Obama calls for international tax reform – what will Key do now?

Written By: - Date published: 6:31 am, April 7th, 2016 - 122 comments
Categories: accountability, Ethics, International, john key, law, tax - Tags: , ,

John Key’s evasions on our country’s role as an international tax haven have been truly shameful, his usual mixture of outright lies, half-truths and evasions. Yesterday Vernon Small took him apart in this strongly worded piece:

Panama Papers: New Zealand’s trusted reputation demands changes to foreign trust rules
…
And to claim that the required level of record keeping is “full disclosure”, as Prime Minister John Key did this week, is a bleak joke. To claim it negates accusations NZ is a tax haven – because we do not have such levels of secrecy – is equally laughable. If it doesn’t make New Zealand a “tax haven” – and it sure looks like one – it at the very least makes it “a haven” from scrutiny. Just look at the advertisements spruiking New Zealand’s advantages to foreign trusts.

However you look at it, Key made a significant political blunder this week by instinctively defending the tax and trust regime (and by extension those who might exploit it) in the face of domestic and worldwide suspicion. Don’t ask me, ask the supporters of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.

To make matters worse he cited the benefit to New Zealand – some $24 million in fees harvested by lawyers and accountants setting up and managing the funds. What price New Zealand’s reputation – something IRD and other officials had already warned about? And is it morally defensible to effectively say any loss of revenue from trusts here is some other country’s issue and we are focused on defending our own tax base? An “each country for itself” approach hardly sits well with international steps, which New Zealand has enthusiastically joined, to deal with corporate profit shifting and base erosion.

Yes, the Nats simply deny that we have a responsibility to do anything about tax havens. English says “the Mexican tax base is interesting, but its not our main priority”. Key literally shrugs the issue off. Here’s one of the excuses we have used for doing nothing:

[Key] said in 2013, after warnings from the IRD about possible damage to New Zealand’s reputation from its foreign trust law – that could see income “not being taxed either in New Zealand or offshore”- the new Revenue Minister Todd McClay had sought advice. “The advice they got was that it would require a lot of work from IRD officials, because this stuff is so complicated, and the argument was ‘was it worth it in terms of all the other issues on the IRD work programme?’ “

So that’s it. Not our problem if we’re running a tax haven. Shrug. We are happy to be a poor global citizen.

Unfortunately for John (ht Gordon Campbell) in 2011 Commerce Minister Simon Power was a whole lot more honest in describing the problems with our regulations:

… Simon Power acknowledged New Zealand’s reputation as a good place to do business had been harmed by overseas individuals using New Zealand registered companies “to commit or facilitate crime such as money laundering, tax evasion and fraud, in overseas jurisdictions”. Mr Power also said a lack of enforcement of current company law meant New Zealand authorities had been unable to help international agencies in trying to combat international fraud. He said the misuse of company structures by “a small number” of overseas individuals and New Zealand-based agents “threatens our international reputation as a good place to do business”.

Even more unfortunately for John, a much better man than he is prepared to take show some actual moral leadership on this issue. President Obama yesterday:

Obama calls for international tax reform amid Panama Papers revelations

Barack Obama has called for international tax reform in the wake of the revelations contained in the Panama Papers.

In an unscheduled appearance in the White House briefing room, Obama described the revelations from the leaks as “important stuff” and said the issue of global tax avoidance was a “huge problem”.
…
“We shouldn’t make it legal to engage in transactions just to avoid taxes,” he added, praising instead “the basic principle of making sure everyone pays their fair share”.

Do you hear that John? That’s the American President, your old golf buddy, calling for your action. When The Greens called for action you called them “barking mad” (another of your petty and offensive insults). But now it’s Obama – is he mad too?

What are you going to do now John?

According to the IRD:

Whether the rules surrounding foreign trusts should be changed was a “political question” and not up to Inland Revenue, Littlewood said. “It would be technically very easy for the Government to close this down.”

So it only requires the political will.


Far too much to read on this fast developing story:

Gordon Campbell on living in denial about the Panama Papers. “So now we know why New Zealand won all those awards for being the ‘easiest place to do business.’ Evidently, foreign firms that register in New Zealand can operate with impunity when it comes to complying with (a) our money-laundering and terrorism financing laws and (b) our international obligations on such activities.”

Toby & Toby on … the Panama Papers, NZ and ‘tax haven’ ridiculousness. Contains a list of quotes from various sources over the years describing us as a tax haven.

Liam Dann: Government has big questions to answer. “Perhaps, most worryingly, it is because we don’t require any detailed disclosure about those trusts and don’t have any capacity to share information with regulators in countries that might be seeking to chase trustees for tax.”

Panama Papers: Key defends offshore banking comments. “When the Panama Papers made global headlines on Monday, Mr Key was forced to defend his vision to model New Zealand on a country known for its secretive financial system and tax haven activity.”

NZ trusts prone to abuse – tax expert. “Overseas trusts such as those operating in New Zealand are by their nature prone to abuse and are a common method for tax evasion, an international tax expert says.”

David Cameron left dangerously exposed by Panama Papers fallout. 4 different stories in 2 days from Cameron, who is suddenly a big fan of privacy when it comes to his family finances.

122 comments on “Obama calls for international tax reform – what will Key do now? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Paul 1
    7 April 2016 at 6:44 am

    Check his share prices?

  2. Paul 2
    7 April 2016 at 6:45 am

    Blame Labour.

