Parata replaces Collins and Adams as National’s weakest link

Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, March 20th, 2014 - 57 comments
Categories: Hekia parata, Judith Collins, national, same old national, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Election years are funny things.  The most accomplished of politicians can make mistakes. And amongst National’s cabinet there have been a few recent examples.

Firstly Crusher Collins self combusts.  Her lack of judgment in engaging in activity while on an official trip to China to speak on corruption which supported a private company of which her husband David Wong Tung is a director of and from who National has received large donations is breathtaking.  It seems that her sense of entitlement shut off her logic chip.

Then news of Amy Adams having some involvement in decisions that will benefit Canterbury farmers including herself hit the public consciousness although in a low key way.

But in terms of stupidity and hubris these episodes have been drowned out by Hekia Parata’s efforts this week.

On Sunday she effectively announced a radical change to school funding policy that would mean that poor schools would almost inevitably have their support cut.  She then tried to back away from this and in Parliament denied saying what was reported.  But the transcript of the interview released after this denial would suggest that reporter Jonathan Milne is right and Parata is … well …

Yesterday things went completely pear shaped for Parata following her claiming that the Kohanga Reo National Trust had been exonerated of claims of inappropriate spending.

The original story was broken by Native Affairs into the running of the Kohanga Reo movement.  The programme was called Feathering the Nest.  Part 2 is here.  The Kohanga Reo National Trust was asked a series of questions in the preparation of the story and responded by seeking a High Court injunction in an attempt to preventing the story from being broadcast.  This tactic backfired as trustees were then obliged to make sworn statements about trust spending.  The Trust eventually backed down.

The investigation concerned spending on credit cards belonging to Te Pātaka Ōhanga Limited which is the trading entity associated with the trust.  Both entities have the same people at the top and the KRNT is the only shareholder of TPO.  The basic concern is that money was being spent for personal benefit rather than on education for kids.  A number of examples were given in the Native Affairs programmes suggesting that the TPO credit card was being used regularly for what appeared to be personal matters.

Parata then called for a review by Ernst and Young.  The terms of reference were to assess the effectiveness of the financial internal controls over public funding received by the Trust.  With the benefit of hindsight these were clearly deficient and the wrong question was asked.  The complaints were about the use of credit cards, not just the spend of the Government grant the Trust.  The report which was released this week did say about credit card use “[w]e reviewed the 2012 credit card returns in detail and noted many returns did not include relevant supporting documentation.”

The circumstances surrounding the release of the E&Y report are incredible.  Despite repeated requests it appears that Parata’s media advisory about the release of the report was not sent to any of the Native Affairs Team even though they were responsible for the original story.  There is more than a slight whiff of sour grapes about this.  And even more incredibly the press conference was called at short notice for 8 pm on a Tuesday night and reporters were given a copy of the report only 10 minutes before they were meant to ask questions.  Tracy Watkins has described the background as follows:

During a press conference on Tuesday night Parata blustered and bullied her way through questions about her assurance that none of the $92 million in public funding allocated to the Kohanga Reo National Trust, or paid to its subsidiary, Te Pataka Ohanga, had been misspent.

After giving reporters 10 minutes to read the report by accountants Ernst & Young, Parata announced: “I am satisfied that public moneys are being expended in the appropriate way.”

When it was eventually pointed out to her that none of the spending relating to wedding dresses or Trelise Cooper outfits had been addressed by the report, she triumphantly told reporters that these matters were never included in the terms of reference.

She insisted, meanwhile, that there were no instances of the subsidiary receiving public money.

It took a Kohanga Reo National Trust board member to eventually confirm that kohanga reo got money from the Ministry of Education and the subsidiary got its money from kohanga reo.

Yesterday’s turnaround where the matter was referred to the Serious Fraud Office for consideration is as complete a political reversal as I have ever witnessed.  Parata has claimed there are new allegations.  Time will tell if she is saying the truth.  The only benefit for the Government is that Parata can now refuse to answer questions on the basis the matter is being investigated but her credibility, or what is left of it, has been severely wounded.

So Hekia Parata has now become National’s weakest link.  And Key has a terrible decision to make.  Does he sack her now and lose face but stop the mishaps or does he continue with her and hope that she makes no further mistakes.  After what has happened this week I suspect that her days are numbered.

