Open mike 31/07/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 31st, 2015 - 133 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmikeOpen mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

133 comments on “Open mike 31/07/2015 ”

  1. The Fairy Godmother 1

    Does anyone have a link to what Andrew little actually said about the national anthem. My understanding is that he said he didn’t like it much but unlike John key he had better things to do than campaign for it to change. ZB talk back has twisted it to saying he wants to change the anthem.

    • BM 1.1

      Labour leader Andrew Little has described the national anthem as a “dirge” and said many New Zealanders preferred to sing along to the Australian anthem than our own.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11488272

      The anthem isn’t the greatest but why he made the Australian comment really leaves me scratching my head.

      Talk about making life tough for yourself.

      • b waghorn 1.1.1

        Key talks gibberish most days and yet you choose to make a big deal of one off the cuff remark by Little ,look out you’re true colours are showing again.

        • BM 1.1.1.1

          The point about the anthem was completely destroyed by saying people would prefer singing the Australian anthem.

          All this has done is put peoples backs up, bit of a own goal to be honest.

          • adam 1.1.1.1.1

            “Australians all let us rejoice
            For we are young and BM free
            We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil,
            BM waffle is girt by sea: “

            • Rodel 1.1.1.1.1.1

              Perhaps we need lyrics that express what NZ is all about- such as this excerpt from the USA anthem Star Spangled Banner.

              “…And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
              Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there…”

          • David H 1.1.1.1.2

            Looks it’s simple. In this day and age, when we are being sold down the river by the Government. Who gives a royal fuck about the goddam anthem or the bloody Flag!

        • Puckish Rogue 1.1.1.2

          Because John Key has the job and has held it since 2008 so the voters of NZ have an idea of what hes about.

          Andrew Little has really only come to be known by the voting public for, what, six months so hes not really known at all so when he comes out with comments like this its what people will remember about him

      • Skinny 1.1.2

        Not the greatest track for Little to be heading down. Maybe it’s the God bothering aspect? God of….God defend….Christian God we haven’t seen you for a while.

        I actually really like and prefer the Maori version which sounds beautiful compared to the hum drum english version. I love hearing school children singing along to the Maori version it makes ya proud of Te Reo. Is a pity not enough Kiwi’s bother to learn the words, All Black games in Christchurch are a classic example.

        • BM 1.1.3.1

          Yes, it does have a smell of desperation to it and just generally being a bit of a tool by trying to throw spanners in the works.

      • cogito 1.1.4

        Pokarekare ana could be a good national anthem. Great sing-along that everyone loves. Is there an English version…? and if not wouldn’t be hard to come up with some suitable lyrics.

        Personally, I would be more favourable to a change in national anthem than in a change in flag. The flag should remain the same.

        • BM 1.1.4.1

          I’m all for changing the flag, we’re no longer a British colony and the flag really isn’t representative of modern NZ.

          Also it’s a great opportunity for NZ to get a bit of extra coverage on the world stage.

          Fairly average about the anthem apart from All Black games and the Olympics who ever hears it.

          • cogito 1.1.4.1.1

            I want the Union Jack to stay.

          • Gangnam Style 1.1.4.1.2

            “representative of modern NZ” – which will date it for future generations, I mean are we going to continually update our flag to be “representative of modern NZ”.

            What the fuck does “modern NZ” even mean? Its a vanity project for the PM & everyone knows it.

            • BM 1.1.4.1.2.1

              The flag is representative of our colonialist past where all we were was a British Empire out post.

              Modern NZ is a multicultural country that sells it’s products world wide, about we got a flag that represented that.

              The only opposition seems to be coming from whiny old fossils and some lefties, who are actually for it but would rather try to fuck up the process due to their irrational hatred of John Key, then support it.

              • cogito

                For your info, Britain is also “a multicultural country that sells it’s products world wide”. There is absolutely nothing outdated about retaining a visible link to a country that not only is intrinsically linked to NZ through the Treaty, heritage, democratic institutions and customs over many generations, but which is also a European and world leader in any number of different areas.

