Nicky Hager’s book launch
Written By:
- Date published:
4:26 pm, March 21st, 2017 - 137 comments
Categories: journalism, Media -
Tags: nicky hager
A post to allow discussion on Nicky Hager’s book launch scheduled for 5 pm today.
The Daily Blog is stating that it will provide a live feed of the launch. TDB page is here.
Edit: And Campbell live will be there live as well.
Update tweets:
The new Hager/Stephenson book is about the NZSAS in Afghanistan, and a raid on two isolated villages full of children and the elderly.
— Newshub Politics (@NewshubPolitics) March 21, 2017
The #HitandRunNZ raid was in retaliation for the death of a New Zealand soldier who was killed by a roadside bomb 19 days earlier.
— Felix Geiringer (@BarristerNZ) March 21, 2017
Chief of defence force briefed, but didn't want to make decision. So PM John Key personally approved the raid. #HitandRunNZ
— Felix Geiringer (@BarristerNZ) March 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/RFStew/status/844044133316542464
137 comments on “Nicky Hager’s book launch ”
- Comments are now closed
- Comments are now closed
Recent Comments
- The Kaka’s diary for the week to June 3 and beyond
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to June 3 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm today.Parliament’s Environment Select Committee resumes hearing submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm today.Auckland ...49 mins ago - May-24 AT Board Meeting
Tomorrow the AT board meet again and I’ve taken a look through the items on their public agenda to see what’s interesting. It’s also the first meeting for two recently appointed directors, former director at Ritchies Transport, Andrew Ritchie and former mayor of Hamilton, Julie Hardaker. The public session starts ...1 hour ago - Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Monday, May 27
The Government is looking again at changing fringe benefit tax rules to make it harder to claim a personally-used double-cab ute as a company vehicle. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Having repealed the previous Government’s ‘ute tax’ last year, the new Government is looking at removing a defacto tax ...3 hours ago - Some Dark Moments from Netflix's Dark Tourist
Hi,I pitched a documentary to a big streamer last week and they said “no thanks” which is a bummer, because we’d worked on the concept for ages and I think it would have been a compelling watch. But I would say that because I was the one pitching it, right?As ...3 hours ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #21
A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 19, 2024 thru Sat, May 25, 2024. Story of the week This week's typiclal compendium of stories we'd rather were plot devices in science ficition novels but instead ...13 hours ago - National’s bulldozer dictatorship bill
This National government has been aggressively anti-environment, and is currently ramming through its corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" legislation to give three ministers dictatorial powers over what gets built and where. But that's not the only thing they're doing. On Thursday they introduced a Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, ...16 hours ago - Bryce Edwards: The Negative social impact of taxpayer-funded partisan charities
Whenever politicians dole out taxpayer funding to groups or individuals, they must do so in a wholly transparent way with due process to ensure conflicts of interest don’t occur and that the country receives value for money. Unfortunately, it’s not clear that this has occurred in the announcement this week ...17 hours ago - My Lovely Man.
Last night began earlier than usual. In bed by 6:30pm, asleep an hour later. Sometimes I do sleep odd hours, writing late and/or getting up very early - complemented with the occasional siesta, but I’m usually up a bit later than that on a Saturday night. Last night I was ...24 hours ago - Pressing the Big Red Button
Early in the COVID-19 days, the Boris Johnson government pressed a Big Red Button marked: act immediately, never mind about the paperwork.Their problem was: not having enough PPE gear for all the hospital and emergency staff. Their solution was to expedite things and get them the gear ASAP.This, along with ...1 day ago - Of Pensioners and Student Loans: An Indictment on New Zealand
Up until 1989, you could attend a New Zealand University, and never need to pay a cent for your education. That then changed, of course. The sadists of the Fourth Labour Government introduced substantial fees for study, never having had to pay a cent for their own education. The even ...1 day ago - Putting children first
Ele Ludemann writes – Minister for Children Karen Chhour is putting children first: Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I move, That the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Social Services and Community Committee to consider the bill. It’s a privilege ...2 days ago - Te Pati Maori go personalDavid Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Applause and cheers erupted in the House on Wednesday afternoon as Children’s Minister Karen Chhour condemned Te Pāti Māori’s insults about her upbringing. Chhour, who grew up in state care, is repealing section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act – sparking uproar from ...2 days ago
- Threads of Corruption
I could corrupt youIt would be uglyThey could sedate youBut what good would drugs be?Good Morning all,Today there’s a guest newsletter from Gerard Otto (G). By which I mean I read his post this morning and he has kindly allowed me to share it with you.If you don’t already I ...2 days ago - The days fly by
2 days ago - Aotearoa, you’re being dismantled… so take the blinkers off and start talking honestly about it.
Is the solution to any of the serious, long term issues we all have to face as a nation, because many governments of all stripes we can probably all admit if we’re deeply truthful with ourselves haven’t done near enough work at the very times they should have, to basically ...3 days ago - Has Labour Abandoned the Welfare State They Created in 1938?
The 2018 Social Security Act suggests that Labour may have retreated to the minimalist (neo-liberal) welfare state which has developed out of the Richardson-Shipley ‘redesign’. One wonders what Michael Joseph Savage, Peter Fraser and Walter Nash would have thought of the Social Security Act passed by the Ardern Labour Government ...3 days ago - Bryce Edwards: MPs’ financial interests under scrutinyMPs are supposed to serve the public interest, not their own self-interest. And according to the New Zealand Parliament’s website, democracy and integrity are tarnished whenever politicians seek to enrich themselves or the people they are connected with. For this reason, the Parliament has a “Register of Pecuniary Interests” in ...3 days ago
- Mastering FLICC – A Cranky Uncle themed quizBy now, most of you will have heard about the FLICC taxonomy of science denial techniques and how you can train your skills in detecting them with the Cranky Uncle game. If you like to quickly check how good you are at this already, answer the 12 quiz questions in the ...3 days ago
- Shane Jones has the zeal, sure enough, but is too busy with his mining duties (we suspect) to be ava...
Buzz from the Beehive The hacks of the Parliamentary Press Gallery have been able to chip into a rich vein of material on the government’s official website over the past 24 hours. Among the nuggets is the speech by Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and a press statement to announce ...3 days ago - Cut the parliamentary termWhen Labour was in power, they wasted time, political capital, and scarce policy resources on trying to extend the parliamentary term to four years, in an effort to make themselves less accountable to us. It was unlikely to fly, the idea having previously lost two referendums by huge margins - ...3 days ago
- More terrible media ethicsDavid Farrar writes – The Herald reports: When Whanau Ora chief executive John Tamihere was asked what his expectations for the Budget next Thursday were, he said: “All hope is lost.” Last year Whānau Ora was allocated $163.1 million in the Budget to last for the next four years ...3 days ago
- Bringing our democracy into disreputeOn Monday the government introduced its racist bill to eliminate Māori represntation in local government to the House. They rammed it through its first reading yesterday, and sent it to select committee. And the select committee has just opened submissions, giving us until Wednesday to comment on it. Such a ...3 days ago
- The censors who’ll save us from ourselves… yeah right!Nick Hanne writes – There’s a common malady suffered by bureaucracies the world over. They wish to save us from ourselves. Sadly, NZ officials are no less prone to exhibiting symptoms of this occupational condition. Observe, for instance, the reaction from certain public figures to the news ...3 days ago
- The case for commissioners to govern the capital cityPeter Dunne writes – As the city of Tauranga prepares to elect a new Mayor and Council after three and a half years being run by government-appointed Commissioners, the case for replacing the Wellington City Council with Commissioners strengthens. The Wellington City Council has been dysfunctional for years, ...3 days ago
- Thoughts about contemporary troubles.
This will be s short post. It stems from observations I made elsewhere about what might be characterised as some macro and micro aspects of contemporary collective violence events. Here goes. The conflicts between Israel and Palestine and France and … Continue reading ...3 days ago - Gordon Campbell On Blurring The Lines Around Political Corruption
It may be a relic of a previous era of egalitarianism, but many of us like to think that, in general, most New Zealanders are as honest as the day is long. We’re good like that, and smart as. If we’re not punching above our weight on the world stage, ...3 days ago - MPs own 2.2 houses on averageBryce Edwards writes – Why aren’t politicians taking more action on the housing affordability crisis? The answer might lie in the latest “Register of Pecuniary Interests.” This register contains details of the various financial interests of parliamentarians. It shows that politicians own real estate in significant numbers. The ...3 days ago
- King Mike & Mike King.
I built a time machine to see you againTo hear your phone callYour voice down the hallThe way we were back thenWe were dancing in the rainOur feet on the pavementYou said I was your second headI knew exactly what you meantIn the country of the blind, or so they ...3 days ago - Bryce Edwards: MPs own 2.2 houses on averageWhy aren’t politicians taking more action on the housing affordability crisis? The answer might lie in the latest “Register of Pecuniary Interests.” This register contains details of the various financial interests of parliamentarians. It shows that politicians own real estate in significant numbers. The register published on Tuesday contains a ...3 days ago
- How much climate reality can the global financial system take without collapsing?Microsoft’s transparency about its failure to meet its own net-zero goals is creditable, but the response to that failure is worrying. It is offering up a set of false solutions, heavily buttressed by baseless optimism. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in ...3 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 24-May-2024Another Friday, another Rāmere Roundup! Here are a few things that caught our eye this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday, our new writer Connor Sharp roared into print with a future-focused take on the proposed Auckland Future Fund, and what it could invest in. On ...3 days ago
- Earning The Huia Feather.
