Scoop’s second Hager document release

Written By: - Date published: 10:25 am, November 15th, 2015 - 98 comments
Categories: democracy under attack, Dirty Politics, journalism, Media - Tags:

Following on from its earlier release Scoop has uploaded further documents filed in the Hager v Attorney General case.  The documents include Hager’s affidavit, various other affidavits, police disclosure and some exhibits.

Discussion is building about why police resources were put into the case at all.  An affidavit by former Police Controller Wayne Stringer expresses surprise at the way the case was handled.

At paragraph 7 of his affidavit he says this:

I am very surprised to see how much effort and police resource has been devoted to this case.  The Counties-Manukau office routinely deals with large volumes of very serious crime, including murders, rapes, and crimes of violence and child abuse.  Offenders in such cases, unless caught, have the potential to continue to cause extremely serious harm.  Police have limited resources, and in my view rightly prioritise these crimes.  In my view, the offence under investigation here, accessing a computer system for a dishonest purpose, is a much less serious offence than many others the police are called upon to investigate.  Had I been in charge of the office, I would have accorded it a low priority.  The amount of time and resource expended in this case seems to me to be akin to using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

At paragraph 14 he says:

I note that the search of Mr Hager’s house must have been very expensive for police.  It involved five officers and a computer expert.  Two had to be flown down from Counties-Manukau.  Expense is always a factor in policing decisions.

Stringer was also surprised at the heavy involvement of Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess.  He is a member of the Police’s executive and is Wellington based.  His active involvement in this investigation appears to be well out of the scope of his norman duties.  We are not talking here about the great train robbery.  Slater’s initial complaint was to him.  He appears to have taken an active interest in the investigation and was consulted with before the decision to make the application for the search warrant.

And in a case resembling the great disappearing online Herald story there is a print article by David Fisher that does not appear to have made it online at all.  Given the significant constitutional and political implications in this story you have to ask why.

Herald article Slater Fisher Hager

Finally if you wish to contribute to Scoop’s ongoing sustainability you can donate to the Scoop Foundation.

98 comments on “Scoop’s second Hager document release ”

  1. Tory 1

    You left out the best part which is the identity of the hacker is known by at least 3 others so perhaps there is going to be a full revelation of all information rather than selected editing of some information
    http://www.donotlink.com/hcse

    [Took out whale oil link and inserted donotlink link – MS]

    • Pascals bookie 1.1

      err, everyone already knows that Hager, Nippert, and Fisher had contact with Rawshark. the only revealing in there is how silly the cops are.

      • Neil 1.1.1

        Don’t forget that John Key made a public statement saying he knew the true identity of the hacker Rawshark.

        • tracey 1.1.1.1

          I believe the police eventually spoke to the liar in chief who told the police it was just someone telling him they knew. I assume the LIC told the police who the someone was….

    • savenz 1.2

      I guess more than 1 police officer is getting concerned with the politicalising of police and abuse of government resources instead of concentrating on the police charter to fight crime and not be used political errand boys. And Slater can hardly even be considered a guy to go all out for – apart from being on txting terms with the PM.

    • tracey 1.3

      Yeah the best part isnt the misuse of police resources at all

      🙄

  2. Chooky 2

    “Discussion is building about why police resources were put into the case at all.”

    …it was clearly political and orders came top down from the jonkey nact government…can this be proven?

    • tracey 2.1

      It is heartening that this police officer swore that affidavit.

      Was cou ties manukau that assisted Collins with helpful figures for her Papakura newslettef?

      • Macro 2.1.1

        ummmmm yes it was!
        ohhhh dear.
        IPCA investigation for a wet bus ticket on the back of the hand you think?

  3. Georgey 3

    Tory
    They also missed out that Stringer is a stooge of Hager’s as well as being David Parker’s staffer.
    Nah…none of that would have clouded his view at all.

    • mickysavage 3.1

      So what? Someone used to work for a Labour MP and this means that their views should be ignored?

      Besides his comments match my experience and that it is almost impossible to get the police to do anything unless it is serious crime and this is not.

      And the police inaction over the Rachinger claims that Slater hired him to hack this site complete with texts and evid nec of bank deposits are in stark contrast to their behaviour over Slater’s claims.

      • veutoviper 3.1.1

        Georgey and Tory are just parroting a post and comments this morning on a certain Dunedin-based blog on Stringer. DoNotLink is useful.

        As a caregiver to four parrots, my apologies to all parrots. Parrots are smarter than these two trolls.

        EDIT – make that three trolls – ppw also.

    • mary_a 3.2

      @ Georgey (3) –

      Evidence to support your claims please.

  4. Tory 4

    Chooky, perhaps Police involvement has been driven by individual personal agendas
    http://www.donotlink.com/hcse

    [Replaced with donotlink link – MS]

    • Pascals bookie 4.1

      mate, WO is an admitted fantasist who talks things up. that was own sworn testimony the AG investigation of Collins. He is not what investigators call ‘a reliable witness’.

      WO has gone pretty quite of late about his claim that he knows for sure who Rawshark is. That was going to be the big lanch of FreedNZ his mighty MSM busting media venture that has died on the old vine. Then it was going to be in his fantastic book that reveal once and for all the evil plotters against him, but nope, didn’t happen.

      The list of possibilities for who Rawshark could be has grown considerably rather than narrowed given how slack WO’s security was. Loads of rumours about how weak a password was that he used for multiple purposes. Using your screen name plus a few digits? oh dear. Still hacking to crack it, but doesn’t take any sort of genius.

  5. Tory 5

    Georgey, this gets better every day 🕵🕵

  6. proud poppy wearer 6

    Labour are donkey deep in this dirty politics, the snivelling creep Hagar and his enablers will be covered in much of the same muck that they’ve been flinging around.

  7. CnrJoe 7

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11350276

    John Armstrong – 5:00 AM Thursday Oct 30, 2014

    The Prime Minister believes he knows who hacked Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater’s computer and produced the source material for Nicky Hager’s Dirty Politics, according to a new edition of a recently published biography of John Key.