    • McGrath 2.1
      7 April 2016 at 1:37 pm

      We can blame Labour actually . See Dr Cullen’s statement in 2004 about the trust amendment act 2005

      “Under New Zealand law, foreign income derived by non-residents is outside the New Zealand tax base, and rightly so. The government has no intention of changing that. Because they are not taxed here, foreign trusts that are set up here do not have to file New Zealand income tax returns or keep records if they receive only foreign-sourced income.

      http://taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz/news/2004-07-27-new-requirements-foreign-trusts-nz

      Personally I’d like to see an IRD investigation into foreign trusts, with any discovered loopholes closed accordingly.

  3. Paul 3
    7 April 2016 at 6:53 am

    Say “I’m comfortable with that.”

  4. Murray Simmonds 4
    7 April 2016 at 7:08 am

    Yes, but see this comment on Zero Hedge:

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-04-05/rotschild-admits-america-biggest-tax-haven-world-obama-slams-tax-evasion

    Key and Obama apparently have more in common than I thought!

    (The point being: The USA is now the Tax Haven Of Choice for foreign investors, and Obama was speaking from a position of total hypocrisy.)

    The above paper is well worth a read.

  5. Jester 5
    7 April 2016 at 7:13 am

    It is concerning that Nz resident tax cheats seem to act with impunity here.

    All this hooha over other nationalities ripping off their own countries, we should be prosecuting the local scumbags for stealing off us off as a first priority!

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      7 April 2016 at 10:36 am

      We need to do both but we can’t do it by just changing a few bits of legislation here and there.

    • NZJester 5.2
      7 April 2016 at 9:18 pm

      We can’t prosecute him while he is still Prime minister! ;-p

    • Tautuhi 5.3
      7 April 2016 at 9:44 pm

      But if you steal a Pinky Bar from 4 Square you will get 6 months inside.

      • Colonial Viper 5.3.1
        7 April 2016 at 9:49 pm

        And if you steal $100M from the nation, you get a knighthood and lots of board seats.

  6. Murray Simmonds 6
    7 April 2016 at 7:13 am

    And by, the way, Thanks Anthony Robins for an EXCELLENT summary of the situation. Its important to keep this issue on the front burner. It is Key’s “Achilles Heel”, in my opinion.

  7. TepidSupport 7
    7 April 2016 at 7:17 am

    Yep. It’s non action and lack of agreement of the issue that will isolate JK from “mums and dads” and “middle income NZ” who like a fair system where everyone contributes.

    • Nessalt 7.1
      7 April 2016 at 5:33 pm

      appealing to middle new zealand after running them down as benny bashers? labour and the left have lost that ground except the dripping wet sub set

  8. Incognito 8
    7 April 2016 at 7:42 am

    Key will do what he always does: lots of rhetoric, spin, and bluster, etc., but no real action of any importance or with real impact.

    We, New Zealand that is, have earned a well-deserved reputation as a ‘clean’ country in many aspects. Being a small nation is often seen as non-threatening in geo-politics and you don’t have to be big to be big in global ‘finance’.

    NZ is now a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Helen is going for the top-job. We consistently rate as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. John Key has got skin in the game and he will do nothing to upset the apple-cart.

    Key is Obama’s innocent-looking little nephew and butter wouldn’t melt. Yeah right!

    • Draco T Bastard 8.1
      7 April 2016 at 10:41 am

      Key will do what he always does: lots of rhetoric, spin, and bluster, etc., but no real action of any importance or with real impact.

      I’m of the opinion that he’ll make a bit of fuss and then make some law changes that will make it even easier for international entities to hide their money while promising to do the exact opposite. The same as he did for Zero Hours contracts.

      We consistently rate as one of the least corrupt countries in the world.

      NO, we’re consistently perceived as being one of the least corrupt countries in the world – by ourselves. I suspect that that perception is taking a hammering.

      • NZJester 8.1.1
        7 April 2016 at 9:23 pm

        NO, we’re consistently perceived as being one of the least corrupt countries in the world – by ourselves. I suspect that that perception is taking a hammering.

        The smoke and mirrors game keeps fooling a lot of the sheeple. Especially with the help of their tame MSM.

      • Incognito 8.1.2
        7 April 2016 at 10:10 pm

        NO, we’re consistently perceived as being one of the least corrupt countries in the world – by ourselves. I suspect that that perception is taking a hammering.

        No, it is not ourselves that we have to worry about so much; those ratings are entirely subjective.

        The international rankings published by Transparency International – the global coalition against corruption are also based on perception:

        ”Based on expert opinion, the Corruption Perceptions Index measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption worldwide.” http://www.transparency.org/cpi2015

        Perceptions matter, a lot, which was the point I was trying to make as well.

    • Tautuhi 8.2
      7 April 2016 at 10:02 pm

      Most popular PM ever.

  9. AB 9
    7 April 2016 at 7:49 am

    Local law and accountancy firms doing nicely from facilitating the foreign trust scams – they’re National supporters/donors most likely.
    That’s all that matters

  10. Murray Simmonds 10
    7 April 2016 at 7:52 am

    “Key will do what he always does: lots of rhetoric, spin, and bluster, etc., but no real action of any importance or with real impact.”

    That’s right Incognito. He’ll do what Obama is doing (see above).

  11. vto 11
    7 April 2016 at 8:01 am

    Obama: “important stuff”

    Key: “I’m relaxed”

    what a most pathetic man, cowardly, weak, liar, selfish, uncaring, lazy …

    when was the last time such terms were ladled onto a prime minister?

    pathetic

  12. Whispering Kate 12
    7 April 2016 at 8:48 am

    Somebody wrote in reply to a Liam Dann post in the Herald yesterday “why do people who are so rich go to such great lengths to avoid tax” and to me it was quite a profound statement. Why do they? – they have extraordinary amounts of dosh that they could feed the planet forever, what on earth can they do with it, is it a game, or a vindictive sort of thrill that they can get away with it. Are they mentally unwell and need treatment. You would think it would become a burden for them to have to make sure it’s safely stashed away in these tax havens or laundered if its dirty – whatever. What sort of human beings are they with such black souls. Even when they do spend some of their fortune for humankind its because its a tax break – nothing is given freely.