Still Waiting: Māori land remains in the hands of Non-Māori. The broken promises of the Treaty remain broken. The mana of the tangata whenua languishes under racist neglect. The right to wear the huia feather remains as elusive as ever. Perhaps these three transformations are beyond the power of a ...3 days ago - Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Friday, May 24
Posters opposing the proposed Fast-Track Approvals legislation were pasted around Wellington last week. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: One of the architects of the RMA and a former National Cabinet Minister, Simon Upton, has criticised the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals bill as potentially disastrous for the environment, arguing just 1% ...3 days ago - The Hoon around the week to May 243 days ago
- Beijing troubleshooter’s surprise visitThe importance of New Zealand’s relationship with China was surely demonstrated yesterday with the surprise arrival in the capital of top Chinese foreign policy official Liu Jianchao. The trip was apparently organized a week ago but kept secret. Liu is the Minister of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) International Liaison ...3 days ago
- UK election a foregone conclusion? That’s why it’s interesting
With a crushing 20-plus point lead in the opinion polls, all the signs are that Labour leader Keir Starmer will be the PM after the general election on 4 July, called by Conservative incumbent Rishi Sunak yesterday. The stars are aligned for Starmer. Rival progressives are in abeyance: the Liberal-Democrat ...3 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #21 2021Open access notables How much storage do we need in a fully electrified future? A critical review of the assumptions on which this question depends, Marsden et al., Energy Research & Social Science: Our analysis advances the argument that current approaches reproduce interpretations of normality that are, ironically, rooted in ...4 days ago
- Days in the life
We returned last week from England to London. Two different worlds. A quarter of an hour before dropping off our car, we came to a complete stop on the M25. Just moments before, there had been six lanes of hurtling cars and lorries. Now, everything was at a standstill as ...4 days ago - Forget about its name and focus on its objective – this RMA reform bill aims to cut red tape (and ...Buzz from the Beehive A triumvirate of ministers – holding the Agriculture, Environment and RMA Reform portfolios – has announced the introduction of legislation “to slash the tangle of red and green tape throttling development in key sectors”, such as farming, mining and other primary industries. The exact name of ...4 days ago
- More National corruptionIn their coalition agreement with NZ First, the National Party agreed to provide $24 million in funding to the charity "I Am Hope / Gumboot Friday". Why were they so eager to do so? Because their chair was a National donor, their CEO was the son of a National MP ...4 days ago
- Submit!The Social Services and Community Committee has called for submissions on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. Submissions are due by Wednesday, 3 July 2024, and can be made at the link above. And if you're wondering what to say: section 7AA was enacted because Oranga Tamariki ...4 days ago
- Reading the MPS numbers thinking about the fiscal situationMichael Reddell writes – The Reserve Bank doesn’t do independent fiscal forecasts so there is no news in the fiscal numbers in today’s Monetary Policy Statement themselves. The last official Treasury forecasts don’t take account of whatever the government is planning in next week’s Budget, and as the Bank notes ...4 days ago
- Charter Schools are a worthwhile addition to our school system – but ACT is mis-selling why they a...Rob MacCulloch writes – We know the old saying, “Never trust a politician”, and the Charter School debate is a good example of it. Charter Schools receive public funding, yet “are exempt from most statutory requirements of traditional public schools, including mandates around .. human capital management .. curriculum ...4 days ago
- Paranoia On The Left.How Do We Silence Them? The ruling obsession of the contemporary Left is that political action undertaken by individuals or groups further to the right than the liberal wings of mainstream conservative parties should not only be condemned, but suppressed.WEB OF CHAOS, a “deep dive into the world of disinformation”, ...4 days ago
- Budget challengesMuriel Newman writes – As the new Government puts the finishing touches to this month’s Budget, they will undoubtedly have had their hands full dealing with the economic mess that Labour created. Not only was Labour a grossly incompetent manager of the economy, but they also set out ...4 days ago
- Rishi calls an Election.
Today the British PM, Rishi Sunak, called a general election for the 4th of July. He spoke of the challenging times and of strong leadership and achievements. It was as if he was talking about someone else, a real leader, rather than he himself or the woeful list of Tory ...4 days ago - Photo of the Day: GNR4 days ago
- Choosing landlords and the homeless over first home buyersThe Government may struggle with the political optics of scrapping assistance for first home buyers while also cutting the tax burden on landlords, increasing concerns over the growing generational divide. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government confirmed it will dump first home buyer grants in the Budget next ...4 days ago
- Orr’s warning; three years of austerityYesterday, the Reserve Bank confirmed there will be no free card for the economy to get out of jail during the current term of the Government. Regardless of what the Budget next week says, we are in for three years of austerity. Over those three years, we will have to ...4 days ago
- An admirable U-turnIt doesn’t inspire confidence when politicians change their minds. But you must give credit when a bad idea is dropped. Last year, we reported on the determination of British PM Rishi Sunak to lead the world in regulating the dangers of Artificial Intelligence. Perhaps he changed his mind after meeting ...4 days ago
- Climate Adam: Can we really suck up Carbon Dioxide?This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Is carbon dioxide removal - aka "negative emissions" - going to save us from climate change? Or is it just a ...5 days ago
- Public funding for private operators in mental health and housing – and a Bill to erase a bit of t...Headed for the legislative wastepaper basket… Buzz from the Beehive It looks like this government is just as ready as its predecessor to dip into the public funds it is managing to dispense millions of dollars to finance – and favour – the parties it fancies. Or ...5 days ago
- Why has Einstein Medalist Roy Kerr never been Knighted?Rob MacCulloch writes – National and Labour and ACT have at various times waxed on about their “vision” of NZ as a high value-added world tech center What subject is tech based upon? Mathematics. A Chicago mathematician just told me that whereas last decade ...5 days ago
- Contestable adviceEric Crampton writes – Danyl McLauchlan over at The Listener on the recent shift toward more contestability in public policy advice in education: Education Minister Erica Stanford, one of National’s highest-ranked MPs, is trying to circumvent the establishment, taking advice from a smaller pool of experts – ...5 days ago
- How did it get so bad?Ele Ludemann writes – That Kāinga Ora is a mess is no surprise, but the size of the mess is. There have been many reports of unruly tenants given licence to terrorise neighbours, properties bought and left vacant, and the state agency paying above market rates in competition ...5 days ago
- How serious is an MP’s failure to declare $178k in donations?Bryce Edwards writes – It’s being explained as an “inadvertent error”. However, National MP David MacLeod’s excuse for failing to disclose $178,000 in donations for his election campaign last year is not necessarily enough to prevent some serious consequences. A Police investigation is now likely, and the result ...5 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on the privatising of state housing provision, by stealthThe scathing “independent” review of Kāinga Ora barely hit the table before the coalition government had acted on it. The entire Kāinga Ora board will be replaced, and a new chair (Simon Moutter) has been announced. Hmm. No aspersions on Bill English, but the public would have had more confidence ...5 days ago
- Our House.I'll light the fireYou place the flowers in the vaseThat you bought todayA warm dry home, you’d think that would be bread and butter to politicians. Home ownership and making sure people aren’t left living on the street, that’s as Kiwi as Feijoa and Apple Crumble. Isn’t it?The coalition are ...5 days ago
- Getting to NoPolitics is about compromise, right? And framing it so the voters see your compromise as the better one. John Key was a skilful exponent of this approach (as was Keith Holyoake in an earlier age), and Chris Luxon isn’t too bad either. But in politics, the process whereby an old ...5 days ago
- At a glance – How does the Medieval Warm Period compare to current global temperatures?On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...6 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: How serious is an MP’s failure to declare $178k in donations?It’s being explained as an “inadvertent error”. However, National MP David MacLeod’s excuse for failing to disclose $178,000 in donations for his election campaign last year is not necessarily enough to prevent some serious consequences. A Police investigation is now likely, and the result of his non-disclosure could even see ...6 days ago
- Get your story straight, buddy
The relentless drone coming out of the Prime Minister and his deputy for a million days now has been that the last government was just hosing money all over the show and now at last the grownups are in charge and shutting that drunken sailor stuff down. There is a word ...6 days ago - A govt plane is headed for New Caledonia – here’s hoping the Kiwis stranded there get better ser...Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed a New Zealand Government plane will head to riot-torn New Caledonia in the next hour in the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home. Today’s flight will carry around 50 passengers with the most ...6 days ago
- Who is David MacLeod?
Precious declaration saysYours is yours and mine you leave alone nowPrecious declaration saysI believe all hope is dead no longerTick tick tick Boom!Unexploded ordnance. A veritable minefield. A National caucus with a large number of unknowns, candidates who perhaps received little in the way of vetting as the party jumped ...6 days ago - The Four KnightsRex Ahdar writes – The Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, likes to trace his political lineage back to the pioneers of parliamentary Maoridom. I will refer to these as the ‘big four’ or better still, the Four Knights. Just as ...6 days ago
- Could Willie Jackson be the populist leader that Labour need?Bryce Edwards writes – Willie Jackson will participate in the prestigious Oxford Union debate on Thursday, following in David Lange’s footsteps. Coincidentally, Jackson has also followed Lange’s footsteps by living in his old home in South Auckland. And like Lange, Jackson might be the sort of loud-mouth scrapper ...6 days ago
- UnacceptableThat is the only way to describe an MP "forgetting" to declare $178,000 in donations. The amount of money involved - more than five times the candidate spending cap, and two and a half times the median income - is boggling. How do you just "forget" that amount of money? ...6 days ago
- Justice for Gaza!It finally happened: the International Criminal Court prosecutor is seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza: The chief prosecutor of the international criminal court has said he is seeking arrest warrants for senior Hamas and Israeli officials for war crimes and ...6 days ago
- Media Link: AVFA on the implications of US elections.In this week’s “A View from Afar” podcast Selwyn Manning and spoke about the upcoming US elections and what the possibility of another Trump presidency means for the US role in world affairs. We also spoke about the problems Joe … Continue reading ...6 days ago
- Web of Chaos, Secret Dolphins & Monster Truck Madness
Hi,Two years ago I briefly featured in Justin Pemberton’s Web of Chaos documentary, which touched on things like QAnon during the pandemic.I mostly prattled on about how intertwined conspiracy narratives are with Evangelical Christian thinking, something Webworm’s explored in the past.(The doc is available on TVNZ+, if you’re not in ...6 days ago - How Government’s road obsession is ruining Auckland’s transport plans“TL;DR: The reality is that Central Government’s transport policy and direction makes zero sense for Auckland, and if the draft GPS doesn’t change from its original form, then Auckland will be on a collision course with Wellington.” Auckland’s draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) 2024 is now out for consultation, ...6 days ago
- Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Tuesday, May 21The Government is leaving the entire construction sector and the community housing sector in limbo. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government released the long-awaited Bill English-led review of Kāinga Ora yesterday, but delayed key decisions on its build plan and how to help community housing providers (CHPs) build ...6 days ago
- Climate change is affecting mental health literally everywhereThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons Farmers who can’t sleep, worrying they’ll lose everything amid increasing drought. Youth struggling with depression over a future that feels hopeless. Indigenous people grief-stricken over devastated ecosystems. For all these people and more, climate change is taking a clear toll ...6 days ago
- The Ambassador and Luxon – eye to eyeNew Zealand’s relationship with China is becoming harder to define, and with that comes a worry that a deteriorating political relationship could spill over into the economic relationship. It is about more than whether New Zealand will join Pillar Two of Aukus, though the Chinese Ambassador, more or less, suggested ...6 days ago
- Fast track to environmental degradation
Been hoping we would see something like this from Sir Geoffrey Palmer. This is excellent.The present Bill goes further than the National Development Act 1979 in stripping away procedures designed to ensure that environmental issues are properly considered. The 1979 approach was not acceptable then and this present approach is ...6 days ago
- New Zealand First Member’s Bill to protect Freedom of Speech
