Public support for the Iraq deployment (In which the insightful and knowledgable Mike Hosking springs to the defence of the embattled PM!)

Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, February 27th, 2015 - 89 comments
Categories: iraq, john key, spin, war - Tags: , , ,

Poor John Key. Unable to get support in Parliament for his military misadventure. Assailed on all sides by politicians and critics who prefer an independent foreign policy to slavishly following America into another ill defined war. Damned by his own words, we’re going so as to pay the cost of New Zealand’s junior membership of “The Club”. From Bryce Edward’s media roundup:

The backlash against war

There’s been widespread sceptism and outrage in response to the Government’s announcement that New Zealand troops will be sent to Iraq.

Public support is not with the National Government on this issue, according to John Armstrong, who concludes that ‘the Prime Minister is not really winning the debate.

What is interesting about these [poll] results is that although support for deployment was higher than opposition, it was still relatively low. In previous major military deployments, public support has started out higher.

The backlash against deployment is coming from a wide variety of people. Dissenting voices include some surprising figures. …

Still, at least Key has one loyal friend and ally. That friend would be (and I know that this will surprise you!) Mike Hosking. Mike Hosking is an insightful and knowledgable chap. I know this because of the bio at the bottom of his article:

Mike’s insightfulness and knowledge makes him one of New Zealand’s most successful broadcasters.

Modest too – he should add that to the bio. Here’s what modest Mike had to say:

John Armstrong was … wrong to … suggest that … the Prime Minister was losing the argument.

The poll numbers tell us that he isn’t. Forty eight per cent in favour, 42 per cent against according to a One News Colmar Brunton poll out on Monday night. … So with a comfortable majority supporting the move, I’d be feeling pretty bullish that I’d done the right thing.

Mike may be insightful, knowledgeable and modest, but he clearly doesn’t know anything about numbers. Forty eight percent is not a “comfortable majority”. Forty eight percent is not in fact a majority at all, although it is on this occasion a plurality. Forty two percent were opposed, ten percent didn’t know. I haven’t been able to find information on the sample size and margin of error, 48% to 42% may well be a statistically significant difference, but it isn’t a practically significant one. The country is split.

For a much better summary see Tracy Watkins:

John Key could have put the deployment to a vote but didn’t because he knew he would lose it. Unlike in 2003, when Helen Clark sent the SAS to Afghanistan with the blessing of an overwhelming majority in Parliament, Key is facing a divided Parliament – and a divided public.

Key has struggled to make the case for a deployment in the face of scepticism that, after more than a decade of fighting, any contribution by New Zealand can or will make a difference.

…Opposition parties have washed their hands of the decision. In Parliament today they lined up in condemnation of the decision to go to Iraq. In doing so, they have made it clear that any blood will be on Key’s hands alone should today’s decisions end in tragedy.

Despite the best efforts of Hosking, the facts are we’re going in to this war zone without the support of Parliament, without the support of the majority of the people, without clearly defined goals or an exit plan, without proper planning, and without a hope of making a practical difference. It’s the worst kind of “leadership”. And the poll numbers tell us that Kiwis have lost their historical appetite for this kind of misadventure.

89 comments on “Public support for the Iraq deployment (In which the insightful and knowledgable Mike Hosking springs to the defence of the embattled PM!) ”

  1. vto 1

    ha ha classic. Mike Hosking epitomises our shallow-headed brainless celebrity culture perfectly. Dip is as dip does.

    • lprent 1.1

      Mike Hosking is one of the most idiotic of the media commertariat around. Whenever he departs from simply asking questions and getting others to explain themselves, his unbelievable self-absorbed ignorance comes to the fore.

      It isn’t a enviable sight as he appears to only read Whaleoil and the words of his sponsors like skycity or National.

      I guess for his questioning he has some decent researchers because he appears to be less of ignorant dickhead in those. It is a lot easier questioning others than creatively constructing a clear and cogent argument.