    I am watching “The Night Watchman” on TV right now and the rogue in it is a world-class arms dealer. He is involved with government at a high level and is leading a risky life. He has so much money he doesn’t know what to do with it, he is unhappy, trusts no one and and is vicious to boot. How can having that much money give you peace and a happy life. Something to think about today.

    • Anne 12.1
      7 April 2016 at 9:25 am

      why do people who are so rich go to such great lengths to avoid tax” and to me it was quite a profound statement. Why do they? – … Are they mentally unwell and need treatment.

      From observing a couple of relatives who are ‘reasonably comfortable thank-you’, I would say so. It is an all pervading obsession (not unlike rugby mad Kiwis 😉 ) and they become incapable of thinking about anything else. And as the millions mount up, it spawns further obsessive behaviour until a time comes they are no longer in any sort of real world. A good example of the extent of the madness that envelops the most seriously afflicted is Donald Trump. He should be removed from society and kept in an isolated institution where his particular brand of maniacal egotism is no longer a threat to mankind.

    • RedLogix 12.2
      7 April 2016 at 9:32 am

      “why do people who are so rich go to such great lengths to avoid tax” and to me it was quite a profound statement. Why do they?

      Usually because:

      They are trying to work out childhood trauma inflicted by a parent who made them the family scapegoat; they are still trying to win the approval of the unpleasable.

      Or for emotional reasons their ability to trust other people has been damaged, so they are using money to create an illusion of control in over their lives.

      Because our system is set up so that money generates more money most very rich people very early on learn the habit of not spending money if at all possible.

      While it is true there are some people who will invest into their business and community in order to build wealth; they are a minority who face substantial head-winds. In my experience many very rich people are emotionally damaged individuals whose behaviours make the ‘trickle down’ theory a risible, driveling lunacy from the outset.

      • Gangnam Style 12.2.1
        7 April 2016 at 9:46 am

        A hoarding disorder I have always thought.

      • Colonial Viper 12.2.2
        7 April 2016 at 10:20 am

        There is a kind of emotional obsession which makes people dedicate their lives, time and energy to ever more $$$. Money that in the final analysis, they can’t ever spend or enjoy.

        A billionaire can’t eat ten dinners in an evening. So they end up doing crazy shit like going to $10,000 dinners instead, hobnobbing and impressing other members of the oligarchy.

        • Olwyn 12.2.2.1
          7 April 2016 at 10:55 am

          I think the point is almost as much about ensuring that those not allied to their own circles don’t have as it is about having. They want their dominance to go unchallenged, and if others start getting comfortable, they might start posing challenges. Of course, if too many others get too uncomfortable, their challenges may become more menacing than they would otherwise have been, but as long as that possibility has not yet become a reality, it can be kicked down the road.

        • grant elmsly 12.2.2.2
          7 April 2016 at 7:04 pm

          obsession with getting money is based on a vindictiveness that ignores the fact that NZs infrastructure, people and peaceful culture allows one to make money.
          If one can ignore all who were stomped on for one to accumulate vast wealth one can then put it in a NZ trust, Then one can conveniently deny people who did contribute to your fortune in your lifetime and get a name as a goody good philanthropist after you die

    • alwyn 12.3
      7 April 2016 at 10:20 am

      You are aware that “The Night Watchman” is fiction I hope?

      • Whispering Kate 12.3.1
        7 April 2016 at 10:43 am

        That is with tongue in cheek I hope. Arms dealers like in “The Night Watchman” exist today and the USA and other countries who make military hardware couldn’t manage without them wheeling and dealing to keep the arms industry in business. The world is filled with filthy investment dealers dealing in filthy money making and laundering. Its a laugh that we are meant to be clean and green – we are experts at doing laundering that’s for sure.

      • McFlock 12.3.2
        7 April 2016 at 11:10 am

        Ever hear of Victor Bout or Adnan Khashoggi?

        • alwyn 12.3.2.1
          7 April 2016 at 11:37 am

          Khashoggi, at least didn’t seem to fit the image that RedLogix has about the rich. He proposes “Because our system is set up so that money generates more money most very rich people very early on learn the habit of not spending money if at all possible”. Khashoggi seemed only to willing to spend it most lavishly and appeared to greatly enjoy it.

          What can one really say about Bout? One countries hero is another countries traitor. He was rather like Snowden, wasn’t he? I confess I had to look Bout up on Wiki. Only after seeing the post did vague memories of him drift back into my memory.
          Sic transit Gloria mundi

          • McFlock 12.3.2.1.1
            7 April 2016 at 12:30 pm

            Like most of Le Carre’s ouvre, there are solid real-world examples of his characters, even if the work itself is fiction.

            Why are you talking about what RL said when your comment You are aware that “The Night Watchman” is fiction I hope? was directed at WK (FWIW I think you’re both referring to the show “The Night Manager”)? Oh, that’s right, I forgot – your objective is to disrupt, rather than contribute.

            • Whispering Kate 12.3.2.1.1.1
              7 April 2016 at 12:58 pm

              Oops McFlock, it was “The Night Manager” I was referring to. A pretty grim series but obviously based on what is happening in the world. Lots of filthy money being laundered through trusts and overseas accounts. The people who peddle in it and live off the earnings could live under a hot shower and never be clean.

              • alwyn …
                7 April 2016 at 2:03 pm

                Yes, I was meaning that show too.
                If you really want grim, of course watch the Blacklist.