              • Skinny

                I agree the current flag is crap get rid of the shackles to Empire and toss out the sons and daughters of generations of royal toilet cleaners while we are at it, those bludgers have sucked enough money out of us. Let’s become an independent Nation. And ditch the National anthem, or at least the reference to Gods.

                • cogito

                  @Skinny

                  Are you the face of the “Modern NZ” with your mindless rant? If so, the old one was miles better. God Save The Queen.

                  • Skinny

                    Well if your so in love with the royal bludgers and Mother England you could always you know what.

    • mickysavage 1.2

      This debate reminds me of this Billy Connolly clip …

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9nnnM-__JQ

      • ianmac 1.2.1

        Yes. Billy puts it all in perspective. Great clip Micky.

      • swordfish 1.2.2

        Ha, I had precisely the same thought. An Audience with Billy Connolly from the mid-80s. I remember recording the whole programme at the time on an arcane thing known as ‘A Video Recorder’. (Too complex to explain to younger readers but it was very similar to a gyrocopter – the precursors of today’s helicopter).

        Great to see all those sad old BBC showbiz luvvies of the 80s, some even elaborately endowed with mullet hairdos.

    • Ch_ch chiquita 1.3

      I think this is what you were looking for:

      “That is not a poor reflection on New Zealanders, many of whom would like something different, many of whom would like a change. Many of them want a change to the national anthem, too, because they are sick of singing a dirge every time you turn up to a festive occasion. Most of them sing along to the Australian national anthem before they sing along to our own. They want something different, but they do not want it at a time—and they do not want this Government, which parades itself as the great financial managers and the great financial responsibility – people of the generation, spending $17 million—when this country can ill afford it. ”

      http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/debates/debates/51HansD_20150728_00000020/new-zealand-flag-referendums-bill-%E2%80%94-second-reading

      • The Fairy Godmother 1.3.1

        Thanks for that Ch_ch chiquita that is what I was looking for. It looks like the whole thing was totally taken out of context and Andrew Little’s ideas were misrepresented – an academic offence as bad as plagiarism. It seems like the media are desperate to find something anything to pin on Little, untrue when he basically said their are heaps of problems out there and spending time on the flag is a waste of time and although he understands why some people might want to change it as he might want to change the anthem now is neither the time or place.

  2. Wairua 2

    When a boatload of highly motivated entrepreneurs next beaches itself in John Keys electorate he should go down there to thank them for the increased competition and remind them that there is no reichstag .. sorry, upper house .. to prevent *any* future prime minister changing our flag on a whim.

  3. Saarbo 3

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11489246

    A good article on NZ’s Dairy demise out of todays NZH.

    • Charles 3.1

      “Critics like to compare Fonterra – unfavourably – with the successful but tiny co-op Tatua. But that criticism overlooks the fact that Tatua operates deep in the heart of prime Waikato dairy country, with most of its suppliers close to its processing facilities. While Tatua focuses on high end, niche products, Fonterra’s sheer size means it doesn’t have the same luxury.”

      It’s almost as if they haven’t heard of what American corps were doing in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. It ‘s almost as if they’re thick as shit. Have any of them studied at Harvard? Do any of them even have an MBA?

      “We don’t have the same luxury… boohooohooohoooooo!”

      This why we can’t have nice things. They don’t even know the parameters of their own stupid game, but goddamnit, they want respect… yessireee! Must be the po’ folk’s fault – not working hard enough, long enough, cheap enough.

    • Ad 3.2

      Also sad that Theo Spierings is clear in another article that he will not change direction.

      In both international trade diplomacy, and in economic management, this is a catastrophe of political leadership about our largest company by the Prime Minister.

      National will lose the farming community over this.
      National will also lose media sentiment.

      Key must act.

