how they are not free merchants and we are.

          The price of Freedom is constant vigilance.

  13. Sable 13

    All its seems Key and co have left if to go on the offensive and attack anyone in sight. Its a damning indictment on their behavior and in no way reflects on left wing bloggers or anyone. They have made their bed now they must lie in it….

  14. RRM 14

    LOL – yes, it’s “just different” when the left does it.

    This is why you fail in the polls.

    Your lordships.

    • framu 14.1

      well RRM your actually right

      the left doesnt actually have a fully integrated attack machine run out of the leaders office whos sole purpose is to attack, defame and destroy anyone who happens to cross it path

      the nats do however

      thats the damn difference – of course every party gives little tidbits to blogs and journos – but that not what the nats, slater and dpf have been up to – but do please try and argue otherwise

  15. Bob 15

    “or tell us about doing dodgy OIAs of hastily declassified documents”
    Source for where this has happened on th ‘Right’? According to Cameron Slater he was pressured not to request the OIA http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/08/two-biggest-lies-hagers-book/ so citation on this claim please.

    “We’ve not been involved in any sort of intimidation to drive ordinary people from politics.”
    What about H-fee? http://thestandard.org.nz/the-road-to-lonsdale-street-part-1/ http://thestandard.org.nz/the-h-fee-explained/

    “We look forward to Key engaging properly on asset sales” these were already widely known prior to the last election, in fact Labour focussed strongly on this topic and still lost

    “and tax cuts for the rich” Yip, those rich picks earning $14,001! http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3446307/Tax-cuts-what-you-ll-get

    “and bigger class sizes” Citation? Pretty sure the class sizes are getting smaller under National, there has been a 3% increase in teacher numbers since 2008 and a 0.3% increase in student numbers. By the looks of things we need better quality teachers if that is how you have learnt to read statistics!
    Teacher Numbers: http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/schooling/teaching_staff
    Student Numbers: http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/schooling/july_school_roll_returns/6028

    “and where their climate change policies are sending us” Which is no better or worse off than where the last Labour government were sending us.

    • Tracey 15.1

      who on the left tried to intimidate whom out of politics?

      Your post is a little confusing.

      Have you read a book called dirty politics by nicky hager?

    • ghostwhowalksnz 15.2

      I dont know whether you are using arithmetic but the total staff count is down from 2010 to 2012, this is when Nationals cuts have taken effect.
      52563 down 52238.

    • framu 15.3

      “According to Cameron Slater”

      well done bob – why do you expect anyone, anywhere to not laugh at that

      pretty sure theres a book out where theres email evidence that shows cammy up for a stinking little fibber who cant be trusted

  16. MizzLeviathan 16

    Dear Judy and John, I’m glad you think the left wing are so underhand.

    I love the double bind you place in peoples minds “its not ok, but its ok to be dirty”, I become a stunned snapper in no time, and vote for you.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you.

    You have given me material for my Brothers Grim styled book for Children, its called Judy and Johns Juicy Bits.

    Basically the premise of the story is this (I’ll be reading it to my 5 year old):
    •Control the media
    •Its okay to been an arsehole, just don’t get caught.
    •Control the media
    •Don’t believe the shit they teach you at school like: you should treat everyone with respect
    •Remember nice people are dumb and/or compliant (i.e. you don’t want them stealing your stuff while you under pay them).
    •Control the media
    •Lie
    •Control the media

    There will be a study guide attached with following additions and questions (to ensure the children see how the real world is – remember Plato said the best education for the young mind was the battle field):

    STUDY GUIDE: Children Some Questions you may want to ask John:

    1.Note how none of the MSM or ‘Business’ web sites are not asking John to resign over this Dirty Politics Book (only Judith is mentioned). Contrast this with when David Cunliffe was asked if he would resign over the Lui problem ! Do the search yourself online (just use the msm for reference). How many will you find kids?

    Maybe these would be good questions to ask John and Judy:

    •John, if your party and business associates are so successful in life (i.e. limitless money, power and contacts), why on earth does your party and business associates need to stoup so low?

    •If it is ok to use dirty politics, then, are you saying to the nation’s people, lets get down and dirty and do the fandango?

    •John, are you saying to the people, one rule for us, another for the plebs?

    •John, are you saying this is the face of legitimate Government? I am so confused, pwezzz help, according to Hobbes Leviathan, without legitimate government life would be:

    “In such condition there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain, and consequently, not culture of the earth, no navigation, nor the use of commodities that may be imported by sea, no commodious building, no instruments of moving and removing such things as require much force, no knowledge of the face of the earth, no account of time, no arts, no letters, no society, and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”

    John, do you want me to become an anarchist or is that Anti Christ? I don’t know the difference, or should I just be a nice “good citizen’ isn’t that what the SIS call them?

    • Tracey 16.1

      good point. John Armstrong!? No headline calling for Collins and/or Key to resign.

      I look forward to fransxnext piece

  17. damien grant 17

    What is the difference, precisely, between taking plain ‘umbrage’ and ‘personal umbrage’? Isn’t the word personal redundant?

      • McFlock 17.1.1

        but Damien just made an awesome contribution – insightful, constructive, cuts to the heart of the issue, and illuminates all the characters involved in a profound way. In his own mind, anyway.

        ’tis a great mind whose solitary contribution to the conversation about the revelations within (and responses to) Dirty Politics is to match inconsequential redundancy with mere pedantry.

    • Minarch 17.2

      no the words

      “libertarian” & “objectivist” are redundant

      in fact both those 2 philosophic schools are redundant much like their practitioners

      I personally find it hilarious that it allways seems to be the least robust and least likely individuals to survive in a libertarian environment that are its strongest proponents..

      with Damian being the obvious example, In a libertarian society he would be chewed up and spat out by the Alphas like the weakling he appears to be…

      • One Anonymous Bloke 17.2.1

        Libertarian emotional fragility.
        Pause for a moment to pity,
        Then get back on the task,
        Of kicking their ass,
        For their gross intellectual poverty.

      • damien grant 17.2.2

        Not all libertarians are objectivists; but let’s not get bogged down with pedantry.

        If, indeed, I would be the victim of the Alphas in a libertarian society, does not that add a degree of integrity to my advocacy of a libertarian society?

    • One Anonymous Bloke 17.3

      Damien, the word is ratfucking. You’re putting your name to it. Wake up.

  18. disturbed 18

    Nixon & Watergate on at 8.30 tonight on History channel

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    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
    13 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
    14 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 ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    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
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  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
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