Resignation-watch: Suit cash a confidence vote on Collins

Written By: - Date published: 8:16 am, April 2nd, 2012 - 61 comments
Categories: Judith Collins, law - Tags: , , , ,

Cabinet today will decide whether the Crown will pick up the tab for Judith Collins’ defamation suits against Trevor Mallard, Andrew Little, and Radio New Zealand. These suits haven’t a hope of winning. The suit against RNZ, whose offence was to do live interviews, is particularly egregious and calculated to chill media comment. But that’s straight out of Key’s playbook, eh?

I mean, this is the PM who had three media outlets raided by the police during an election campaign to intimidate them into not publishing the tea tapes, all on the grounds of a ludicrous police complaint that wouldn’t have been given the time of day by the cops had it come from an ordinary citizen. Key even had the gall to claim that the Police had ‘spare time’ to investigate while 220,000 crimes went unsolved last year.

Collins’ behaviour is entirely consistent with this modus operandi. Public money will be used and limited state resources – this time of the Courts – tied up for a purely political agenda.

It will be unprecedented for the public to pay for a minister to take defamation suits. But we will. If Cabinet were to vote against that decision, it would be a vote of no confidence in Collins, which would undercut Key who has been giving her his backing.

I don’t think Collins’ opponents are united enough to go there. But it’s interesting to see though the Brat Pack faction in the form of David Farrar moving to undermine Collins again by saying that it will be a political disaster if the public is made to pay for Collins’ politically-motivated law suits.

61 comments on “Resignation-watch: Suit cash a confidence vote on Collins ”

  1. Jim Nald 1

    Taxpayers underwriting Judith Collins’ antics is such a bloody waste of taxpayers’ money when the government itself is making a virtue of madly cutting and slashing public services, and Cabinet should not stomach the kind of gagging nonsense that John Key is so fond of playing.

  2. The more I think of this issue the worse it gets.  

    If this is approved the Governement will be using state funded terrorism of opposition politicians by lawyers to bludgeon them into submission.  If it is funded it will have a chilling effect on the effectiveness of our opposition parties.

    And how paradoxical it will be if at the same time that legal aid for the poor is being cut legal aid for the rich and powerful is increased. 

    The cabinet vote will be interesting.  If Collins is turned down her days may be numbered. 

  3. james 111 3

    Yes and she should get the money to defend her name just as other Mps including Philip Taito Fields, and Winston Peters have got it before her.

    • James you could at least know what you were talking about before you make a statement.

      Tell me:

      1.  What financial assistance did Field get to conduct a defamation suit or otherwise?
      2.  What financial assistance did Peters get to conduct a defamation suit or otherwise?

      And if the answer to both questions is “none” do you promise to check on things before making any further statements? 

      • Colonial Viper 3.1.1

        James you could at least know what you were talking about before you make a statement.

        Wow, that’s way too challenging high expectations for Jimmie boy.

    • Jackal 3.2

      That’s funny, I wasn’t aware that they had even requested funding to take defamation cases against other Members of Parliament? Collins is digging a pretty large hole for herself if you ask me… let’s hope it sucks the rest of the corrupt Natz down as well.

  4. ghostwhowalksnz 4

    I remember once Ruth Richardson claimed she was defamed by a Christchurch newspaper, but wisely, she said it wasnt strategically a good idea to be embroiled in a legal dispute with the ‘hometown’ newspaper.

    A pointer to the reasons for Collins choosing opposition MPs and a state owned radio network ?
    The trouble with pursuing a political case like this to the bitter end, is the courts may extend the defence of fair comment even further when its another MP and its directly political comment.

  5. Will who pays for Mallard and Littles defence be a Labour vote of confidence or no confidence in them?

    Exactly the same reasoning you are trying to apply to Collins, where you seem to be trying to guarantee yourself a win. That will gurantee yourself a loss with your own.

    If Collins chooses to proceed with a defamation suit I think she should fund itn herself.