  4. adam 4

    Last night Bernie Sanders had an online organisation meeting, with at least 600 networked local organisation meetings across America. Now one of the reasons I like Bernie, is this clip – He is the leader for the president, but stands aside when other leaders are needed on other issues. If only we had more of that on the left in NZ.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQi2gTD4Jzo

    • ianmac 4.1

      Amazing chap that Bernie. And he is gaining resonance. No doubt the knives will be out to try and demolish him. Perhaps they will call on Whaleoil’s Dirty Tricks to help wipe him out?

    • Bill 4.2

      Jeez Adam, ease up! Next you’ll be openly stating that the power of ideas should take precedence over the power of (vain)glorious leaders! 😉

  5. Tiger Mountain 5

    the ‘yankee devils’ sure do things differently with their politics, Bernie would just make the Labour party here, but over there he is a “god damn socialist”

    • adam 5.1

      He is just a social democrat – lets you know how far to the right american politics has gone.

  6. Northsider 6

    The arrogant clique that believes they are born to rule the Labour Party in England are getting their comeuppance. For too long a small elite followed a path through Oxbridge directly into party jobs and then parachuted into safe seats against the wishes of the locals. Jeremy Corbyn’s ascent has challenged that clique. Labour everywhere needs to overturn the self serving technocrats who are responsible for the current state of powerlessness.n

    Remind you of the career path of many in Wellington? The Labour Party here needs to be a lot tougher on the smug group that believes they get the cabinet posts once their turn come in the “cycle”.

  7. Puckish Rogue 7

    http://www.philquin.com/blog/2015/7/30/judging-by-their-discussion-paper-labours-future-of-work-involves-a-lot-of-cutting-and-pasting

    Well looking on the positive side since Robertsons plagiarised others work it means the document is probably well written 🙂

    • Northsider 7.1

      Amy student caught doing that in a paper would have the paper rejected, get a fail and have some further sanction applied.

      • Tracey 7.1.1

        dont be so sure. they would appeal, threaten to drop out and in a desire to retain eft … thats money to ordinary folk…. an exception would be made

        • Puckish Rogue 7.1.1.1

          I don’t have an issue with this in all seriousness, if a politician can find something on-line that explains what they’re talking about then they should use it

        • Northsider 7.1.1.2

          All 3rd level teacher use the software to check papers for plagerism. It’s the teachers call how to respond: many, I’d say most, would reject this attempt.

          • McFlock 7.1.1.2.1

            god yeah – third year students would be in the shit.

            Although on the flipside this is a website, not an academic work. I recall one health and safety manual that had a section on dealing with workplace stress – one of the suggestions was to go for a sauna at the Waikato Students’ Union recreation centre. My employer at the time was in Dunedin 🙂

          • Tracey 7.1.1.2.2

            tertiary can use turnitin BUT that doesnt determine the co sequence. too often the folding stuff wins through.

      • McFlock 7.1.2

        lol they’ve now added footnotes that weren’t in google cache version from last night.

    • maui 7.2

      Wow, this Quin guy is a really helpful Labour Party member. First create a think tank of where Labour policy is all wrong and now he’s just lobbing grenades in from the outside.

      • Northsider 7.2.1

        If we allow our leaders to feel they are beyond reproach they will end up like the English Labour Party.

    • rhinocrates 7.3

      Calling Robertson a plagiarist suggests that the poseur actually did some work, expending actual energy. Possibly even thinking.

      • rhinocrates 7.3.1

        Actually, since that oil slick Goff is supposedly being pensioned off to try to be the next ageing middle-class white guy to be mayor of that multicultural metropolis, Auckland, with Robertson’s penchant for plagiarism, couldn’t be be sold to the Maxim Institute?

      • Bill Drees 7.3.2

        Labour’s greatest resource is its Policy generation capability . We can produce more and better policy than every other party put together and more again.

        Why the hell did Robertson have to resort to this when we have the real stuff by the bucketful. Is there a disconnect between our Policy Council and the front bench ?

    • Bill 7.4

      Unfortunately, there’s a reasonable argument to be had that Labour are a cut and paste party. They scout around and ‘focus group’ on various bits and pieces then paste together something they reckon we’ll vote for.