57 comments on “Parata replaces Collins and Adams as National’s weakest link ”

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  1. Lanthanide 1
    20 March 2014 at 9:28 am

    Hat-tip to Zorr yesterday in Open Mike, he posted this but it didn’t seem to get much notice since it was late in the day.

    John Key also has links to Oravida and there were photos of him on the Chinese website appearing to endorse their products.

    http://agrihq.co.nz/article/milk-runner-tangles-pm-in-product-endorsement?p=7

  2. Tracey 2
    20 March 2014 at 9:32 am

    you can just hear the upper echelons of the national party

    ” this is why we shouldnt have so many women in the party or cabinet.”

    but how does key escape given that simple fact checking catches his numerous lies… as with brownlee? brownlee was minister for pike river but its wilkinson who resigns.

    • mickysavage 2.1
      20 March 2014 at 9:34 am

      I suspect that “the left is being sexist” will be used to try and counter this but Parata’s behaviour in particular is just so mindboglingly bad that it has to be commented on. I agree that Brownlee also deserves attention and Kevin Hague yesterday in Parliament made comments about Tony Ryall which deserve to be checked out.

      • Tracey 2.1.1
        20 March 2014 at 12:28 pm

        agree they all nee calling to account, just interesting to note who gets publically flagellated for some time, by the media and others, and who dont

  3. karol 3
    20 March 2014 at 9:50 am

    Now Judith Collins seems to be trying to silence the media, while Key does a PR initiative in support of Oravida. Is it that Key and Collins are throwing Parata to the wolves partly to take some heat off themselves?

    Collins lays complaint with TVNZ. NewstalkZB.

    Judith Collins is fuming over what she’s labelled a “smear piece” from Television New Zealand.

    She’s filed a complaint after One News lead their 6pm bulletin tonight with a story following the allegations over Collins’ meeting with milk company Oravida.

    NZ Herald:

    Mr Key said that what Ms Collins had told him about the dinner was consistent with what she had said in Parliament yesterday. Asked about Ms Collins lodging a formal complaint against TVNZ for its coverage, Mr Key said he had not seen the report in question.

    “In the end I leave ministers to deal with their own situations.”

    • mickysavage 3.1
      20 March 2014 at 9:55 am

      Thanks karol.

      I kept wondering about the phrase “consistent with” which Key kept using. This leaves open the possibility that Key was not told everything by Collins. An incomplete description of something can be “consistent with” a more complete description.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1
        20 March 2014 at 10:04 am

        I figure it means that they’ve colluded on exactly what to say so that they can make literally true statements and yet still mislead the house.

        I think the “incomplete description” is the one Collins is giving Parliament.

    • BM 3.2
      20 March 2014 at 10:52 am

      I get the feeling the Labour media division is a bit larger than just the Maori unit.

      Hopefully this formal complaint shakes a few more of the lefty media monkeys out of the TVNZ tree.

      Unbiased public TV/Radio is good for everyone.

  4. Enough is Enough 4
    20 March 2014 at 9:51 am

    There is another weak link.

    After the revealtions last night about Key’s corrupt dinners and golf with the Chinese, I think we should focus the blow torch on him.

    I think we have a crack. He must resign over this

    • mickysavage 4.1
      20 March 2014 at 11:07 am

      Here is the transcript of part of Key’s recent interview on the Nation:

      Well it’s a small world and a small country, I mean when I played gold for them, it was because I was bought in a charity event, and he bought that charity event and I’ve offered myself up on a number of occasions to do that, rather than dinners, because I’d, frankly rather have the exercise and enjoy playing golf.

      So there’s no great conspiracy there, and people see those photos and they see all that, and as long as there’s transparency as there was in terms of the donations, I mean interestingly enough, Labour Party attacking us for that.

      I have never though of National as being a charity …

      http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1403/S00103/patrick-gower-interview-with-prime-minister-john-key.htm

      • veutoviper 4.1.1
        20 March 2014 at 12:26 pm

        Much as I don’t have much time for Patrick Gower (who is currently in China), he is still on to the “charity” aspect and this morning has filed a blog post on this at http://t.co/WSDOqRsQ2a

        On his Twitter stream he has also put up some tweets about Key and Shi at the dinner last night in China. https://twitter.com/patrickgowernz

        A couple of the tweets in particular are worth “expand”ing for the comments and contributors (eg Cactus Kate and Bevan Cheung amongst others). These ones

        “Just met Oravida owner Stone Shi …”

        “Oravida owner Stone Shi paid money to a charity called the National Party ….

