Blogs and Activism

Written By: - Date published: 3:00 pm, October 26th, 2016 - 63 comments
Categories: activism, blogs, uncategorized - Tags: ,

For me, internet based activism is primarily about shifting people’s thoughts and perceptions. Done well, people can find themselves asking new questions and entertaining new ideas. Done badly, people become entrenched and incurious.

Good activism always presents a pathway or avenue to walk down, or a door to walk through. Bad activism slams people and doors; burns bridges and leaves activists and their potential audience (which is where any future fellow traveller must come from) isolated and nursing antagonisms.

Good activism is always a two way street – a process of give and take – where the activist is as open to change as they imagine those they are out to influence are. Without that openness, the dynamic can, and often does, quickly become characterised by an off-putting air of superiority, or worse, an authoritarian call for unity – a subjective insistence that this way is the only way and that others must and will be choppethed up and stompethed down if they can’t see the self evident truth of…

Actually, there is no such thing as ‘good’ activism and ‘bad’ activism. What I have labelled as ‘bad’ activism above, isn’t activism at all but rather the antithesis of activism. And beyond that, I don’t readily know or really care what they should be called, or what they are.

Activism can only ever be more effective or less effective. In either case, doors are open, and paths presented. The only difference would be that the door isn’t opened as wide in one scenario as it is in the other – or the path isn’t as broad, as inviting, or as obvious in one as in the other.

Putting the above into a real world and possibly familiar context – if anyone was wanting to convince me of the merits of veganism, they wouldn’t get very far if all they did was bang on about how meat was murder and by extension insinuate that my moral compass was no better than that of a murderer, would they? Far better to extol the culinary delights of some vegan foods, or maybe point to some personal saving or gain, or whatever…anything that might give me a reason to ‘buy in’ – to engage or care.

Whatever the progress of any subsequent exchange, or whatever the result of any ensuing argument or debate, the alternative, of just repeatedly and self-righteously kicking me in my non-vegan nuts wouldn’t amount to any kind of activism at all and would likely only result in any potential worlds of interaction and learning being lit up by the flames of burning bridges.

And, in spite of and in full knowledge of that, some might walk way from ‘dishing it out’ to others feeling vindicated and righteous and a whole lot more determined to be tough, to ‘never give an inch’, and to ‘tell it to the bastards like it is’ etc, etc.

Or then again they might walk away feeling empowered and purposeful, reflecting on the progress to date of eliminating, neutralising or ostracising any potential source of discord from their idea of a perfect, but unachievable world of unity.

But on a good day, just maybe they’d reflect on what exactly it was they had achieved and what it was they hoped to achieve and conclude that it wasn’t really all that flash, or that what they hoped to achieve could only ever amount to dystopia. And maybe then, they’d decide that activism was a thing worth exploring and getting to grips with instead.

And imagine!

A disparate group of activists bringing their different ideas and thoughts and their spread of knowledge to a blog, and that blog becoming popular and, among other things, a go-to source for decent information and a place of inspiration, new ideas and challenging thoughts…

Aye. Dreaming.

But then, it’s a good dream, and one well worth nurturing.

63 comments on “Blogs and Activism ”

  1. TheExtremist 1

    “For me, internet based activism is primarily about shifting people’s thoughts and perceptions.”

    http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Internet_law#Pommer.27s_Law

  2. esoteric pineapples 2

    Some people argue that blogs etc are basically preaching to the converted but I think one of their effects is a sense of empowerment. Back in the early days of this government I regularly thought what the government was doing was wrong but there was nothing in the mainstream media saying what I thought which gave me a sense of isolation. Now I feel like I am part of a movement and amongst kindred souls. There is a reason that all authoritarian governments try to shut down social media. That alone, shows its power for strengthening movements. I also find my favourite blogs a short cut to what is going on that day. No need to trawl through Stuff or the NZ Herald site.