      Contrast with Corbyn of UK Labour or the SNP…they know where they stand and what they stand for, and then say where they stand and promote things on the basis of what they stand for.

      Reminds me of a recent opinion piece in ‘the Guardian’. DJ’s. New comes along and puts a set together on what they imagine punters want. They fade away…just the ‘same old, same old’. Another new one comes along and plays what they themselves want and like. Audience numbers might drop initially, but then….

  8. JeevesPOnzi 8

    I’m resolving to cut back on dairy products until I lose another 5 kilos, or the price starts coming down to meet global prices.

  9. Molly 9

    Like the way that the Shell No kayaktivists have reclaimed the activist tag.

    They continue their protest after Obama grants consent for exploratory drilling in the Artic. (Good photos.)

  10. Tracey 10

    are we seeing a secret deal to make key and groser look good? dairy industry spokespeople from nz and canada suggest retractable positions. are they being duped too and the pollies will announce a deal? problem for canada is a good deal for groser and key will lead to outrage in the canadian dairy community?

    just seems key and groser at complete odds with our main exporter over achievements in tpp?

    will key and groser really sign something that is useless for dairy or will that clause state that discussions will be ongoing? which is still a loss for nz dairy.

    • Puckish Rogue 10.1

      I get the feeling that Key is biding his time, letting the left say its all doom and gloom about the partnership and then he’ll make an announcement thats quite good for NZ and will make the left look like chicken Littles (again)

      • Sabine 10.1.1

        so you are saying that the Federated Farmers are on the left side of the political spectrum?

        http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/

        and Fonterra is also on the left side of the political spectrum?

        http://www.fonterra.com/nz/en/About/Our+Locations/NewZealand

        really?

        like double really?

        oh boy oh boy oh boy

        • Puckish Rogue 10.1.1.1

          I’m saying that like the previous budget where National suggested it was going to be tight and the Left led by the exulted Andrew Little made all sorts nonsense statements and Key then announced that benes would be getting an increase in their payments thereby making the left and Mr Andrew Little look like they’d jumped the gun

          • Enough is Enough 10.1.1.1.1

            You mean the budget where Key PROMISED us a surplus, then delivered a $100B debt?

          • freedom 10.1.1.1.2

            “announced that benes” beneficiaries with children “would be getting an increase in their payment”
            the spin might anger National party supporters more easily the way you parrot it, but sorry PR -facts matter

      • ianmac 10.1.2

        You could be right. Key signs. Lauds the wonderful job he has done. Ra RA Ra.
        But the actual text is embargoed for four years!
        By the time we find out just what he has done he will be off to be the Chairman of IMF or something.

        • Puckish Rogue 10.1.2.1

          Well its a simple trick isn’t it especially when you know whats in the deal but the opposition doesn’t

          • Sabine 10.1.2.1.1

            and you are ok with an elected official signing an agreement that is binding for your and your offspring, but who will not let you know what the heck he is signing.

            Are you sure that you are as comfortable about this as is dear Leader, who is financially well cushioned, who can leave this country to live elsewhere, and who surely will be profiting from signing this “Free Trade Agreement”.

            Are you ?

            • Puckish Rogue 10.1.2.1.1.1

              Yes I am, our politicians are voted in because we decide we want them to make the decisions on running this country so I’m comfortable about this

              • Sabine

                We did not decide that,

                WE (i) and a million others effectively voted against dear Leader, WE (1 million) are so dis-interested or dis-enfranchised they did not vote at all, and WE (you and 1 million others) voted for National, The Maori Party, The conservatives and any of the others supplier parties that support the National Party in its endeavors.

                So not WE did not decide anything. And even you are not deciding anything, considering that no one is asking you 🙂

                I just asked if you were comfortable to be signed up for an agreement which is going to cost you more in Health Care, and so on.

                But obviously you are….so as you were.

                • Puckish Rogue

                  The old we didn’t agree to it so National don’t have a mandate arguement again

                  Don’t worry I’ll remember that when Labour eventually are able to form a government

                  • Sabine

                    Puckish, it is a democracy, so while National won they will also have two rule for the two million people that did not vote for them.