    • miravox 12.4
      7 April 2016 at 11:33 am

      Because they can. They’re highly competitive and it’s a game. 20 cents or 20K, it makes no difference – they’ve beaten the taxman.

      They also lack empathy and lack understanding. Have you seen some of these people on their tropical holidays making a game of bargaining down some poor market seller to the lowest possible price rather than a ‘fair’ price. just so they can brag they outdid their mates? Nevermind the seller needs the 20 cents they ‘saved’.

      Winners!!! all of them.

    • AB 12.5
      7 April 2016 at 12:52 pm

      They are utterly convinced of their own superiority – and believe they deserve their wealth and that it is a sign of their superiority. Taxation is just inferior people trying to steal their money.
      Whether it is a mental disorder on its own or a complex of others – narcissism, paranoia, sociopathy, who knows?
      What I would suggest is that neoliberalism’s cult of hyper-individuality gives these sort of people licence to indulge such tendencies. Much in the same way that when you have violent, authoritarian governments a constant supply of willing torturers seems to become available from within the general public.

      • Halfcrown 12.5.1
        7 April 2016 at 1:56 pm

        “Taxation is just inferior people trying to steal their money.”

        So right. Didn’t Bob Jones refer to tax as theft

        • Gangnam Style 12.5.1.1
          7 April 2016 at 3:23 pm

          From the Night Watchman ‘I am my own man, no one is my boss’ about sums up how the rich see themselves & their attitude towards others.

          • Paul 12.5.1.1.1
            7 April 2016 at 6:38 pm

            They see themselves as the archetypal Ayn Rand hero, John Galt.
            They are above others.
            It’s impossible to reason with them.
            More radical solutions are necessary.
            1789 comes to mind.

    • Incognito 12.6
      7 April 2016 at 10:56 pm

      Hah! Happiness comes from freedom and freedom means being detached; the last thing we want to give up is ‘our’ (illusionary and fragile) Ego. Money, wealth, riches, and all hedonistic behaviours and rituals feed Ego and this vicious circle goes round and around.

  13. roy cartland 13
    7 April 2016 at 9:20 am

    Don’t forget NRT in your research, this is pretty stinging:

    “The 1% are the common enemy of every country in the world. They loot, they pillage, they steal, and they don’t pay their way. We should be clubbing together against them in collective self-defence. Instead, Bill English wants to defend them. And the reason why is obvious: because he’s one of them, not one of us.” [my emph.]

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2016/04/poor-global-citizenship.html

    • Draco T Bastard 13.1
      7 April 2016 at 10:47 am

      +1

      We cannot afford the rich.

    • seeker 13.2
      8 April 2016 at 4:46 pm

      Thatcher, as soon as she was elected PM famously and repeatedly asked, “Are they one of us?”
      I could not understand what she meant for quite a long time. I had never heard a leader of my country ask such an unnerving, divisive or indeed hideous question.
      Then I began to find out for real that that was who she was. Gross (and not in the economic sense).

  14. Colonial Viper 14
    7 April 2016 at 9:35 am

    LOL what a joke; Obama is utterly owned by the big investment banks, and the USA is effectively one of the biggest and longest standing tax havens in the whole world.

    They even managed to get Obama to sideline Elizabeth Warren from the White House economic team, while all the former Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan cronies stayed on whispering in Obama’s ear.

    I can’t believe that people can even take Obama preaching about international tax havens seriously.

    This is the man looking to make mega-corps even less accountable through mechanisms like the TPPA.

    This shit is just the 0.001% trying to placate the public through PR. Don’t be so easily bedazzled.

    • alwyn 14.1
      7 April 2016 at 10:31 am

      Are you really that keen on Elizabeth Warren? She is surely one of those mad people with a passion to hang on to every penny she has ever earned isn’t she?
      There are a variety of estimates of her net worth but they are generally in the $4 – $14 million US dollar bracket. Say $6 – $20 million New Zealand dollars. This is a middle of the road estimate of $US7.5 million.
      http://members-of-congress.insidegov.com/l/143/Elizabeth-Warren
      As for ” get Obama to sideline Elizabeth Warren” .
      Just when did this happen? It wouldn’t have been when she became a Senator would it?
      A rather less flattering, although probably accurate review is here
      http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/01/worth_14_million_elizabeth_warren_thinks_shes_not_a_wealty_investor.html
      Doesn’t it rather remind you of Cunliffe, who considered a multi-million dollar hose to be just a “do-upper” rather than a mansion?

      • Hami Shearlie 14.1.1
        7 April 2016 at 11:18 am

        David Cunliffe said that when he bought his house it was a do-upper – he never claimed that it still was – I saw it and it was a very nice house but hardly qualifies as a mansion – John Key’s little beach house was just as flash inside!

      • Colonial Viper 14.1.2
        7 April 2016 at 11:56 am

        Are you really that keen on Elizabeth Warren? She is surely one of those mad people with a passion to hang on to every penny she has ever earned isn’t she?
        There are a variety of estimates of her net worth but they are generally in the $4 – $14 million US dollar bracket

        Warren is upper middle class, and deservedly so. She is not a member of the Investment Bank Goldman Sachs oligarchy which is why they screwed her over in the White House.

        And she is an economist who understands how fucked up most economic theory is.

        She grew up during a time when you could get ahead with intelligence and hard work.

        She is very clear that in the USA, those times are over now and inherited and corporate wealth rule the roost.

        The fact of the matter is that if you are a single digit millionaire, the oligarchs are out to take your minor wealth in order to add it to their big pile.

