Missing the point: Minister of Tourism fail
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8:10 am, January 13th, 2013 - 102 comments
Categories: cycleway, Minister for Overseas Holidays, newspapers, The Standard, tourism -
Tags: helen clark, robert muldoon, zetetic
In an article this morning on Stuff, Michael Field responds to a question he attributes to “Labour Party blog, The Standard” about our Minister of Tourism spending most of his holidays in Hawaii and fails to answer the question he cites. Instead, Field uses the article to divert and mislead, by claiming that Helen Clark and David Lange were just as bad. The article ends by championing Robert Muldoon as the true Kiwi, spending his holidays at a New Zealand beach, in jandals and shorts, and still being available for business.
Field treats The Standard as a person, and, instead of correctly attributing the cited question to Zetetic in his ‘Minister for Overseas Holidays post, attributes this quote to The entire blog:
Only on the Labour Party blog, The Standard, is there much criticism of Key’s holiday – and this overlooks Clark’s holiday antics.
“Are you ‘jealous’ that Key’s off to Maui for three weeks, again?” asks the Standard.
“Or are you just a bit pissed off to learn that our minister of tourism has so far spent over 100 days overseas on holiday since becoming PM, while the average Kiwi’s had just 27 days abroad and tourism here is in crisis?”
Field fails to take up the point Zetetic makes about Key’s lack of promotion of New Zealand tourism in his choice of holidays. He fails to mention that, alone among the prime ministers mentioned, Key is the Minister of Tourism while PM. It fails to mention Clark was Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage. Staying off the point, Field mentions Helen Clark’s very active holidays in Norway during New Zealand’s summer holiday period, but fails to mention all the holidays she took in New Zealand.
A quick google search to find support my memory of Clark’s tramping holidays in the South Island threw up some interesting links. There’s this item on the NZ Travel Planner site, reporting on Clark’s prominent role TV travel programme, aired in the US, that follows her tour of New Zealand adventure and active tourist spots. It is a tour given credibility by Clark’s inside knowledge gained from holidays she had spent actively engaging with New Zealand’s countryside:
Travel Channel’s Chief Correspondent Peter Greenberg says “I’ve been coming to New Zealand for more than 28 years, and as much of a seasoned traveller I think I might be, I was in for a rather pleasant surprise. The Prime Minister took me to places I didn’t know existed, and then we experienced these locations in a way that was at times physically challenging, but always exhilarating. She has an incredible knowledge of her country and its people. She was not just my very special tour guide, but perhaps New Zealand’s best goodwill ambassador.”
Included in the programme the Prime Minister visits a bungy jumping site, ice climbs the southern alps, rides jet boats on the Shotover River, treks through Fiordland and abseils 400 feet in the Waitomo Caves. Each of the sites she visits and all of her activities are accessible to travellers.
I also came across this June 2008 article by Audrey Young, accompanied by a photo of Clark skiing in the Southern Alps. Young begins the article:
No matter the season in New Zealand, Prime Minister Helen Clark likes to head for the hills–big white ones, with a good layer of snow. During the country’s summer (December through February), Clark, 58, spends two weeks in Scandinavia to indulge her love of cross-country skiing, which she took up at the age of 41. The Rondane National Park area in Norway is a favorite destination. But at this time of year–winter in the Southern Hemisphere–Clark travels to the mountainous regions of South Island when Parliament is in recess.
And I also found this 2008 article about a member of Clark’s South Island alpine party needing dying:
A mountain guide in Prime Minister Helen Clark’s alpine party has died near Lake Tekapo in the central South Island today.
Police tonight confirmed the dead man was Gottlieb Otto Braun-Elwert, aged 59.
Miss Clark is understood to have been involved in resuscitation efforts on him late this afternoon.
So what’s John Key, Minister of Tourism, done lately for New Zealand tourism? And how’s that cycleway going, John? Have you done the active thing and taken a holiday along it to promote local tourism?
NB: Mr Field, this is not a Labour Party blog, I am not a Labour Party member, and in recent times have party voted Green Party.