                    Are you happy for a dictator? Puckish, is that what you actually are looking for …. a Putin style figure? Really?

                    • Draco T Bastard

                      All of the right-wing prefer dictatorship. You can see it in everything that they say on here, the way that they support this governments dictatorial actions that go against what the people of NZ want.

        • Enough is Enough 10.1.2.2

          No in four years Key will hopefully be in Mt Eden awaiting sentencing on his treason and corruption convictions.

          • Puckish Rogue 10.1.2.2.1

            In fours time John Key will still be the leader of NZ and will be preparing to step down 🙂

        • Marvellous Bearded Git 10.1.2.3

          @ianmac
          Someone will leak the text.

          • ianmac 10.1.2.3.1

            What puzzles me MBG is how after the treaty has been signed how can it be debated/approved/disapproved by any of the other parties unless it is in the other MPs hands?

            • Marvellous Bearded Git 10.1.2.3.1.1

              Me too. What the hell is going on?

              I guess we have to rely on Honest-John* assuring us that voting for it will be good for NZ…..cue hollow laugh.

              I think parliament knew what was in the Korea and China deals before they were voted on?

              *sarc

        • tc 10.1.2.4

          He’ll be in a role enforcing or benefitting what he’s implementing now.

          It’s how the bankstas work.

      • maui 10.1.3

        PR, there won’t be any surprise that this will be good for NZ. There may be some lie dished out that it is, but that will be quickly seen through. NZ is the equivalent of a 6 year old child turning up to the negotiating table, we’ll be given a couple of sweets by mummy and daddy and told to run along, which we’ll do rather excitedly.

      • Tracey 10.1.4

        you realise the dairy industry people being negative are probably nat voters

        • tc 10.1.4.1

          dairy is just another commodity to trade in keys world.

          He’s not focused on a 4th Term he’s assured his future by implementing the backers hollowmen checklist.

  11. mac1 11

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/70508896/marlborough-ecosystems-being-destroyed

    Feeling a bit dejected today with the above news that was highlighted today on National Radio.

    What can happen to a beautiful environment when there is little restriction upon harmful activities by companies and individual boat owners to harm the Sounds seabed by siltation from forestry, dredging and the use of anchors.

    One generation of Kiwis (and the odd overseas-owned company) who have caused significant degradation, assisted by insufficent protection afforded by national and local government, insufficient monitoring and policing, lack of authority to make the changes.

    • Gangnam Style 11.1

      I heard on the radio the other day that big salmon farm was looking to expand down here in the south, they were talking about creating farms around Stewart Island & Milford Sound, which seems crazy to me environmentally wise)

  12. BM 12

    Must say the site’s running slower then a wet week.

    When I open up Chrome developer tools , there’s lots of 504 errors.

    I noticed that there was also an error relating to this bit of code

    [script type=”text/javascript”]
    // do this late so the display updates after jquery runs
    document.getElementById(“single-top”).style.visibility = “visible”;
    document.getElementById(“single-bottom”).style.visibility = “visible”;
    [/script]

    You might want to use this

    https://learn.jquery.com/using-jquery-core/document-ready/

  13. Lynda Brown 13

    Please please tell me Grant Robertson did not plagiarise other people’s work without giving credit in an official Labour Party discussion paper.
    Too many own goals lately.

    • Karen 13.1

      It was evidently Clare Curran. How stupid can you get.

    • alwyn 13.2

      I would love to be able to tell you that Lynda.
      The only problem is that if I did so I would be lying and not being an MP I don’t do that.
      Sorry but he did copy the material. Someone cancel his Economist subscription.

      • Puckish Rogue 13.2.1

        I can’t believe i’m doing this but I really don’t see what the big deal is, if what he copied and pasted is the same as what he wants put down on paper then why not use it?

        At the very least it probably makes it more readable then the usual political waffle that comes out

        • Lanthanide 13.2.1.1

          That’s my sort of feeling on it, too.