    In a new chapter in John Key: Portrait of a Prime Minister devoted to this year’s election campaign, Mr Key is quoted as saying: “Someone phoned and told me who the hacker was, but other than having a look at this person, I thought, ‘Oh well … nothing will come of it. Life goes on’.”

  8. Anne 8

    Don’t let’s beat about the bush. The police were instructed to pull out all stops in their hunt for Rawshark and to look for evidence against Hager that could be used to discredit him. And we know the instruction originated from John Key although his involvement will have been heavily covered up from possible public exposure.

    He has now surpassed Rob Muldoon as New Zealand’s most venal and corrupt prime minister. But like all psychopaths, he knows how to turn on the superficial charm and the fools -including some in the media – fall for it every-time.

    • proud poppy wearer 8.1

      Nutter

      [Back up your comments with facts or you will find your commenting ability is terminated – MS]

      • DoublePlusGood 8.1.1

        You can’t address the argument with a rebuttal, so you say she’s a nutter? That’s pathetic. Try harder.

        • Paul Campbell 8.1.1.1

          I agree poopy wearer shouldn’t be claiming that Key is a nutter without proof …. Let’s start with his ponytail fetish ..

        • proud poppy wearer 8.1.1.2

          Why would anyone need more than a comment of ‘nutter’ to someone who suggests that we live in a corrupt police state with the PM ordering the police to do investigations on his behalf.

          Detest Key and his political party all you want but to suggest we live in anything but a fairly benign democracy is the stuff of fantasy.

          • Lanthanide 8.1.1.2.1

            So what is your explanation for why the raid on Hager took place, when a senior police officer has said, had he be in charge, he would have prioritised the raid very lowly.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.1.2.1.1

              *crickets*

            • Thinking Right 8.1.1.2.1.2

              The ‘senior police officer’ you quote is an ex Police Officer, has been a friend of Hagar’s for 20 years, is a past employee of David Parker, and obviously wear Hagar tinted glasses.

              For propaganda to be effective it must be seen to come from a reliable and trustworthy source – unfortunately this fails on both counts.

              • stever

                “For propaganda to be effective it must be seen to come from a reliable and trustworthy source”

                You jest, surely!?

              • tracey

                Why do you think Slaters home and office werent searched by police after he published personal info obtained from a hard drive whose ownership slater didnt verify?

              • mickysavage

                Care to day how what he said is wrong? Under your analysis no one with a friendship or a political opinion will ever be able to comment on anything.

          • Treetop 8.1.1.2.2

            PPW wake up, the cops even lie to politicians.

            I’d personally like to see a number of cops ranked from inspector to assistant police commissioner explain some of their lies to politicians.

            One of the biggest lies which is repeated is that the matter has been investigated and that there is no new evidence. This happens when you take a police complaint to an MP and the complaint has been under investigated because the cops have covered up wrong doing by one of their own or they have misled a politician/s.

            File after file of mine has gone missing by the police.

      • Ffloyd 8.1.2

        You’re quite right ppw. Key is a Nutter.

      • ropata 8.1.3

        opium poppy smoking destroys critical thinking faculties in the prefrontal cortex

        • proud poppy wearer 8.1.3.1

          So does Key derangement syndrome amongst the commenters at the Standard apparently.

      • proud poppy wearer 8.1.4

        [Off to moderation you go. Will let through comments where you are not abusing anyone and trying to actually debate the merits – MS]

        • Anne 8.1.4.1

          Well of course dear boy – you are a boy aren’t you? There are degrees of psychopathy. Not all of them run around shooting people you know. Some at the lower end of the scale can be quite reasonable at times. It’s when they start feeling threatened they turn feral. We saw an excellent example of it with Key just last week.

          But I guess you can’t comprehend these things because you are obviously in the bottom half of the NZ IQ scale.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.4.2

          That’s because this is a Left wing blog dedicated to political debate, not your toilet paper.

          • proud poppy wearer 8.1.4.2.1

            I’m surprised you know what toilet paper is with all the dung you post on this site.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.4.2.1.1

              I tell you what: you keep up the vacuous one-line insults, and I’ll keep on pointing out factual inaccuracies and laughing at you, and we’ll see who lasts longest.

            • tracey 8.1.4.2.1.2

              How old are you?

            • lprent 8.1.4.2.1.3

              If you don’t like it here, then leave.

              Continue with this kind of behaviour, and I will start acting like a provost. I am sure that you are familiar with that.

      • Murray Simmonds 8.1.5

        “proud poppy wearer” gets that from his beloved hero – who, in the House of Reps often used to refer to certain sectors of the opposition as “loonies”.

        All cast in the same mold, I suspect. Or should that be “the same mould?”

    • meconism 8.2

      fixed it for you MS> If you are going to be fair about these things this should also go here.

      [Back up your comments with facts or you will find your commenting ability is terminated – MS]

    • Treetop 8.3

      “He has now surpassed Rob Muldoon as New Zealand’s most venal and corrupt prime minister.”

      What really got to Key, was the fact that Key was challenged outside of the debating chamber on an important issue (human rights) and Key had a big reaction in the house following being challenged.

      Muldoon accused Moyle of being picked up by the police in the house on 3 November 1976 regarding an incident which occurred on 17 June 1975. (Muldoon sat on the incident for 16 months). Key accuses Labour of defending rapists and murders.

      The question I have for Key is:

      Do you know how many murders, sex offenders or those convicted of aggravated crimes have been deported from Australia to NZ in the last 12 months?

      And

      What has your government done to ensure that these criminals are monitored and supported?

      The full police evidence into the handling of the Moyle incidents were put in lock up for 25 years by the attorney general when part of the inquiry was released in mid April 1978 and still remain locked up.

      Self interest by a PM in a police matter = a police state.

      Wayne Stringer is so right when he states that the resources put into Hager are not JUSTIFIED. I would like to add that the police once again are not prioritising their time trying to solve homicides or sexual assaults which heavily impact on the community.