      Mike Hoskings is not a bad actor and plays acting intelligent well, but it does appear to be just a role that he plays at rather than lives. He really does appear to be pretty damn stupid and incoherent when he doesn’t have his lines.

    • Tiger Mountain 1.2

      “Maserati Mike” Hosking; never met a mirror he didn’t like

  2. Well, I guess you just lack the requisite “insightfulness” to recognise 48% as a comfortable majority. Does Hosking not have a spellchecker in use on his computer or something?

    • mary_a 2.1

      @ Psycho Milt

      Not sure about Hosking requiring a spellchecker, but he sure could do with an abacus to help him calculate!

    • greywarshark 2.2

      Hosking is like many other NZ journalists – they are under a different ‘spell’ than the normal, and syntax is to them, received phonetically as two words.

      • Naturesong 2.2.1

        Hosking is not a journalist.

        Labelling him as such opens the false equivalence argument you often see National Party supporters use.

        By calling him a journalist, you elevate him to the same position as actual journalists whose actions (are supposed to) follow a specific set of ethical guidelines

        • greywarshark 2.2.1.1

          @ Naturesong
          You are right but what would a good name for him and his type. Celebrity hack?

          • Naturesong 2.2.1.1.1

            Yeah, that’s the direction.

            He garners celebrity in a couple of ways – he seeks a broad constituency by appealing to the baser nature of humans, and is extremely active in self-promotion.
            He also has the commnication skills to pull it off.

            I view this type of celebrity very differently to people who are famous because they do amazing things – Lydia Ko, Ella Yelich etc.

            As a business model, Mikes poison works.
            That he is allowed this platform at prime time on state television is both abominable and a symptom of a greater malaise within New Zealand.

            Humans do collectively and individually need to confront their baser natures.
            The misogyny, racism and violence that lurks just beneath New Zealand society must be called out wherever it seeks legitimacy.

            Whenever I hear Mike Hoskings speak, the following question immediately pops into my mind.

            When did ignorance become a valid point of view concerning the governance of a country?

            • Naturesong 2.2.1.1.1.1

              As an aside, just remembered something from my days working in casinos.

              We used to refer to our chosen profession as the “last bastion of the ignorant man”.
              Mainly because it was clear that you could get promoted and achieve success solely on your networking ability irrespective of competence (different places had different degrees of rot).

              As a result you often had to put up with complete numpties dotted about in positions of responsibility.

              I have no doubt that Mike fits in well at Skycity.

  3. idlegus 3

    could be using john keys same calculator/spell checker when he said nz was 100% pure compared to other countries.

  4. mary_a 4

    Hosking, Sky City ambassador and MC, is a complete airhead. Full of his own arrogant BS. Any wonder he and Key are such good buddies. Both egotistical gutless wonders!

  5. PhilDC 5

    My comment to mr Hoskings in the herald
    It was trimmed by NZH – I hope you wont trim it too…

    Does JK cuddle well on a cold night? Seems you would know.
    Few things you missed.
    Thousands killed in West Papua – not interested? No oil perhaps?
    Second group of professionals into Afghanistan – Geologists – why? – mineral resources?
    Be-headings in UAE ? – who financed 911 Terrorists? – Saudi Arabia.
    USA collateral murders of women and children interest you?
    How about Israel bombing the s**t out of Gaza and its people.
    Boko Haram kidnappings and bombing to name a few things you super smart people in the media gloss over, marginalise or ignore.
    So… get out of bed with JK and stop beating the drums for war.
    Perhaps you can join up with Max Key seeing you think fighting a long battle based on invisible WMD claims is such a good idea.
    Not brave, not honorable – sir, JK is not even truthful.
    We can have a referendum on a flag – but not for this?
    Shame on our leaders and us for repeatedly not learning from the the folly of past conflagrations.
    Those who beat the drums of war the loudest are the least likely to make the “sacrifice” of one of their own.