        • alwyn 14.1.2.1
          7 April 2016 at 4:54 pm

          “Warren is upper middle class”
          You certainly have high standards for actually being rich then.
          Consensus would be that Warren (and husband) would be in the top 0.3% of Americans and the top 0.02% of people in the world.
          https://www.quora.com/Is-being-worth-10-million-USD-considered-rich
          Sanders at least really is in the middle class, although you might consider him to be incompetent because he hasn’t saved more

          • Colonial Viper 14.1.2.1.1
            7 April 2016 at 7:45 pm

            At Warren’s net worth of US$4M to US$14M even John Key is probably 5x to 10x richer than Elizabeth Warren.

            And that’s the issue here. The real problem are the 0.001%. The oligarch class.

            Single digit millionaires fly first class with the rest of the cattle.

            Oligarchs fly their own G650 Gulfstream.

      • Paul 14.1.3
        7 April 2016 at 6:39 pm

        Here to distract not contribute again…..

      • North 14.1.4
        7 April 2016 at 8:53 pm

        Well done there Trolwyn……..trying the hackneyed and risible “Metiria’s Got A Flash Coat !” screech on Warren.

        • greywarshark 14.1.4.1
          8 April 2016 at 11:32 am

          Careful North – your clever portmanteau word is close to our esteemed commenter Olwyn who is far away from that moniker!

          • North 14.1.4.1.1
            8 April 2016 at 3:12 pm

            Yeah, sorry about that Olwyn. Esteemed as you say GWS. No I mean that bullshitty one who claims the authority of having been historically active on The Left at some point but won’t when asked come up with the provenance.

            • alwyn 14.1.4.1.1.1
              8 April 2016 at 5:01 pm

              Don’t be mean to Colonial Viper.
              He really was involved, and quite effective as well when they really were the “left”.

  15. Murray Simmonds 15
    7 April 2016 at 9:37 am

    ” . . why do people who are so rich go to such great lengths to avoid tax” ”

    I’ll take a simplistic approach:

    They are consumed by their own greed.

    • greywarshark 15.1
      7 April 2016 at 10:29 am

      Perhaps a short clip from Eat the Rich would be instructive?
      (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKLA4K5WyZE
      or
      Peter Greenaway’s The Cook the Thief his Wife and her Lover – what an analogy for the way our world is going!
      (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP-VumkuYHY

      It has just been announced that there is a scientific breakthrough in transferring body parts between different species. This will help the rich live longer. For the last two years scientists have been developing their expertise and now can successfully transplant pig hearts into baboons.
      http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201796116

      However we have had this experiment under wraps for almost thirty years and can demonstrate working models in a central location in Wellington. The address will be publicly announced at a later date, but the information is well known among the cognoscenti.

  16. One Two 16
    7 April 2016 at 9:47 am

    Global Taxes

    Managed by the same mob like cartel who are currently destroying life on this planet, through the very systems they designed and control

    The ‘leak’ is as managed as Obamas predictable response

  17. Ralf Crown 17
    7 April 2016 at 10:09 am

    What Obama calls for is an international tax cartel to maximize the rip-off by tax. People must understand that corporation do not pay any tax at all, tax is a cost like other costs they add to the price, paid by you and me. As far as individual taxes, they just want to rip-off anyone who got savings. Money easy to take, just call it tax. New Zealand already has one of the worst reputation in the world of “snoopers” running the errands of the Big Brother in Washington.

    • Draco T Bastard 17.1
      7 April 2016 at 10:54 am

      And a stupid libertarian wonders in to call tax theft.

      • travellerev 17.1.1
        8 April 2016 at 5:13 pm

        Actually I agree with him. Money is created out of thin air by privately owned banks and we pay interest on everything we borrow. It is a system set for looting and wealth transfer. Here is Money as Debt I explaining money creation for dummies (Which by the way you are not)

        Here is the link to the Bank of England stating exactly that:

        http://positivemoney.org/how-money-works/how-banks-create-money/

        • Lanthanide 17.1.1.1
          8 April 2016 at 5:16 pm

          That youtube video still doesn’t explain:
          1. Why this is bad
          2. What an alternative good system would look like or how it would work

        • Draco T Bastard 17.1.1.2
          8 April 2016 at 5:46 pm

          Actually I agree with him.

          Why?
          What has the creation of money got to do with his idiotic assertion that tax is a “rip-off”?

          And, yes, I’m quite aware that money is created ex nihilo.

          • Ralf Crown 17.1.1.2.1
            8 April 2016 at 9:40 pm

            This is difficult to grasp, once money is created out of thin air, it is moved around, this is the opportunity to fleece the system with tax. Once the money is in the control of the bureaucratic mafia, they need much of it for their fat salaries, fine offices, ivory towers, nice cars, fat parachutes, nice travel, and fat pensions. If the tax is 60% to 80%, which it is in some countries, if the guy needs $20 for food, he first has to earn $80 to feed the system with tax, the politicians and the bureaucrats. Same for corporations, even if the tax is lower. To go to the doctor you must pay the GP about $100, he has to pay tax and expenses too, then eventually you can get the hospital care, which in New Zealand is third world standard (WHO). The more money floating around in the system, the more profit for the parasites. I am often in China, there is hardly any tax, and you go straight to the hospital, no GP to pay, no bureaucrats, and it costs you $4. That is what tax is about. The more they can get their hands on the more they want and the more they spend.

            • Draco T Bastard 17.1.1.2.1.1
              8 April 2016 at 10:37 pm

              Wow, you talk shit.

              This is difficult to grasp, once money is created out of thin air, it is moved around, this is the opportunity to fleece the system with tax.

              No, once it’s created by the private banks it’s an opportunity to fleece the rest of the population part of which is by not paying the taxes that they’re supposed to.

              If the tax is 60% to 80%, which it is in some countries, if the guy needs $20 for food, he first has to earn $80 to feed the system with tax, the politicians and the bureaucrats.

