Serco, Lotu-Iiga and the death of Nick Evans

Written By: - Date published: 9:36 am, July 23rd, 2015 - 69 comments
Categories: Judith Collins, national, national/act government, Politics, privatisation, Public Private Partnerships, same old national, the praiseworthy and the pitiful - Tags: , , ,

National’s ideological blindspot is that it believes that private enterprise is better than the state, every time.  Recent news about Serco suggests very strongly that this is not so.

The privatisation of Auckland’s remand prison system was based on the premise that private enterprise can do just as well as the Corrections Department but more cheaply and with improved results.  National has talked up Serco for quite a while.

Before her unfortunate fall from grace then Minister of Corrections Judith Collins said this about Serco’s appointment to run Auckland’s remand prison:

The appointment of Serco as the contract manager for Mt Eden/ACRP will bring in new ideas and international best practice which will benefit the entire corrections sector.

Serco has a strong track record in managing prisons. I’m confident that the company will bring the high standards of professionalism, safety, rehabilitation and security expected by the Government to Mt Eden/ACRP.

Judith may wish to review her confidence.  The treatment of Nick Evans suggests that the prison is neither safe nor secure.

Kelvin Davis has done sterling work on the issue and yesterday had a National Minister as compromised on an issue as I have ever seen.  Peseta Sam Lotu Iiga was literally on the ropes.  He was clearly dodging when he answered the question about when he first knew about Nick Evans’ dropping by answering a completely different question about when he learned about Evans’s death and looked really awkward.  Chris Hipkins was rightfully upset at Carter’s protection of the Minister.

But the Government’s denials are looking desperate.  In yet another case of see no evil the Government’s standard response is that the various allegations of fights, drug and alcohol taking and possession of cellphones all backed up by physical evidence are “unproven”.  From Stuff:

Under fire Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga insisted on Wednesday the claims were unproven but admitted he had heard “rumours and allegations” about the death.

He was unable to say when he first heard those rumours but confirmed no action had been taken to refer the matter to police.

“[There was] Kelvin Davis’s allegation about this during the week but I’ve heard all sorts of rumours about this death and I’ve said to my officials ‘get to the bottom of it, let’s have an inquiry, an investigation’.”

Lotu-Iiga said any decision on a police investigation may be dependent on the outcome of a coroner’s inquiry and investigation by the chief prisons inspector.

Serco and the minister have both denied any knowledge of a practice called “dropping” – and say the first they heard about it was this week.

But it has now emerged that Lotu-Iiga was grilled about the practice by Davis at a parliamentary select committee hearing weeks ago.

A transcript of proceedings show Lotu-Iiga was told by Davis: “There’s this guy that passed away recently…apparently he had a ruptured lung. I’ve asked ‘how do you get a ruptured lung? It’s often from a high impact collision and there’s accusations that prisoners have been thrown off balconies and then they’re getting transferred out of Mt Eden correctional facility.”

Asked on Wednesday about that transcript, Lotu-Iiga appeared to have no recollection of the exchange.

And an allegation has been made that news of a riot has been hushed up.  Again from Stuff:

There are also allegations of a riot that was hushed up – which Lotu-Iiga also denied on Wednesday.

But he confirmed there had been an “incident” which required the Corrections “advance response team” to enter Mt Eden and take control.

“They [the prisoners] were barricading themselves in with hoses….ultimately the prisoners gave up and it was dealt with.”

He rejected suggestions Serco had failed to report it as a riot because that would have incurred financial penalties.

The basic problem is that Serco’s business model is to save costs by having lower staff levels than state run prisons.  In state prisons there is a requirement of having one guard for every 15 prisoners.  In Serco the standard requirement is one for every 23 prisoners but if a guard is ill there is not necessarily any cover.  This Radio New Zealand post from November last year indicates that Corrections Association president Bevan Hanlon has witnessed prison wings with one staff member supervising 90 prisoners.

The article also suggests that Lotu Iiga’s claims that ACRP’s performance was good is not correct.