    • weka 2.1

      Me too – I learn from debating, it helps me think through my own ideas, and it definitely helps me to be around other people who are thinking things through politically. Ditto kindred souls where our politics match. And I like getting my news from here.

    • b waghorn 2.2

      ”basically preaching to the converted”
      I can only talk from my own experience coming to this blog , and it is this.
      my only beef with national two years ago was their filthy tactics to gain and maintain power, I would have said i was the center voter.
      While i’m not quite at the lets destroy capitalism and start again i’m very open to ideas of how we reboot the system.
      I’ve also changed from a ranting nutter when pushing ideas around this governments ideas to one of trying to frame things in a non confrontational way so they can draw there own ideas. (pretty much what the guts of bill is getting at)

  3. Siobhan 3

    The point of Blogs..like The Standard..well, its excellent in terms of not just preaching to the converted, as Lynn has explained to me in no uncertain terms it is NOT a Left Wing blog, so I guess that’s its strength, its different things to different people….where else can you go to find like minded souls, intelligent commentary on day to day news and events…and get called a ‘gormless idiot’ by the moderator.
    In that respect its a great place to hone your arguments…beats the usual awkward arguments at the family Christmas.
    Not nearly as fun as ‘posting bills’, but we won’t get into that….

    • Bill 3.1

      I really miss poster runs….

    • jcena 3.2

      WGS is full of shit (as usual). This IS a left wing blog as you know.

      • lprent 3.2.2

        The blog is what the About states.

        What’s your political ‘angle’?

        We come from a variety of backgrounds and our political views don’t always match up but it’d be fair to say that all of us share a commitment to the values and principles that underpin the broad labour movement and we hope that perspective will come through strongly as you read the blog.

        Back in 2007, that was as close as authors of the day could probably agree. I suspect that these days it is about as close as the authors of today might agree. I’d add that there is a whole lot of green tinge in there as well both back in 2007 and now.

        Now if you delve into the history of the labour movement, what you will find is a vast range of opinions about what is relevant both in the period and for the future. It can go from everything from authoritarian to anarchistic. From chasing immediate benefits to chasing benefits for unborn grandchildren. From the knurled hands of workers to the immaculately groomed hands of socialites.

        It has also spanned a wide range of the political, social, and even the religious spectrum, and still does. Generally it leans left. But not always. Which is why you find that we tolerate a lot of crap from a range of people provided they can damn-well argue their position.

        So as Siobhan alludes to, part of my general purpose in providing tech, protective cover and anti-social support for this site is to use my talents. That is to make sure that both people have a site and that they can expect to have me clearly express my opinion if I think that they are trying to exclude anyone. Which is what the “robust debate” is about in the policy.

        After spending about 35 years around various versions of the net and more than 2 decades voluntarily helping out Labour, I prefer to be over-reactive and rather blunt. Actually usually sarcastic, caustic, and excessively over informed. It helps in sorting out those who can survive the net at their current stage in life from those who cannot (and who should go back to cat movies on facebook). Just be thankful that I have been pretty busy for the real world for a few years…

        Sure the moderators do control the site, but it is pretty much restricted by the policy to anyone disrupting the arguments of others on the site. They don’t try to constrain the debate. They mainly try to make sure that it doesn’t become boring, repetitive, lazy and ill-informed. And I and some of the other more experienced and largely inactive mods tend to keep an eye on the debates to help out when we can be bothered.

      • left_forward 3.2.3

        Not sure who you are referring to or why you thought it relevant, but useful illustration of Bills’s point about non activism – commentary that has no direction – a timely example of non activism.

  4. Anno1701 4

    IMO one of the reasons why real activism is dying

    ( excluding the NAP of course !)

    easier just to stay at home and red about , maybe click like if your really worked up !!!

    • Richard Rawshark 4.1

      Hmm real activism is alive and kicking, it just takes longer for the boiler to get to pressure AMO.

      and if they get 3 more, well I won’t financially survive I have nothing to lose, look out.