              So, tell me, which countries in the world have a 60 to 80% flat tax?

              The more money floating around in the system, the more profit for the parasites.

              That bits true – the parasitical banksters and corporations.

              I am often in China, there is hardly any tax, and you go straight to the hospital, no GP to pay, no bureaucrats, and it costs you $4.

              $4 in a country that pays about $2/hour is pretty high but it’s still got nothing to do with tax.

              That is what tax is about.

              Tax is payment for services rendered. Doing it directly would cost more and we’d get less service. We’ve seen this over and over again since the 1980s and the imposition of neoliberal bollocks and privatisation as an economic system. If we still owned Telecom as a state monopoly we wouldn’t have to subsidising it to get FTTH – that would have been part of the service and we wouldn’t have lost more than $20 billion dollars in dividends to the bludging shareholders.

              • Ralf Crown …
                13 April 2016 at 1:43 pm

                *Yes, it is an opportunity to fleece the system, you fleece the ones that been saving and planning, to feed the lazy and incompetent.
                *In countries as Norway, Sweden and Denmark, the official average tax is 52%, for a successful one man business it hits 80%. People have been charged over 100% in tax. This is including all money the state take, many taxes has, as in New Zealand been renamed “fees”.
                *Parasites, I am talking mostly of nonproductive as lawyers and accountants, who are the center of the tax planning. Lower the tax, simplify the system, and they will be out of work.
                *In China an engineer is earning about four times as much as an engineer in New Zealand. *Nobody works for 2 dollars an hour as some people have to do in New Zealand.
                *Services, what services. Third world health care. No trains. In China I pay 20 cents for a bus ride, in New Zealand it costs 8 dollars.

    • Paul 17.2
      7 April 2016 at 6:41 pm

      Are you really that stupid?

      • Ralf Crown 17.2.1
        8 April 2016 at 11:00 am

        The corporates are not stupid, the tax maffia increase their cost, aka tax, they just all increase the price to cover it, and you pay. Where would otherwise the money come from.

        • Colonial Viper 17.2.1.1
          8 April 2016 at 11:09 am

          Corporate mega-profits and the oligarchy they support are the true theft from society.

          Huge transnational corporations, like Apple, are also the worst abusers of tax haven schemes which steal directly from public services like health and education.

          Not that you care about stuff like that, but just saying.

          • Draco T Bastard 17.2.1.1.1
            8 April 2016 at 5:50 pm

            +1

          • Ralf Crown 17.2.1.1.2
            8 April 2016 at 9:49 pm

            And what do you think the oligarchy is doing with the money, they invest it, and that creates jobs. What they hand over to the politicians and bureaucrat mafia is creating jobs too, for the like-minded of the mafia. More bureaucrats. Apple, as everyone, minimizes their tax costs, otherwise they go out of business and others take over and place jobs in Africa or Laos, not in you hi-tax neighborhood. All corporations just have to do it to keep the prices down in the competition with the next corporation. Politicians force up the tax cost, fine, they can do it, same for everyone, and they just stick it on top of the price and you pay. All prices go up to pay the increased taxes, nothing gained, except for the mafia.

            • pat 17.2.1.1.2.1
              8 April 2016 at 10:09 pm

              good grief

            • Colonial Viper 17.2.1.1.2.2
              8 April 2016 at 10:15 pm

              you dick head, the “wealthy” “invest” their money in “financial instruments” in offshore tax havens.

              What kind of fucking jobs do you think that kind of pseudo-economy produces, if you arent a waiter in a five star restaurant, a Ferrari dealer, or a crooked tax haven accountant?

              • Ralf Crown …
                13 April 2016 at 1:48 pm

                Right, they do, and those financial instruments finance jobs. But I agree with you, they don’t invest in rip-off anti tax havens as New Zealand. So to attract those investment, to create jobs and welfare, why nor be a tax haven, or – of course – kiwis can carry on fighting the windmills.

            • Draco T Bastard 17.2.1.1.2.3
              8 April 2016 at 10:41 pm

              Apple wouldn’t exist without all the research paid for by the US Federal government because they don’t do shit. Apple then repay the US taxpayers generosity by not paying the taxes that they should do because of their greed.

  18. Draco T Bastard 18
    7 April 2016 at 10:34 am

    The advice they got was that it would require a lot of work from IRD officials, because this stuff is so complicated, and the argument was ‘was it worth it in terms of all the other issues on the IRD work programme?’

    It would be a lot of work. Designing and creating an entire new tax structure fit for purpose would take a lot of time and effort but that is what needs to be done. These Panama Papers are proof of that.

    • greywarshark 18.1
      7 April 2016 at 10:49 am

      Well DTB we have got all the time left in our world. Soon it may become some other entities world if we don’t change our thinking and behaviour.

      I think that you are right and we must do something serious about reforming the tax system. It must be (as in the phrase used I think in Key’s Budget speech) ‘fit for purpose’, that meaning it brings in centrally and locally enough money or credits to aid all people to live an enjoyable, simple life in harmony (as much as humanly possible) with each other and the planet.

      We are clever humans, if we want it so, we can do it. Between dystopia and utopia there is a plateau that is right for us, livable and manageable where we can be gracious people, not snarling, snatching, sneering cheap copies of our potential form.

      But we are up against entrenched, embedded thinking.
      The Mafia’s treasury sounds caution.
      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/300862/taxing-foreign-trust-income-could-end-industry-ird
      We must keep a flow of money into the country to make it appear that at any time the credit agencies look, we seem to be in balance sufficient to meet their criteria of a financially stable country. According to their criteria, which will be reviewed if the financial sector and economy collapse in the next 24 hours.