    And if Mallard and Little choose to not back down and defend it they should fund that themselves.

    Same rules apply.

    [ this comment displays a disturbing lack of knowledge from someone who ran for parliament last year. Mallard and Little aren’t part of the Executive so there is no option for their costs to be covered by the Crown. Eddie]

    [lprent: Nope. The disturbing lack of knowledge is yours. They can apply to get defence if whatever they are defending could be construed as defending something they did as part of their duties. It happens reasonably frequently.

    Anita below has the relevant link… ]

    • Jackal 5.1

      What are you talking about Pete George? Mallard and Little have said they will pay for their own defense… I suggest they also seek costs against Collins personally. Why should we pay for her defamation cases when the question of the leaked Boag email remains unanswered?

    • So Petey you agree the taxpayer should not fund Collins. 

      You then lurch into a diatribe about how Mallard’s and Little’s should not be funded.  There is no proposal that this should occur.

      You have no idea about how the Government’s finances work Petey do you. 

      • ghostwhowalksnz 5.2.1

        Its not supposed to happen but the disgraced Nick Smith was funded by the taxpayer for shooting his mouth off when he was a mere MP.
        I hope he wasnt also paid some costs when he was convicted of contempt of court, the circumstances of which led to his colleagues supporting him and attacking the Solicitor General , who acted on the complaint of a judge that he was interring with a witness during a hearing.

    • Pascal's bookie 5.3

      Hi again Pete.

      As noted above, it’s been reported that the Labour mps will be paying their own costs. It was reported in the same story where the 5pm deadline passed with the mps ignoring it.

      Earlier on that day, you claimed that the reaction to the deadline would possibly tell us something about how honest the Labour MPs were being. Whether or not they were just maliciously lying or what have you.

      Would you care to follow up on that comment of yours?*

      Does the way things have panned out tell us anything?

      Or was that a one way bet you were making?

      *laughs, of course you don’t. It was yet another hit and run passive aggressive smear that didn’t work out, and you won’t take back.**

      **prove me wrong and take it back, in detail***

      ***And I’ll ask why you needed to be prodded; doesn’t exactly make you look honest.

    • Anita 5.4

      Eddie writes:


      [ this comment displays a disturbing lack of knowledge from someone who ran for parliament last year. Mallard and Little aren’t part of the Executive so there is no option for their costs to be covered by the Crown. Eddie]

      Actually MPs can have their legal costs covered by the crown. This explains the rules quite neatly.

      It is worth noting that as the payment would come out of the party leader’s fund it wouldn’t actually increase the cost to taxpayers as the party would have to spend less on other things.

      • mickysavage 5.4.1

        Hi Anita

        I can assure you the Labour leader’s budget would not be spent on such frivolities.  I am not sure I know how Smith did it … 

  6. DavidW 6

    Hold the horses a minute. Has Collins actually requested funding from Cabinet? If so Eddie can you please point us towards a reference that confirms she has?
    If she hasn’t asked, Cabinet will not decide today.

    I know the latest poll must have screwed with your mind eddie but sheesh, you could attempt to use fact as a basis for your rambling.

    • KATY 6.1

      If She hasn’t why are cabinet considering giving it to her ?.

      • DavidW 6.1.1

        Don’t believe everything the Herald published about political matters Katy – it is far from an authoritative source on what passes for news these days.

    • Craig Glen Eden 6.2

      Key said Cabinet would discuss the funding of Collins defamation case today, when he was on Q and A on Sunday morning. Sheesh DavidW could you at least have some idea about what you are posting about. You Nat supporters and PeterG are really starting to look so bloody stupid!

    • deuto 6.3

      Perhaps you should keep up with the play before airing off .

      Or perhaps you should air off at the Herald for example – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10796093

      I seem to recall that this was also discussed in Key’s interview of Q & A yesterday.

      There are a number of discussions on other blogs about this – for example, Farrar on Kiwiblog. Farrar is less than enthusiastic at taxpayer funding of Collins’ defamation action.