    Personally I have had it with these warhead idiots… all of them!

  6. ghostwhowalksnz 6

    Its now come out that the Australian troops will all have to be issued diplomatic passports because their is no status of forces agreement and they could be arrested over any incidents.

    This is the same situation as NZ troops. Apparently the Iraqis dont really really want us
    ( they must have had their arm twisted by US)

    In the meantime the Iran Revolutionary Guard troops are active on the ground fighting ISIS. Perhaps we should be training the Iranian Pasdaran!

    • Sable 6.1

      The Iranian’s have a military deal with Russia. They have no need of the US or its vassal states.

      The Iraq parliament is in disarray after assassinations along tribal lines as per normal. No one is going to get a status of forces agreement. We will in effect be there illegally.

      • Colonial Rawshark 6.1.1

        And we will be supporting one faction in sectarian tribal civil war. How could this go wrong?

    • Colonial Rawshark 6.2

      In the meantime the Iran Revolutionary Guard troops are active on the ground fighting ISIS. Perhaps we should be training the Iranian Pasdaran!

      I have no doubt that some classes of ‘Iraqi raw recruits’ that the Kiwis will be training will have Iranian agents attending as students, just to see what our skill level and perspective is.

  7. Sable 7

    Just an opinion in search of a (missing) rationale…. I wonder if anyone takes old climate change denying Maserati Mike seriously?

  8. fisiani 8

    The majority of those with an opinion agree with John Key. Hosking was correct. How hard is that to understand. I despair at the pathetic attempts here to discredit John Key.

    • Colonial Rawshark 8.1

      N.B. Hosking hasn’t been correct on fuck all since the day he said the sun was coming up tomorrow.

    • miravox 8.2

      Don’t take it so personally Fisiani.

      Strangely, 🙄 it’s not discrediting Key …. it’s discrediting the decision to deploy troops instead of humanitarian resources.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 8.2.1

        Hosking agrees totally with Key, because largely his article was written by Keys staff

        Hosking has been like Whaleoil, on retainer for the national government. They send the outlines of storys , scandals, police briefs for him to use as he chooses.

        Hosking had the same deal with Skysore. Free hospitality thrown in for good measure.

        We have seen in Australia , proof that these talkback hosts are on retainer for powerful interests. Thats the business model they work with which is on top of hosting their radio show. They have side deals on ‘native advertising’ which isnt disclosed as such

    • Pasupial 8.3

      fisiani

      If the “majority of those with an opinion agree with John Key”, why will he not allow their parliamentary representatives to vote on the deployment? Key, Hosking & their media managers discredit themselves, we “here” are merely documenting the evidence for future historians.

  9. ianmac 9

    Toby Manhire strikes again:
    “So if we’re not going to train a few Iraqi forces behind the wire, then our next option is do nothing.”(Key.) But what about spending the $65 million cost of the deployment instead to multiply our aid contribution 66-fold?

    Yes. How about that? Better than troops and better than nothing.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11408585

    • Bill 9.1

      I guess I might wind up saying this ad nauseum…but how about that aid (or large swathes of it) go to promoting the very things our governments said we were invading/occupying various countries for?

      They banged on endlessly about democracy and women’s rights.

      Rojava (N. Syria) is developing deeply democratic systems and promoting women’s rights to a level beyond ours. But they are being subjected to an economic and political embargo because the formally Leninist PKK are one of the groupings within Rojava.

      They (Rojavans) have no territorial claims (they reject the notion of forming a nation state). They reject military or religious bases for organising society. They recognise the territorial legitimacy of Syria and Syrian law unless it contradicts their own constitution. And so on.

      They have fought back Al Nusra. They have fought back ISIL. They embody everything our governments promote to us as ‘good and right and proper’.