      If some of these top cops want to play a part in politics I suggest that they stand for parliament and tell the executive to not interfere in the day to day running of the police and to also ask for the police budget to be increased.

      • tracey 8.3.1

        Exactly. Rapists and murderers have been deported fr years…. Key made people think it was new.

    • Chooky 8.4

      +100 Anne…well said

  9. Tory 9

    PPW. +1👍

    • tracey 9.1

      +1

      Is one more than the number of murderers and rapits Key said were amongst the kiwis on christmas island

      +1 is one more than the number of times slaters home and business ha been raided by police after he published info from a stolen hardrive or one wrongly given to him

      +1 is 1 more than the number of times you or ppw have read the documents released from this case

  10. ianmac 10

    I have read through the Hager affidavit and noticed this which signal’s a possible political/police connection although impossible to prove.
    Oh.Sadly I cannot copy and paste. One word per line.
    Anyway para 157 and 158 interesting.
    And the Conclusion para 167-171 interesting.
    The case is finished and the publishing of the judgement has been imminent – for a while. Hope it is just the Court delay and not another one where the report is sent up the chain for approval or “modification.” Paranoia?

    • RedBaronCV 10.1

      Hi Im – are you able to give document no and page no for those para’s

    • joe90 10.2

      I cannot copy and paste. One word per line.

      Highlight – “search google for” – opens a new tab – copy from new tab search bar – should paste okay.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 10.3

      157. There is a pattern in New Zealand politics of politicians attacking the messenger when they are caught out doing things they preferred would not become public. After Dirty Politics was published, I received a series of personal attacks from the Prime Minister John Key and others. By deciding to raid my house, the Police made this worse. The implication to some sections of the public was that there was something criminal about my legitimate occupation.

      158. Also, I cannot help feeling that the Police have subjected me to more rapid
      and intrusive action than is normal. I naturally compare the actions against me to investigations of more serious crimes such as the “Roastbuster” rape complaints. In most media or political cases, the Police err on the side of not laying charges and certainly do not tum up unannounced to raid houses or offices. I cannot think of a single other case involving media where the Police have acted so intrusively. I do not understand why I appear to have been treated differently.

      167. Thus my concerns about the Police search are fivefold. First, I have a professional obligation to protect the confidential source who provided me with information I used in the book Dirty Politics.

      168. Secondly, I have an obligation to protect the confidentiality and privacy of all the other sources (and colleagues’ sources) relating to whom notes, materials and contact details were in my house at the time of the search.

      169. Thirdly, I cannot expect sources to help me in the future if they are not confident that I can hold information and work on stories without the Police arriving at my house and searching for the identity of sources. A general public perception that confidential sources are not secure, to which a Police search of my home obviously contributes, poses a serious practical risk to my work.

      170. Fourthly, a high profile decision to legitimise the Police search of my house will also have a general effect, affecting the ability of other journalists to do
      their jobs.

      171. Lastly, this search has had a direct and damaging effect on me and my work. It has caused me practical difficulties and interfered with my ability to do my work. It was greatly unsettling at the time and has since caused me great concern. It was, in short, a serious and, in my view, completely unwarranted, invasion on my private and work life.

      Awaiting the judgement with interest.

      • tracey 10.3.1

        ” 157. There is a pattern in New Zealand politics of politicians attacking the messenger when they are caught out doing things they preferred would not become public. After Dirty Politics was published, I received a series of personal attacks from the Prime Minister John Key and others. By deciding to raid my house, the Police made this worse. The implication to some sections of the public was that there was something criminal about my legitimate occupation.”

        Also being done by posters in this thread. The right throwing alotof sunday resource at this thread

        • NZSage 10.3.1.1

          I thought that too Tracey.. seems recently there are a high number of right wingers on The Standard. I have no problem with right wingers offering reasoned argument but clearly many of them are simply trolls out to hijack threads and topics.

          I’ve also noted the number of right wing comments in the online MSM receiving far more “thumbs up” or “likes” than has historically been the case.

          Now our comrades on the right will try and put that down to a change in public opinion and the love of John but things don’t change that quickly.

          Could it be the right is trying to win back Social Media from the left by devious/technical means, could it be the online MSM themselves manipulating the comments or both?

          Just speculating like….

      • Treetop 10.3.2

        Can anyone tell me what the police have charged Hager with?

        Can anyone tell me why Slater’s home has not been forensically raided like Hager’s was?
        (Were Slater’s home to be raided the police would probably not like what they found and would they reveal any information were it to potentially ruin a politician?)

        The Hager raid could just back fire on the PM like what Muldoon did to Moyle (asked the police for the contents in the Moyle police file).

        Moyle was never charged with an offence.

        • tracey 10.3.2.1

          The sergeant doesnt explain ghe process he went through to decide.

          A. Whether to invrstigate and
          B. What resoures it warranted

          If he did it was at the end of his affidavit.. i didnt read that far

          • Treetop 10.3.2.1.1

            “The sergeant doesnt explain ghe process he went through to decide.”

            Accessing a computer system for a dishonest purpose is what is being investigated, I am not sure if this is what the charge is? FFS if anyone feels that Hager has defamed them they should take a civil case out against him. The problem for me is the misuse of police resources by the police and that political interference may be involved. Were this to be the case, Hager needs to add a chapter to his Dirty Politics book.

            • tracey 10.3.2.1.1.1

              Lynch says he knew hager had written a prior political book. Is he referring to Dirty Politics?

  11. Smilin 11

    Obviously there was an extreme emergency to find the data concerning individuals and whatever communication could be there from them or associates that could be linked to any govt facilities also being specific to certain key individuals in the govt

  12. NZJester 12

    Strange they never put all that effort into finding out about a real crime of the burglary of an office that resulted in Slater receiving a stolen hard drive and a set of file cabinets full of paper documents from that burglary. Why is it they are not using as much resources for that crime to find out who committed that physical theft to hand over those records to Slater to then print an attack article on the target of that burglary?