  7. ianmac 7

    Of course there will be a very long delay between a Defamation charge being laid and the actual hearing in court. Maybe years? Next minit or decade or so, who will know or care? By then Trevor will be tending his roses and reminiscing about cycling he has done as he hobbles down to see if the paper has come..

  8. tsmithfield 8

    My view is that the public shouldn’t be funding these sorts of cases unless it is an obviously outrageous sort of defamation. However, if it is just what the public would view as political point scoring, then politicians should fund it themselves if they feel strongly enough about it.

    For this reason, I hope the government doesn’t fund Collin’s for her defamation case. It might well be other National politicians think along the same lines. So, refusal to fund might not be an indication that Collins lacks credibility on the issue.

    • OK TS what about funding the action against Radio New Zealand?
       
      Putting Mallard to one side, the use of our tax dollars so one part of state can sue another part makes no sense whatsoever except to the Legal Profession, doncha think?

      • tsmithfield 8.1.1

        I agree. In saying that, I am not suggesting that Collins’s case is without merit. To me, it just doesn’t seem to cross the threshold for public funding. If it had been suggested she has sex with 13 year old boys or something, then that would be different. But when it is something as banal as claims about leaking a letter, which most in the public probably think is common place for politicians anyway, then I don’t see the justification in funding this publicly.

        Public funding is probably inevitable for Radio NZ, if they intend to defend the claim. OTOH, I wouldn’t want to see anyone stripped of their rights to take legal action if they felt strongly about it. So, they will have to seek costs back from Collins if she loses.

        • Pascal's bookie 8.1.1.1

          If it had been suggested she has sex with 13 year old boys or something, then that would be different.

          Why? That would seem to be an entirely private matter.

          • tsmithfield 8.1.1.1.1

            In her beehive office then?

            I am sure you get the drift of what I mean. And I think we would all benefit by not going any further down this line of thought. 🙂

        • lprent 8.1.1.2

          If it had been suggested she has sex with 13 year old boys or something, then that would be different.

          Why? That is still a personal matter of protecting her reputation. If she wants to protect her reputation then she should pay for it.

          So, they will have to seek costs back from Collins if she loses.

          NZ courts will usually award less than 50% of the costs to whoever wins. That is kind of a bogus argument.

          The only reason that I would consider that the public purse should be used to fund MP’s in defamation suits is for MP’s to defend against a plaintiff. Being a MP or a minister means that you are a target for nuisance suits as part of your job. There is a clear need for the employer to defend MP’s ability to say what they think where it isn’t actual defamation without being stymied by the risk of being sued in nuisance suits. The success rate of such state assisted defences over the years shows the value of them.

          That a minister with a thin skin can call on state resources to sue someone else for defamation is somewhat ridiculous. It is also outright dangerous because it would be a great way to launch unfounded nuisance suits like this one to stifle criticism – which is what this daft action appears to be. She cannot win unless she manages to completely turn L v A on it’s head.

          • tsmithfield 8.1.1.2.1

            “The only reason that I would consider that the public purse should be used to fund MP’s in defamation suits is for MP’s to defend against a plaintiff.”

            I expect that the PM may also share that view. If that is the case, then it would be inaccurate to assume other motives for not backing the case.

  9. deuto 9

    So, refusal to fund might not be an indication that Collins lacks credibility on the issue.

    Perhaps not, but I wait with interest to her (probably bollistic) response if that happens!

  10. ghostwhowalksnz 10

    Normally the taxpayer pays legal costs for ministers , who “inadvertently” defame a private individual or company during the course of their public duties.
    To pursue a vendetta, against another MP ? Ridiculous

  11. On the herald site there is an article about acc it states ‘VIP’S get preferential treatment’
    by John Gibb of the otago daily times.
    Just what is going on in acc,it was set up for the people and yet it is not acting
    in accordance with those rules.
    ACC has continually turned away genuine cases.
    Key and Collins must step down, there is questionable antics going on in
    acc,there is more than meets the eye and the whole system should be
    investigated,of course key and collins wont want a full scale enquiry
    they have plenty to hide,their jobs are at stake.
    Collins threw her toys out of the cot and
    needed to create a diversion,the cabinet meeting will be more of how to manage
    the fallout,free speach is not national’s
    idea of the public’s rights in nz.