        • Tracey 4.1.1.1
          20 March 2014 at 12:56 pm

          cldnt find cactus kates, but its amazing to watch nat supporters spinning the nats out of this. some folks need a lesson in rationalisations.

        • David H 4.1.1.2
          20 March 2014 at 6:58 pm

          On TV3 tonight he did a walk through the Oravida offices just dropped in and what do you know there’s another golf game between Key and Shi. And pics of Collins and key every where. Dunno what they said to Gower to light a fire under him.

          • Clemgeopin 4.1.1.2.1
            20 March 2014 at 8:40 pm

            Gower walking into the Oravida office uninvited with his cameraman, showing us ALL the shady politicians’ photos on the walls, opening the office fridge to pick the milk bottle etc was a very good journalistic scoop! The poor workers at that office had no clue what was happening! They probably thought Gower was another slimy NZ cabinet minister and served him cups of tea while he was happily exposing their totally discredited outfit and our politicians! Very funny!

      • veutoviper 4.1.2
        20 March 2014 at 3:11 pm

        MS, I found this post on NRT to the point re the ‘charity’ issue. As I/S says, Key should be more careful ….

        http://www.norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/political-parties-are-not-charities.html

        • mickysavage 4.1.2.1
          20 March 2014 at 6:11 pm

          And Paddy has established there was a second golf game …

          Wonder which charity payment for this game went???

          • Tracey 4.1.2.1.1
            20 March 2014 at 6:37 pm

            Funny how the pm can recall the second one was in papakura… when you consider how many more important things he claims to have forgotte.

            J collins electorate of course.

          • Anne 4.1.2.1.2
            20 March 2014 at 6:43 pm

            And here is the new photo

            According to Paddy Gower a donation of $56,000 was forthcoming soon after the game. In other words the charity was the Nat. Party.

            When the video becomes available will post. It’s hilarious! Gower gets the bit between his teeth and never lets go…

              • veutoviper …
                20 March 2014 at 9:04 pm

                I laughed and laughed.

                The worm has turned – or seems to have (the cynic in me is still alive and well).

                Just came back online so must go check out Paddy’s Twitter account and various others.

                • veutoviper …
                  20 March 2014 at 9:26 pm

                  Initial report back – Paddy is quiet; but Judith Collins is not a “happy chappy/lady”.

                  Collins and Grant Robertson have been having a “domestic”. with Madam Collins/Wong Tung accusing Robertson of spreading disgusting accusations about her private life! …….

                  https://twitter.com/JudithCollinsMP

                  Forget Reality TV; try reality Twitter.

    • Naki Man 4.2
      20 March 2014 at 1:36 pm

      Corrupt dinners.
      Are you really that ignorant or are you just pretending to be a total fuckwit.
      You have no understanding of how business is done.
      Typical lefty fuckwit

      • One Anonymous Bloke 4.2.1
        20 March 2014 at 1:44 pm

        You dumb motherfucker. What part of “politicians doing business” doesn’t ring alarm bells on your planet?

        What does “conflict of interest” mean if not this?

        We need better wingnuts.

        • framu 4.2.1.1
          20 March 2014 at 4:12 pm

          yeah – ol naki man is a pale shadow compared to your pete george or redbaiter (being the two ends of the wingnut commentor spectrum)

          shit – hes not even a king kong

      • Tracey 4.2.2
        20 March 2014 at 2:01 pm

        its good to finally see someone on the right that these dinners advanced business interests for collins and/or key.

        well done for seeing through the crap they keep feeding you.