          Yes, plagiarism is stupid and it ‘looks bad’, but on the other hand, at least they’re plagiarising from a fairly authoritative and respected source?

          • ianmac 13.2.1.1.1

            Herald: “Labour Party MP Clare Curran has apologised for lifting paragraphs from business magazine The Economist for an issues paper on the “Future of Work”.

            Ms Curran, the party’s ICT spokeswoman, admitted this afternoon that sections of the issues paper which she was responsible for had not been attributed.

            “A large number of documents were used during the research for this paper, from many sources over a period of weeks and months,” the Dunedin South MP said in a statement.”

            Be no point in deliberately plagiarising so benefit of the doubt?

            And wasn’t it kind of ex-Labour supporter Phil Quin to go public so that Clare would have no chance to correct.

            • Anne 13.2.1.1.1.1

              And wasn’t it kind of ex-Labour supporter Phil Quin to go public so that Clare would have no chance to correct.

              My thoughts too ianmac. He is all heart and generosity of spirit. Especially where the LP is concerned. (sarc)

              Having spent the last five or more years publicly running down Labour at every opportunity, I was surprised to discover he was still a member…

          • Karen 13.2.1.1.2

            I have no problem with cut and paste as log as you acknowledge the source in a footnote. Clare has only added footnotes because she was caught out.

            The point is that was a stupid thing to do for someone who claims to be a communication expert.

            • Roflcopter 13.2.1.1.2.1

              It’s worse than that, the citations were all re-worded slightly, so trying to just say she forgot the footnotes is a load of shit.

            • Draco T Bastard 13.2.1.1.2.2

              Yep. If you take a quote from a source make sure that it’s actually in quotation marks and is sourced. It’s not that hard and both MS Word and LibreOffice have referencing systems and both can also export to PDF.

              • Anne

                If you take a quote from a source make sure that it’s actually in quotation marks and is sourced.

                It amazes me that anyone wouldn’t know to do that unless they were trying to pretend it was their own work. I don’t know……… sigh.

          • Tracey 13.2.1.1.3

            chuckle…. but why not acknowledge. .. unless you claimed to have spent weeks on it instead of a day?

    • Ovid 13.3

      Facepalm. I mean, I like the Economist, but the overlap between political nerds and Economist readers is quite high.

  14. Tautoko Mangō Mata 14

    So the Police are going to carry tasers at all times. Are they anticipating civil unrest??

    • Sabine 14.1

      compliance enforcement.

      still late for any crime…..and no good for anything other then writing tickets, but at least they get to torture their compatriots.

    • Draco T Bastard 14.2

      Are they anticipating civil unrest??

      Probably as it’s generally what happens when dictatorships oppress the poor to enrich the wealthy.

  15. Lynda Brown 15

    How could she?

    • Karen 15.1

      Clare Curran has always been a lightweight. Good intentions, but too willing to make the easy hits without doing the real work required.

      I really wish they’d give broadcasting to somebody who has a better handle on the problem than she has ever exhibited. Unfortunately Labour have never understood how important public broadcasting is to democracy.

  16. Olwyn 16

    This is a good, clearly expressed article on Greece, Europe and the neo-liberal project.
    http://www.redpepper.org.uk/finance-vs-democracy-in-greece/

    In reading this, and other similar pieces over the past few months, I have come to see why the adherents of neo-liberalism claim to reject ideology, and to be ideology-free themselves. Along with Plato’s Thrasymachus, they think that “justice is the will of the powerful,” and that this is just the way the world is. To do well, you must roll with the fact rather than fruitlessly beat your head against it. John Key and Paula Bennett, for example, very likely see things in just this light. However, when dissent breaks out around the edges of the “realist” view to which they are committed, they are forced to defend it as an ideology, whether or not they class it as one.

    • Tracey 16.1

      thanks for the link.

      the nbr is suggesting that success is measure in millions. by that definition we are a nation of failures… minus a few people. such nonsense of a measure. however the growth of their wealth since gfc in stark comparrison to wages for middle class and lower shows something is wrong and it isnt just about working hard.