Figures obtained by Radio New Zealand show that in the 12 months to June there were 139 fights between prisoners and 26 assaults on guards.

There were 141 prisoner assaults in 2013 and 149 in 2012. There were also 39 assaults on guards in the 12 months to June 2013, and 22 attacks in 2012.

Mt Eden has the capacity to house 966 prisoners. By comparison, Christchurch Prison has 926 inmates and reported 83 assaults last year.

The Corrections Association and the Public Service Association, which both represent prison officers working at Mt Eden prison, said the figures proved what they had long been saying: that there were simply not enough staff to keep themselves and inmates safe.

The stench of a coverup is strong and Serco’s continued involvement in our Corrections System has to be questioned.  Despite a young man dying of an injury consistent with trauma police have not as yet been asked to investigate the death.  Lotu-Iiga is all at sea trying to explain why he has made the most basic of inquiries.  And why someone was transferred out of Serco’s custody clearly while suffering from life threatening injuries needs full and proper investigation.

69 comments on “Serco, Lotu-Iiga and the death of Nick Evans ”

  1. Good post – Serco must go!!! The minister must go!!! and I feel a bit queasy saying it – good on you Kelvin.

  2. maui 2

    Video link not working.

    [Should be fine now – MS]

  3. Huginn 3

    The ride from Mt Eden Prison to Ngawha takes nearly 4 hours – half a day. That’s how long it took private sector contractor Serco, greedy for profit – to literally transfer its risk back into the public sector.

    This is awful. My thoughts are with Nick Evans’ family and loved ones.

    • Atiawa 3.1

      It’s the same old story of privatizing the profits and nationalizing the losses.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1

        Which, of course, is why Judith Collins won’t be reviewing her confidence. Privatisation guarantees private profits and so National will keep on doing it no matter how bad things get.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2

      Crimes Act 1961, Section 195A. Failure to protect child or vulnerable adult.

      Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years who, being a person described in subsection (2), has frequent contact with a child or vulnerable adult (the victim) and—
      (a) knows that the victim is at risk of death, grievous bodily harm, or sexual assault as the result of—
      (i) an unlawful act by another person; or
      (ii) an omission by another person to discharge or perform a legal duty if, in the circumstances, that omission is a major departure from the standard of care expected of a reasonable person to whom that legal duty applies; and
      (b) fails to take reasonable steps to protect the victim from that risk.
      (2) The persons are—
      (a) a member of the same household as the victim; or
      (b) a person who is a staff member of any hospital, institution, or residence where the victim resides…

      Not calling an ambulance, for example.

  4. Clemgeopin 4

    Corrections Minister keeps giving stupid excuses and is still trying to pass the buck, showing his shocking incompetence.

    Henry-Davis
    http://www.3news.co.nz/TVShows/PaulHenry
    —————–
    Henry-Sam
    http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/paulhenry/corrections-minister-to-ask-serco-serious-questions-2015072307#axzz3ges1QjCQ

    [Thanks Clemgeopin looks like the interview with Kelvin is at http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/kelvin-davis-prison-dropping-tip-of-the-iceberg-2015072209#axzz3gfBQNTW3 – MS]

    • Bob 4.1

      You know Sam Lotu-Iiga is in serious trouble when he has now been completely owned in interviews with Sean Plunkett, Mike Hosking and Paul Henry!
      He will be gone by tomorrow unless he actually manages to hold Serco to account today.

      My thoughts are with the family of Nick Evans.

    • Clemgeopin 4.2

      Yes, thanks. Previously, my link was taking to where you are pointing.

    • Malconz 4.3

      The government’s constant line is that Labour is “just playing politics,” and “where’s the evidence?” Excuse me Minister, it’s YOUR effing job to produce the evidence after you’ve been alerted to an appalling situation! Jeez, they’re a pathetic bunch.