      • james 4.1.1

        If you need a change in government to financially survive – exactly what changes have Labour guaranteed they will bring in that will “keep you afloat”?

        • weka 4.1.1.1

          A whole range of things in fact, but your question is off topic and diversionary.

        • Richard Rawshark 4.1.1.2

          When you were posting on kiwibiker..,

          and you support National? are you a Black Powderpuff?

          Only Bikers I know that like National were Muldoons BP’s.

          • james 4.1.1.2.1

            I know you like to generalise, but I know many bikers – none of which would vote labour.

            Not a black “powderpuff” – whatever the hell that is.

            Just a normal bloke, who happens to like bikes as well.

    • Siobhan 4.2

      Don’t think that..real activism is alive, its just not reported in the Media. Even following a comparatively limited American source of News like ‘Democracy Now’, its amazing the number of protests and strikes and ‘actions’ that go unreported.

      NZ, well, maybe not so much, but then apart from a few highlights, anti apartheid, anti nuclear, we are usually fairly mild, and anyway, we are all at home fussing over our houses and kitchen renovations….wait for a housing price crash…then we might see some action.

      • Anno1701 4.2.1

        IMO it will take actual 3 day empty stomaches to get a rise out of Kiwis

        well that or no rugby …..

    • Bill 4.3

      I think there has been a problem in acknowledging the advantages and limitations of internet based activism and traditional modes of activism.

      Where blogs can be useful is in the promotion of conversations and in offering up counter narratives or alternative views to reasonably large and diverse audiences. They can do that much better and way more consistently or continuously than the likes of weekly meetings or monthly publications. Actually, I’d suggest that meetings, as traditionally understood and structured, are woeful environments for facilitating discussion or dialogue.

      Rather than blaming on-line activity for the demise of off-line activity, I’d suggest the problem lies with people in the off-line world resisting attempts to emulate the inclusive and participatory nature of on-line worlds.

      Who wants to go to some pre-organised march up the street (again) to, at the end of it, listen to the same old people spouting the same old lines at them (again) before going off home to the very same atomized situation as before (again)?

  5. ropata 5

    Thanks Bill, timely and thoughtful. Humans are prone to tribalism and “othering” people or groups that think differently (I am guilty of it too). This blog can be cool but also hostile at times, National voters are not the enemy…

  6. Adrian Thornton 6

    Maybe this should be on open mike…but it relates to peoples fear of being politically active..http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/85752421/Police-admit-using-checkpoint-to-target-euthanasia-meeting-attendees

    It doesn’t matter where you sit on this issue, if police think they can set up a road block to check on people attending a public meeting you have to assume they keep an eye on Blogs.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.1

      I’ve always assumed that they do and that they keep checks on the people using them.

    • james 6.2

      Im am sure that they do keep an eye on blogs.

      And in some cases – if people are talking about illegal activities then the police are doing the right thing if they are able to stop them.

      Speaking from experience – when I used to post on Kiwibiker – there was a raid on a lot of the Thursday night ride guys. Much pain and suffering.

      In fairness – now I look back at it – it was good police work.

      However when it comes to things like euthanasia – I really just don’t know what to think. Its such a complex issue and I am fortunate not to had it in my life – so I will leave specific commenting on that to those who can.

      • Chris 6.2.1

        So for you, whether what the cops did in this case is a flagrant disregard for basic rights, or good police work, comes down to your view of euthanasia? Wow.

        • Bob 6.2.1.1

          Look at it this way, lets say these people were at a class on ‘how to grow dope’, should the police do something to track these people? What the people attending are doing isn’t directly illegal, but if they act on what is being spoken about, that is.
          It doesn’t come down to your view on the matter, it comes down to the current laws in this country which the Police are there to uphold.