    • just saying 11.1

      The VIP unit was going under Labour, and so was much of the routine shafting of ordinary people. It effectively means that most of those whose opinions would be reported in the media, or who have the ear of the political class, are treated differently, allowing ACC to treat ordinary people like crap with impunity. There is a similar situation whereby “important” people are more likely to access private health services, and this allows the disgraceful conditions in many of our public hospitals to go unchecked. It seems that disproportionate resources go into emergency, cardiac, and ICU wards, which are more like to be frequented by one percenters (whose lives are the only ones that actually matter).

    • Draco T Bastard 11.2

      ACC ‘VIP claims’ policy under fire

      Dr Denise Powell, president of Acclaim Otago, a support group for ACC claimants, said that if VIPs had an accident, they received “preferential treatment within ACC”.

      The corporation’s delegation manual stated that these claims were to be handled differently, she said.

      “If the service provided by ACC is world leading, why would the manager of the ACC service centre have to handle the VIP claim, rather than the service centre staff?” she asked.

  12. 80% of nz’ers say that tax payers should not fund collins defamation costs,herald poll.

  13. PunditX 13

    Err no Starlight. 80% of people who respond to Herald polls say that tax payers should not fund collins defamation costs,herald poll. Not quite the same thing..

  14. captain hook 14

    ACC has melted down into a sorry venal mess of typical money grubbing kiwis looking for the main chance.
    It needs proper supervsion and a total rework of their culture, attitude and efficiency.
    it stinks like a dead mackerel in the moonlight.

    • Craig Glen Eden 14.1

      Acc actually works well at least it did till National got in. While people will always have there issues with any system on the whole it works way better than private insurance.I deal with Acc on a daily basis and while they are more annal under National I still prefer to deal with them than the private insurance companies.

  15. Pascal's bookie 15

    So Collins is paying for it herself.

    Good; also and too; haha.

    Just this morning she was reported talking about how the way to avoid the cost to the taxpayer was for Mallard et al to apologise.

    Looks like Cabinet declined to proceed with funding this folly, despite the fact that the original press release announcing the suit was from the NZ Government and headed by the Minister of ACC, and referring to the Minister throughout.

    I suspect preliminary legal advice was short. It’s a shame it’s not OIAable

  16. DavidW 16

    I suppose it would be a pointless exercise to obtain retractions (apologies would be even nicer) from those who maintained that Cabinet would be considering funding Collins defamation case today and an acknowledgement that there was much hot air for nought now that Collins has announced that the proceedings would continue and that she HAS NOT ASKED CABINET for government funding. This from ZB news at 1600hrs 2 April 2012. Eddie, are you listening?

    • Pascal's bookie 16.1

      Lol.

      If you believe the only discussion had was her saying to cabinet that “I won’t be asking” you’re an idiot.

      If she wasn’t going to ask, then why on earth would she have not said so days ago?

      Why was her office saying that she hadn’t made her mind up, but that the taxpayer could avoid the cost if Mallard et al apologised? That certainly seems to be a comment leaning towrds her asking for it to be funded.

      She obviously ultimately decided not to ask, but all evidence, from the initial press release through to her office’s comments, point toward that being aface saving decision along the lines of not asking when you know what the answer is going to be.

      Honestly, do you not find it a teeny weeny bit strange that she announces this after Cabinet, and not immediatly before?

      What could possibly explain that, derp derp.

    • deuto 16.2

      The fact that Collins has now said that the defamation proceedings will continue but that she has not asked Cabinet for government funding does not rule out that Cabinet may well have discussed this today.