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect New Zealanders' right of free speech. The “Protection of Freedom of Expression Bill” will ensure that no organisation or individual, when acting within the law, is unreasonably denied use of a public venue for an organised event or ...3 days ago - Government trying to rush Māori wards legislation through without public say
The Green Party unequivocally condemns the governing parties’ attempts to limit the public’s say on the controversial Māori wards legislation, after the select committee considering the legislation set a deadline for submissions of just five days. ...3 days ago - Release: Statement from housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty
“Today it sounds like the Minister for Housing and his associate are announcing 500 homes that already exist,” Kieran McAnulty said. ...3 days ago - Release: Mining on conservation land will take NZ backwardsShane Jones’s speech today demonstrates once again that he will put his political theatrics ahead of New Zealand’s workers and their futures. ...3 days ago
- Release: Disabled children latest to lose access to fundingDisabled children and families nationwide have recently found out they’re no longer able to use disability support funding for programmes during school hours in another quiet update from the Government. ...3 days ago
- Coalition of coal will prove catastrophic for climateThe Government’s plans to ramp up coal mining in the heat of a climate crisis will see our chances of a liveable future melt away. ...4 days ago
- Aotearoa must follow in the footsteps of countries recognising Palestinian statehoodThe Green Party is calling on the Government to follow in the footsteps of Ireland, Spain and Norway in recognising Palestinian statehood. ...4 days ago
- Release: Time to make stalking a crimeFollowing a horrific case of stalking that ended in tragedy, Labour’s police spokesperson Ginny Andersen has drafted a bill that would add stalking to the Crimes Act. ...5 days ago
- $24 million for free mental health counselling for young kiwisThe Rt Hon Winston Peters, joined by Mike King, has announced $24 million over four years for the ‘I Am Hope Foundation’, and will provide young people aged between 5 to 25 years with free mental health counselling services. This funding will help I Am Hope’s ‘Gumboot Friday’ initiative give ...5 days ago
- Release: Strong support for disability fundingTwo thirds of Kiwis in a new poll want funding flexibility reinstated for disabled people and carers. ...5 days ago
- Petition launched to save Māori babies and their right to be with whakapapaTe Pāti Māori have launched a petition to stop the repeal of Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act. This announcement comes prior to the first reading of the Section 7AA repeal bill in Parliament today. “Section 7AA forces the Government to adhere to Te Tiriti o Waitangi with respect ...6 days ago
- Government introduces Bill to roll back Māori WardsThe Green Party has sounded the alarm over the Government’s introduction of legislation to remove Māori Wards and roll back years of progress. ...6 days ago
- Release: Pre-Budget Speech: Barbara Edmonds...6 days ago
- Release: Another announcement, still no funding for more public housesThe Government has yet again failed to do the one thing that needs to happen to ensure houses can be built – commit to ongoing funding, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...6 days ago
- Government must build more public houses, not find excuses to sell themThe Green Party says the Government must use the review of Kāinga Ora as a platform to build more homes, not an excuse to sell them off. ...7 days ago
- Government must build more public houses, not find excuses to sell themThe Green Party says the Government must use the review of Kāinga Ora as a platform to build more homes, not an excuse to sell them off. ...7 days ago
- Release: Treasury advice show flaws in Fast Track Approvals BillTreasury officials have outlined many ways in which the Fast Track Approvals Bill is deeply flawed, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking says. ...7 days ago
- State of the Planet speeches, 2024Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick used this year's State of the Planet to call on the Government to prioritise people and planet as the delivery of the Budget approaches. A full transcript of their speeches can be found below. ...1 week ago
- State of the Planet: Government must be guided by values not moneyGreen Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick have used their State of the Planet speeches to challenge the Government to prioritise people and planet over profit as the delivery of the Budget approaches. ...1 week ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins’ speech: New Zealand in 2040 – A vision worth fighting for...1 week ago
- Release: 4,500 jobs lost – and countingMore than 4,500 jobs are set to go as the National Government continues its deep cuts to services to pay for irresponsible and ill-timed tax cuts. ...1 week ago
- No-cause evictions leave no hope for rentersThe Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National winding back mental health workThe Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...2 weeks ago
- Government ignorant of evidence in neglect of tamarikiToday’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...2 weeks ago
- Gang policy setting communities up for failureThe Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...2 weeks ago
- Statement from police spokesperson Ginny Andersen“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...2 weeks ago
- Charter schools not a serious solutionWe need serious investment and solutions into our education system, not a vanity project from David Seymour. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Ideological charter schools won’t increase achievementThe Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Visas needed for Palestinians with family in New ZealandThe Government must show some compassion and create a special visa to allow Palestinians with family in New Zealand to be reunited with them here. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt’s stubbornness will harm Māori childrenGovernment has remained stubborn and is ramming its Bill into the House today, which the Waitangi Tribunal has said will hurt vulnerable children. ...2 weeks ago
- ‘Lucky dip’ process too casual for hearing critical submissions on Fast Track approvals billTe Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand First Member’s Bill to protect women’s spacesToday New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Support for climate adaptation inquiryLabour supports a Notice of Motion in the House today to move the Finance and Expenditure Committee to conduct an inquiry on climate adaptation. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens welcome cross-party approach to climate adaptationThe Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Sexual violence prevention among hundreds of job cuts at ACCThe National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...3 weeks ago
- Government shows allergy to evidence in benefits crackdownThe Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...3 weeks ago
- Minister of Finance reheats austerity politicsThis morning’s pre-Budget speech from the Minister of Finance offered no “meaningful” news on the Government’s trickle-down economics based plans. ...3 weeks ago
- A win for Wellington – Greens welcome more housingThe Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Backtrack on school lunches a win for Kiwi kidsDavid Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Hon Willie Jackson to debate at the Prestigious Oxford UnionHon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...3 weeks ago
- Major investment in teacher supply through Budget 24
Over the next four years, Budget 24 will support the training and recruitment of 1,500 teachers into the workforce, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today. “To raise achievement and develop a world leading education system we’re investing nearly $53 million over four years to attract, train and retain our valued ...1 day ago - Joint statement on the New Zealand – Cook Islands Joint Ministerial Forum – 20241. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters; Minister of Health and Minister for Pacific Peoples Hon Dr Shane Reti; and Minister for Climate Change Hon Simon Watts hosted Cook Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Hon Tingika Elikana and Minister of Health Hon Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown on 24 May ...2 days ago
- Middle East, Africa deployments extendedThe Government has approved two-year extensions for four New Zealand Defence Force deployments to the Middle East and Africa, Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today. “These deployments are long-standing New Zealand commitments, which reflect our ongoing interest in promoting peace and stability, and making active ...3 days ago
- Climate Change Commission Chair to retireThe Climate Change Commission Chair, Dr Rod Carr, has confirmed his plans to retire at the end of his term later this year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Prior to the election, Dr Carr advised me he would be retiring when his term concluded. Dr Rod Carr has led ...3 days ago
- Inaugural Board of Integrity Sport & Recreation Commission announcedNine highly respected experts have been appointed to the inaugural board of the new Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission is a new independent Crown entity which was established under the Integrity Sport and Recreation Act last year, ...3 days ago
- A balanced Foreign Affairs budgetForeign Minister Winston Peters confirmed today that Vote Foreign Affairs in Budget 2024 will balance two crucial priorities of the Coalition Government. While Budget 2024 reflects the constrained fiscal environment, the Government also recognises the critical role MFAT plays in keeping New Zealanders safe and prosperous. “Consistent with ...3 days ago
- New social housing places to support families into homesNew social housing funding in Budget 2024 will ensure the Government can continue supporting more families into warm, dry homes from July 2025, Housing Ministers Chris Bishop and Tama Potaka say. “Earlier this week I was proud to announce that Budget 2024 allocates $140 million to fund 1,500 new social ...3 days ago
- New Zealand’s minerals futureIntroduction Today, we are sharing a red-letter occasion. A Blackball event on hallowed ground. Today we underscore the importance of our mineral estate. A reminder that our natural resource sector has much to offer. Such a contribution will not come to pass without investment. However, more than money is needed. ...4 days ago
- Government sets out vision for minerals futureIncreasing national and regional prosperity, providing the minerals needed for new technology and the clean energy transition, and doubling the value of minerals exports are the bold aims of the Government’s vision for the minerals sector. Resources Minister Shane Jones today launched a draft strategy for the minerals sector in ...4 days ago
- Government progresses Māori wards legislationThe coalition Government’s legislation to restore the rights of communities to determine whether to introduce Māori wards has passed its first reading in Parliament, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says. “Divisive changes introduced by the previous government denied local communities the ability to determine whether to establish Māori wards.” The ...4 days ago
- First RMA amendment Bill introduced to ParliamentThe coalition Government has today introduced legislation to slash the tangle of red and green tape throttling some of New Zealand’s key sectors, including farming, mining and other primary industries. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says the Government is committed to unlocking development and investment while ensuring the environment is ...4 days ago
- Government welcomes EPA decisionThe decision by Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to approve the continued use of hydrogen cyanamide, known as Hi-Cane, has been welcomed by Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay. “The EPA decision introduces appropriate environmental safeguards which will allow kiwifruit and other growers to use Hi-Cane responsibly,” Ms ...4 days ago
- Speech to Employers and Manufacturers Association: Relief for today, hope for tomorrowKia ora, Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou kātoa Tāmaki Herenga Waka, Tāmaki Herenga tangata Ngā mihi ki ngā mana whenua o tēnei rohe Ngāti Whātua ō Ōrākei me nga iwi kātoa kua tae mai. Mauriora. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the EMA for hosting this event. Let me acknowledge ...4 days ago
- Government invests in 1,500 more social homesThe coalition Government is investing in social housing for New Zealanders who are most in need of a warm dry home, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. Budget 2024 will allocate $140 million in new funding for 1,500 new social housing places to be provided by Community Housing Providers (CHPs), not ...5 days ago
- $24 million boost for Gumboot FridayThousands more young New Zealanders will have better access to mental health services as the Government delivers on its commitment to fund the Gumboot Friday initiative, says Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey. “Budget 2024 will provide $24 million over four years to contract the ...5 days ago
- Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill passes first readingThe Coalition Government’s Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, which will improve tenancy laws and help increase the supply of rental properties, has passed its first reading in Parliament says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The Bill proposes much-needed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 that will remove barriers to increasing private ...5 days ago
- Montecassino Commemorative Address, Cassino War CemeteryStanding here in Cassino War Cemetery, among the graves looking up at the beautiful Abbey of Montecassino, it is hard to imagine the utter devastation left behind by the battles which ended here in May 1944. Hundreds of thousands of shells and bombs of every description left nothing but piled ...5 days ago
- First Reading – Repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989I present a legislative statement on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill Mr. Speaker, I move that the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Social Services and Community Committee to consider the Bill. Thank you, Mr. ...6 days ago