    • Mike S 18.2
      7 April 2016 at 6:30 pm

      Not difficult in relation to the foreign trusts as per this comment in the article, from IRD

      “Whether the rules surrounding foreign trusts should be changed was a “political question” and not up to Inland Revenue, Littlewood said. “It would be technically very easy for the Government to close this down.”

      • Draco T Bastard 18.2.1
        7 April 2016 at 7:05 pm

        That’s playing at the edges. More needs to be done. As I said: Designing and creating an entire new tax structure fit for purpose

        What we have is something that’s been tampered with for centuries and nobody really knows how it works any more nor its purpose. This is why it has so many loopholes in it and why it needs compete replacement.

  19. alwyn 19
    7 April 2016 at 10:52 am

    If anyone wants to read a balanced view of the situation they might care to read this opinion piece in the Herald.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11617423
    Have a look at the comments about what the Chinese could do to Fonterra.
    International taxation is like Global Warming. To solve it every country has to buy into it.

    • Draco T Bastard 19.1
      7 April 2016 at 10:57 am

      And the RWNJ pops in to tell us that it’s just too hard.

      • alwyn 19.1.1
        7 April 2016 at 11:02 am

        You appear to have clicked on the wrong “reply” icon when you put this comment in.
        Nothing in what you say has any relevance to my views or comment. Try harder in future.

        • Draco T Bastard 19.1.1.1
          7 April 2016 at 11:20 am

          You’re the one who said: International taxation is like Global Warming. To solve it every country has to buy into it.

          Within context that’s implying that it’s something that’s simply too hard to do and therefore we shouldn’t do anything. Especially in light of what you said about China and Fonterra.

          Does every country in the world have to take action against this theft? Well, it would make it easier but we could do our part without waiting for everyone else.

          This comes back to my idea of setting standards for who we trade with having to meet rather than having FTAs. A tax haven wouldn’t meet those standards and thus we wouldn’t allow trade with them. Of course, this does mean that NZ would have to meet those standards as well, i.e, we couldn’t be a tax haven.

          • alwyn 19.1.1.1.1
            7 April 2016 at 11:58 am

            “Within context that’s implying that it’s something that’s simply too hard to do and therefore we shouldn’t do anything”.
            Rubbish. That may be your view but it isn’t mine. To make it work we need to get general agreement on the rules. That isn’t impossible and although it may be hard it isn’t “too hard to do”.

            “Does every country in the world have to take action against this theft”.
            Who is the theft from and what do you want us to do? Do you really think that all trusts are for the purpose of theft?
            If I was an Opposition Singaporean Politician I would probably want to get ownership of any property or assets out of the country. Upset the Lee family there and a compliant judiciary will force you into bankruptcy.

            However, what do you see as the major problem with International Tax and New Zealand? It makes a huge difference whether you think it is supposedly insufficient collection and dissemination of information about a trust or whether you think we should start taxing people who do not live in New Zealand, do no business in New Zealand, but have set up a New Zealand registered trust which actually has no property in New Zealand and has beneficiaries who also don’t live in New Zealand.
            Which is the subject of your concern.

            • Draco T Bastard 19.1.1.1.1.1
              7 April 2016 at 12:41 pm

              hat may be your view but it isn’t mine.

              So, now you’re saying that your view is contrary to what you wrote?

              Who is the theft from and what do you want us to do?

              The theft is from communities and nations and we need to do our bit to stop it.

              Do you really think that all trusts are for the purpose of theft?

              Considering that’s what they’re inevitably used for – yes.

              If I was an Opposition Singaporean Politician I would probably want to get ownership of any property or assets out of the country. Upset the Lee family there and a compliant judiciary will force you into bankruptcy.

              Then the Singaporeans need to do something about that. We may be able to help with that through diplomatic channels but what we shouldn’t be doing is helping people dodge their local laws.

              However, what do you see as the major problem with International Tax and New Zealand?

              I see NZ tax laws helping international criminals escape justice.

              whether you think we should start taxing people who do not live in New Zealand, do no business in New Zealand, but have set up a New Zealand registered trust which actually has no property in New Zealand and has beneficiaries who also don’t live in New Zealand.

              I think such a person shouldn’t have a trust in NZ as the only reason for such a trust is nefarious purposes.

              • McFlock …
                7 April 2016 at 1:11 pm

                Do you really think that all trusts are for the purpose of theft?

                Considering that’s what they’re inevitably used for – yes.

                Interesting point. Trusts are used to keep assets away from situations like bankruptcy – assets that would otherwise be used to clear the debts. What is an ethical reason to have a family trust?

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  7 April 2016 at 6:05 pm

                  For example, a family might set up a trust to ensure that offspring exhibiting National Party values would not be able to sell family assets for personal gain.

        • McFlock 19.1.1.2
          7 April 2016 at 11:38 am

          Interesting: you can’t see the relevance, therefore you believe the relevance must not exist.

          Tory worldview right there…

      • Reddelusion 19.1.2
        7 April 2016 at 11:22 am

        And the guy who pontificates endlessly, simply pontificates leftie dribble with his desired outcome, never backed by a workable or the mechanics of a practical solution, simply wacky proposal that work in his world, ie his living room and Pc

        • adam 19.1.2.1
          7 April 2016 at 11:41 am

          It’s been a bad few weeks, I know, and it’s hard to be smug when you are on the end of such a kicking.

          But Reddelusion, if you put in the effort, and give up on the diet of infallibility you just may survive the fact that this national government are the protectors of uber rich criminals, and those who practice tax avoidance as sport.

        • Draco T Bastard 19.1.2.2
          7 April 2016 at 11:48 am

          I’ve backed all my words with a workable solution. You, on the other hand, merely exclaim that we need to continue with the present failed system and offer no solutions at all.