    Why also is it that they did not charge Slater for receiving actual physical property and seize it all back with a search of his premises?

    • Treetop 12.1

      My answer to your question is ignorance is bliss. The crazy thing for me about what could be on Slater’s computer is that he would not use it against a government politician unless he really had to, to save his own arse and that he would not be ruined for spilling the beans).

      It must be real lonely being in a position which is untenable.

      Nixon and Watergate comes to mind with your comment of an office being raided.

  13. veutoviper 13

    I have been slowly wading my way through the second set of court documents released by Scoop. My impressions so far (including from reading the first set) is that there are a lot of anomalies, contradictions etc in the Police’s MO in this case and in their evidence as presented to the court. This includes some basic checking and editorial errors in the evidence that I would not expect to find in final documents presented to the court. Usually such documents are checked by many pairs of eyes …

    Some of these errors are quite funny,as well as being basic.

    For example, Felix Geiringer, one of Hager’s legal team, has tweeted a mistake in the Police transcript pf a radio interview at page 598 onwards in this document – https://t.co/U2bdrOQ2dY. This is stated as being a transcript of an interview with Mike Hosking on Radio Live on 17 August 2014.

    It is in fact a transcript of this interview by Wallace Chapman of Hager on RNZ on 7 October 2014! Oooops.

    https://t.co/O1eMwBGG8X

    Similarly, earlier in the overall document starting at page 71, there is a Police transcript of an interview of Hager by Sean Plunket on Radio Live on 14 August 2014. Halfway down page 78, the indentifiers of SP and NH get reversed and remain that way almost to the end of the interview.

    Inconsequential but makes for fun reading – but again a basic lack of proof reading that should have been picked up long before the transcript was submitted in the Police evidence to the court.

    • tracey 13.1

      Odd indeed. I wonder what the legal costs have been for we taxpayers?

      • veutoviper 13.1.1

        Very high, I suspect, in terms of the resources assigned to the raid and investigation – as well as preparation for and legal representation in court. Hence Wayne Stringer’s comments in the hard print Herald article in the post. (Full article can be read on Scoop – on the link to the second set of documents).

        And for a bit of light relief on this subject, I laughed at this tweet on the Police task sheet for information on Rawshark’s suppposed trip to Vanuatu – https://twitter.com/Te_Taipo/status/665377440215072769

        At the time, my immediate reaction to R’s mention of going to Vanuatu was that it was a blatant red herring – as unlikely as Alpha Centauri.

        EDIT – actually, having now looked at that Te Taipo Twitter account, it is well worth reading with a lot of IT analysis of the IT aspects of the police raid ….

  14. seeker 14

    Malcolm Burgess comes up again and again as a government apologist and a guy that appears to espouse the 60’s and 70’s arrogant, small minded, blinkered and bigotted type of policing.e.g. his refusal to see any possibility of the innocence of David Bain from compelling evidence of finger burns on 3D (TV3) and his biassed comments on the unfortunate journalist that left his equipment on john key’s tea table.
    I wish someone would investigate his suspicious behaviour or at least start a ‘Blip’ list on him. Maybe my two examples could start it.

  15. tracey 15

    Does anyone know if Lynch gives a definition for

    ” … serious crime investigations or investigations of an
    otherwise sensitive nature….” which require a higher degree of oversight.

    • Treetop 15.1

      You have got me thinking, what is going to happen to Rawshark when they find him?

      Rawshark could be a savant for all I know or a 13 year old or they could live in the North pole with Santa.

      • tracey 15.1.1

        Well with all those resources they couldnt find him….

      • Mark Stevens 15.1.2

        Around the time of the last election both Rawshark and Jason Ede disappeared off the radar within a week of each other. Tell me if I’m barking up the wrong tree…..

        • tracey 15.1.2.1

          You are barking up the wrong tree. Ede had to disappear to save his master and was nicely compensated in a cushy new job.

          Rawshark went cos of the heat coming on to out him. Also he was acting from anger at somehing slater did. Ede was a paid lackey doing whatever got him were he wanted to be, imo. Rawsharks was more personal.

          So for me completely different modus operandi.

  16. Incognito 16

    For some reason I’ve always had difficulty believing the official line that they were trying to find information that could lead them to Rawshark. My suspicion was and still is that Hager was the intended target all along. Perhaps Nicky Hager is too modest and humble to fully appreciate his own role in all this; Hager is certainly not stupid or naïve but he does not have an ego the size of KDC’s.

  17. ropata 17

    wtf police… you ought to know better
    threatened Hager with jail time for not giving passwords

    @onThePaepae pg 34 https://t.co/osbH9Y7rUt pic.twitter.com/VtE08pZkRa— Rangi Kemara (@Te_Taipo) November 15, 2015

    • ianmac 17.1

      The note seems to be split on two different pages? Sure it is the same statement linked together?

  18. Paul Campbell 18

    Reading back through here it’s pretty obvious that a year on a lot of people on the right are still pretty worried about the possible ramifications of the whole dirty politics scandal … That so many should spontaneously show up here over here to comment on this one issue shows that they feel vulnerable here.

    A good reason if ever I saw one to not leave the issue to die.

    • tracey 18.1

      Yup. Hager’s name presses all kinds of buttons… and the lengths gone to ilence him are very telling. What Hager reveals they do not want their supporters to know… luckily for them some of their supporters still dont want to see.

  19. Karl 19

    Anyone who knows what Hager was working with at the time of the raid has no doubt that finding Rawshark was not or at least a very minor reason for the raid.

    The incredible harassment of sources since has been extraordinary. The suppression of that harassment is doubly so.

    I don’t just want to see virtually the entire National front bench to resign; I want to see several of them prosecuted (legally speaking) and to go to prison.

  20. Northsider 20

    NOTES ON THE COPPER WHO DID KEY’s DIRTY WORK.
    Malcolm Burgess meets with Key when wearing his “International Services Group” hat.