      Now, the cynic in me is well aware that the nascent democracy in Rojava may degenerate into a form of democratic centralism. But for now, we ought to call our governments on their previously lofty rhetoric and ‘encourage’ them, through support for Rojava, to uphold and promote the very ideals they sold us war and occupation on in the first place.

      Lift the terrorist designation on the PKK.
      Lift the economic and political embargo on Rojava.
      Lift the travel bans currently in place.
      In short, help them.

      Info on Rojava http://www.biehlonbookchin.com/

    • greywarshark 9.2

      @ ianmac
      Good idea. Why not, why not, why not? Repetition might go through brain putty.

  10. Colonial Rawshark 10

    Kiwi troops are going to be based less than 60km from ISIS held towns and cities. That’s closer than Porirua to Waikanae.

    Our soldiers aren’t going to be “well back from the front lines.”

  11. Rodel 11

    Mike Hosking is close to being New Zealand’s Glenn Beck.

    • Anne 11.1

      Hosking has played roles all of his adult life. First there was the establishment figure (white shirt, grey trousers and tie) in his RNZ days. He was physically quite solid in those days. He left RNZ because he couldn’t get his own way about something and he went to the other extreme – the modern day hippie complete with tight black trousers (lost weight for that), kaftan-type tops and a scraggly beard. Now he’s the dapper man about town married to another celebrity and with cash coming out of his ears. In other words, it’s all to do with appearance and who you know with him… rather than what you know which we know is bugger-all.

      • tc 11.1.1

        Let’s not forget the BS legal proceedings against the evil paparazzi over photos of his twin girls to first wife/partner.

        A case he was never going to win as you can’t turn the celebrity off when you like. Ego the big winner over logic there but the lawyers loved the billings ka ching.

        That awkward QT with Boulgaris phase then back to the spotlight, a rant slot replacing Holmesy and new celebrity Mrs H.

        He looks quite at home now jaunting around remers with the golden lab and flouro running shoes no doubt checking the pulse of real NZilders up at the Remuera Butcher

  12. Skinny 12

    Westfield mall explosion in Auckland is being reported. Not a good sign is it.

    • Bill 12.1

      A van on fire. Big deal. Not that the banality will prevent the squawking excitement of media flapping up a pitch or three.

    • Bastables 12.2

      Perhaps you can add the byline to every story now examples:

      Jimmy Savile given free rein to sexually abuse 60 people, report finds, was he secretly Muslim?

      Nurse jailed for life after killing patients for thrill of resuscitation, was she following sharia law?

      Winston Peters to stand in Northland by-election, Islamic terror to follow?

      Brazilian jet gets caught in a jehadi hailstorm?

      Nervous scientists wary of giant craters in Siberia as fatwas maybe declared by shia clerics.

      Got to really ramp up that paranoia and fear.

      • greywarshark 12.2.1

        @ Bastables
        That’s just silly. But if you get a frisson of superiority enjoy!

        • Bastables 12.2.1.1

          It’s as silly as rushing off crying “terrorism terrorism see John Key was right to go full guts so we could get attacked.” Every incident one must suspect ISIS, NZ greatest enemy . . .
          Guy fawks fires, ISIS plot? Rally to the flag ladies and gentlemen rally.

          Less superiority and more a increasing level of disgust at how easy it is to press the jingo patriot button. Fill our country full of fear give them a one minute hate. The darkies are coming, if not keep on taunting them till they do.

  13. greywarshark 13

    While we are thinking about Iraq, if we widen out to the Middle East and Egypt, the interview with one of the journalists clapped into jail informed, this morning.
    Kathryn Ryan spoke to him, one of three from Al Jazeera. A fine man who is trying to remain rational and strong in the middle of this muddle.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20168938

    Bailed Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Fahmy speaks ( 20′ 23″ )
    09:08 Mohammed Fahmy is one of the three Al Jazeera journalists who were jailed for more than a year in Egypt, accused of supporting the banned Muslim Brotherhood and “spreading false news”. All three men, respected and veteran journalists, say the charges were completely fabricated. Mohammed was initially sentenced to seven years in prison and is now out on bail, but can’t leave Cairo and faces a fresh trial in the same system that convicted him. He’s frustrated with the Canadian government – he’s a Canadian citizen – for not making the same effort to have him deported as Australia made for his colleague Peter Greste. And he also says his employer, Al Jazeera, failed to protect him.