      In view of:

      1. the Cabinet Manual provisions which I understand require any Minister to get approval via a number of steps which would at the least take a couple of days BEFORE initiating any legal action. [Collins announced her decision to take defamation action only about an hour after the National Radio interview and certainly could not have gone through the required processes in that time.]

      2. there being no precedence for the circumstances of this particular case of a Minister initiating defamation against other Members of Parliament and a Crown entity

      3. mounting public opinion against taxpayers footing the bill

      – IMO this (Collins continuing with the defamation action but supposedly paying for it herself) is a face-saving compromise which may well have been discussed in Cabinet, but if not, with Key and other Ministers, National Party gurus etc.

      It is exactly the sort of “solution” I was expecting.

    • Frida 16.3

      David W. Naive. I think you’ll find the Solicitor-general told her to bugger off and Cabinet took that advice!

  17. DavidW 17

    Too much fun having the usual suspects flailing around speculating, taking some hack’s report in the Herald about the Cabinet Agenda as gospel and reaching for some whacky (or should that be whacked out) conclusions.

    Either way there was much frothing around the dentures for bugger all effect.

  18. Collins funding her own defamation case, that will cost her some big bikies.

  19. Pascal's bookie 19

    Felix Marwick reporting that Key is saying Collins told him she’d foot the bill last wednesday. erm, yeah ok.

    But leaving aside the obvious, why not speak up till now then. He was all over the media saying there was no decision yet, he didn’t know, nor did she.

    They wanted the crown to pay for it, but hve been guzzumped by the backlash. Now backpeddling.

    • deuto 19.1

      Agreed re back peddling etc. Re the big bickies, some of Collins’ political friends may be willing to help out.

  20. DavidW 20

    Never miss the opportunity for a good conspiracy theory to hatch eh? I think it was the inimitable Mr Prentice who explained about Occam’s Razor once. Perhaps you should check it out.

    [lprent: You forgot the word “sarcastically” as in “sarcastically explained”. I never use that unless I am being sarcastic. ]

    • Pascal's bookie 20.1

      So what is the most parsimonious explaination for the facts to date, including:

      the form and tone of the press release; http://t.co/u78pm9b6 (nb: the letter head, and the mention of her office, who issued the press release, etc)

      her reluctance to say anything at all about who might be funding the case untill after the cabinet meeting.

      According to Key, she told him on Wednesday night that she would be funding it, so why delay announcing that?

      Get yer razor out Davi, show me how it’s done.

      I’d say the most parsimonious explaination is that she wanted cabinet to approve, found out they wouldn’t, and has fallen back to ‘I didn’t ask’.

      Explains all the facts quite nicely I should think.

  21. Blue 21

    Lovely little gem from Collins: “Even though I am fully entitled to do so, I have not asked Cabinet for funding.”

    Pure born-to-rule arrogance and entitlement. Thank heavens she doesn’t have a moat.

    • Anita 21.1

      Worth noting that she’s saying she is entitled to ask, not entitled to receive 🙂

      • mickysavage 21.1.1

        Aye she is entitled to ask and entitled to be told by independent legal officers that her case is ridiculous.  She should fund it herself or forget.

        She is in face saving mode.

        Either she comes up with $300-400k and goes the full hog to receive minimal damages because she has been accused of being a Machiavellian politician or she forgets it.

        But if she forgets it she has to explain how Nick Smith’s blood came to be all over her hands.

        I almost feel sorry for her … 

        • Kotahi Tane Huna 21.1.1.1

          Don’t. She’s just another Tory when it comes down to it. These people deserve our understanding, but not our sympathy.

  22. DavidW 22

    Blue, the Cabinet Manual says she is entitled to ask fro funding, there is nothing automatic about it nor is there any entitlement to funds as of right.

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  • 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days 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
    6 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
    8 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
    8 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
    22 hours 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
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
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  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
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  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
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