    Assistant Commissioner Investigations, NATSEC & International
    Malcolm Burgess MNZM

    Assistant Commissioner Investigations, NATSEC & International is responsible for the National Criminal Investigations Group, the Organised and Financial Crime Agency New Zealand (OFCANZ), Financial Crime Group, International Services Group and Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Secretariat.

    The Investigations and International Group leads the prevention, investigation, disruption and prosecution of serious and transnational crime. It also leads liaison, overseas deployment and capacity building with international policing partners.

    Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess was appointed in June 2011 after two years as Director of OFCANZ, based at Police National Headquarters in Wellington.

    He joined Police in 1976 and held uniform and CIB positions including area commander for Nelson and Hamilton cities and Detective Superintendent Southern, based in Christchurch. In 2005 he studied in Britain under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Aotearoa Fellowship.

    Promotion material and arse licker supreme

    http://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/commissioners-executive-commanders

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    Is the solution to any of the serious, long term issues we all have to face as a nation, because many governments of all stripes we can probably all admit if we’re deeply truthful with ourselves haven’t done near enough work at the very times they should have, to basically ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago
  • Has Labour Abandoned the Welfare State They Created in 1938?
    The 2018 Social Security Act suggests that Labour may have retreated to the minimalist (neo-liberal) welfare state which has developed out of the Richardson-Shipley ‘redesign’. One wonders what Michael Joseph Savage, Peter Fraser and Walter Nash would have thought of the Social Security Act passed by the Ardern Labour Government ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: MPs’ financial interests under scrutiny
    MPs are supposed to serve the public interest, not their own self-interest. And according to the New Zealand Parliament’s website, democracy and integrity are tarnished whenever politicians seek to enrich themselves or the people they are connected with. For this reason, the Parliament has a “Register of Pecuniary Interests” in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • Mastering FLICC – A Cranky Uncle themed quiz
    By now, most of you will have heard about the FLICC taxonomy of science denial techniques and how you can train your skills in detecting them with the Cranky Uncle game. If you like to quickly check how good you are at this already, answer the 12 quiz questions in the ...
    2 days ago
  • Shane Jones has the zeal, sure enough, but is too busy with his mining duties (we suspect) to be ava...
    Buzz from the Beehive The hacks of the Parliamentary Press Gallery have been able to chip into a rich vein of material on the government’s official website over the past 24 hours. Among the nuggets is the speech by Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and a press statement to announce ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Cut the parliamentary term
    When Labour was in power, they wasted time, political capital, and scarce policy resources on trying to extend the parliamentary term to four years, in an effort to make themselves less accountable to us. It was unlikely to fly, the idea having previously lost two referendums by huge margins - ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • More terrible media ethics
    David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: When Whanau Ora chief executive John Tamihere was asked what his expectations for the Budget next Thursday were, he said: “All hope is lost.” Last year Whānau Ora was allocated $163.1 million in the Budget to last for the next four years ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Bringing our democracy into disrepute
    On Monday the government introduced its racist bill to eliminate Māori represntation in local government to the House. They rammed it through its first reading yesterday, and sent it to select committee. And the select committee has just opened submissions, giving us until Wednesday to comment on it. Such a ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • The censors who’ll save us from ourselves… yeah right!
    Nick Hanne writes – There’s a common malady suffered by bureaucracies the world over. They wish to save us from ourselves. Sadly, NZ officials are no less prone to exhibiting symptoms of this occupational condition. Observe, for instance, the reaction from certain public figures to the news ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • The case for commissioners to govern the capital city
    Peter Dunne writes – As the city of Tauranga prepares to elect a new Mayor and Council after three and a half years being run by government-appointed Commissioners, the case for replacing the Wellington City Council with Commissioners strengthens. The Wellington City Council has been dysfunctional for years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Thoughts about contemporary troubles.
    This will be s short post. It stems from observations I made elsewhere about what might be characterised as some macro and micro aspects of contemporary collective violence events. Here goes. The conflicts between Israel and Palestine and France and … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On Blurring The Lines Around Political Corruption
    It may be a relic of a previous era of egalitarianism, but many of us like to think that, in general, most New Zealanders are as honest as the day is long. We’re good like that, and smart as. If we’re not punching above our weight on the world stage, ...
    2 days ago
  • MPs own 2.2 houses on average
    Bryce Edwards writes – Why aren’t politicians taking more action on the housing affordability crisis? The answer might lie in the latest “Register of Pecuniary Interests.” This register contains details of the various financial interests of parliamentarians. It shows that politicians own real estate in significant numbers. The ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • King Mike & Mike King.
    I built a time machine to see you againTo hear your phone callYour voice down the hallThe way we were back thenWe were dancing in the rainOur feet on the pavementYou said I was your second headI knew exactly what you meantIn the country of the blind, or so they ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: MPs own 2.2 houses on average
    Why aren’t politicians taking more action on the housing affordability crisis? The answer might lie in the latest “Register of Pecuniary Interests.” This register contains details of the various financial interests of parliamentarians. It shows that politicians own real estate in significant numbers. The register published on Tuesday contains a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • How much climate reality can the global financial system take without collapsing?
    Microsoft’s transparency about its failure to meet its own net-zero goals is creditable, but the response to that failure is worrying. It is offering up a set of false solutions, heavily buttressed by baseless optimism. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 24-May-2024
    Another Friday, another Rāmere Roundup! Here are a few things that caught our eye this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday, our new writer Connor Sharp roared into print with a future-focused take on the proposed Auckland Future Fund, and what it could invest in. On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • Earning The Huia Feather.
    Still Waiting: Māori land remains in the hands of Non-Māori. The broken promises of the Treaty remain broken. The mana of the tangata whenua languishes under racist neglect. The right to wear the huia feather remains as elusive as ever. Perhaps these three transformations are beyond the power of a ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Friday, May 24
    Posters opposing the proposed Fast-Track Approvals legislation were pasted around Wellington last week. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: One of the architects of the RMA and a former National Cabinet Minister, Simon Upton, has criticised the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals bill as potentially disastrous for the environment, arguing just 1% ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to May 24