    • miravox 19.2
      7 April 2016 at 11:21 am

      A balanced view? or self-interested view? From a partner and director of an accounting – oops ‘professional services’ – firm caught up in the LuxLeaks, that is.

      According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), files used for the LuxLeaks revelations come from employees or former employees of Luxembourgish subsidiaries of the international accounting firms: PwC, EY, Deloitte and KPMG (the “Big Four”).

      Between December 2014 and April 2015, three people were indicted in Luxembourg in connection with LuxLeaks revelations. No multinational corporation faces charges in any country or at the international level, due to the so far legality of tax rulings.

      Your last sentence – yup it seems the accountant/authors agree with with Obama. As the heading of this post says, Obama is calling for international tax reform. That these arrangements are legal is the problem.

      • Colonial Viper 19.2.1
        7 April 2016 at 11:59 am

        The Big Four make a shit tonne of money administering these tax haven regimes for major corporates and their wealthy shareholders. And the big banks have been caught doing similar for drug cartels.

        They’re the last people who want tax laws tightened up and simplified.

  20. Murray 20
    7 April 2016 at 11:10 am

    John Key seams to have said that NZ having having shelters to facilitate the wealthy evading tax and criminals laundering money doesn’t really mater very much because it’s legal in NZ. What does that say about his mind set ?.

  21. Murray Simmonds 21
    7 April 2016 at 3:06 pm

    This is absolutely astounding:

    A must-watch video for all Bernie Sanders fans (I’m one!).

    He’s speaking out on America’s free trade deal with Panama and how its all about assisting that country’s endeavours to acquire tax-haven status.

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-04-06/blast-past-%E2%80%93-hillary-clinton-vs-bernie-sanders-panama

    The interesting bit is that he gave this speech to Congress in – wait for it – 2011.

    No, not this week, but 2011.

    I’m impressed.

  22. Murray Simmonds 22
    7 April 2016 at 3:24 pm

    P.s.

    You get a free trade deal with the USA if you agree to keep your country’s tax-haven status alive and well.

    Sounds familiar?

    No wonder the TPPA was negotiated in such secrecy!

  23. Murray Simmonds 23
    7 April 2016 at 4:41 pm

    According to the US-based “Automatic Earth” website, “The Financial Times” has an article on John Key (if I read it right.)

    Unfortunately, its behind the paywall.

    My curiosity is killin’ me. Any subscribers among TS reader?

  24. Murray Simmonds 24
    7 April 2016 at 4:53 pm

    Sorry – misread that its john Kay (not Key). May’ve been wishful thinking on my part.

    Time for that trip to Specsavers, i think.

  25. rod 25
    7 April 2016 at 5:25 pm

    NZ is not a tax dodgers Haven. It’s a tax dodgers Heaven. Three cheers for John Key .
    Nothing to see here!

  26. Tautuhi 26
    7 April 2016 at 9:38 pm

    Is John Key a New Zealander and is he working in the best interests of all New Zealanders?

    He was head hunted out of New York and the Federal Reserve by the mother of the National Party and Fay Richwhite, Michelle Boag for what?

    Can anybody answer this question?

  27. Tautuhi 27
    7 April 2016 at 10:00 pm

    Why are we worrying about this minor issue I am more worried about these lazy dole bludging [r0b: A week off for drive-by racism. Bye], if they would get off their asses and do some work the country wouldn’t be in such a mess.

  28. Goon 28
    9 April 2016 at 7:19 am

    No this is bigger than WikiLeaks and Snowden. With our robot comrades doing all the work and money shuffling turning into a drag on productivity there is increasing idleness. The only acceptable answer to this for the large moderate vote seemingly wealth redistribution. Voters are increasingly going to apply pressure for a fairer tax system. Any politician who doesn’t understand this simply shouldn’t be in the game.

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    Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy. Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • Bread, and how it gets buttered
    Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • Justice for Gaza?
    The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
    Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Reti
    span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
    Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
    Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
    You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Of the Goodness of Tolkien’s Eru
    April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Pastor Who Abused People, Blames People
    Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • Vic Uni shows how under threat free speech is
    The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Winston remembers Gettysburg.
    Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • 25
    She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8.  The universe was ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Is Antarctica gaining land ice?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Policing protests.
    Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago

  • Open letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith
    Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: FastTrackWatch – The Case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Luxon gets out his butcher’s knife – briefly
    Peter Dunne writes –  The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • More tax for less
    Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Real News vs Fake News.
    We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Another way to roll
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Cutting the Public Service
    It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • Luxon’s demoted ministers might take comfort from the British politician who bounced back after th...
    Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious:  we live in a troubled ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • This is how I roll over
    1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • The Waitangi Tribunal is not “a roving Commission”…
    …it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition   NOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes –  The High Court ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same? Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Three Strikes saw lower reoffending
    David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Luxon’s ruthless show of strength is perfect for our angry era
    Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 'Lacks attention to detail and is creating double-standards.'
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • One Night Only!
    Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • What did Melissa Lee do?
    It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #17 2024
    Open access notables Ice acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment: In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Maori Party (with “disgust”) draws attention to Chhour’s race after the High Court rules on Wa...
    Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Who’s Going Up The Media Mountain?
    Mr Bombastic: Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago

  • “That's how I roll”
    It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • “Comity” versus the rule of law
    In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Aotearoa: a live lab for failed Right-wing socio-economic zombie experiments once more…
    Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder. In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    1 week ago

  • Water is at the heart of farmers’ struggle to survive in Benin
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére Sosou Market gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • At a time of media turmoil, Melissa had nothing to proclaim as Minister – and now she has been dem...
    Buzz from the Beehive   Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say.  “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government saves access to medicines
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.    “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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