- First reading of 7AA’s repeal: progress for childrenThe Bill to repeal Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has had its first reading in Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the care and safety of children in care, says Minister for Children Karen Chhour. “When I became the Minister for Children, I made ...6 days ago
- China Business Summit 2024Kia ora koutou, good morning, and zao shang hao. Thank you Fran for the opportunity to speak at the 2024 China Business Summit – it’s great to be here today. I’d also like to acknowledge: Simon Bridges - CEO of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. His Excellency Ambassador - Wang ...6 days ago
- Assisted depatures from New CaledoniaForeign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed a New Zealand Government plane will head to New Caledonia in the next hour in the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home. “New Zealanders in New Caledonia have faced a challenging few days - and bringing ...6 days ago
- Assisted departures from New CaledoniaForeign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed a New Zealand Government plane will head to New Caledonia in the next hour in the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home. “New Zealanders in New Caledonia have faced a challenging few days - and bringing them ...6 days ago
- Government to rollout roadside drug testingThe Coalition Government will introduce legislation this year that will enable roadside drug testing as part of our commitment to improve road safety and restore law and order, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Alcohol and drugs are the number one contributing factor in fatal road crashes in New Zealand. In ...7 days ago
- Minister responds to review of Kāinga OraThe Government has announced a series of immediate actions in response to the independent review of Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “Kāinga Ora is a large and important Crown entity, with assets of $45 billion and over $2.5 billion of expenditure each year. It ...7 days ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelvesAssociate Health Minister David Seymour is pleased that Pseudoephedrine can now be purchased by the general public to protect them from winter illness, after the coalition government worked swiftly to change the law and oversaw a fast approval process by Medsafe. “Pharmacies are now putting the medicines back on their ...7 days ago
- New Zealand-China Business SummitTēnā koutou katoa. Da jia hao. Good morning everyone. Prime Minister Luxon, your excellency, a great friend of New Zealand and my friend Ambassador Wang, Mayor of what he tells me is the best city in New Zealand, Wayne Brown, the highly respected Fran O’Sullivan, Champion of the Auckland business ...1 week ago
- New measures to protect powerlines from treesEnergy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events. “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...1 week ago
- Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani win top Māori dairy farming awardWairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...1 week ago
- DJ Fred Again – Assurance report received"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...1 week ago
- District Court Judges appointedAttorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...1 week ago
- Unions should put learning ahead of ideologyAssociate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...1 week ago
- Craig Stobo appointed as chair of FMACommerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...1 week ago
- Budget 2024 invests in lifeguards and coastguardSurf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...1 week ago
- New Zealand and Tuvalu reaffirm close relationshipNew Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand calls for calm, constructive dialogue in New CaledoniaNew Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand welcomes Samoa Head of StatePrime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...2 weeks ago
- Island Direct eligible for SuperGold Card fundingTransport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...2 weeks ago
- Further sanctions against RussiaForeign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...2 weeks ago
- One year on from Loafers LodgeA year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...2 weeks ago
- Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business ChamberKa nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...2 weeks ago
- Labour warns consistency across teacher training programmes needed
The Opposition says it backs the government's teacher training plan but warns that an overview of the training industry is needed. ...1 hour ago - Open banking: How to opt in – and out – of the new payment systemNZ's four major banks will soon provide open banking - a new way to pay and track funds. Here's how it works. ...2 hours ago
- The plan to train – and retain – more teachers in New Zealand
A $53m budget boost will see 1,500 new teachers recruited over the next four years, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Another ...2 hours ago - NZ Post refusing to deliver to mailboxes of new Auckland developmentResidents say it's 'ridiculous' they have not received mail for a year, while they can see posties deliving letters down the road ...2 hours ago
- Here’s what Aotearoa might have looked like today if we legalised weed in 2020Four years ago, we voted against legalising cannabis. But what if the referendum had gone the other way? It’s a Saturday afternoon in Ponsonby, and an impeccably dressed woman is buying supplies for the 40th birthday party she is throwing herself that evening. After filling the car with drinks and ...4 hours ago
- Could Ray Chung really be the mayor of Wellington?Ray Chung is running for mayor. Who is he, and does he have a chance? Wellington editor Joel MacManus talks to the city councillor for the second edition of Windbag, The Spinoff’s Wellington issues column. Are we doing this already? The 2025 local body elections are 17 months away, but ...4 hours ago
- RMA reform targets coal mines on protected land
The first wave of RMA reforms focuses on freshwater policy, easing regulations on farmers and previously prohibited coal mines The post RMA reform targets coal mines on protected land appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 27 MayLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 27 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- ‘You have your own battlefield, your father has his’The Olympics have a way of bringing into focus the world as it is right now. Each Games gifts us a snapshot of world history in the making. At Tokyo 2020 we witnessed mask-wearing athletes flanked by empty stands. In the 90s we grappled with new country names like Kazakhstan ...4 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Monday 27 MayThe post Daily crossword, Monday 27 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- New name, old gangs, same policingPolice are returning to crime-fighting ways of old in their fight against gangs, as technology becomes harder to hack, experts in New Zealand’s criminal underworld say. In light of the recent police announcement on national and local gang units, today’s episode of The Detail looks at how police and governments ...4 hours ago
- Govt targets a board asleep at the wheelComment: Overshadowed in the highly critical report by Sir Bill English and his team into Kāinga Ora’s finances, debt and performance was a rare public defenestration of the public housing agency’s board of directors. The review’s findings painted a board asleep at the wheel as billions of public money was ...4 hours ago
- Reserve Bank’s rough news for exports goalThe Reserve Bank’s monetary policy statement contains some bad news for the Government’s goal of doubling export value The post Reserve Bank’s rough news for exports goal appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Finance Minister promises Budget Day transparency on public sector cutsExactly how the Government’s public sector savings target has been met will be revealed when the Finance Minister releases this year’s Budget The post Finance Minister promises Budget Day transparency on public sector cuts appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- US bird flu outbreak, not Australian cases, main concern for NZThe introduction of the virus to Antarctica and its mutation to spread between mammals in the United States has researchers worried about an outbreak in New Zealand The post US bird flu outbreak, not Australian cases, main concern for NZ appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Is our investment in defence value for money?Opinion: All up, defence cost us more than $6.7 billion in 2023/24. There were 14,996 people working for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) at June 2023, while others dealt with procurement and policy in the non-military wing, the Ministry of Defence. Why does our small, remote country have such ...4 hours ago
- Palestine protesters condemn Google, demand NZ action over Gaza genocide
Asia Pacific Report Pro-Palestinian protesters today condemned Google for sacking protesting staff and demanded that the New Zealand government immediately “cut ties with Israeli genocide”. Wearing Google logo masks and holding placards saying “Google complicit in genocide” and “Google drop Project Nimbus”, the protesters were targeting the global tech company ...7 hours ago - Reiki on a guinea pig and whatnot: Our first reactions to Married at First Sight NZFresh off the back of episode one of Married at First Sight NZ’s new season, Alex Casey and Tara Ward fire up the chat to dissect what the hell we all just watched. Alex Casey: Tara, are you still screaming? I’m screaming. Tara Ward: I started screaming the moment I ...13 hours ago
- Reiki on a guinea pig and whatnot: Our first reactions to Married at First Sight NZFresh off the back of episode one of Married at First Sight NZ’s new season, Alex Casey and Tara Ward fire up the chat to dissect what the hell we all just watched. Alex Casey: Tara, are you still screaming? I’m screaming. Tara Ward: I started screaming the moment I ...13 hours ago
- Top economists give budget modest rating and doubt inflation will fall as plannedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Wes Mountain/The Conversation, CC BY-ND Asked to grade Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ third budget on his own criteria of delivering on “inflation in the near term and then growth ...13 hours ago
- Top economists take a modest view of the budget, and doubt inflation will fall as plannedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Wes Mountain/The Conversation, CC BY-ND Asked to grade Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ third budget on his own criteria of delivering on “inflation in the near term and then growth ...14 hours ago
- West Papua independence group slams French ‘modern-day colonialism’Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan independence group has condemned French “modern-day colonialism in action” in Kanaky New Caledonia and urged indigenous leaders to “fight on”. In a statement to the Kanak pro-independence leadership, exiled United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) president Benny Wenda said the proposed electoral changes ...16 hours ago
- $53m extra for teacher training, recruitment, Education Minister Erica Stanford announcesThe investment is designed to address teacher shortages, and moving training into the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. ...17 hours ago
- Hunger Striker Destroys Christopher Luxon’s Defense Of Gaza Action
“The situation in Gaza is desperate,” Will Alexander said. “It’s obvious to everyone that if Christopher Luxon truly cared, our government could do a lot more.” ...20 hours ago - Parliament's election inquiry told blame lies in outdated lawsParliament begins its election inquiry with a double-header and finds that blame is something of a boomerang. ...20 hours ago
- ANALYSIS: By Nicole George, The University of Queensland New Caledonia’s capital city, Nouméa, has endured widespread violent rioting over the past three days. This crisis intensified rapidly, taking local authorities by surprise. Peaceful protests had been occurring across the country in the preceding weeks as the French National Assembly in ...21 hours ago
- The Fiji Times: Public outcry over Fijians’ MPs pay riseEDITORIAL: By Fred Wesley, editor-in-chief of The Fiji Times So 40 Fiji members of Parliament voted in favour of the Special Committee on Emoluments Report on the review of MPs’ salaries, allowances and benefits in Parliament on Friday. Now that’s not going down well with the masses, with many venting ...22 hours ago
- NZ spent $113m helping build and use US military satellitesThe money includes $15m towards sending up two new, much more powerful satellites. ...1 day ago
- An Ode to .. Chris BishopFirst Hovel Grant Bishop Chris ventured out of the High Keep For his annual tour of the slums of the Holey Land. His litter bearers held his palanquin high Above the muck strewn and dilapidated alleys Of the Capital. The menials and peons swarmed around And pleaded for Alms from ...1 day ago
- A way forward for New CaledoniaOpinion: Following France’s President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to New Caledonia on Thursday, attention has turned to the country’s political future beyond the ongoing crisis. The uprising, which began on May 14, has demonstrated the capacity and determination of those involved to shut down the country and to inflict extensive economic ...1 day ago
- Open letter from Kanaky: Things are really bad, we need to speed up decolonisationAsia Pacific Report By a Kanak from Aotearoa New Zealand in Kanaky I’ve been trying to feel cool and nice on this beautiful sunny day in Kanaky. But it has already been spoiled by President Emmanuel Macron’s flashy day-long visit on Thursday. Currently special French military forces are trying to ...1 day ago
- PNG landslide: Survivors of highlands disaster desperately seeking helpRNZ Pacific The survivors of a massive landslide in a remote village in Papua New Guinea’s highlands are still waiting for official help, more than 24 hours after the disaster. Hundreds are feared dead in Yambali village in Enga province after the landslide bulldozed homes and buried families alive early ...1 day ago
- Local officials fear fate of 300 missing people in remote PNG landslideBy Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby The United States has said it is “ready to lend a helping hand” to the people of Mulitaka, Enga province, after a devasting landslide swallowed an entire village in Papua New Guinea’s highlands yesterday. US President Joe Biden and his wife said in a ...2 days ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Bragg flags a coalition would use ‘coercion’ of the state...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Housing remains one of Australia’s most pressing issues in both state and federal politics. The RBA keeping rates up and high mortgage repayments have left many Australians struggling. For those Australians who don’t own a ...2 days ago