        • Once was Pete 4.2.2.1
          20 March 2014 at 2:27 pm

          Helen Clark brought the Chinese Premier to a business I was involved in, and this raised our profile tremendously. Obviously we ‘lobbied’ furiously for the opportunity, and we were incredibly grateful for the visit.
          The organisation I was with made it a practice to ‘lunch and dinner’ with a wide variety of politicians, simply for the purpose of ‘staying connected’.
          No graft, no corruption, and no promises or obligations. This is just good sense. We always paid for the lunch or dinner. It is generally accepted that if you invite someone …then you pay. In all the years I have been involved in this practice I have not once witnessed a politician (left, right or centre) behave with any thing but decorum. Some times we entertained guests we had no particular liking for, but it was a ‘broadening’ experience.
          I can see no reason to get exercised by ‘Collins drink of milk’, or her accepting a dinner invite which is paid for, even if her husband is involved with the business enterprise, as long as no favours are granted that would not be extended to other businesses as part of accepted practice.
          Government is frequently in a position to ‘open a door’ or facilitate a contact, and as long as it is done ethically then most Kiwis would want this.
          Most people I talk to see this as a distraction, a non issue, and a deflection from things that really matter.

          • framu 4.2.2.1.1
            20 March 2014 at 4:04 pm

            did this organisation have an immediate family member as a director, have financial ties to the politicians or other members of same party you dinned with, make large donations to that party, receive immigration assistance from a minister, use the political connection to endorse products, make donations to a “charity” (being the party again), include dining with foreign border officials or use taxpayer funds for any of this?

            thats the whole point

            ” and as long as it is done ethically”

            again – thats the point – this is in a whole different continent to ethicsville

            ” as long as no favours are granted that would not be extended to other businesses as part of accepted practice.” 1) pretty sure thats not what happened re favours, 2) its not accepted practice – thats why the cabinet manual expressly frowns on this sort of thing – because its unacceptable

            im staggered that so many people are making excuses for this – its not about what private business does or lobbies for – its about what MPs are doing

            • One Anonymous Bloke 4.2.2.1.1.1
              20 March 2014 at 4:47 pm

              OWP, Framu is right: there is absolutely nothing wrong with businesses cultivating political relationships or connections.

              There is a problem with politicians who cultivate business connections, to whit: the politicians can clip the ticket a second time for doing their job, as has happened here: Collins has used her position to get her close family and friends a seat at the top table, at direct financial benefit to her family, not to mention her party.

              If audiences with government ministers are for sale, then pretty soon Kiwis will be priced out of the market.

            • North 4.2.2.1.1.2
              20 March 2014 at 11:06 pm

              And did your company “donate” $55,000 to each of the parties of the politcians whom you entertained ?

              Use your brain fuckhead. Who sent you here ?

              Smile & Wave & Invoice.

          • Tracey 4.2.2.1.2
            20 March 2014 at 5:36 pm

            Its exorcised.

            Did helen clarks husband get paid a directors fee by the organization you worked for?

      • freedom 4.2.3
        20 March 2014 at 2:05 pm

        So you are admitting the PM and Collins are colluding to protect a corrupt system?

        Can’t have it both ways Naki Man

      • Murray Olsen 4.2.4
        20 March 2014 at 11:20 pm

        I know most of the Randian business heroes you worship couldn’t make enough to buy half a box of used matches without their mates in Wellington arranging for the tickets they clip. That’s how “business” is done under NAct. Seems you’re a bit upset that people are noticing. Well, boohoo.

  5. risildowgtn 5
    20 March 2014 at 9:59 am

    There is also Nathan Guy as a weak link re $ and residency

    Not much focus has been on this idiot either

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/238749/guy-says-he-never-knew-about-party-donation

  7. freedom 7
    20 March 2014 at 10:28 am

    All of it seems to distract nicely from whatever this Festival of Education was created for, which on the surface appears to be hyping the introduction of learning labs run from overseas corporates.

    http://www.festivalofeducation.org.nz/
    How much public money has gone into this I wonder?

    There are few groups working as hard as Save our Schools to bring to the attention of the public the difficulties that NZ education is enduring. If only half of what is in this article is true, then surely some serious questions need to be asked of the Minister.

    http://saveourschoolsnz.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/festival-of-education-is-a-glittering-cover-for-something-very-ugly/
    ““There is much to celebrate about New Zealand education but there is nothing to celebrate in this charade of excess.

    “A charade brought you by two commercial companies and the ministry in venomous association.

    “And now the ultimate: education money has gone into this festival obscenity – money that could have gone into helping children with special needs, more teachers to help children with their reading, more money to compensate at school for children’s home backgrounds – yet this money has gone into a mammoth propaganda exercise intended to put public schools more under the heel of those driven by imported education ideologies.”