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- Missed opportunity but NZ will surely one day recognise the right to a sustainable environmentNew Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...1 week ago
- Release: Don’t cut our lunches – clear message sent to GovernmentTens of thousands of people are demanding the Government commits to fully funding free and healthy school lunches. ...1 week ago
- Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention OfficeLabour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...2 weeks ago
- CCC issues warning over further climate delayToday’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets are lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Commitment to disability communities missing from Govt prioritiesMinister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Methane target review is dangerous duplicationThe Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government must commit to school building project for disabled studentsThe Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National must take mental health seriouslyMental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...2 weeks ago
- Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwardsThe Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cutsNew Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...2 weeks ago
- Press release: No Māori initiatives in Government’s nothing planMāori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...3 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...3 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Social housing off Government’s to-do listThe Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Less money in most people’s pockets this AprilChanges to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...3 weeks ago
- $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...13 hours ago - Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder listThe Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...15 hours ago
- Judicial appointments announcedAttorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...15 hours ago
- Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in SingaporeEducation Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...16 hours ago
- Value of stopbank project proven during cycloneA stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...16 hours ago
- Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visitForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...17 hours ago
- Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac DayScience, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...19 hours ago
- Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...1 day ago
- Government commits $20m to Westport flood protectionThe Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...2 days ago
- Taupō takes pole positionThe Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...2 days ago
- Cost of living support for low-income homeownersLocal Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...2 days ago
- Government backing mussel spat projectThe Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...2 days ago
- Government focused on getting people into workBenefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...2 days ago
- Clean energy key driver to reducing emissionsThe Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...2 days ago
- Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forwardThe Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...2 days ago
- Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic PartnershipPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...2 days ago
- Government consults on extending coastal permits for portsRMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...3 days ago
- Inflation coming down, but more work to doToday’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...3 days ago
- School attendance restored as a priority in health adviceRefreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...3 days ago
- Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sectorOceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...3 days ago
- Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International CongressAssociate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...4 days ago
- Removing red tape to help early learners thriveThe Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...4 days ago
- RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tapeChanges to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...4 days ago
- McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationshipTrade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...4 days ago
- Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister LeePrime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...4 days ago
- PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ tiesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...5 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...5 days ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...5 days ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...5 days ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...5 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...5 days ago
- Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...1 week ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...1 week ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...1 week ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...1 week ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...1 week ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...1 week ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...1 week ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...1 week ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...1 week ago
- Rousing farewell for Kiwi doctors flying out to Gaza aid flotilla
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...6 hours ago - Communities Against The Fast-track Heartened By ‘Overwhelming’ Public Response; Disgusted By ‘...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...8 hours ago - Renters Rights To Drastically Reduce Under Landlord GovernmentThe Government’s announced changes around tenancy rules set renters’ rights back by nearly a decade. ...8 hours ago
- NZPI Submission on Fast Track Approvals BillOur response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...8 hours ago
- Fast Track Invite List Includes Most Destructive Industries In New ZealandThe new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...8 hours ago
- Eugene Doyle: Helen Clark on why AUKUS isn’t in New Zealand’s national interestCOMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...8 hours ago
- Government releases list of organisations shoulder-tapped for fast-track consents
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...10 hours ago - The Week in Politics: Job cuts surge and Waitangi Tribunal troubleAnalysis - It's been a grim week for public servants, while trouble is also brewing between the government and Waitangi Tribunal. ...11 hours ago
- It never rains but it pours: intense rain and flash floods have increased inland in eastern Australi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...11 hours ago
- Watch: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaThe PM has defended how he's talked up NZ trade on his trip to Southeast Asia, after criticism from his own delegation. ...11 hours ago
- ‘It could be the death of the museum’: why research cuts at a South Australian institution have ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...11 hours ago
- Government signs off $41m clean energy deal with Asian Development BankThe government has committed $41 million to clean energy transition at the Asian Development Bank's Energy Transition Mechanism. ...12 hours ago
- Are 2 mid-career AFL retirements a sign Australian athletes are taking brain health more seriously?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...14 hours ago
- Luxon: Waitangi Tribunal comments from coalition parties 'ill considered'Comments from ACT and NZ First ministers about the Tribunal were "ill considered" and "that message will be underscored" to them, the PM says. ...14 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation Facing Staff Cuts From Govt Funding SqueezeThe Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...14 hours ago
- I wholeheartedly recommend The President: a brilliant revival of a play of decay, terror and revulsi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...14 hours ago
- How the coolest little capital is shrinkingIt's not the first time a government has targeted public servants for job cuts, but this time Wellington is really feeling it. ...15 hours ago