- Ours Not Mines Blasts Draft Minerals Plan Saying It Highlights The Current Government Lacks Economic...This plan lacks any thought on how to drive New Zealand forward. Giving away rare minerals owned by every New Zealander for a measly return of 2.1% to the crown last year is simply ludicrous. ...2 days ago
- Forest and Bird leader shut out of Shane Jones meeting by policeA West Coast conservation leader is lodging a complaint with Police after an officer barred her from a public meeting in Blackball, called by Resources Minister Shane Jones. The NZ First politician was in the historic coal-mining town on Thursday to launch the Government’s new draft minerals strategy, promising to ...2 days ago
- The Weekend: Working through life regrets in real timeEditor Madeleine Chapman meets an old rival and wonders what could’ve been. Mōrena and welcome to The Weekend, where dreams and regrets have time and space to flower. What’s the thing in your life that you wish you had given more energy to? It could be a relationship, an exam, ...2 days ago
- What it takes to be an Olympian and why you don’t have itThis year, Tori Peeters will compete at the Paris Olympics in the javelin. Ten years ago, Madeleine Chapman thought she might be in the same position. She talks to Peeters about what it takes to go all the way and mulls her own life decisions in the process. No New ...2 days ago
- ‘I was absolutely devastated’: Sara Wiseman on the moment she nearly quit actingThe star of High Country talks Tinkerbell, her love for Hawkeye Pierce and why a 98-year-old environmentalist is the most stylish man on television. Sara Wiseman has been a fixture on New Zealand television screens for nearly three decades. First appearing in Hercules and Xena Warrior Princess during the mid ...2 days ago
- At home with Brett and Angel, Married at First Sight NZ’s ‘fairytale’ coupleAlex Casey takes a trip to Lincoln to visit the only couple from the first season of Married at First Sight NZ that’s still together. To cross the threshold into Brett and Angel’s marital abode is to be greeted with a welcome that sums up the MAFSNZ season one golden ...2 days ago
- ‘There’s no better song to drink coffee to’: Troy Kingi’s perfect weekend playlistIn a new weekly interview series, we ask a different local artist to curate their dream weekend soundtrack. First up: Troy Kingi. Troy Kingi is a man on a well-documented mission to make 10 albums, in 10 genres, over 10 years. But finding himself creatively blocked while making his eighth ...2 days ago
- In the place I grew up, I am always lostReflections on a childhood split across Hong Kong and Auckland. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. I arrive in Hong Kong with my mother in the middle of summer. t’s not a good time to travel here, she tells me. It’s June. We’re ...2 days ago
- Palestine protesters call for Gaza press ‘solidarity’ at NZ media awardsPacific Media Watch Pro-Palestinian protesters dressed in blue “press” vests tonight staged a vigil calling on New Zealand journalists to show solidarity with the media of Gaza who have suffered the highest death toll in any war. They staged the vigil at the Viaduct venue of NZ’s annual Voyager Media ...2 days ago
- Behind job cuts are people, and they’re hurtingOpinion: Outside my house, the autumn breeze blows crisp leaves off trees and leaks through the gap in my ranchslider while I slump on my couch listening to our CEO announcing our restructure. With many ums and ahs, he reads his script, talking of “prioritisation,” “working differently,” and “reconceiving the ...2 days ago
- Taiwan’s democratic challenge to ChinaJust days after Taiwan’s new president called on China to stop making threats, Beijing has launched “punishment” military drills around the island. Everyone was watching to see what China’s reaction to the swearing in of President William Lai Ching-te would be. On Thursday night we found out. China had already ...2 days ago
- Short story: The End Was Wide Open, by James PasleyFor the past six weeks Annie has been sleeping with a teacher named Patrick Drury. Twice he has tried to call it an affair. Twice she has considered correcting him. But she likes how he looks when he says it. She likes that he’s older than her. That he’s recently ...2 days ago
- The Secret Diary of .. Fast-Track JonesMONDAY Fast-Track Jones stood in the shade beneath an awning of a train station and waited for the 3:10 to Blackball. He narrowed his eyes and studied the view. A water tower. A windmill. A cattle fence. All else was empty land. Locomotive smoke rose over the horizon. The 3:10 ...2 days ago
- Newsroom wins two leading honours at national journalism awardsA groundbreaking investigative podcast into the death of Gore three-year-old Lachie Jones has won Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner two notable awards at the Voyager Media Awards. Their in-depth reporting and nine-part first season of The Boy in the Water, which led to the case being reopened twice and preceded ...2 days ago
- Hundreds feared dead after huge landslide in Papua New GuineaBy Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Scores of people have died in a huge landslide which has struck a remote village in the Papua New Guinean highlands. The landslide reportedly hit Yambali village in Enga Province, about 600 km north-west of Port Moresby. The landslip has buried homes and ...2 days ago
- Government extends Defence Force deployments to Middle East and AfricaThe extended deployments include supporting UN efforts on contested Israel and Arab country borders. ...3 days ago
- As COVID cases rise again, what do I need to know about the new FLiRT variants?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University Red-Diamond/Shutterstock We’ve now been living with COVID for well over four years. Although there’s still much to learn about SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) at least one thing seems ...3 days ago
- Why a new ruling on the law of the sea and climate change matters for Australia and especially our i...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clive Schofield, Professor, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has found countries are obliged to protect the oceans from climate change impacts under the law of the ...3 days ago
- The government’s cash splash aims to kickstart Australia’s battery industry. Has it flipped the ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glen Thomas Currie, Energy Systems Program Impact Manager, Climateworks, Monash University, Monash University Basilico Studio Stock, Shutterstock Australia has a new National Battery Strategy, unveiled this week as a key part of the government’s Future Made in Australia agenda. The vision ...3 days ago
- Heavy water: how melting ice sheets and pumped groundwater can lower local sea levels – and boost...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca McGirr, Postdoctoral research fellow, Australian National University Bernhard Staehli/Shutterstock Imagine you’re standing near the edge of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, gazing out over the ocean, when the ice near you starts to melt very rapidly. A surge of meltwater flows ...3 days ago
- The Week in Politics: Willis sails against strong headwindsThe Finance Minister prepares to present one of the most difficult budgets, National MP David MacLeod gets himself into trouble and the First Home Buyers Grant is scrapped. ...3 days ago
- Paul Henry To Address New Zealanders At ACT RallyACT's 2024 rally, Change Makers, will take place at Auckland's Viaduct Events Centre at 12:30pm on 9 June. ...3 days ago
- Regional Development and Resources Minister's mine visits not publicisedShane Jones visited two mines on Thursday without revealing it until afterwards - then had a private lunch with mining industry representatives. ...3 days ago
- Iranian Solidarity Group New Zealand's Meeting With NZ Minister For Foreign Affairs Rt. Hon. Wi...The Iranian Solidarity Group NZ met with Minister For Foreign Affairs Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, urging the NZ government to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (the IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. The group continues to advocate for justice ...3 days ago
- 105 Silenced Journalists Of Gaza Honoured Outside Voyager Media AwardsOn 24th May, 6pm, Palestinian journalists covering Gaza will be honoured in a silent and visually impactful vigil outside Shed 10, 89 Quay Street, Auckland, where the Voyager Media Awards are being held. ...3 days ago
- The Matildas and Socceroos are soaring, while participation is growing – but the A-League is missi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney This should be a golden age for Australian soccer. After all, the big picture is good: the Matildas are waltzing, the Socceroos are well supported and Australia was just awarded hosting ...3 days ago
- The British election is Labour’s to lose. What would the UK–Australia relationship look like und...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Wellings, Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Monash University Assuming a Labour win in the UK general election – always a risky assumption given Labour’s proclivity for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory – the “Global Britain” bombast emanating ...3 days ago
- A rush on critical minerals is coming for our most remote and disadvantaged communitiesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Kemp, Professor and Director, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland King Ropes Access, Shutterstock The Australian mining industry was promised billions of dollars in last week’s federal budget to boost critical minerals such as lithium, copper ...3 days ago
- Greens Justice Spokesperson Tamatha Paul To Join Protest Against Waikeria ‘Megaprison’ At Mount ...The community group People Against Prisons Aotearoa is holding a protest against mass incarceration tomorrow against the Government’s proposed expansion of Waikeria prison. ...3 days ago
- Labour MP Willie Jackson becomes first Māori to take part in Oxford Union debateHe is the first MP since former prime minister David Lange to be asked to debate at Oxford. ...3 days ago
- What OpenAI’s deal with News Corp means for journalism (and for you)Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Shutterstock OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, and News Corp, the international media conglomerate, have signed a deal that will let OpenAI use and learn from News Corp’s content. In ...3 days ago
- What is a virtual emergency department? And when should you ‘visit’ one?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaimon Kelly, Senior Research Fellow in Telehealth delivered health services, The University of Queensland Shutterstock/Nils Versemann For many Australians the emergency department (ED) is the physical and emblematic front door to accessing urgent health-care services. But health-care services are evolving rapidly ...3 days ago
- Married at First Sight NZ pops the question: can the relaunch put a winning Kiwi spin on the global ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Trelease, Senior Lecturer in Communication Studies, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Following the hugely successful recent season of Married At First Sight (MAFS) Australia, fans of the format – and the reality romance genre in general – will be ...3 days ago
- All surface, no substance. Kids will probably love Beings at ACMI. Pity about the rest of usSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic Redfern, Associate Professor, School of Art, RMIT University We Are All Unique by Universal Everything commissioned by Hyundai Motorstudio Senayan Park in Beings at ACMI. Image by Michelle Tran At this week’s launch of Beings by Universal Everything, ACMI board member ...3 days ago
- ‘People need to buckle up’: The experts reveal what to expect in MAFS NZAs Married at First Sight New Zealand returns to our screens this Sunday, Tara Ward speaks to the show’s new relationship experts about what lies ahead. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. John Aiken is teasing Jo Robertson about her cup of ...3 days ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘The body’s score’ by Erin DonohueA new poem by Wellington writer Erin Donohue. The body’s score Here is what happens if you starve yourself for years. Your body will forget herself. She will have to learn new how a heart beats and she will not get it right. She will need MRIs and a quiet ...3 days ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending May 24The 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 Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Picador, $25) A charming, smash-hit book about ...3 days ago
- Select Committee aged care inquiry to begin by JulyThe coalition has confirmed the Health Select Committee will carry out an inquiry into aged care. ...3 days ago
- Media fuss over stranded tourists, but Kanaks face existential struggleCOMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle “Only the struggle counts . . . death is nothing.” Éloi Machoro — “the Che Guevara of the Pacific” — said this shortly before he was gunned down by a French sniper on 12 January 1985. Machoro, one of the leaders of the newly-formed FLNKS (Kanak ...3 days ago
- We analysed 30 years of Australian media articles – and unearthed some glaring gaps in the coverag...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra Wake, Associate Professor, Journalism, RMIT University Photo by Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels The news media play a vital role in shaping the public conversation and covering complex issues such as war, the economy, climate change and technology. Yet our new research ...3 days ago
- How Narendra Modi’s cult of personality was formed by a powerful Hindu nationalist group with a da...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aviroop Gupta, PhD Candidate, Curtin University Narendra Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has resorted to religious polarisation as it tries to rally its Hindu nationalist base in India’s ongoing general election, which ends on June 1. Just days after voting started ...3 days ago
Cinny, something to get you through the last 20 minutes,
http://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/20-03-2017/nicky-hager-new-book-is-about/
Rock on 😀 Soooo excited and thank you very much Weka 😀
ooh, wrong link, I meant this one,
http://thespinoff.co.nz/books/21-03-2017/live-updates-on-the-mystery-book-by-nicky-hager-join-us-throughout-the-day/
“4:35pm: Unity Books is heaving, standing room only.