    There was less sharing of the joy this week than at the Chinese New Year celebrations in February. China’s ambassador to NZ (2nd from right above) has told Luxon that relations between China and New Zealand are now at a ‘critical juncture’ Photo: Getty / Xinhua News AgencyTL;DR: The podcast ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Beijing troubleshooter’s surprise visit
    The importance of New Zealand’s relationship with China was surely demonstrated yesterday with the surprise arrival in the capital of top Chinese foreign policy official Liu Jianchao. The trip was apparently organized a week ago but kept secret. Liu is the Minister of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) International Liaison ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • UK election a foregone conclusion?  That’s why it’s interesting
    With a crushing 20-plus point lead in the opinion polls, all the signs are that Labour leader Keir Starmer will be the PM after the general election on 4 July, called by Conservative incumbent Rishi Sunak yesterday. The stars are aligned for Starmer.  Rival progressives are in abeyance: the Liberal-Democrat ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    3 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #21 2021
    Open access notables How much storage do we need in a fully electrified future? A critical review of the assumptions on which this question depends, Marsden et al., Energy Research & Social Science: Our analysis advances the argument that current approaches reproduce interpretations of normality that are, ironically, rooted in ...
    3 days ago
  • Days in the life
    We returned last week from England to London. Two different worlds. A quarter of an hour before dropping off our car, we came to a complete stop on the M25. Just moments before, there had been six lanes of hurtling cars and lorries. Now, everything was at a standstill as ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Forget about its name and focus on its objective – this RMA reform bill aims to cut red tape (and ...
    Buzz from the Beehive A triumvirate of ministers – holding the Agriculture, Environment and RMA Reform portfolios – has announced the introduction of legislation “to slash the tangle of red and green tape throttling development in key sectors”, such as farming, mining and other primary industries. The exact name of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • More National corruption
    In their coalition agreement with NZ First, the National Party agreed to provide $24 million in funding to the charity "I Am Hope / Gumboot Friday". Why were they so eager to do so? Because their chair was a National donor, their CEO was the son of a National MP ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Submit!
    The Social Services and Community Committee has called for submissions on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. Submissions are due by Wednesday, 3 July 2024, and can be made at the link above. And if you're wondering what to say: section 7AA was enacted because Oranga Tamariki ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Reading the MPS numbers thinking about the fiscal situation
    Michael Reddell writes –  The Reserve Bank doesn’t do independent fiscal forecasts so there is no news in the fiscal numbers in today’s Monetary Policy Statement themselves. The last official Treasury forecasts don’t take account of whatever the government is planning in next week’s Budget, and as the Bank notes ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Charter Schools are a worthwhile addition to our school system – but ACT is mis-selling why they a...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – We know the old saying, “Never trust a politician”, and the Charter School debate is a good example of it. Charter Schools receive public funding, yet “are exempt from most statutory requirements of traditional public schools, including mandates around .. human capital management .. curriculum ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Paranoia On The Left.
    How Do We Silence Them? The ruling obsession of the contemporary Left is that political action undertaken by individuals or groups further to the right than the liberal wings of mainstream conservative parties should not only be condemned, but suppressed.WEB OF CHAOS, a “deep dive into the world of disinformation”, ...
    3 days ago
  • Budget challenges
    Muriel Newman writes –  As the new Government puts the finishing touches to this month’s Budget, they will undoubtedly have had their hands full dealing with the economic mess that Labour created. Not only was Labour a grossly incompetent manager of the economy, but they also set out ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Rishi calls an Election.
    Today the British PM, Rishi Sunak, called a general election for the 4th of July. He spoke of the challenging times and of strong leadership and achievements. It was as if he was talking about someone else, a real leader, rather than he himself or the woeful list of Tory ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Photo of the Day: GNR
    This post marks the return of an old format: Photo of the Day. Recently I was in an apartment in one of those new buildings on Great North Road Grey Lynn at rush hour, perfect day, the view was stunning, so naturally I whipped out my phone: GNR 5pm Turns ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Choosing landlords and the homeless over first home buyers
    The Government may struggle with the political optics of scrapping assistance for first home buyers while also cutting the tax burden on landlords, increasing concerns over the growing generational divide. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government confirmed it will dump first home buyer grants in the Budget next ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Orr’s warning; three years of austerity
    Yesterday, the Reserve Bank confirmed there will be no free card for the economy to get out of jail during the current term of the Government. Regardless of what the Budget next week says, we are in for three years of austerity. Over those three years, we will have to ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • An admirable U-turn
    It doesn’t inspire confidence when politicians change their minds.  But you must give credit when a bad idea is dropped. Last year, we reported on the determination of British PM Rishi Sunak to lead the world in regulating the dangers of Artificial Intelligence. Perhaps he changed his mind after meeting ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    4 days ago
  • Climate Adam: Can we really suck up Carbon Dioxide?
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Is carbon dioxide removal - aka "negative emissions" - going to save us from climate change? Or is it just a ...
    4 days ago
  • Public funding for private operators in mental health and housing – and a Bill to erase a bit of t...
    Headed for the legislative wastepaper basket…    Buzz from the Beehive It looks like this government is just as ready as its predecessor to dip into the public funds it is managing to dispense millions of dollars to finance – and favour – the parties it fancies. Or ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Why has Einstein Medalist Roy Kerr never been Knighted?
    Rob MacCulloch writes – National and Labour and ACT have at various times waxed on about their “vision” of NZ as a high value-added world tech center What subject is tech based upon? Mathematics. A Chicago mathematician just told me that whereas last decade ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Contestable advice
    Eric Crampton writes –  Danyl McLauchlan over at The Listener on the recent shift toward more contestability in public policy advice in education: Education Minister Erica Stanford, one of National’s highest-ranked MPs, is trying to circumvent the establishment, taking advice from a smaller pool of experts – ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • How did it get so bad?