- Ministers accused of Cabinet Manual breach with threats to Waitangi Tribunal
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...15 hours ago - Many prisoners go years without touching a smartphone. It means they struggle to navigate life on th...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...15 hours ago
- Good news: midlife health is about more than a waist measurement. Here’s whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...15 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Mitochondrial Problem’ by Evangeline Riddiford Graham
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...15 hours ago - The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending April 18The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38) Hot off the press, this debut ...15 hours ago
- Department of Conservation closing Dunedin centre, but no jobs lostVisitor habits are changing and DOC needs to adapt in a financially sustainable way, its operations director says. ...15 hours ago
- Unions Collaborate With Thousands Of Job CutsWith New Zealand officially in recession, a swathe of mass sackings is currently sending shockwaves through the entire working class. ...15 hours ago
- Watch live: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaPrime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters in Manila after pledging greater defence cooperation with the Philippines. Watch live. ...15 hours ago
- Government sent please explain letter to Wellington City Council over transport disagreementThe contents were revealed in correspondence from Simeon Brown and Chris Bishop to Wellington's Mayor. ...16 hours ago
- Some families push back against journalists who mine social media for photos – they have every rig...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...16 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation staff cuts loom, with funding falling behind rising costsChief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...16 hours ago
- The ‘devil comet’ 12P/Pons-Brooks has finally become visible from Australia. What can we expect?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Pons–Brooks visible from Utah, March 9 2024. James Peirce/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND If you’re a fan of all things space, you’ve doubtless heard about the “devil comet”, which has been captivating keen-eyed observers in the ...16 hours ago
- Rugby stadiums are sold as an economic asset – but NZ needs to ask if they’re really worth itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hamlin, Senior Lecturer in Marketing , University of Otago A multi-billion dollar stadium precinct has been proposed for Auckland, one of three proposals in front of Auckland Council for a new stadium in the city. The council is also considering revamping ...16 hours ago
- Auckland dog attacks: Callouts for attacks on other animals going upRoaming dogs are responsible for more than a thousand attacks on animals each year, and the number is growing. ...17 hours ago
- What access to puberty blockers means for trans young people and their whānauThe Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...17 hours ago
- NZ and Philippines pledge defence cooperation amid rising tensionsThe commitment came after a sit-down meeting between Christopher Luxon and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr overnight. ...18 hours ago
- How superblocks can help reimagine city lifeBarcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...18 hours ago
- Fire engineering expertise may take a big hit with job cuts at MBIEThe public sector cuts are poised to take out a big chunk of expertise at the country's building regulator. ...19 hours ago
- “Fast-track Law To Kill Kiwi”: Students Say Fight Against Anti-democracy Legislation Is Only Jus...Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...19 hours ago
- ‘We have thousands of Modis’: the secret behind the BJP’s enduring success in IndiaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...20 hours ago
- Online schooling is not just for lockdowns. Could it work for your child?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...20 hours ago
- Hear me out: You can shove your reusable period productsYes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...20 hours ago
- Rip It Up And Start Over – Fast-Track Approvals Bill Needs To Be Scrapped“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...20 hours ago
- Maori Authority Warns Government On Fast Track LegislationThe Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...20 hours ago
- Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...20 hours ago
- Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...20 hours ago
- Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...20 hours ago
- Why don’t Australians talk about their salaries? Pay transparency and fairness go hand-in-handSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...20 hours ago
- ‘Character’ And Its Impact On Immigration StatusThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...20 hours ago
- 20,000 more on jobseeker benefits than this time last yearThe government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...22 hours ago
- All of the Raglan Roast cafes in Wellington, ranked from worst to bestRaglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...24 hours ago
- Auckland uni students threaten rent strike over rising accommodation feesResidents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously. The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...24 hours ago
- Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolvedShane Jones says people voted for change, but opponents say small cuts such as ending a special oceans secretariat are starting to add up The post Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolved appeared first on Newsroom. ...24 hours ago
- Defence deal to counter Beijing’s aggression in South China SeaNew Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...24 hours ago
- Wellington’s ebb and flow of public servantsThe thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...24 hours ago
- New Zealand transport planning has gone off the railsOpinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...24 hours ago
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Some within caucus would have kittens at the suggestion that the Standard is a Labour Party blog …
Maybe Stuff have had second thoughts about that? Interestingly, when I was writing the post, the article was headlined at the top of the front page on Stuff. Now it seems to have totally disappeared from view, though the link to it still works.
I’ve just checked the Sunday Star Times on Press Display. The article is on page 7 of the hard copy.
Sometimes articles on stuff very rapidly fall off the top headlines, usually they’re the opinion type pieces like the one you’re talking about. I wouldn’t read anything in particular into it.
…and some who despise what the current Labour party stands for, too. Field must’ve got his wires crossed after seeing some of Shearer’s posts. The state of Redalert probably doesn’t help, either. When’s Labour going to close that down? It really is a blot on the landscape.
While i agree whole-heartedly with all the points made in this post and other previous posts on the subject of where the Slippery little Shster we have as our Prime Ministers does the holiday thing i seriously CRINGE at the thought of being subjected to nightly doses of ”the Prime Minister Dances Like a Spastic (again)” on the 6 o’clock news during the holiday period,
The likes of Rob Muldoon and Helen Clark could afford to be seen by the average Kiwi out and about on holiday,simply because they were the same Rob Muldoon and Helen Clark that we all seen regularly on the TV doing the Prime Minister thing,
Slippery tho, can’t afford to let the carefully crafted mask of the ‘Kiwi bloke’ slip for just one instant, just behind the mask that millions of dollars has been spent upon creating via the services of His media team is a hissing,spitting, cynically manipulating puppeteer who makes the Simpson’s, Montgomery Burns, look slightly saintly in comparison…
A rather strange article all round, Karol. Michael Field is not normally employed to write filler material like this. He is a specialist in Pacific politics, not island holidays. Leaving aside the ignorance about The Standard, the real flaw was his failure to establish the claim that hitting the beach is a Prime Ministerial summer tradition. By only referencing 4 PMs, two of them from the eighties, and ignoring the last PM’s penchant for powdered snow, he really does miss the point.