4.41pm: The tension in the store is so thick you could give it a job in cabinet.”
I now have a video connection and sound from a link in a Bradbury tweet
https://www.periscope.tv/w/1zqKVbLyDkDKB
Should be up in the post soon. Can’t see it on TDB yet.
TY both very much for the links, as well there is a Stuff feed with some pictures and live comments
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/90620813/live-author-nicky-hager-unveils-new-political-book
For the tweeters #NickyHager
https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&vertical=news&q=%22Nicky%20Hager%22&src=tren
OMG here come the books.. standby…. there are two authors, John Stevenson and Nicky Hager.
Some are tweeting #HagerBookLaunch
“Hit and Run” co-authored with Jon Stephenson on NZ SAS in Afghanistan
Insiders approached authors because not happy about what was happening. Serious breaches of international law and war crimes.
Love this tweet.
https://twitter.com/davejac/status/844040500134912001
#hagerbooklaunch
Broken link
Fuck, I felt the whoosh of deflated hot air here in the South Island from the disciples of Prune Face.
SAS blowing away a few “deleted” (apparently..), medal terrority not book terrority.
[banned until 1 month after the election. You’ve been warned by at least two moderators recently to stop the trolling/faming. I can’t see the point of you being here, so you’re out until later in the year – weka]
[If you come back after that time and can’t get access, it’s because Weka’s agreed to my request that a further six months gets added for your base racism] – Bill
[agreed – weka]
Man you need to get a soul. Kiwi soldiers killing women and children against orders? The allegation is awful.
Well – I guess the proof will be in the charges against the people involved.
So if no charges are laid it didn’t happen?
No James: in the event that charges are laid. the proof, if any, will come in the verdicts.
In the event that Dear Leader finds himself in the dock, I’m picking he’ll claim he was just a patsy.
You are correct – the proof will come in verdicts.
And if charges do not happen – then there is insufficient proof to back up the accusations Hager is making.
Cant you do better than this? Failing to pin a war crime on an individual is not the same thing as the war crime not existing.
Dont get me wrong.
If he committed war crimes – then 100% I would be behind him being charged and held accountable.
I have zero issue with that at all.
What Im saying is that it needs to be proven before Hagars book is taken as fact.
I don’t take Hager’s work as fact, I take it as evidence. It’s not his job to determine what crimes the govt committed, that’s for an inquiry. Hager’s job is to raise the questions backed up with good evidence, so that we can have a public debate about how our govt is functioning and for people in power to then be prompted to do the right things.
”that’s for an inquiry” a national led inquiry is not something i would have any faith in
Umm no, the SAS injured and killed civilians including a school teacher under the order of John Key. According to what I’m listening too.
weka, I appreciate why you banned Tory, but can I make a case for it being longer.
He comment was designed to dehumanize people. We have been down that road before – it was called the Eugenics movement. It’s final solution was the ‘final solution’. I don’t see how Tory’s comment is not in that tradition, which is one step away from killing people just because they are different.
Yep. It’s one of the worst comments I’ve seen in a long time. Sometimes moderation happens quickly, so I just went with the current standard (it was pretty easy to ban them for flaming). I did consider a permanent ban but was in a hurry (permanent bans IMO need more time e.g. looking at the commenter’s history, comments and past bans), as well as considering that in the context of the kaupapa of the site (esp not just banning people we find reprehensible). We need a better system in the back end for keeping track of moderations (I had a quick look, but didn’t have time to go into it too deeply).
If they had made an actual non-flamming argument for killing Afghan civilians, they probably wouldn’t have gotten a ban, as fucked up as I would find that kind of comment. But this particular comment was designed to cause a shit storm in the thread. We just don’t need people who do that esp in such sensitive subjects. As you say, it’s dehumanising (the whole comment was in fact).
In terms of eugenics, I tend to agree, but as a moderator I’d need to see either a pattern of advocating that by implication or an explicit statement beyond the racism they posted today. Other moderators might see it differently.
Thanks weka, good to hear your thoughts on it.
I would rather never hear from the likes of Tory again in our standard community.
I enjoy and grow from having my beliefs challenged but the contribution Tory makes often lowers the tone.
There are other sites for Tory to go.
Apologies to Tory, in respect to you not having a right of reply to this.
He’s had 6 months added to the ban by Bill. I’m going to have a think about how to better track the problematic commenters over time.
Best content is coming from https://twitter.com/BarristerNZ
Thanks. John Key approved the raid.
Media summary sheet, copy/pasted via Stuff website..
This is a sheet of media commentary, prepared by Hager’s team.
It’s headlined: Denials made to the media about civilian deaths (2010 – 2014)
ISAF Joint Command: “No civilians were injured or killed during this operation”
– ‘Numerous insurgents killed and weapons recovered’, news release 2010-08- CA-266, 23 August 2010, Kabul, Afghanistan.
New Zealand Defence Force: “Following the operation allegations of civilian casualties were made. These were investigated by a joint Afghan Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior and International Security Assistance Force assessment team, in accordance with ISAF procedures. The investigation concluded that the allegations of civilian casualties were unfounded”
– ‘NZ Defence Force operations in Bamiyan on 22 August 2010’, media release, 20 April 2011.
Defence minister Wayne Mapp: “That’s been investigated and proven to be false…. I am satisfied around that”
– Wayne Mapp asked about civilian casualties, Q+A, Television New Zealand, 24 April 2011.
John Key: “My understanding is that after a thorough review of the CDF [Chief of Defence Force] at the weekend, he is very confident that the New Zealand Defence Force version of events is correct…. They say there were insurgents that were killed, but that was it”
– John Key on TV3 Firstline, 1 July 2014.
The New Zealand Defence Force: “The NZDF stands by its statement made on 20 April 2011 [above] and will not be making further comment.”
– New Zealand Defence Force, statement to Maori Television Service, 30 June 2014.
Defence minister Jonathan Coleman: “What I would emphasise is New Zealanders were not involved – and that’s categorical – in any civilian casualties or deaths”
– Jonathan Coleman in Stacey Kirk, ‘Categorical: ‘NZ troops did not kill civilians’, Stuff, 1 July 2014.
Defence minister Jonathan Coleman asked by reporters if coalition forces had killed civilians during the raid: “There is no evidence that they did.”
– Jonathan Coleman, New Zealand Herald, 1 July 2014.
John Key: “We don’t discuss the detail of SAS operations, but what we do say categorically is that no New Zealand soldier was involved in killing civilians”
– John Key in Ripeka Timutimu, ‘Key denies SAS involvement in civilian deaths in Afghanistan’,
Maori Television Service, 1 July 2014.
John Key on checkpoint tonight was asked about why he left politics. He muttered something dismissive about Hager, then said, “Nah, there are no scandals.”
Shonky will play the egpytian fish routine till hes no longer around.
Epgytian fish = living in denial
Something tells me Wayne Mapp might just be veeerry quiet for a while.
Tim Watkin is tweeting Mapp’s response to Guyon:
Wheels falling of lack of accountability of the government in military and intelligence matters.
Actually DoublePlusGood both Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson have been highly complimentary towards Wayne Mapp so you might like to retract that comment. Both of them iterated that he is the one who comes out of it best of all. He is unlikely to have been told the full truth but what he did know made him very uneasy and he expressed his unease it at the time.
Nope, don’t want to retract the comment. He’s still solid, triple-distilled bollocks.
If he was uneasy what measures other than looking away did he take.
If he was not advised of the full truth then there was not a lot he could do.
Wayne is a lawyer by profession. He needs to read the book before he makes any further comments.
of course there was , he could have asked questions ,
Maybe he did bwaghorn but didn’t get proper answers. It’s going to be interesting to see how he eventually responds to the story. One thing is for sure, he’s a cut above that ignorant woman, Paula Bennett who shot her mouth off this morning. Think we might agree on that. 🙂
Great work Cinny.