    • Naturesong 13.1

      “he also says his employer, Al Jazeera, failed to protect him.”

      I’m not sure that’s from want of trying – Al Jazeera appears to have been very active in advocating for its journalists (including funding and procuring lawyers for legal challenges, lobbying each journalists govts, providing a platform for local and international support to coalesce around etc.), so without further proof, my default position is that they tried and failed, rather than abandoned their journalists.

    • alwyn 13.2

      We could go even further and start complaining that the nasty French have apparently arrested three more journalists from Al Jazeera.
      Frankly I think it serves them right.
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/66673252/aljazeera-journalists-arrested-in-paris-for-flying-drone

  14. Penny Bright 14

    OK folks – who is able to get away from their computers and stand up to be counted TODAY on this matter?

    MEDIA ALERT!! “Not in OUR name!”

    PROTEST against NZ Prime Minister John Key at wreath-laying ceremony TODAY from 4pm

    27 February 2015

    PROTEST! “Not in OUR name!”

    WHY: NZ Prime Minister John Key and Australian PM Tony Abbott will be laying a wreath at the Auckland Cenotaph TODAY (4.30pm)

    WHEN: Be outside entrance gates to the Domain before 4pm to catch the entourage going in (and coming out!)

    WHERE: Auckland Domain entrance Park Rd Grafton (around from Auckland Hospital )

    This is being organised as a strong but peaceful protest against New Zealand’s involvement in a war without mandate from citizens or Parliament.

    NOT IN OUR NAME!

    (Message passed on from the wilds of Upper Hutt – from Penny Bright who puts in her apologies – but has done what she can from the other end of the North Island. There WILL be a crowd!

    Please help by SHARING this message NOW!!

    Thanks!

    Her Warship 🙂
    __________________________________________________________________________________

    I can’t be there – I’m in Upper Hutt.

    Please be there if you can to help my good friend Jax (the other ‘banner grrl’ so that John Key (and Tony Abbott) can see the public opposition to this ‘war’ (without end?) that is NOT in OUR name!

    It’s called ‘SEIZE THE MOMENT!’

    Thanks!

    Penny Bright

  15. swordfish 15

    “I haven’t been able to find information on the sample size and margin of error”

    Sample Size = 1000 eligible voters

    Maximum Sampling Error = +/- 3.1 percentage points (for a result around 50%)

    Here’s a table on my blog with a few demographic breakdowns from the Colmar Brunton……..http://sub-z-p.blogspot.co.nz/

  16. Dorothy 16

    I like that Tiger Mountain ! IT IS WORTH REPEATING
    ‘ Mike Hosking has never met a mirror he did not like’
    that sums up what I always think if I happen to see him on TV, which is not often now sadly,
    TVOne has become very trivial during that time slot.

  17. McFlock 17

    Hosking is a shallow, insecure, vain, stupid man-child whose vacuities are a disgrace to the nation.

    So he’ll be a nat list MP when he paul-henry’s his way out of his current cushy gig.

  18. Rolf 18

    In 1940 a Mr. Vidkun Qusling and then prime minister of Norway aligned his nation with the military power Nazi Germany for cooperation. He has gone to history as a fascist politician and Norway’s biggest ever traitor. His party was called the National Party (Nasjonal Samling). He was prime minister until 1945, and then put on trial and accused of, and found guilty of, charges including embezzlement, murder and high treason. He was executed by firing squad at Akershus Fortress, Oslo, on 24 October 1945. Today the Prime Minster of New Zealand has aligned our country with another military power of today, also against the wish of his people.