But, I guess, he was asked to knock off 500 words on politicians on the beach to fill a gap in the paper and this was the indifferent result.
locally, the international tourism sector has been struggling for the last couple of years. In contrast to the dumping on “freedom campers” in the media (some validity re toileting habits) the local PTB have been publicly encouraging all types of campers to spend time and money in the area, and endeavouring to break down stereo-types and further more, in this particular province anyway, the challenge of racial stereotyping and prejudice continues for Asians from both the sub-continent, China and the wider S.E.A.
Pretty standard stuff from the MSM, govt good, opposition bad, don’t let facts get in way of the spin.
Get facts wrong, stay off the point, divert, mislead all in a days work for these hacks. If surgeons did similar work they’d end up having a visit by the coroner.
Bad nails it with the comment that if he did stick around the facade would be shattered about the ‘good kiwi bloke’ image, it’s not like he’s got nowhere to go with his Omaha palace.
Maybe if we are really lucky, the Volcano will blow it’s top and give the proverbial 2 fingers to the B ullshit artist Key, as it demolishes his American Escape.
I honestly cannot attribute sincere motives to anyone who’s misrepresented Zet’s post in the way Michael Field has. I mean, it’s pretty damn clear that Zetetic is referring to the Minister for Tourism taking overseas holidays while tourism here is in a crisis.
Every single person who’s jumped up to say “You’re just jealous of John Key’s success!!!!” is a derailing tr*ll, pure and simple.
Many thanks to you, karol, for doing the hard yards on refuting that BS about Helen Clark’s holidays, also.
More to the point, why has Fairfax/SST felt it necessary to write a piece taking to task John Key’s critics in the blogsphere? It is a boringly blatant piece of soft pro-Key propaganda from the political/media establishment.
They’ve already gone from ignoring TS articles to disparaging them as “fringe”, so now the MSM are fisking posts seriously.
Praising with faint damnation 🙂
Where would Ghandi say all this is heading?
yep
But if they keep mentioning TS, then surely people will come and see what all the kerfluffel is all about.
I believe I have an idea where this is heading-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Atlas_%28film%29
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/174372.The_Cloudspotter_s_Guide
otherwise fine, otherwise just dandee ee
“ND: Mr Field, this is not a Labour Party blog, I am not a Labour Party member”
I’m not a member of any political party, and isn’t the Labour blog called Dead Alert?
Redalert’s become such a desolate place. It’d be interesting to know exactly how that’s happened. They just didn’t seem to want proper debate. Guess you can only ban so many people before there’s nobody left. Looks like even their mascot Spud’s gone.
They have died because if you say anything they don’t like then they ban you, and remove the comment so nothing makes sense. Also there only seems to be one or two politicians are allowed (or want ) to post.
Quite sad, really.
Anyway, I’d rather stick to being here on TS with stronger assurance that confidentiality, privacy and security will be respected.
Ah, The Allen, you copied a little typo from my post – [NB] – fixed.
I didn’t even see it 🙂
All that’s happening here is that Michael Field is being a typically sloppy journo (in silly season mode).
Poor dears .. they’re just not used to the kind of scrutiny they’re subject to in the the online world.
No it’s not sloppy it’s deliberately untruthful and misleading. Expecting the uninformed readers to take it as valid.
He’s been around long enough to know TS isn’t a labour party blog and a casual glance would show him clearly this is far from a Labour cheer squad effort.
A half decent Sub editor would and should of picked up the factual inaccuracy, that’s if they have any allowed to do that sort of thing.
The point is, if Helen Clarke was still PM, and people complained about her overseas holidays, you would all support her.
How is not hypocritical?
Do you need a pre-frontal lobotomy to become a wingnut?
How did you miss the fact that the position being discussed is Minister of Tourism?
I wouldn’t bother supporting HC on this one: looks like the Travel Channel’s Chief Correspondent refuted any possible criticism on his own.
Perhaps you missed that too.
Apparently goldfish have quite good memories. Which leaves me short of a reasonable comparison.
And like magic, Brett Dale appears to prove my comment at #5 correct.
Again, its hypocritical to complain about one PM’s holiday, and not another.
you’re sweet.
Yes Brett, that’s exactly what’s going on here. You have fully grasped the discussion taking place, and you’re making completely relevant points.
The points were fair, the left goes crazy everytime Key leaves town, but they have no problem when past politicians did it.
BTW: I voted for Lange and Clark the first two times.
Do you need someone to help you with the big words in the post?
I dont need big words to explain my point.
How come you still don’t understand the post then?
What does your voting record have to do with your inability to understand the point being made in the post?
Hint: it largely centres on the phrase “Minister of Tourism”.
Tourism numbers are up that is good enough for me.
Nope, Brett, the numbers are not looking so good as I quoted at 7.2.1 below:
For example, over the past six years tourism has lost a lot of its long-staying, high-spending visitors.