    Ele Ludemann writes – That Kāinga Ora is a mess is no surprise, but the size of the mess is. There have been many reports of unruly tenants given licence to terrorise neighbours, properties bought and left vacant, and the state agency paying above market rates in competition ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • How serious is an MP’s failure to declare $178k in donations?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s being explained as an “inadvertent error”. However, National MP David MacLeod’s excuse for failing to disclose $178,000 in donations for his election campaign last year is not necessarily enough to prevent some serious consequences. A Police investigation is now likely, and the result ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the privatising of state housing provision, by stealth
    The scathing “independent” review of Kāinga Ora barely hit the table before the coalition government had acted on it. The entire Kāinga Ora board will be replaced, and a new chair (Simon Moutter) has been announced. Hmm. No aspersions on Bill English, but the public would have had more confidence ...
    4 days ago
  • Our House.
    I'll light the fireYou place the flowers in the vaseThat you bought todayA warm dry home, you’d think that would be bread and butter to politicians. Home ownership and making sure people aren’t left living on the street, that’s as Kiwi as Feijoa and Apple Crumble. Isn’t it?The coalition are ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Getting to No
    Politics is about compromise, right?  And framing it so the voters see your compromise as the better one.  John Key was a skilful exponent of this approach (as was Keith Holyoake in an earlier age), and Chris Luxon isn’t too bad either. But in politics, the process whereby an old ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    5 days ago
  • At a glance – How does the Medieval Warm Period compare to current global temperatures?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    5 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: How serious is an MP’s failure to declare $178k in donations?
    It’s being explained as an “inadvertent error”. However, National MP David MacLeod’s excuse for failing to disclose $178,000 in donations for his election campaign last year is not necessarily enough to prevent some serious consequences. A Police investigation is now likely, and the result of his non-disclosure could even see ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Get your story straight, buddy
    The relentless drone coming out of the Prime Minister and his deputy for a million days now has been that the last government was just hosing  money all over the show and now at last the grownups are in charge and shutting that drunken sailor stuff down. There is a word ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • A govt plane is headed for New Caledonia – here’s hoping the Kiwis stranded there get better ser...
    Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed a New Zealand Government plane will head to riot-torn New Caledonia in the next hour in the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home. Today’s flight will carry around 50 passengers with the most ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Who is David MacLeod?
    Precious declaration saysYours is yours and mine you leave alone nowPrecious declaration saysI believe all hope is dead no longerTick tick tick Boom!Unexploded ordnance. A veritable minefield. A National caucus with a large number of unknowns, candidates who perhaps received little in the way of vetting as the party jumped ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Four Knights
    Rex Ahdar writes –  The Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, likes to trace his political lineage back to the pioneers of parliamentary Maoridom.   I will refer to these as the ‘big four’ or better still, the Four Knights. Just as ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Could Willie Jackson be the populist leader that Labour need?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Willie Jackson will participate in the prestigious Oxford Union debate on Thursday, following in David Lange’s footsteps. Coincidentally, Jackson has also followed Lange’s footsteps by living in his old home in South Auckland. And like Lange, Jackson might be the sort of loud-mouth scrapper ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Unacceptable
    That is the only way to describe an MP "forgetting" to declare $178,000 in donations. The amount of money involved - more than five times the candidate spending cap, and two and a half times the median income - is boggling. How do you just "forget" that amount of money? ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Justice for Gaza!
    It finally happened: the International Criminal Court prosecutor is seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza: The chief prosecutor of the international criminal court has said he is seeking arrest warrants for senior Hamas and Israeli officials for war crimes and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Media Link: AVFA on the implications of US elections.
    In this week’s “A View from Afar” podcast Selwyn Manning and spoke about the upcoming US elections and what the possibility of another Trump presidency means for the US role in world affairs. We also spoke about the problems Joe … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Web of Chaos, Secret Dolphins & Monster Truck Madness
    Hi,Two years ago I briefly featured in Justin Pemberton’s Web of Chaos documentary, which touched on things like QAnon during the pandemic.I mostly prattled on about how intertwined conspiracy narratives are with Evangelical Christian thinking, something Webworm’s explored in the past.(The doc is available on TVNZ+, if you’re not in ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • How Government’s road obsession is ruining Auckland’s transport plans
    “TL;DR: The reality is that Central Government’s transport policy and direction makes zero sense for Auckland, and if the draft GPS doesn’t change from its original form, then Auckland will be on a collision course with Wellington.” Auckland’s draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) 2024 is now out for consultation, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    5 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Tuesday, May 21
    The Government is leaving the entire construction sector and the community housing sector in limbo. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government released the long-awaited Bill English-led review of Kāinga Ora yesterday, but delayed key decisions on its build plan and how to help community housing providers (CHPs) build ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Climate change is affecting mental health literally everywhere
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons Farmers who can’t sleep, worrying they’ll lose everything amid increasing drought. Youth struggling with depression over a future that feels hopeless. Indigenous people grief-stricken over devastated ecosystems. For all these people and more, climate change is taking a clear toll ...
    5 days ago
  • The Ambassador and Luxon – eye to eye
    New Zealand’s relationship with China is becoming harder to define, and with that comes a worry that a deteriorating political relationship could spill over into the economic relationship. It is about more than whether New Zealand will join Pillar Two of Aukus, though the Chinese Ambassador, more or less, suggested ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Fast track to environmental degradation
    Been hoping we would see something like this from Sir Geoffrey Palmer. This is excellent.The present Bill goes further than the National Development Act 1979  in stripping away procedures designed to ensure that environmental issues are properly considered. The 1979 approach was not acceptable then and this present approach is ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Leading Labour Off The Big Rock Candy Mountain.
    He’s Got The Moxie: Only Willie Jackson possesses the credentials to meld together a new Labour message that is, at one and the same moment, staunchly working-class, union-friendly, and which speaks to the hundreds-of-thousands of urban Māori untethered to the neo-tribal capitalist elites of the Iwi Leaders Forum.IT’S ONE OF THE ...
    6 days ago
  • Priority is given to powerlines – govt strikes another blow for the economy while Jones fends off ...