      • Bob 4.3.1

        That’s a bit simplistic Malconz, the Minister has been alerted to 2 situations where prisoners have been ‘dropped’, one resulting in injuries that have presumably (still awaiting coroners report, but either way the act is reprehensible) lead to a death, the other lead to two broken legs.
        Kelvin Davis has claimed ‘dropping’ is wide spread and commonplace, Serco has told the minister there have only been 2 accounts of this happening and if it was widespread they would have a number of lower limb injuries coming to their attention, which they have not. If these are the only two acts that have occurred there is no further evidence to find, so it is on Kelvin Davis to back up his unsubstantiated claims!

        Don’t get me wrong here, Sam Lotu-Iiga should be sacked as Corrections Minister over his mishandling of the whole situation around prisoners in Serco run prisons being able to run amok, and the fact he hasn’t held Serco to account for a riot last year, but in this case it is on Kelvin Davis to produce evidence around widespread ‘dropping’, or at least obtain a signed affidavit from a witness of these accounts, so he can categorically state there have been more than just the two cases Serco have admitted too.

        • mickysavage 4.3.1.1

          I regret that a signed affidavit from Nick Evans is not possible.

          And Davis made a very good point. This Government is that vindictive do you think that people would willingly disclose their identity?

          • Bob 4.3.1.1.1

            I wasn’t saying he should release a signed affidavit from Nick Evans, Kelvin Davis has said ‘dropping’ is commonplace at Mt Eden, he said he has a source who is an “upstanding member of society” for this, obtain a signed affidavit from his source then release the details with his sources details redacted, it’s not rocket surgery.
            I understand why someone would be hesitant to help out the Labour Party (look at the Barfoot and Thompson worker), but Kelvin Davis is making unsubstantiated claims about Serco, Serco denies those claims, Malconz thinks it is up to the Minister to come up with evidence for something there is no proof is actually widespread, I disagree.
            It ‘is’ the ministers job to find out what happened to Nick Evans and hold the party/parties responsible for what happened to account, it ‘is’ the ministers job to follow up on the fight club’ videos, the cigarettes, the alcohol and the use of mobile phones by prisoners. It ‘is’ the Ministers job to follow up on claims of a riot in a Serco facility. On many of these the Minister has been shown to be out of his depth and should be removed from the portfolio, but it is not his job to go on wild goose chases because Kelvin Davis heard that something from an unknown source.

            Also, do you think it is just this Government that is vindictive?

  5. Karen 5

    There will be a protest against SERCO outside Mt Eden Prison at 11am on 1 August (Saturday).

  6. Clemgeopin 6

    Corrections boss says ‘prisoner-fell-was-not-dropped’

    “The Inspectorate concluded that the prisoner fell as a result of being chased by another offender who then physically assaulted the prisoner. There was no suggestion made in the report of any practice of ‘dropping’.

    “He was hospitalised, treated and returned to prison,” Smith said.
    Corrections National Office were informed of the incident within 24 hours and an investigation found “no evidence” that prison staff were “aware that the prisoner’s welfare was at risk prior to their officer witnessing him fall over the balustrade and being chased by another prisoner”.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/70472683/prisoner-fell-was-not-dropped–corrections-boss

    • McFlock 6.1

      “Fell” while being chased by another inmate.
      Even if the semantic distinction of the event is accurate, it still shows that serco can’t keep their prisoners safe.

      So a nice PR / cover-their-arse distraction attempt.

    • BM 6.2

      Guy gets beaten up in prison, that’s never happened before.

      I don’t see much of a story here, I do see Labour politicizing the death of some guy though.

      Racist hit piece, now this, stay classy Labour.

      • maui 6.2.1

        Let’s delete the incident from our memory banks then. No death, no problem. Serco delivers inmates flowers every morning through their cell door while Valerie Adams, the chief warden, oversees the tightly run ship.

        • Puckish Rogue 6.2.1.1

          Remember Liam Ashley? Stuff like this happens in prisons whether they’re privately run or union run (which is what this about really) so really not a big deal

          but hey anything to take the heat away from Labour eh

          • joe90 6.2.1.1.1

            Remember Chubb Security….