As mentioned above, it’s more about him being Minister of Tourism and not lowering himself to have an NZ holiday just once in a while. There is that small issue of domestic tourism that could do with a boost at the moment.
As a tourism operator, it was good to see Helen Clark climbing NZ mountains and skiing in NZ – didn’t she front a Discovery channel program about NZ’s beautiful wild places?
And she wasn’t even Minister of Tourism
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1293547
Can’t see how John Key strutting around on Hawaian beaches with an entourage of security guards does anything for out tourism industry.
Hmmm. While I don’t have a poll to hand on how many New Zealanders decide where to have a holiday based on the PM’s movements, I’m willing to bet it’s not very high.
Oh god another Shit for Brains troll. Hey SFB we are talking about Dunnokeyo as Minister of TOURISM. FFS.
Karol why am I in Moderation??
Probably because you used the “t” word. – auto-mod. I just released it.
Poor Brett, bravely trying to communicate through what appears to be a crippling hangover. Hang in there, big fulla, only two minutes to beer o’clock and you can start the process all over again.
Does anyone know if the Minister for Tourism has taken a holiday within NZ (not to be confused with attending family gatherings) since he has been in the role, or even since he came to stay in NZ?
The fact is, and everybody knows it, Key goes home for his holidays, as those stationed abroad very often do. Helen Clark comes home regularly.
On a positive note, the more people that find your excellent posts Karol, the better. Which is probably the reason they took it down so fast.
Actually, during the day, the Stuff article was back on the front page as a featured article. So far it has just 14 replies, most not really picking up the whole diversionary thing.
He weekends in Omaha, just to show he is down do earth like Muldoon was.
No, holiday. Weekending closer to home just means most of the weekend isn’t taken up travelling.
Super-storm-cell meet teacup.
Talk of tourism in New Zealand being in crisis is a red herring. Year-on-year international tourist numbers for visits to NZ up by 5% and spend is up by nearly 3%, despite the NZ dollar strengthening against some currencies by up to 20%
Visitor numbers have been growing steadily since 2001 (excepting 2008 and 2009) and travel websites are reporting significant growth in inquiries searches and bookings for New Zealand after the release of The Hobbit.
Local retailers are reporting their busiest season in four years. And employment in the industry is seasonal, employment drops in the winter and rises in the summer.
And as for where the Minister of Tourism spends his holidays, New Zealand has had a succession of ministers who holiday locally and overseas. So what? Big deal!
Indeed. Finally saw the hobbit last night. Was blown away at the promotion of New Zealand. You then have a trailer on all DVD of NZ.
Yeah John Key sucks.
The movie sucks, most US media agree. So much for that. 😉
Actually most were positive.
Metacritic 58% rating, “mixed or average reviews” in the media. Ordinary viewers liked it much more though.
http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey
metacritic?
What did jeeves say?
IMDB 83%
RT 65%
It just made a billion dollars.
No it didn’t, Pop. I thought you righties knew the difference between gross and nett?
The Hobbit’s first part has flopped artistically and the 2nd and 3rd parts are going to have significantly lower box office takes because of the boredom factor. Nobody has the guts to say to Jackson that it’s a one film book at best. And a 90 minute film at that. But then, most of Jackson’s recent works have been bum numbingly boring, because Jackson has no self control and nobody around him has the balls to suggest some swingeing editing.
Just because I disagree with hypocrisy and am not a screaming doctrinaire ideologue does not makes me a righty. However your insistence that I am does make you a simplistic buffoon.
So nothing constructive to say, Pop? That’s the problem with you righties; the inability to communicate beyond issuing orders.
If your ludicrous trolling is somehow constructive, that would be a different matter. I support the welfare state, public institutions, greater social liberalism and the rights of workers over corporate greed. I criticise what I regard as hypocrisy and other forms of bullshit wherever I see it, regardless of the politics of the person saying it, because I believe in integrity and don’t see any value in mindless sycophancy. Do please tell me how any of this makes me a “rightie” – or are you really that pompous?
I think that’s probably very true, a victim of his own success in a sense. Although even in his earlier films he had a habit of dragging out relatively minor aspects of stories well beyond the point of interest.
I think he probably cops a bit too much criticism for the LOTR films though. They may not be artistic masterpieces by everyone’s measure but for the most part they tell a good story in a fairly compelling way and fill in a lazy rainy Sunday afternoon from time to time.
I will say though that I couldn’t agree more with this regarding the ending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKbyWSwd7hk (NSFW unless you have headphones on)
I have not watched a Peter Jackson movie, since I saw bad Taste. And 2.5 – 3 hours to watch a small part of a book No thanks. And a review I saw, said that the 3 hour movie only dealt with the first 129 pages of the book. what a way to make money at the expense of the poor kiwi worker.
I don’t see how a movie that isn’t about here and is mostly CGI acts as an advert for NZ. Who stays and watches the end-credits to see where a film was shot? Or goes running off to Mongolia coz they just saw Conan the Librarian and the landscape looked really pretty?