    Tree-huggers may well accuse the Government of giving them the fingers, after Energy Minister Simeon Brown announced new measures to protect powerlines from trees, rather than measures to protect trees from powerlines. It can be no coincidence, surely, that this has been announced at the same as Fisheries Minister Shane Jones ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Climate Change: The question we need to be asking
    One of National's first actions in government was to dismantle climate change policy, scrapping the clean car discount and overturning the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry, which had given us Aotearoa's biggest-ever emissions reduction. But there's an obvious problem: we needed those emissions reductions to meet our carbon budgets: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Could Willie Jackson be the populist leader that Labour need?
    Willie Jackson will participate in the prestigious Oxford Union debate on Thursday, following in David Lange’s footsteps. Coincidentally, Jackson has also followed Lange’s footsteps by living in his old home in South Auckland. And like Lange, Jackson might be the sort of loud-mouth scrapper who could take over the Labour ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago
  • The Tikanga challenge for law schools, the rule of law – and Parliament
    Barrister Gary Judd KC’s complaint to the Regulatory Review Committee has sparked a fierce debate about the place of tikanga Māori – or Māori customs, values and spiritual beliefs – in the law.Judd opposes the New Zealand Council of Legal Education’s plans to make teaching tikanga compulsory in the legal curriculum.AUT ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  •  The Huge Potential Benefits of Charter Schools
    Alwyn Poole writes –  In New Zealand we have approximately 460 high schools. The gaps between the schools that produce the best results for students and those at the other end of the spectrum are enormous.In terms of the data for their leavers, the top 30 schools have ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Can Shane Jones be trusted in making Fast-track decisions?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  New Zealand First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones has become the best advertisement against the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In selling the radical new resource consenting processes, in which ministers can green light any mine, dam, or other major development, Jones seems to be ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Major investment in teacher supply through Budget 24
    Over the next four years, Budget 24 will support the training and recruitment of 1,500 teachers into the workforce, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today. “To raise achievement and develop a world leading education system we’re investing nearly $53 million over four years to attract, train and retain our valued ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Joint statement on the New Zealand – Cook Islands Joint Ministerial Forum – 2024
    1.  New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters; Minister of Health and Minister for Pacific Peoples Hon Dr Shane Reti; and Minister for Climate Change Hon Simon Watts hosted Cook Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Hon Tingika Elikana and Minister of Health Hon Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown on 24 May ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Middle East, Africa deployments extended
    The Government has approved two-year extensions for four New Zealand Defence Force deployments to the Middle East and Africa, Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today. “These deployments are long-standing New Zealand commitments, which reflect our ongoing interest in promoting peace and stability, and making active ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change Commission Chair to retire
    The Climate Change Commission Chair, Dr Rod Carr, has confirmed his plans to retire at the end of his term later this year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Prior to the election, Dr Carr advised me he would be retiring when his term concluded. Dr Rod Carr has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inaugural Board of Integrity Sport & Recreation Commission announced
    Nine highly respected experts have been appointed to the inaugural board of the new Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission is a new independent Crown entity which was established under the Integrity Sport and Recreation Act last year, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • A balanced Foreign Affairs budget
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed today that Vote Foreign Affairs in Budget 2024 will balance two crucial priorities of the Coalition Government.    While Budget 2024 reflects the constrained fiscal environment, the Government also recognises the critical role MFAT plays in keeping New Zealanders safe and prosperous.    “Consistent with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New social housing places to support families into homes
    New social housing funding in Budget 2024 will ensure the Government can continue supporting more families into warm, dry homes from July 2025, Housing Ministers Chris Bishop and Tama Potaka say. “Earlier this week I was proud to announce that Budget 2024 allocates $140 million to fund 1,500 new social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New Zealand’s minerals future
    Introduction Today, we are sharing a red-letter occasion. A Blackball event on hallowed ground. Today  we underscore the importance of our mineral estate. A reminder that our natural resource sector has much to offer.  Such a contribution will not come to pass without investment.  However, more than money is needed. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government sets out vision for minerals future
    Increasing national and regional prosperity, providing the minerals needed for new technology and the clean energy transition, and doubling the value of minerals exports are the bold aims of the Government’s vision for the minerals sector. Resources Minister Shane Jones today launched a draft strategy for the minerals sector in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government progresses Māori wards legislation
    The coalition Government’s legislation to restore the rights of communities to determine whether to introduce Māori wards has passed its first reading in Parliament, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says. “Divisive changes introduced by the previous government denied local communities the ability to determine whether to establish Māori wards.” The ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • First RMA amendment Bill introduced to Parliament
    The coalition Government has today introduced legislation to slash the tangle of red and green tape throttling some of New Zealand’s key sectors, including farming, mining and other primary industries. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says the Government is committed to  unlocking development and investment while ensuring the environment is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government welcomes EPA decision
    The decision by Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to approve the continued use of hydrogen cyanamide, known as Hi-Cane, has been welcomed by Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.  “The EPA decision introduces appropriate environmental safeguards which will allow kiwifruit and other growers to use Hi-Cane responsibly,” Ms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to Employers and Manufacturers Association: Relief for today, hope for tomorrow
    Kia ora, Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou kātoa Tāmaki Herenga Waka, Tāmaki Herenga tangata Ngā mihi ki ngā mana whenua o tēnei rohe Ngāti Whātua ō Ōrākei me nga iwi kātoa kua tae mai. Mauriora. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the EMA for hosting this event. Let me acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government invests in 1,500 more social homes
    The coalition Government is investing in social housing for New Zealanders who are most in need of a warm dry home, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. Budget 2024 will allocate $140 million in new funding for 1,500 new social housing places to be provided by Community Housing Providers (CHPs), not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • $24 million boost for Gumboot Friday
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