  8. Clemgeopin 8
    20 March 2014 at 10:41 am

    May be Key should simultaneously sack all three of these sad sacks of untruths/half-truths and BS, namely : Parata, Collins, and Adams and create a political accountability world record hat trick. Then resign himself gracefully. What a shameless set of discredited nincompoops!

    • Lanthanide 8.1
      20 March 2014 at 11:52 am

      But that’s the problem. Sacking three ministers simultaneously at any time, let alone during election year, is a really bad look. It makes you seem incompetent / corrupt. Key can’t afford that.

    • Tracey 8.2
      20 March 2014 at 12:38 pm

      guy, brownlee and ryall. if lying and misleading the house etc are the standard

    • Tracey 8.3
      20 March 2014 at 12:43 pm

      first key lie i recall was his claim to be honest and to answer questions he wasnt even asked. that was to paul henry in 2008. he was promising to hold his team to a higher standard than labour.

      he might throw collins under the bus to look strong and help joyce BUT he cant control slugslick… and slug likes collins.

  9. captain hook 9
    20 March 2014 at 12:40 pm

    they are all weak links, lowbrows and simpletons to boot.
    The problem is their egotism and vanity and their venality that makes them able to shrug off anything that dosen’t fit their own juvenile fantasies of omnipotence.
    not to worry.
    gone in September.
    Their meddling and muddling is becoming intolerable.

  10. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 10
    20 March 2014 at 2:27 pm

    Mr Key has no regard for the basic human qualities and principles that our system and society very much depends on to function effectively.

    The occurrences as listed the above article (and many others, such as privacy breaches, education issues, forest and mining disasters, the response to the Rena disaster, the RMA meddling) are not random, unconnected events – they are directly related to Key’s cavalier attitude to the qualities our system is based and depends on. Qualities, for example, such as honesty, conscientiousness, dependability, trust and trustworthiness.

    Little does he appear to have any clue about principles; the reasons behind democratic processes, laws, rules and regulations or even taxes. I am unclear whether he is even aware of, let alone, understands these principles

    The casual attitude Key has toward the very basis of our societal system can be seen in his typically casual mannered ‘throw away’ responses to the very real and many problems that have arisen on his watch.

    These problems arising with Adams, Collins and Parata are symptoms of the poor leadership of Mr Key.

    He is not a good person to be leading the National party – he is putting them to shame.

    He is not a good person to be running our country – he is running us into the ground, with regard to our morale, as well as fiscally.

    He needs to be voted out.

    • Tracey 10.1
      20 March 2014 at 5:41 pm

      They are not new… smith, worth, wong, heatley, double dipping bill, banks, … anyone else?

  11. captain hook 11
    20 March 2014 at 6:49 pm

    shifty key.
    going going going gone.

  12. tricledrown 12
    20 March 2014 at 9:01 pm

    Givem Enough rope and they will hang themselves.

  13. North 13
    20 March 2014 at 11:00 pm

    From Mickey’s post – “Parata is…..well…..” – a flibbertigibbet ?

    You know there’s something bloody weird and actually quite unsettling about that now quite old picture which accompanies this post.

    Ah……the pull of powerful men ! Heki Pirau Parata will do/say anything to grease up the same.

    Rubbish person ! And so so so undeservedly she’s a cabinet minister ???

  14. Populuxe1 14
    20 March 2014 at 11:05 pm

    So not that much different to Whanau Ora…

  15. BEATINGTHEBOKS 15
    21 March 2014 at 12:30 am

    Parata has to go. A complete muppet. Doesn’t get it. Education is the most significant issue to most New Zealanders. She is asleep at the wheel and always has been. Go, get lost, you are not helping anyone. Buy another pointless jacket which you should feel very comfortable in it, and then waste everyone’s time debating how it’s not vulgar. You have let down the most vulnerable in the country… Maori kids who can’t read. I hope you’re happy. No vote for you. Idiot.

  16. tricledrown 16
    21 March 2014 at 10:01 am

    National are looking sick right across the board at the moment Foss has to be the latest fwit of the week.
    His patheticly weak response to

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    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    23 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    24 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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