Well Joe taking to people in the industry numbers have been well down over the last few years, maybe someone’s cooking the books.
Joe: I don’t think you’re even involved in the tourism industry, if you were you would know the demographic has changed, now we have a lot more visitors from asia, with short arms and deep pockets that like to sit on their hands.
The article appears to be nothing more than a rambling collection of anecdotes organised around the theme of ‘PM’s holidays’.
It’s just filler for the fish and chip wrapper. I highly doubt Field was trying to raise any serious questions. Kiwi journos rarely do, and certainly not during the ‘dead’ news period in summer.
I would have thought it was grounds for complaint, calling The Standard a Labour Party blog. Stuff should print a correction.
Anything that speaks the truth is a ‘enemy of the state’. See no truth, hear no truth and write no truth is the reality of MSM in NZ. First they said The Standard undermines the Labour party, now they say that The Standard is a puppet of the Labour Party. Hmmm…what conspiracy BS are they spinning this time?
If The Standard were a person it’d be grounds for defamation.
Agree with Weka
I don’t consider it a “mistake” to refer to The Standard as Labour’s blogsite. This is out and out misinformation and bad form on the part of the writer.
Thanks Karol for pointing out yet another example of propaganda for the status quo. It appears to me that neo-liberal interests are really ramping it up, which is kinda good; means they are threatened.
It’s mischief-making and I think Lynn should write a formal response and send it to them.
+1 Anne
Well that would be up to Lynn and the others in charge, but I agree that the journalist and Stuff need a slap for being so bloody useless at their job.
Yes, on the inadequacy of the article, weka.
I’ve been reading the comments under the article. They are all following the main line promoted by the article, debating whether our PMs should holiday at home or abroad. No-one has picked up on Zetetic’s point about Key being Minister of Tourism and our lagging tourist industry – and that point is quoted within the article, but buried among the other fluffy beach stuff.
Probably because it’s rather a non-point – the great unwashed New Zealand public doesn’t breathlessly monitor PM Dickhead’s holiday arrangements in order to plot their own. If they did, they might actually care. Clearly they don’t. Endlessly harping on about it just makes us look impotent and bitter. Can we please move on to genuine issues?
@Populuxe1
Your comment is true if you consider that image and effectiveness are not important aspects of both a PM and a Minister of Tourism
Effectiveness is far more important, and “image” is a subjective thing – Key’s image as regards his public life should be open to scrutiny and public criticism, but the day we invade a family’s privacy (other than in a criminal investigation) looking for things to pick at just because we don’t like someone – not because they’re actually doing anything particularly wrong – is a very sad day for New Zealand society.
Conversely effectiveness could be seen to be a subjective thing, depending on who is benefitting: to some higher earners having a PM who gives tax cuts to them could be consider very effective; those on low wages whom are paying higher taxes might have something else to say.
The image of a PM who can afford to have a holiday home in Hawai’i may strike some as an image of success, to others it may appear inappropriate given certain degenerating conditions at “home”.
I consider our current Government succeeding solely through image, not effectiveness, and so my personal view is you are underestimating the role of image in politics.
Anyone pointing where our Government is failing (not hard) seems pertinent to someone, such as myself who is critical or should I say despairing as to the effectiveness of our current Government.
As for private criticism, well yes, I am inclined to agree, and perhaps where one holidays is heading into personal territory, although I still view Karol’s point as pertinent for the above reasons. Being a public figure does come with a few costs and having one’s life and behaviour scrutinized is one of them, I’m sure Mr Key will get over this particular one…(Perhaps whilst sipping tequila on a beach in Hawai’i?)
I don’t underestimate the importance of image in politics, Blue Leopard, but I refuse to stoop to their level and I don’t think the opposition should either.
To point out weaknesses in the Government’s approach is not “stooping to their level”, as for image, if this is what you are referring to, I also do not like politics emphasizing image, unfortunately people are inflluenced by image especially those who do not follow politics closely (which I guess to be most people), therefore to ignore this aspect or not “indulge” in it is simply ignoring an important factor influencing people’s opinions.
A common and old form of image creation is the way men wear suits, in the 21st century things are becoming more sophisticated than that and just because it isn’t the way I wish things to be is not a good enough reason to ignore it’s effects.
The Hobbit was a flop, it only got one or two star ratings. NZ tourism fails to understand the European and North American market, or provide incentives. The high dollar is hurting tourism, unless living expenses decline and Air NZ provides travel vouchers as British Airways does, then tourism will continue to get hit.
$825 (USA Dollars) Million worldwide, a Flop?????
Boy oh boy.
Yeah and like chumps we subsidised those corporate profits with NZ tax payer dollars.
More smoke and mirrors
The Hobbit may not rate in the eyes of a few critics but it’s still broken box office records locally and internationally
Is a high NZ dollar hurting tourism?? Nup – despite the NZ dollar rising by up to 20% against other currencies, international tourists coming to New Zealand spent nearly 3% in New Zealand dollars more in 2012 than they did in 2011 – simple maths… that’s 23% more of their own money spent here.