    • les 18.1

      for that he will no doubt be knighted and offered a job at J.P Morgan when he has completed his mission in NZ.

  19. Maui 19

    Its still scary though that a large percentage of kiwis want to go to war to “eliminate evil”. They’ve been brainwashed by the constant ISIS videos put out by the media. I’m putting a lot of blame on this on them.

  20. Red delusion 20

    Your government has made a decision get over it and stop whining like a bunch of spoilt brats who did not get their way. The deployment won’t change the past, it won’t correct a 1000 years of hatred, it will however help push these fringe Islamic lunatics into a corner, to sit back and do nothing is like saying get rid of the police because they cant eradicate crime. Many nz agree this is a worthwhile mission to simply contain Isis not re right the history of the Middle East, you don’t agree tough chicken shit as colon rawsardine would say

    • One Anonymous Bloke 20.1

      The Iraqi “army” is the perfect vehicle for your ambitions: they’re corrupt, incompetent, cowardly and partisan, and your “plan” is to send our boys into their midst.

      I spit on your grave.

    • Colonial Rawshark 20.2

      What’s the “Mission” exactly? “Training”? Do you really believe that?

      Why get NZ involved in someone elses civil war?

  21. Red delusion 21

    Not my plan, our plan as determined by our government who are probably a little more across situation on the ground than far left loon critics

    • McFlock 21.1

      Can McCully string together a coherent sentence? Because you can’t, and Key has difficulty (although that might be by design).

    • Colonial Rawshark 21.2

      Not my plan, our plan as determined by our government who are probably a little more across situation on the ground than far left loon critics

      You’re probably the type who thinks that like last time around, the USA has a good handle on the situation in Iraq.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 21.3

      Economics, the wingnut says the private sector knows best.
      Education, the wingnut says the private sector knows best.
      Prisons – the wingnut says the private sector knows best.
      Social housing, electricity generation, hospitals, the private sector knows best.

      But the wingnut assures us that the public sector is all over this situation.

      It would be funny if it weren’t for the killing.

  22. MrV 22

    Ukraine next?

    • Colonial Rawshark 22.1

      The west has enough trouble facing up to rag tag bands of Afghani, Syrian or Iraqi religious militia with light arms from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, no air support and no intelligence satellite capabilities.

      • MrV 22.1.1

        Bingo.

        But I can’t help think that all this focus on ISIS/ISIL is distracting the public from what is going on over there. NATO has gone looking for something to do after all.

        • Colonial Rawshark 22.1.1.1

          The best description I have read is that NATO, having encroached on to Russia’s borders, breaking the verbal agreement between James Baker and Gorbachev that it would “not move an inch east” after the break up of the Soviet Union, has effectively created a concrete role defending its member states from the instability and provocation that it has produced itself.

          • Rolf 22.1.1.1.1

            Russia have reacted to US threats. We have seen an intensive propaganda campaign in New Zealand to snuggle up to the US, to become yet another US satellite and Quisling state, and at the same time, unbeknown to Kiwis, the US has driven an equally intensive propaganda campaign for more countries to join them to threaten Russia into submission. The US actions reminds me just too much of Hitlers campaigns before opening up his Blitzkrieg.

  23. Ecosse_Maidy 23

    All well and good shouting that the polls reflect John Keys actions………….How about some proof,with an actual vote in the parliament?

    Perhaps it will be proven right..and if so then at least they can say it is a majority.

    Till then it’s nothing but a man bordering on being a dictator.Followed by the calls and cackles of a sycophant.

  24. “…Mike Hosking is an insightful and knowledgable chap…”

    Hosking’s acquaintance with knowledge is best put this way: “Mike Hosking is so lacking in knowledge that he has no idea at all that he lacks any meaningful knowledge.”

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    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
    14 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
    15 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
    17 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    13 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
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  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
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