            • Puckish Rogue 6.2.1.1.1.1

              Yes I do, do you?

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Liam_Ashley

              In 2007, John Belgrave, New Zealand Chief Ombudsman, and Mel Smith, the ombudsman of the Corrections Department, conducted an inquiry into the department’s policy for transporting prisoners.Belgrave described the Corrections’ prisoner transport policies as “inhumane”, and ordered a review of the system.After publication of the report, Simon Power, a Justice & Corrections spokesman, asked O’Connor to resign due to the shortcomings in his department, though he stopped short of saying that O’Connor was directly responsible for Ashley’s death. Power criticized the system for failing to keep Ashley, a first time offender, and Baker, a high-risk prisoner, separated.

              • dukeofurl

                Have you missed the point.
                The prison van was operated by Chubb.

                So we are down to incidents that happened under a private operator being blamed on the public corrections.
                You’re a magician , Sammy needs you quick smart.

                • Puckish Rogue

                  No, they were operating under contract and I’ll bet that Chubb didn’t set out the conditions of the contract

                  • mickysavage

                    So are Serco. Can you not see that Ashley’s death is another example of why private enterprise should have nothing to do with corrections?

                    • McFlock

                      Stop diverting, ms. The entire point of this and all threads is “Labour did it too” /sarc

                  • maui

                    Here’s a breach of that contract you were talking about:

                    13. The non seperation of Baker as a Prisoner at Risk in accordance with the contract requirements (schedule 2, Service Description 6.1.9 – Separation of Groups of Prisoners) provided the ability for Liam and Baker to communicate during transportation both to and from Court on 24 August 2006.

          • Galeandra 6.2.1.1.2

            To ‘Puckish Rogue’ a man’s death is merely one more in a galaxy of violent prison incidents “so really not a big deal….” and pursued by opposition parties led by Labour only as part of a political agenda. ie you feel free to judge other’s motives by assessing only your own.You really are a moral lowlife.

            Deconstructing your avatar reveals clearly the poseur you are. Uncle reveals himself as a twerp.

            BTW the philosophical issue regarding the management of prisons isn’t a matter about whether they’re privately run or UNION run. It’s about the role of the STATE in dealing with transgression while it protects, rehabilitates and ensures justice both for offenders and the society they spring from. Spot the difference?

            Unionism is a matter quite aside from the issue of this man’s death, though no doubt the politics of this r w government could be held to be the ultimate cause. But what do you care, eh?

      • Crashcart 6.2.2

        Dissmissing this incident with “Guy gets beaten up in prison, that’s never happened before” is exactly what I would expect from a supporter of the current government.

        It goes hand in hand with house prices go up, thats never happened before.

        Are you the kind of guy who gets up in the morning and goes “well I could have a shower and put on clean clothes but fuck it everything will just get dirty again”?

        I thought private enterprise was all about continuos improvement.

        • Puckish Rogue 6.2.2.1

          If you think this has nothing to do with politics (privitisation = bad, unions = good and quick we need an issue to take peoples minds of our racism) then you must be seriously deluded

          • weizguy 6.2.2.1.1

            This has a lot to do with privatisation. The Government were told that privatisation of prison services was a bad idea. They were provided the evidence of why it doesn’t work in the justice sector. They did it anyway.

            Live by the sword, die by the sword.

            There is a lot more to come out here. SERCO has been hiding things from Corrections. Corrections has been hiding things from the Minister. The MInister has been hiding things from the public. If it’s just the Minister that goes, there will be a great number of people counting their lucky stars.

            • Puckish Rogue 6.2.2.1.1.1

              Well according to that well-known supporter of National/Act Willy Jackson this is not new, has nothing to do with privatisation and was worse decades ago in comparison to now

              • dukeofurl

                Willy has to keep the bread buttered. Thats been obvious for some time.

                The real issue is the cover up to make Serco look great.