And as for not understanding the European and North American markets that’s a moot point – but the industry DOES understand the Asian market – which is a heck of a lot closer and more valuable to the local industry… Chinese tourist visits were up by almost 40% in the year ended Sep 2012 and China’s now our third largest tourism market.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/7841412/Chinese-tourists-breathe-fire-into-market
That was a November article, Joe, and it isn’t a whole hearted endorsement for the state of NZ tourism. The artoicle says:
Also, Key has focused on promoting NZ to the US via the Hobbit and 10% Middle-earth. John Key’s fan-boy fixation on the US and its celebrity culture is not helping NZ generally.
Meanwhile an article on Stuff this morning about the economic challenges for the Key government in 2013, by Rod Oram, is less than enthusiastic about the state of the NZ tourist industry.
“That was a November article, Joe, and it isn’t a whole hearted endorsement for the state of NZ tourism.”
Oooh – less than two whole months ago! It doesn’t exactly scream world shattering crisis either.
“Also, Key has focused on promoting NZ to the US via the Hobbit and 10% Middle-earth. John Key’s fan-boy fixation on the US and its celebrity culture is not helping NZ generally.”
Citations and stats please.
And “short-stay, lower spending visitors from China and Australia” tend to be cyclical based on their economies.
Pop, I’ve posted several times on the issue of Key’s wrong-headed focus on marketing tourism to the US, with him putting a strong focus on the hobbit/100% Middle earth branding. Each post has a number of links, including links to government stats on tourism, over time, and across several contributing countries.
These are a couple of my posts: here, and here. I’m not going to repeat what I said there, along with the links, in every post I make related to that topic.
And if Key’s role in promoting tourism has no influence, as you claim, why is he spending some much of his time and energy on his (albeit skewed and wrongly targetted) promotion of tourism.
Karol, your view that targeting the US seems to me entirely subjective, offering very little evidence why targeting the US tourism market is wrong-headed (ie, no facts or numbers). Also your narrative is fairly obviously spun- for example, while Chinese tourists may spend more, it’s mostly back into Chinese-owned tourism businesses, whereas the rich Americans coming off cruise ships actually inject a lot of capital into port communities. If anything you just seem to be working from a “hate everything American” bias all to common among commentors in this site.
“And if Key’s role in promoting tourism has no influence, as you claim, why is he spending some much of his time and energy on his (albeit skewed and wrongly targetted) promotion of tourism.”
That’s an entirely separate issue from his personal family holidays. One is his job and the other is his private life and we’re a pathetic bunch if we can’t see the difference.
Pop, did you follow up the links in my earlier posts? Do I need to go and retrieve the data for you?
Yes I followed up your links – that doesn’t magically transform them from opinions peppered with subjective observations into something approaching fact. Yes Key shilled us out to Hollywood, and yes 100% Pure isn’t a meaningful phrase, but you provide absolutely no definitive evidence that the Hobbit movies have not benefited our tourist market, or that the loss of a handful of European freedom campers disillusioned by the not so clean green realities of our country, or indeed that PM Dipshit was wrong to target the US market. In fact, much like Key himself, it’s all hat and no cattle.
Pop, the stats NZ stuff shows that the US is not our biggest market for tourism, which is where the Hobbit promotion was largely targeted. The UK and Aussie are bigger markets, and S E Asian tourists bigger spenders.
The 100% Pure deal deal gave Warners major control over how NZ is marketed via the Hobbit.
The survey by Stats NZ, mentioned here and on the Stats NZ site shows that in 2004, only 7% of visitors mentioned Lord of the Rings as a reason for visiting since NZ.
Since then, there are many reasons why US-ians will be less likely to be motivated to visit NZ by the Hobbit movies.
Also the figures generally show a decline of the tourism industry in NZ, of which a couple of movies don’t make a lasting difference.
There was also other stuff about how, when Key last did a promotion visit for NZ tourism, pitching the filming of Hollywood product in NZ, Key was focusing more on TV production. This is because, TV series have an impact on people’s awareness for longer than a movie or two.
Do I really have to explain that if you have smaller, potentially lucrative markets, you work to expand them?
Must I point out that just because US tourists didn’t mention Lord of the Rings, that doesn’t mean it didn’t have a synergistic, cumulative, tangential, or unconscious influence and that the 2004 Oscars alone had 43.56 million TV viewers? That’s basic marketing.
When you say that a couple of movies don’t make a lasting difference, what actual evidence do you base that on or are you just making things up to suit your prejudices. Data =/= plural of anecdote.
And if Key was focusing on TV production and that is a good thing, isn’t he then doing his job properly?