          I think the way the Police went about it in this case (the meeting on euthanasia) was the wrong way to do it, but I don’t entirely disagree with their motives for doing it, especially if they are worried that someone attending was looking to take the discussion a step further.

          • Robert Guyton 6.2.1.1.1

            People reading books on horticulture at the public library should be stopped on the way home, have their details recorded and be eye-balled by the police, ’cause, you know, cannabis growing.

            • Bob 6.2.1.1.1.1

              Yes, that’s what I said, “people reading books on horticulture at the public library”. Either learn to read, “people were at a class on ‘how to grow dope’” or fuck off

          • Chris 6.2.1.1.2

            Sure, but James wasn’t judging the behaviour of the police on whether the attendees were discussing the possibility of committing an offence. He was judging the police behaviour on his own moral views about euthanasia.

            • james 6.2.1.1.2.1

              to clarify – ” He was judging the police behaviour on his own moral views about euthanasia”

              I have no moral view on this. Its not something I have a view on. I can see both sides and have no reason to judge one way or the other.

              • Stuart Munro

                If you could see both sides you wouldn’t be visiting your relentless rightwing nutjobbery on a leftwing site.

  7. Stuart Munro 7

    It would be good to see some constructive activism – but websites have multiple functions – providing news, commentary and moral support are also important.

    The flaming annoys some people – but it may a necessary function. Think of trolls as hecklers at a meeting – if they are allowed to dominate, issues will not be explored much less debated and resolved. Other functions besides activism are also derailed by this.

    Discussion can get pretty heated among the left without the ‘contribution’ of insincere far right spokestrolls.

    • weka 7.1

      Arguing back against inflammatory comments also gives people, including those reading from the sidelines, a chance to hear alternative narratives to the one being trotted out by the flamer. Or not even flaming but just RW ideas.

      The problem is when that becomes the dominant way of being and where it takes up all the space. I think we get that wrong too much here, but we are a group of people that like arguing (myself included).

      • Richard Rawshark 7.1.1

        In a better society one would be heard proportionately and activism wouldn’t be nesc ness nesarsarilt… required.

      • Scott 7.1.2

        Don’t fear RW ideas Weka, welcome them. Remember, this isn’t a LW blog after all.

        I like discussing topics that interest me on here. Usually I have a different perspective from the posters or commenters, but through some of the discussions I learn more about my own perspective as well as more about theirs. That is something you don’t really get discussing things with the like minded.

        For my two cents though “discussion” on here too frequently degenerates into abuse, and does so quickly.

        Fair minded moderation is the key to fostering real discussion.

      • Stuart Munro 7.1.3

        There is another problem, that may partially explain the preference many on here have for at times being outspoken to the point of offensiveness, and that is that politics (except under a non-performing kleptocracy like Key’s) deals with the frustrations of individuals who may not have done the ekphrasic analysis to explain the heart of problems. Ranting is one way to surface issues that more measured or considered writing can obscure.

        The Greeks, you will remember, didn’t intend that rhetoric merely be used to enhance lying, the way Key uses it, but to make matters plain. A good recent example might be Elizabeth Warren’s:

        “We nasty women are going to march our nasty feet to cast our nasty votes to get you out of our lives forever,”

        It frames the problem and points to a solution.

    • Groundhog 7.2

      The problem with what you’re saying is how you define ‘troll’. On balance I think TS gets it about right, but there can be a fine line between outing a genuine ‘troll’ and shutting down debate because you don’t like what someone writes.

  8. Tony Veitch (not the partner-bashing 3rd rate broadcaster 8

    The Standard has been good for me – it has helped focus my ideas in so many areas – not that I necessarily agree with everyone (on the left) who posts here.

    But what I want to see it a transition from posting to real effort to get rid of this appalling government. From passive to active.

    I worked to get John Minto elected mayor of ChCh – always a long ask, but I felt the need to be active in pursuit of a left-wing sort of thing. I shall join either Labour or Greens next year to do something active to change the government.