    • Draco T Bastard 16.2

      What’s happened to Greece over the last few years is probably the best proof we have that capitalism is anathema to democracy.

      • Olwyn 16.2.1

        I agree. At least the Syriza government has robbed them of democracy as a fig leaf under which to operate. Their tyranny is now out in the open.

        • Draco T Bastard 16.2.1.1

          Wow, did you really do that? Blame Syriza for the undemocratic actions of the Troika in forcing austerity upon Greece?

          The tyranny is from the private banks and others who want their pound of flesh.

          • Olwyn 16.2.1.1.1

            Sorry – terrible wording, I was a bit tired and distracted at the time. I meant that in dealing with Syriza, who took democracy’s side against them, they were forced to show themselves for the tyrants they are.

  17. Sabine 17

    absurdistan is us

    http://www.metromag.co.nz/current-affairs/how-bizarre/

    or maybe we wanna call it bizarro world 🙂

  18. ianmac 18

    Thanks Sabine. Brilliant work by Graham. Love the report on Mr Shaws speech to Parliament regarding our supporting in the Middle East,

    “The Countering Terrorist Fighters Legislation Bill, which was passed in this House yesterday after several minutes of careful consideration and thoughtful debate… is designed to stop New Zealanders from going to fight for the Islamic State, which is fighting the Iraqi government, which we support. And we will shortly be sending the military over to help Iraq fight the Islamic State, which definitely will not have any New Zealanders fighting with them because we said so – yesterday.

    “We also support Saudi Arabia, which also supports the Islamic State, which is fighting the government of Iraq, which we also support. The Middle East is a very supportive environment right now. Our military will feel well-supported when they get over there. I will tell this House whom we do not support, and that is President al-Assad in Syria. We do support some of the freedom fighters who are fighting against President al-Assad, who are primarily led by the Islamic State, but we do not support the Islamic State. We also do not support Iran, which also does not support the Islamic State, and which does support the government of Iraq, which we do support……”

  19. gsays 19

    Hi bill, re focus group politcking:
    i recently watched tony benn clip on weathercocks vs signposts.
    How appropriate

  20. Draco T Bastard 20

    This type of shit was prevalent amongst the rich and powerful of Rome just before its collapse as well:

    The powerful, wealthy Roman Emperors inevitably became corrupt and many lived a debauched and immoral lifestyle.

    A decline in morals, especially in the rich upper classes and the emperors, had a devastating impact on the Romans. Immoral and promiscuous sexual behaviour including adultery and orgies.

    In fact, there is much in that article that mirrors a lot of what is happening in today’s society especially the corruption and debauchery of the rich.

    • adam 20.1

      Have you read “Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle” by Chris Hedges – Draco T Bastard? Fits nicely with what your saying.

      “A culture that does not grasp the vital interplay between morality and power, which mistakes management techniques for wisdom, and fails to understand that the measure of a civilization is its compassion, not its speed or ability to consume, condemns itself to death.”
      ― Chris Hedges, Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

  21. whateva next? 21

    I see the media are hoeing into the “Future of Work” bu Labour, no surprises there then….

  22. whateva next? 22

    I see they are hoeing into Labour’s “Future of Work” in the media already, jealous maybe?

    • Colonial Rawshark 22.1

      Labour’s future of work programme is well meaning, but wrong headed. Labour can’t even deal with today’s youth unemployment let alone that of the next 20 years. Climate change, immediate transition off fossil fuels, and caring/creative activities must be the centre points of the future of work.

      Or maybe everyone can become web site designers.

  23. emergency mike 23

    Hong Kong protester gets 3 1/2 months jail for assaulting a police officer with her breasts. Video shows her being shoved to the ground and blood streaming from her nose. No word on whether or not the police officer is ok.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/70721000/woman-jailed-after-accusing-police-officer-of-groping-her-during-protest-in-hong-kong

  24. James 24

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11490084

    “there is no evidence of criminal offending”.