Pop, having accused me of not citing evidence about NZ’s lagging tourist industry, you are now making things up, with no evidence to support your imaginings – as you do with this:
Must I point out that just because US tourists didn’t mention Lord of the Rings, that doesn’t mean it didn’t have a synergistic, cumulative, tangential, or unconscious influence and that the 2004 Oscars alone had 43.56 million TV viewers? That’s basic marketing.
The stats do show a flagging industry, although, it’s still a significant earner for NZ. And there is evidence Key was looking more closely at Hollywood TV production in NZ because there looked like the filming of Hollywood movies here would flag in the next couple of years. It is a very competitive industry, and the reports of Key’s trip to Hollywood spell out the problems of getting more Hollywood movies made here.
And this report on Key’s Hollywood trip, put the focus on the importance for the NZ film and TV industry to film such productions here, as much as for any boost for tourism.
I have presented some of the evidence that lead to my conclusions, you have just ignored anything that doesn’t support your pre-judgements, and made other things up.
No Karol, I just expect a bit more than quoting other people’s opinion pieces (that would be the stuff I’m ignoring, largely because it’s subjective, and, well, opinion, and if the PM is pursuing tv production because movies aren’t showing results, I would contend that it suggests he’s doing is job.
*sigh* Pop, when you start using some evidence to support your views maybe I’ll take some notice. I have not just used opinion pieces: I’ve used official stats, I’ve used quotes in articles by key people in the tourist sector. The tourism gains from movie production are limited and relatively short term. Key’s shift to US TV series, is both evidence of the limitations of Hollywood movie production in NZ, and his skewEd focus on the US.
If Key was fully doing his job as tourist minister, he’d be trying to promote co-productions with South East Asian countries more (something people in the industry have been working on for a while) , and with Aussie. You use nothing but your mantra of me being subjective. Meanwhile, all you do is spout your own views, unsupported by any evidence.
Key is stuck in his relations with the US. Official stats show the tourist industry is flagging, and that the US is not our main source of tourists.
When you do something more than that (something more than John Key is above criticism and there is no problem with the tourist industry), I’ll continue the discussion.
“Is a high NZ dollar hurting tourism?? Nup”
Bullshit Joe! unless everyone likes paying more for less.
“despite the NZ dollar rising by up to 20% against other currencies, international tourists coming to New Zealand spent nearly 3% in New Zealand dollars more in 2012 than they did in 2011 – simple maths… that’s 23% more of their own money spent here.”
What a load of crap Joe,
“simple maths… that’s 23% more of their own money spent here.”
Joe sorry to burst your bubble, but according to you their money was worth 20% less due to our high dollar, so they really only spent 3% more according to your figures! which you probably pulled out of your ass anyway.
no bubbles burst there – if our dollar has risen by up to 20% against the US for example, then it costs 20% more in greenbacks to buy the same kiwi dollar.
But wait there’s more.
International tourist spending in NZ dollars has actually increased by close on 3% so not only does it cost them 20% more in their own currency but they’re actually shelling out a few extra bucks on top…
evidently simple math ain’t your forte Mr Smith
Source?
Because MED think you’re a bit off. And that seems to be largely because of a growing Chinese market, and our exchange rate with the Yuan isn’t increasing quite so much.
Not that your math particularly adds up, anyway.
I wasn’t going to add anything more after reading McFlock’s reply apart from “I have a shovel for sale if you break the one your using”.
But I have a few spare moments so what the hell.
“if our dollar has risen by up to 20% against the US for example, then it costs 20% more in greenbacks to buy the same kiwi dollar.”
That’s right Joe now your starting to get it.
People buying NZ dollars with US dollars are now paying 20% more for them, but Joe when they go to spend their NZ dollar in NZ do they get 20% more goods or service for that dollar? No they don’t Joe!
In-fact if you factor is inflation (New Zealand Inflation Rate averages 4.9 Percent over the last century, Yes inflation is running currently at .08 %, but over the last 5 years it has been running at 3.95 per cent per annum) they will actually need to spend more for the same goods and services, with the money they paid 20% more for.
Your saying that this isn’t having any affect on tourism, well sorry Joe if my 5 week trip was just shortened to 4 weeks because of the high NZ dollar and when I arrived due to inflation everything had gone up in price so I then needed more spending money, I would be thinking about looking for another place to holiday.
What we are seeing is a huge shift is visitor nationalities and this is causing a lot of disruption in the tourist industry, there are winners and losers of-course, but basically Chinese/Asin tourists don’t want to do the same things as say European or US tourists, so yes the industry will have to adapt and yes the industry should have seen this coming, you won’t hear me crying to much about it, but some will argue that if we had a proactive government we could have foreseen a lot of this and then helped the industry prepare and adapt for the shift, mitigating a lot the disruption and pain, not to mention the huge costs and energy associated with changing the services the industry provides.
But of-course thats not how this government works is it, they would see it as an opportunity for there mates to make more money, so leaving it all to the market.
journalists. meh.
aren’t they supposed to have professional standards and that kind of thing?
self-regulated