    But I would like to see all the posters here on the Standard make the same commitment – though I am sure many of you are far more active than myself.

    All the ranting and raving about how bad Key and his gang are is just so much hot air if we get another three disastrous years of the Nats!

    • To me, “disaster” means, “the stars fall from the sky”, as in “dis” – “aster (star). That’s a serious occurrence, disaster, stars plunging, falling from the sky – serious trouble. . Distress, means, (to me) “dis” “tress”, you know, “tresses” as in, hair. You lose your hair when you are distressed. Dismantle means to remove your cloak (mantle) from your shoulders… anyway, let’s not over-egg that pudding. The Key government isn’t a “disaster” it’s just a degradation, an erosion of what we had. Treating it as rust is a better approach, I reckon, than calling it the End of Days. It ain’t.

      • Drowsy M. Kram 8.1.1

        How to galvanise public opinion? The concept of ‘fairness’, backed by clear local examples of significant electoral unfairness (e.g. Social Credit’s under-representation in parliament), helped MMP across the threshold against considerable resistance from the deeply pocketed.

        Rust never sleeps – best to treat it while there’s still some iron underneath. Our governors continue to favour corporate welfare over socioeconomic equality and egalitarianism – hope it’s not too late to leverage fairness one more time.

      • Tony Veitch (not the partner-bashing 3rd rate broadcaster 8.1.2

        In terms of semantics, you are probably right, Robert. Though, with rapid climate change galloping ever faster towards us, with the very real possibility of human extinction not so far away in the future, another three years of the Nats will be, if not a disaster, then something approaching it.
        Not that this country could do anything material to reverse the trend of the global economy, but at least, we could show the way for others not to follow.

      • Stuart Munro 8.1.3

        The Key kleptocracy certainly rates as a disaster to those living in cars, whose children are in poverty, or who are obliged to deal with the draconian nightmare of WINZ. In the past there was a degree of social mobility through work. Key has slammed that door and welded it shut.

  9. Muttonbird 9

    This is what Andrew Little sent to me today.

    Dear Matt,
    A decent job, money in your pocket at the end of the week, a warm, dry home, a good school for your kids, and a healthcare system that’s there when you need it.
    For me, these things are the building blocks of the Kiwi dream. But under National, they’re slipping away.
    Labour backs the Kiwi dream – and we’re committed to restoring it.
    Ahead of my address at Labour’s conference next week, I want to hear what your Kiwi dream is and why you want to change the Government.
    Matt, will you share your Kiwi dream with us?
    I’d like to share your stories in my speech and on Labour’s social media channels in the coming weeks.
    We’d also love for you to share a video of your Kiwi dream and of why you believe we need to change the Government next year. We’ll stitch them all together to show the aspirations and dreams of our movement at Labour’s conference, and on our social media. It only needs to be a few seconds long and can be filmed on your phone. Click here to send us your video.
    Ahead of the election next year, it’s important we highlight our aspirations for New Zealand — and why we need to change the Government to make those a reality.
    Click here to share your Kiwi dream.

    Thanks,

    Andrew Little
    Labour Leader

    As I see it this falls into what Bill describes as good activism. Promoting a positive message about what the future look like under Labour-led government. A message about what fair, regular people want to achieve for the country.

    I’ll be sending Andrew Little my Kiwi Dream.

    • Manuka AOR 9.1

      Thanks for posting!

    • Skinny 9.2

      Yeah I got the Kiwi Dream blurb. The messaging is improving from Labour especially through social media. Mind you next years election campaign Natcorp have signaled a big budget for social media spamming.

      So in order to limit their campaign those that are capable should be banding together in the propaganda war online.

      Some of my friends and self are mooting the idea of a get together of people who want to organise a dedicated 2017 election campaign. Fortunate enough to already have the services of a slick cartoonist and a gun film production man. A graphics and IT guru’s would add strength if it floats beyond an idea. Will look to network at the LP conference early Nov, and at the anti warship protest in Auckland in a couple of weeks, recruiting basically 🙂

      • saveNZ 9.2.1

        Have you got an email to contact you by Skinny?