                That’s the real reason Sammy is saying rumour and innuendo one day and its verified by his prisons boss the next.

              • Saarbo

                Stop fighting PR, you just got “owned”.

        • Henry Filth 6.2.2.2

          Private enterprise is about providing a product or a service and

          A) making money from it

          B) making the product or service good enough to make the buyer want to come back for more.

          I should imagine that SERCO are making money.

          I should NOT imagine that the New Zealand government would want to come back for more. I really shouldn’t. But I’m not holding my breath. . .

      • Skinny 6.2.3

        Meanwhile today Slugger Bill English says “the state shouldn’t be running business interests.” I guess he means hand more over to the International traveling circus Serco? Lol classic!

        • dukeofurl 6.2.3.1

          Why the hell was the taxpayer through its Landcorp bought in to milk cows for Shanghai Pengxin ?

          Bills a laugh when he says that stuff.

      • adam 6.2.4

        BM are you saying that death in custody is now acceptable?

        All of the opposition are politicizing a death in custody. Poignant, as the company that held the duty of care, has had many other individuals die, and other still be injured in their custody. Just do a search of their name – it might just disturbed you. I know wishful thinking.

        Needless death, is just that needless. Any opposition worth it’s salt, would call in to question the events and circumstances around this tragedy. Try empathy for once BM, or do you have no moral compass?

      • mickysavage 6.2.5

        Guy gets beaten up in prison, that’s never happened before.

        I don’t see much of a story here, I do see Labour politicizing the death of some guy though.

        Keep it up BM. You know the problem with your complete intolerance? That guy had family of all different sorts and sizes. Who knows, one of his relatives may have been a strong National supporter who is now questioning his choices.

      • Tricledrown 6.2.6

        Where McCready he should prosecute
        The National govt.for being Accessories to a Murder.
        If this was your average Joe blogs on the St or anyone else the police would have no hesitation in arresting interviewing and charging anyone trying to coverup a Murder.

      • Tricledrown 6.2.7

        Questions now have 5o be asked about any donations Serco have made to the National Party as Serco has made donations to the Tories in the UK.
        And how many shares are held by National party members and MP’s
        It’s unbelievable that a company bidding for govt contracts is allowed to donate to the party awarding them contracts.

    • weizguy 6.3

      I’m sure there will be CCTV footage to that effect. I await the release of said footage. Until then, I’m sceptical.

      As for the veracity of the reports…

    • maui 6.4

      I’d take them at their word at that, it’s not like their prison has an issue with reliability… no contraband phones, alcohol getting in, or organised fighting between inmates, or even rumours of dropping inmates… oh wait

    • freedom 6.5

      The article has been updated and it is now clear the Correction’s boss, when making reference to a prisoner ‘falling’ from the balcony and being hospitalised before returning to prison, is in relation to the reports of a prisoner breaking his legs, not the incident leading to the death of Evans.

  7. Adrian 7

    What pisses me off is the lazy reporting that passes for journalism here. Look up ” Can n Winston Churchills Grandson Save Serco? ” . It’s a Guardian article from last month which details exactly how completely inept and corrupt Serco is world wide. It’s also on the brink of collapse facing court cases and inquiries everywhere.
    We should know this shit.
    Why none of this is public knowledge in NZ is beyond me, it’s only a click away, admittedly I was lucky to see it while in the UK.
    God, if only we had a paper like that here.

    • Steve Reeves 7.1

      Well, it’s getting closer 🙂 The Guardian has done a huge job on research and reporting in the health scandal (private provider…) in the detention camps in Aus.

      So, only The Tasman to get over now…

  8. Keith 8

    Is Nationals basic strategy of lying to make this go away really going to achieve the results needed to stop this horror? No!

  9. Keith 9

    Why does this jail have elevated landings that people can fall from?

  10. CnrJoe 10

    please delete this moderator but – 3rd last line of the post

    “Lout-Iiga is all at sea trying to explain why he has made the most basic of inquiries.”

    I like the lout bit but it reads to me like a typo?