    So that clears Cam on that count. One to Whaleoil.

  25. Draco T Bastard 25

    Australia needs to get over its recession ‘temperament’ says NZ prime minister John Key

    Nothing more needs to be said except that Key is telling Australia that they need more confidence and that we have growing confidence because economics is all about confidence.

    • greywarshark 25.1

      The sound of music – I have confidence. It’s all we need – business is so rationally economic, or economically rational and yet they take confidence readings, news items abound with the feelings of business people. It would be funny if it wasn’t so… funny.
      (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzs0oUUFWmM)

  26. Anne 26

    Oh dear oh dear,

    The police are covering up for Slater. Claim he and Ede committed no offence when they hacked into Labour’s computer system. Slater’s going to demand an apology from Little.

    Geez… I hope Little ridicules him and tells him where to get off in the strongest of language.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11490084

    • McFlock 26.2

      The letter from Mr Drew spelled Mr Hager’s name wrong and the name of the Labour Party general secretary Tim Barnett.

      Looks like they put the same amount of effort into the letter as they put into the rest of the investigation.

    • tinfoilhat 26.3

      I’ve read the police correspondence and can’t see how the police are “covering” for Slater ?

    • Alan W 26.4

      pretty strong claim there Anne, got any evidence to back it up??????

    • James 26.5

      Your tin foil hat is slipping and the crazy is coming out.

      Do you have any evidence AT ALL that the police are covering up for Slater?

      No?

      Thought not – thats simply being a liar.

  27. Morrissey 27

    Racism explodes in Australian football

    The infamous racism that has stained Australia for more than two centuries has blown up over the last week. I commend anyone who is interested to read the following article from the ABC website. Interestingly, and legitimately, “leftrightout” in the comments section compares Adam Goodes’ theatricality to the New Zealand haka. Depressingly, however, a couple of ignorami (“Fincon” and “doikus”) reckon there is no comparison. …

    Goodes’ war dance reveals our moral confusion
    by MICHAEL BRADLEY, Thursday 30 July 2015
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-30/bradley-goodes-war-dance-reveals-our-moral-confusion/6657960

    …. Certainly the serial booing of Goodes is racist and unjustifiable. The probability that most of the idiots doing it don’t have much idea why doesn’t excuse them.

    As for those who have sought to defend the victimisation of Goodes, their principal rationale seems to be that his imaginary spear throwing was offensively violent, or that somehow this is all his fault. As Alan Jones explained it, people aren’t booing Goodes because he’s black, they’re booing him because he’s a sook. He just needs to stop playing the victim over tiddling matters like people calling him an ape. This reverse logic is just a fig leaf to cover the latent racism that always lies just under the Australian surface and which Goodes has managed to provoke out of hiding.

    There is, however, an interesting conundrum here, for racists and anti-racists alike. Racism as a subject matter is actually a morass of confusion; morality, law, rights and emotions all mingled together in a mess that defies the drawing of distinct lines.

    Goodes probably knew he’d get a reaction. He was probably tired of being told to go back in the zoo and worse, tired of being minimised and objectified because of his skin colour and heritage. So he chose to respond with a potent piece of physical symbolism, and he hit a raw nerve. Not many AFL supporters would know that Governor Arthur Phillip was speared in the shoulder and nearly died at Manly Beach in 1790. But they are unconsciously reflecting a collective cultural memory of White Australia that Aborigines weren’t supposed to fight back, as well as the dread of what could happen when they did. ….

    Read more….
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-30/bradley-goodes-war-dance-reveals-our-moral-confusion/6657960

  28. burt 28

    Effective immediately the management of this prison must be replaced by a private company. Heads must roll and ministers responsible for the department running this place should resign.

    How does an inmate get a weapon into court ?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/70721140/inquiry-into-how-remand-prisoner-had-weapon-when-he-appeared-in-court

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    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 ...
    4 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    7 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    8 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    8 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    9 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    10 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    13 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    13 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    15 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    16 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    18 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T10:35:17+00:00