        • Skinny 9.2.1.1

          TPR has my email addy from here that I am sure he can give to you if ya refer him to this post. Ha don’t want any trolls from here spamming me 🙂

    • saveNZ 9.3

      Thanks Muttonbird. I also got it from Andrew Little and loved it too as social activism.

      The listening part and wanting to take messages from Kiwi’s was brilliant.

      +1000 Labour.

  10. UncookedSelachimorpha 10

    More than Pommer’s Law, Confirmation Bias is one of the toughest nuts to crack, both in talking to others and in being honest with our own thinking. This wiki entry is long, but well worth a read – it explains a lot:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

  11. Observer Tokoroa 11

    .
    . Thanks Bill

    . You are seeding thought. Something that wiil take root and grasp the day.

    . As I understand the past 140 years, we have progressed through Activists. Women achieved the right to own Property; the right to vote; the right to work towards equality.

    . Again, men formed Unions to match the Industrialisation of the modern world. They abhorred slavery which was spear headed principally by the English, but not by them alone. Housing; Health; Education; serious wages – and the right to eye ball the men of power. They had phenomenal success. They did it by the Picket method.

    . In the last 40 years as noted by several fine writers on this blog, the gains of the Unions have been trampled on by the greed of Corporations and share holders and the very Wealthy.

    . So Bill at the risk of being seen as a madman I would remodel the Labour Party. How?

    1) by renaming it: The Labour Egalitarian Party
    2) by stopping the grouping of people into the “homeless”; the Impoverished; the uneducated. And replacing our grouping with Egalitarian thought and language. In order to do this, I would deem the earnings of the upper middle class as the measure of wages to be given to all people.
    3) men and women, whether through laziness or addiction, who are not working or not working competently, would not be paid in money, but by voucher.
    4) The upper Middle class would not have a lower middle class. For that leads to a class society so loved by Britain and Indians.
    5) The high salaries paid to (or generated by Business wealth) would be used to pay the Egalitarian equalisation of income.
    6) The Corporations, including the Global ones, would be offered the privilege of contributing to the Egalitarian society. Should they fail in doing that they would be nationalised.
    7) The present Government did not want to see the horrible effect of their policies and has built no housing, while at the same time they have brought in many thousands of immigrants. INFRASTRUCTURE is the physical backbone of an Egalitarian society.

    The great value of an Egalitarian Society is that no one falls behind, through ill health or loss of Jobs. No one lacks good Housing and no one waits forever to get on a Health waiting list.

    But that is not all ….
    .

  12. saveNZ 12

    Great post Bill. I think blogs are a great way to promote activism and interaction with ideas.

    I think the Standard in particular is one of the best blog sites because it has good writers, different ideas in the comments and the site is so well run technically and with peoples posts coming up immediately and with little censorship. I like the feeds coming in too, as if something catches your eye, you can easily click on it.

    I use to post at Granny years ago, but the site was too slow, the comments took sometimes a day to come up and towards the end was being censored so that anything anti national was not put up. Most people bother to put a lot of thought into their posts and reply, so if it is censored than you go else where.

    Would actually like a bit more political posts if possible from Labour and Greens on TS, if possible. The change of government hope, is one of the reason I take time to comment because this country under the Natz is turning to shit. It is not just about money, the environmental and social destruction they have caused is huge.

    I also really liked the Waatea 5th Estate. I thought that was one of the most innovative new blog videos and had fantastic content. It really made opposition politicians more accessible without being smeared in MSM and thus easier to engage with voters and understand where they were coming from. I also really like TDB site but technically they take a lot longer for the comments to show up, and therefore less accessible to engage with as TS.

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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
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    5 days ago
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