    [Fixed thanks and yes it was a typo 😀 – MS]

    • Ed 10.1

      Is he really having trouble explaining why he has made the most basic of inquiries, or should it be why he has _not_ made the most basic of inquiries?

  11. Mick 11

    it is not a blind spot. it is deliberately farming out the prerogatives of the state to private enterprise.
    tax farming will be next

  12. Draco T Bastard 12

    Yeah, according to Chris Hipkins:

    Oh my goodness. Sam Lotu-Iiga just told the House he rates his own career survival more important than sorting out Serco. Seriously!

    • dukeofurl 12.1

      Didnt he say yesterday , there was evidence of leg injuries ?

      Today we have evidence of leg injuries

      “Private prison operator Serco has been accused of a “cover up” after it attempted to keep from the public details about an inmate who suffered two broken legs.”

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11485646

      The day previous there was no evidence of ‘dropping’ from balconies, then there was evidence of injuries but claims he ‘slipped over’

      Everyone knows inside the prison, no matter how bad you are hurt, you never rat on them, as you are targeted as a nark for ever.

  13. tc 13

    He’s already double dipped as an MP and akl city councillor pre supershity and fibbed his butt off during campaigning up against the ineffective Beaumont who let it slide past rather than take him on.

    Such potential at deception and troughing and that smile n wave is coming along nicely also so lets see if he is in the club or expendable.

  14. Ad 14

    Lotu-Iiga hasn’t cauterised this one yet, despite the “I really told them this time”.

    Kelvin clearly has sources that want to be tapped. I think there’s at least two more weeks worth in this yet. Nice hit Kelvin, well played. It’s still bleeding.

    • tc 14.1

      The hollowmen will be weighing up the distraction effect given akl housing, sheepgate, a prominent NZ’r, tanking dairy sector, flag sinkhole, another charter school fiasco, state housing flog off etc.

      Sammy’s about to find out his true ‘worth’ methinks.

      • Ad 14.1.1

        Also not an easy time for Key and Ede’s House or media management, because with fuck all put on Parliament’s agenda, they have nothing to shift to another story.

        And so we have a week’s worth of stuffed pigeons and jailbait.
        It’s Key’s own fault.

  15. Clemgeopin 15

    Questions to Ministers & Answers

    Mt Eden Corrections Facility—Performance-related Fees

    1. DAVID CLENDON (Green) to the Minister of Corrections : What specific events has he been made aware of at the SERCO-run Mt Eden Corrections Facility that could trigger a specific deduction from the performance-related fee, and which of those events have resulted in a specific deduction?

    Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (Minister of Corrections): Some of the incidents include insufficient staffing levels, mixing accused prisoners with other prisoners, minimal entitlements, and incident notification. In the financial year 2014-15, these deductions amounted to $300,000.

    David Clendon : Given that there have been deductions, why did the Minister only very recently praise Serco as “performing exceptionally”?

    Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA : I said that statement with regard to the performance tables for prisons, where they have been given an “exceptional” performance rating.

    David Clendon : At the Minister’s meeting with Serco today, did they advise him of any additional incidents at Mt Eden Corrections Facility that may result in a deduction?

    Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA : No.

    David Clendon : Given that the Department of Corrections produced a report on fight club incidents over a year ago and given that the department reported on a dropping incident earlier this year yet the Minister knew nothing about it until last week, will he concede that there is a dysfunctional relationship between him and his department?

    Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA : No, I do not believe that there is a dysfunctional relationship, but what I can say is that I expressed my disappointment to the department for not elevating that to the chief executive and me.

    Mahesh Bindra : Now that he is caught between his own career and Serco’s survival, which will he choose?

    Hon Gerry Brownlee : No, that’s not a reasonable question.

    Mr SPEAKER : Order! I am going to listen to the question again, please.

    Mahesh Bindra : Now that he is caught between his own career and Serco’s survival, which will he choose?

    Mr SPEAKER : No, I consider that that question has ministerial responsibility.

    Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA : Well, I believe in my own career, thank you very much.

    David Clendon : Does the Minister stand by his statement that Mt Eden Corrections Facility is “performing exceptionally” under Serco’s management; if so, why?

    Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA : That performance table was in respect of the year ending 31 March 2015. However, I did say to Serco in our meeting this morning that there was room for improvement and that it needed to improve its performance, based on some of the evidence and incidents that we have seen in recent days.

    David Clendon : Will the Minister now guarantee that Serco’s contract for the management of Mt Eden Corrections Facility will be renewed?

    Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA : I cannot guarantee that that will happen. What I can say is that we will get the findings of the review, in terms of the incidents that were reported, and going forward we will make decisions that will be based on its performance.

    David Clendon : Why is Serco only on notice and not facing immediate cancellation of its contract following the death of a prisoner, a prison riot, video evidence of fight clubs, evidence of the manufacture of alcohol and tobacco; or do they actually need to burn Mt Eden Corrections Facility down before the Minister will—

    Mr SPEAKER : Order!

    Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA : Well, unlike the Green Party, we believe that there is a process to follow—due process. There needs to be a review, we need to get to the bottom of the facts around some of the incidents that we have seen in recent days, and then we will make the appropriate decisions.

  16. RedBaronCV 16

    And by the look of this he doesn’t know what being on remand is.
    “mixing accused prisoners with other prisoners”
    Are remand prisoners who are guilty of exactly nothing until convicted by a court being mixed with convicted prisoners which is a huge No No.

    Wonder if Sam has realised yet that hanging him out to dry might be the distraction de jour for the Nacts from housing speculation

  17. keyman 17

    whats the big deal so someone dies look at all the money we have saved

    • Clemgeopin 17.1

      Does that money saving idea of yours apply if it was you we were talking about that was bashed, chased and dropped from a high balcony collapsing your lung, causing concussion and broken limbs and bones? Would your mum, partner, children and near and dear ones say about you what you are saying about someone else’s death?

      Here is hoping some bad karma does not happen to you for your bad sentiments. You better retract, apologise and ask some forgiveness, man.

    • Macro 17.2

      So why don’t you save us all some money – and take a running jump.

  18. upnorth 19

    why doesnt Davies go the local police station and tell them there has been a murder?

    Problem solved and the Davis can back up his statement

  19. Draco T Bastard 20

    Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga thrown under a train by Corrections bosses

    The minister has been thrown under a train by his department after it confirmed serious incidents at Mt Eden prison that, if not entirely proving allegations by Labour MP Kelvin Davis about a cover-up over the death of another prisoner, point to exactly the sort of standover tactics and violence that he claims to be rife at the privately-run prison.

    Those allegations include an inmate being chased off a landing before being assaulted by another inmate and hospitalised with leg and ankle fractures.

    The cover-ups by this government just keep getting uncovered.

    • Tricledrown 20.1

      More bad news for Minister of corrections another prisoner has said he was badly treated and confirmed that prisoners were being dropped from from the first floor as part of an initiation ceremony.
      Injured prisoners were being shipped out to avoid Serco paying heavy fines.

  20. shorts 21

    Found on reddit just now….

    “If anyone’s interested in the NZ prison system, ask away. I was in Rimutaka, Spring Hill(during riot), Mt Eden(Serco), Milton, Waikeria, and Paparua.”

    https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/2nw7hj/i_was_recently_released_after_a_4_year_sentence/

    Relevant:
    The screws were smuggling in boxing gloves up in Serco too getting prisoners to fight in a little room with no camera and placing bets.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/2nw7hj/i_was_recently_released_after_a_4_year_sentence/cmhkixr

    and
    Seen heads split open, people rushed to hospital, stabbings, boiling water assaults, people thrown off tiers, screws smashing a kids head into the concrete.
    The last one doesn’t specify the prison though.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/2nw7hj/i_was_recently_released_after_a_4_year_sentence/cmhlc0o

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T11:27:37+00:00