Ties in nicely with this :
And here we are like trusting sheep.
Email Isaac
@Isaac_Davison
Isaac Davison Isaac Davison is a NZ Herald political reporter.
Spying reforms allowing GCSB to spy on NZers pass into law with little opposition
4:36 PM Tuesday Mar 21, 2017
Hmmmm….
Given the green light by the same man who screamed …
” GET SOME GUTS”
In OUR parliament.
Yip. there all the same serving themselves .. Andrew Little GET SOME GUTS ..
So that is why John key is making a run out of NZ to avoid scrutiny over war crimes committed during an operation he signed off on?
And hooking himself up with a Japanese billionaire philanthropist… more slimy PR moves from the ” Get some Guts” character.
And to think NZ tolerated that slimeball for 8 years.
Authors were asked if it made any bearing on Keys decision to leave early. Hager and Jon said, no, not necessarily.
They’ve been planning the book for some time
According to Winston Peters , – it has to do with ‘ administration and accountability issues’ , which will be coming out in the following ‘ weeks and months ‘.
———————————————————-
With this mentioned in The Standard…
Key’s 4th term – something doesn’t add up
Written By: NATWATCH – Date published: 6:49 am, December 6th, 2016 – 144 comments
Categories: john key, kremlinology – Tags: 4th term, rumour, rumours, The Daily Blog
‘Bradbury is running rumours with talk of a “damning book”. If it is true (as unlikely as that seems) then despite Key’s resignation there will be further damage to National.’
Really enjoying listening to the media conference via Bombers stream, so much better than bullshit mainstream media soundbites.
I gave up on the Bomber stream – it was glitchy and stop-start for me. Stuff’s live stream was better.
I couldn’t get it to work either.
Wow… oh wow!! Reading Felix Gerringer’s twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/BarristerNZ
Is this why John Key went…? Personally ordered the raid… deliberate targeting of civilian houses… handing over of a caught insurgent to Afghani’s who tortured him… isn’t this war crimes territory?
Though some tweets are saying there’s things in the book that the PM didn’t know at the time of the nasty raid.
The bigger issue may be what happened afterwards. What did they know and how did they respond?
national only now one course of action that is cover up.i cant see the government wanting to talk or do anything about this issue. i fact national party voters will approve of war crimes.they will say these things happen in war and that will be the end of the matter.there will be no investigations as to do so would embarrass the government and by extension new Zealand so it wont happen.
Depressingly correct, I fear, Greg. Later may come laws to prevent the publication of such books. They are clamping down on whistle-blowers…
Right, but that’s not the relevant bit as far as Key is concerned. If he knew afterwards and aided in a cover up, that’s a huge deal.
There are at least three relevant allegations of war crimes from the book. If Key ordered the houses destroyed, that’s straight up a war crime on his account.
Thanks again nicky hager.
the RWNJ will consider Hager a traitor they will see no faults in there man key
-Stacey Kirk
What does our own Wayne have to say about this? Is it why Wayne retired? Is this incident why Key quit?
I have some respect for Wayne. He always appealed to me as being a good old fashioned tory as opposed to the neo liberal sorts. His response will be interesting.
Agreed. The fact he posts here suggests he is at least interested in the concerns of the socially conscious left, and that marries perhaps with his discomfort about the raid.
If he has half a brain, he won’t respond and will be consulting a lawyer before he so much as opens his mouth on the issue in public if he had any involvement in the issue.
If he didn’t touch the coverup as Minister (and given JK authorised it, that’s certainly possible) and his misgivings led to or contributed to his retirement though, that deserves a measure of respect. 🙂
The first response a lawyer friend had when I mentioned this to her was “war crime”
Yep, if the allegations are all true, then it’s a war crime for targetting civilians without a military purpose, a warcrime for destroying their houses w/o a military purpose, a warcrime for not rendering medical assistance when it was practical, and a warcrime again for anyone who was involved in covering it up.
And then something of a retroactive constitutional issue for appointing a war criminal to GG, which makes the idea of voting for a President look positively appealing.
+111111111 etc
could key be charged by the ICC at the Hague
Hmm are you thinking that Key not only gave authority for the raid to commence but specifically ordered the SAS to target civilians?
Not far off the baby eating rumours floating around in relation to Key.
For me the only way this could be considered a war crime is if the SAS soldiers deliberately targeted and killed civilian non combatants after recognizing them as such.
If they were caught in the cross fire or were deaths that followed faulty intelligence then that is very sad but are the facts of life in conditions of war. (All wars have deaths of civilians – it is why war is such an evil undertaking and should not be entered into lightly by any nation.)
The other question is how do you distinguish between combatants and civilians when they wear the same clothing, and a close inspection may result in a suicide vest going off?
Pretty easy for keyboard warriors to get their steam up about what should or shouldn’t be done in the conflict and fog of war however until you have been in that pressure cooker situations I suggest suspending judgement until actual facts/verdicts are proven.
Until then it is just innuendo and I suspect will not go down well with the NZ public especially with Anzac day not far away.
You’re a little off on the responsibility there- soldiers are supposed to have positively identified the enemy before they engage. If they don’t know they’re dealing with an enemy combatant, they’re obliged not to attack, as all civilians are innocent by default.
Fog of war and accidents can absolutely happen, and those are tragedies that don’t meet the definition of warcrimes, but do sometimes involve negligence.
However, I know enough about the allegations in the book to know that they say that there was confirmation the supposed targets of the raid were in a different location- in which case, there would have been no reason to engage, and somebody should have put the facts together and called off the operation if it was green-lighted due to a mistake.
That’s a way off yet. All we know about key’s complicity is that he ordered the raid. Previous independent investigations apparently cleared the raid of civilian casualties, (although I’m not sure how credible that is given that the info in coming from the defense force) and even if events occured as Hager’s and Stephenson’s sources lay out, it would depend on what information was made available to Key before the raid. If he knew that the civilians hadn’t been positively identified as insurgents, or OKed destroying their houses despite no military justification, then yes, he could be taken to the ICC. If he colluded to clear the military during the investigation, he could also go to the ICC, as it’s the responsibility to ensure that allegations of warcrimes are fairly investigated.
But that’s a long ways off yet. All this is is a collection of personal accounts at this stage- a proper investigation needs to be done with the info from those accounts, and independent of the military and the government, to clear everyone involved, unless there’s something in the book that nobody’s talking about on twitter yet.
If he has half a brain, he won’t respond and will be consulting a lawyer before he so much as opens his mouth on the issue in public if he had any involvement in the issue.
That’s one way to go. On the other hand, he’s a law commissioner and is likely to be asked the question.
Front foot forward. Personal responsibility. Money, meet mouth, that sort of thing.
Hager said on Checkpoint, he’s not calling it a war crime. Their advice is that there is the “strong grounds to suspect” war crimes were committed.
Nope, nope, nope.
I know it’s not enshrined into NZ law the same way it is into US law which we probably have all seen more about on TV, and we have some weird exemptions to it, but you’re not normally required to incriminate yourself.
If he’s not subject to one of the exemptions, he should absolutely keep his mouth shut, even if he’s sure he’s 100% innocent of any possible war crimes or conspiracy to cover them up, because if it actually goes to court, even seemingly unrelated statements can get you into trouble, and even for law experts it can be hard to stay objective and actually talk about only the things you really need to. Even lawyers need a lawyer sometimes to make sure their emotions aren’t getting in the way.
And even right-wingers and public figures are entitled to shut up to the maximum extent the law allows in order to mount a more effective legal defense.
Wayne? I expect he was gutted. It’s an occupational hazard I suppose but then who’d want John Key as a boss?
Lie with fleas, get up with dogs.
Speaking of lying down with fleas: whose “intelligence” was this war crime based on?
Agreed mickysavage @ 14.1. The fact he comes here to argue issues with us is worthy of respect especially as we give him a hard time. He was a respected MP on the Shore even if his political views were not universally shared by his constituents.
mickysavage 14.1
21 March 2017 at 5:57 pm
I have some respect for Wayne. He always appealed to me as being a good old fashioned tory as opposed to the neo liberal sorts. His response will be interesting.
—————————————
So was Muldoon a ‘ good old fashioned tory ‘ , – but at least he didn’t defer to neo liberalism.
And indeed, … his response WILL be interesting.
Muldoon? Yeah I believe he actually cared about the ordinary person. (personal opinion)
Agreed.
I am virtually amazed at his ability to withstand some of the barracking he gets here. Including from me (mind you I eventually do that to everyone 👽 ). I suspect that he has a high sense of duty quite unlike many of the self serving idiots who make up our parliamentary right. Simon Bridges comes to mind..
He’s one of the few RWers here who doesn’t troll and instead makes his arguments pretty much every time. That gets my respect too.
Tim Watkins thinks that Wayne struggled answering questions about the event …
http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/the-odonnell-raid-in-afghanistan-the-seeds-of-the-new-hager-book
Watkin’s comments:
“I’ve since spoken to Mapp about that interivew. Despite the rants of some genuine conspiracy theorists, the interview wasn’t a negotiated deal where Mapp could reveal the raid in his own way. He was blindsided by the question about the raid.
The way he described it to me, he knew he had two seconds to decide whether to confirm New Zealand’s involvement, thereby revealing operational matters he would have had no desire to reveal, or try to dodge, evade or even lie.
In those seconds, he chose transparency. He didn’t want to lie to the public and, he figured, we probably had more knowledge and sources than we were initially revealing. He was wrong on that front. We were flying a kite.
You can see in the transcript that he tries at first to deflect Espiner’s questions, saying “operations do take place”. But ultimately decides to not deny SAS involvement, thus implying it played a role.
But in the context of Hager and Stephenson’s claims that the raid went horribly wrong, no insurgents were found and 16 villagers were injured and five killed, the rest of his answers are important:”
The Transcript:
“GUYON There’s an Associated Press report around that time that contains a claim that a number of civilians were killed during that operation.
DR MAPP And that’s been investigated and proven to be false.
GUYON So no civilians were killed in that? You’re satisfied about that? You’ve seen some reports on it?
DR MAPP I am satisfied around that.
GUYON Only insurgents were killed in that operation?
DR MAPP I am satisfied around that.”
So Mapp is saying he was satisfied with the joint Afghan Defense Ministry and ISAF (Nato, with strong US presence) report that said no civilians were killed.
But, he’s kinda trying not to say he agrees there were no civilians killed – just that he’s satisfied around that report.
And there were apparently US gun ships that participated in the raid/s. So how unbiased was the ADM and ISAF report?
And the Afghan government and the ISAF actually approved, and participated in, the operation, and then did the investigation that concluded no civilians were killed.
According to this tweet, there is a website being set up at http://www.hitandrunnz.com and a new twitter handle @hitandrunnz .
https://twitter.com/BarristerNZ/status/844043380703158273
Thank you Ropata
As NZ PM at the time, John Key ordered the raid.
Three months ago he walked.
Now it will be interesting to see what msm has to say about their golden boy! Impossible to gloss over this one! Any attempt to do so, will be seen as justifying crimes against humanity!
Looking forward to Wayne’s comments…
A Governor General is supposed to be a neutral participant in our political process, one who can be the last line of defence against an out of control government.
Instead we have our PM making someone he knew had secretly been involved in a war crime GG – the government is not supposed to put a GG in place that they have something on – that’s just plain wrong
Apparently not for this govt : Someones been sitting on this for a long, long time indeed.
And not one of them spoke up.
Including Wayne.
It’s most often the cover up that gets them eventually.
I’m reminded that Key made him head of the GCSB too
Key had to have been told/heard what happened….and then he tapped Gerry to be Gov Gen. Horrifying.
… he tapped Gerry to be Gov Gen. Horrifying.
Well, he appointed Gerry Mateparae to be head of the GCSB but less than a year later, the Kim Dotcom saga reared its ugly head. Key had a sudden change of heart and cajoled his former school mate, Ian Fletcher – who just so happened to be a copyright expert – to come back to NZ and head the GCSB. He then compensated Mateparae by making him GG.
As I understand what’s being said it was Key personally who OKed the revenge raid – of course he knew
Wayne, Wayne, where art thou Wayne? NZ’s highest paid right wing troll must have something to add.
Just because Mapp is a Tory, doesnt mean he is stupid. He is probably under advise from a lawyer to keep his mouth (and laptop) shut for the interim.
So much ado about nothing then or rather nothing that the majority of voters will worry about
Same old same old
So it’s all about the voters, and not the ethics of a raid that did serious damage to civilians and their community?
Alleged raid that did serious damage to civilians and their community
umm no one is saying the raid didn’t happen , go back to the mine dopey dwarf
I’ll take what Hager says with a massive grain of salt if its all the same
chris 73
I think that acts as a laxative so watch the size of those grains. Don’t wat to spill your guts out. That’s for people in a war to cope with, not for NZs.
Oh – yes – well….
Well-known phenomenon – as a right-winger’s worldview and ideology collapse due to the weight of evidence, they just double-down and believe it even more ferociously.
It happened.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/73438/sas-attack-not-revenge-over-nz-death-minister
oh wayne mapp ‘ he’s just a massive left wing conspiracy theorist
That’s an interesting interview. I was of the understanding that New Zealand was in a peace keeping role in Afghanistan, hence the Provincial Reconstruction Team. But what he seems to be saying is to keep the peace keepers safe you have to go on the attack every now and then. Not really peace keeping then is it.
I’m with Chris. Pony tail pulling was just an allegation. It never happened. The dead civilians were not really dead. Playing possum and anyway we just cannot believe anything that Hager or Stephenson says. I have no idea why not. Just don’t believe.
Like my mate Chris.
The attack’s existence is not in question, it’s not an “alleged raid” there’s contemporary evidence that it occurred:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4911922/SAS-attack-not-revenge-killing-Mapp
What is being alleged is that what really happened was covered up by the SAS, and their chain of command all the way up to John Key – who personally OKed the deadly raid on civilians, old men and children.
Unfortunately, and it sickens me, there are many who will think exactly that. In fact it may barely register with many voters. Focus groups are probably being run right now. In parallel the lawyers will be doing well. It will be interesting to see what old lines get rolled out.
This needs a full independent inquiry to investigate the evidence but I can’t see that happening. The Nats will be ducking and diving and Key will be off out if the country. Effectively into exile… where he’s happier anyway.
Why should everything that happens be about ‘majority of voters’? Why should everything Hager says, does or write be expected to influence voting? Why do you give him that power or expect him to have it?
Funny how the Right Wing advocates automatically rubbish such evidence. Must be wired accordingly.
shocking! innocent women killed and shonkey does a runner!
~ Tui
“Akshully there’s a whole range of factors and t’s not clear that anyone who might of (sic) been innocent at the time possibly or not in the future depending on circumstances and how you factor in those considerations of a NZ soldier probably being killed eventually some time in the past and there were terrorists involved in that without doubt, so I’m comfortable overall with what happened operationally-wise in that context ongoing and Nicky Hager is a screaming left wing conspiracy theorist”
The ABC is leading with the story:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-21/women-children-killed-raid-afghanistan-nz-sas-book/8373958
So, if Australia are conducting an investigation then what excuse have the NZ authorities got to NOT have an investigation?
That John Key might come our of this looking like some wild west sheriff…? Golden boy’s got some heavy hitting friends… and NZ hasn’t been governed like a nation for the past 9 years. He’ll get his protection
Wayne where are you, your friends are looking like the shit bags they have always been..remember Gallipoli and the hotels….
Don’t think Spray-and-Walk-Away-Wayne wants to be sprayin’.
On RNZ tonight, NZDF says, nah, civilian casualties didn’t happen
Newshub has full NZDF statement.
Says inquiry was done by Afghan Ministry of Defense and the International Security Assistance Force. The latter is a NATO thing.
The US made up more than half the troops in the ISDF. And apparently the book says US gunships participated in the raid.
Should be ISAF at the end
The Defence Force relied on the Afghan Ministry of Defence?
What about the 30 NZ Defence Force personnel, who either took part in the raid or were privy to what occurred, and who told Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson what really happened? Nah… they’re all tellin lies matey, cos we’re the brass and we know everything.
As one former NZ Prime Minister said to me in the mid 1990s (passed this mortal coil some time ago) “the Army isn’t known for its cerebral qualities”.
Well reports a few years back, and of the content of the Hit and Run book, say the Afghan forces and the ISAF (with US gun ships) were involved in the raid.
ABC News (Aussie) reports tonight:
Good to see the right wing of the labour party agree this is a major issue 🙂
Anne the only way we will get an investigation and a proper one in the shape of a royal commision of enquiry is if the public are outraged and sickened enough to bring pressure to bear and demand answers.
If we can get angry about water then we should be outraged that this was sanctioned by this government and then covered up.
What the hell is happening to our country and its reputation!
It makes a mockery of our whole peacekeeping role and will make their job even harder.
Key has shredded whatever remnants of a reputation NZ had as an ‘honest broker’ in world affairs. Though I guess we always knew in our heart of hearts that such a reputation was undeserved bollocks. But it was possible to half-believe it when Holyoake sent only a token force to Vietnam or Clark stayed out of the Iraq invasion. Key didn’t even pretend – “get some guts!”
“Yes, John Key is a fucking war criminal. And he made one of his co-conspirators in those war crimes Governor-General.
These people need to go to jail. All of them. We should not tolerate war crimes by our defence forces, and we should not tolerate the authorisation of war crimes by our politicians.”
http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2017/03/war-criminals-must-be-punished.html
So there was an inquiry was done by Afghan Ministry of Defense and the International Security Assistance Force.
But Hager writes a book with unnamed sources and you believe that holds more credibility without even having read it.
Edit – sorry just saw it was nrt
James – if you really believe that the Afghan Ministry of Defense and the International Security Assistance Force are anything like independent, you are barking mad.
Stories like this do not emerge because they are maliciously made up. Or are you a Conspiracy Theorist?
Of course, Nicky Hager is a conspiracy theorist, and you yourself are the same in accusing him of being so. (Just quoting John Key about Hager, but surprised at your reluctance to believe what really happens in the utter cock-ups of war.
Are you really so naïve?)
If you read the book James, and then stand by your assessment, fine.
Until you read the book, it is your opinions that will lack credibility.
I will read the book, and that will inform my opinion. Hager’s record of evidence-based journalism is a strong one. I’m just grateful that he had the guts to stand up to recent police intimidation. Not sure I could have done the same.
Nicky Hager is, in my opinion, an excellent investigative journalist. And an admirable human being – NZ could do with more of those, don’t you agree?
James will not read the book. Neither will the other rwnjs who frequent this site. To begin with, its probably too much for them to absorb and they don’t want to be rocked out of their little rwnj cocoons.
Nice comment DM. Kram.
As will all opinions until they have read the book – but I do not see people questioning anyone who agrees with hager despite also not having read the book.
And all Im doing is taking the results of the investigations that have already happened. Which have credibility also.
Nat bots out in force on twitter! A war crime is no big deal apparently!! Sure hope Crosby Textor has told Bill English his opinion on this or we’ll be waiting months for a response.
Nek minut Benny Bashing from the government in 3…. 2….
So long as they keep their inane and rather stupid mobbing habits away from here. It is always a bit too much work being bothered explaining why their behaviour is unacceptable, and banning them.
I would revert to just banning idiot sheep trying to troll.
Here is me thinking that Bomber was full of shit regarding books.
The sudden outpouring of respect and admiration for the great dyslexic denier (and let us not forget, self-appointed Minister for the Elimination of Political Correctness, a role in which he may have just outdone himself), Wayne Mapp, in response to this odious cover-up is utterly baffling.
John Key, Wayne Mapp, “Jerry” Mateparae — this is for you:
Time to “gessumgutsss” as your dear leader was fond of frothing, and come and explain yourselves.
I had a grandfather who fought at Passchendaele in WW1, Belgium, in 1917, the Otago Regiments lost 90% of their troops in half (1/2) hour cut down by German machine guns as the wire protection hadn’t been cut, and the NZ forces were also being shelled by the British forces as they couldn’t get their shell launchers and horses forward because of the mud and the terrible ground conditions.
This slaughter was hidden from the General Public until NZ Military Historians have highlighted the event in the past 20 years, it is still a widely unknown event from WW1 History, maybe it will come out later this year as it is the 100 year anniversary this
year ?
It’s been hard for me to digest this. I knew I would be shocked, but was not prepared to be so upset. Looking at the website last night, seeing the faces of the innocents, now dead, thinking about what if was my family, my child, my husband, really upset me.
Ex husband is ex military, am well away of ‘the code’ between military personnel, so am not one bit surprised that NZDF are flat out denying this and no doubt will continue to do so, such is their way, and such is the way of the ex PM.
NZDF have done their own investigation…. investigating themselves, what a joke.
Really appreciate all the work that Nicky and Jon have put into this, thank you for being honest and informing the public about what has happened, the story was needed to be told.