The Key magic

Written By: - Date published: 7:17 am, March 27th, 2015 - 98 comments
Categories: brand key, by-election, john key, Steven Joyce - Tags: ,

If National lose in Northland (and despite the polls I still find it hard to believe that a party machine that well resourced and that desperate can be beaten) then the main casualty will be the myth of the “Key magic”. John Armstrong still believes in it:

Key magic will struggle to stop Peters juggernaut

The Prime Minister returns from Japan today and will head north to campaign for Osborne. But it is difficult to envisage how the John Key magic can turn this byelection around with just two days to go.

But it seems that the people of Northland do not:

John Key heckled in Northland

Prime Minister John Key has headed straight to Dargaville today after returning from Japan, only to be heckled by Northland by-election voters.

Radio New Zealand reporter Benedict Collins, in Northland, said Mr Key was heckled during a 20 minute walk along the street meeting locals, and was shown placards saying ‘Vote Winston’.

One woman said, “Don’t bother talking to me. I’ve already voted, I voted for Winston Peters … because we’ve been neglected here for the last 37 years.” …

The well informed Selwyn Manning has an interesting discussion of the fractures and factions appearing within National as the buy election exposes their weaknesses.

McCullum’s power-base is Northland. And Collins loyalists bided their time and blocked him from getting his way during the National Party Northland candidacy selections. The most Machiavellian of them suggest a loss in Northland will diminish Steven Joyce’s power, create instability for the leader John Key, and demonstrate that they cannot control the party outside of Wellington.

In simple terms, National is demonstrating third term disconnect, division among its factions, and pomposity and arrogance – something the newly re-elected Prime Minister John Key warned his party about in his post-election speeches.

The National Party insiders say there are “many questions” circulating among the Nats, including:
(a) John Key’s judgment and credibility after the 2014 win particularly his promotion of former MP Mike Sabin to chair the Law and Order Select Committee.
(b) Joyce’s “diabolical mismanagement of the Northland by-election campaign”.

Regarding Joyce: “There are really brutal comments flowing from some quarters.”

Plenty more in the full piece at Evening Report. If National do lose it’s going to be an interesting time for Nat-watchers.

98 comments on “The Key magic ”

  1. tc 1

    The magic of John key is a media construct comprised of Dirty Politics and an MSM who don’t ask the tough questions and accept any BS he dishes up with a ‘gosh thanks herr leader we are not worthy of you’.

    The magic is all dark magic at best honed in the offshore lands of money trading and assets stripping till he decided to buy his way into a safe seat.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1

      It’s not so much that the MSM don’t ask the tough questions but that they actively prop up National.

      • tc 1.1.1

        by not asking any tough questions and fawning all over them as if they’re demigods.

        tough questions that demand answers on any number of issues ever since JPK showed up would’ve shown him to be a carpetbagger of the highest calibre.

        tranzrail shares, SFC, I’d love to see wages drop, I will not raise GST, no frontline cuts, I never spoke to Ian Fletcher, I have no knowledge of (insert issue here) etc etc and then there’s Blip’s awesome bibliography of BS.

      • Saarbo 1.1.2

        Absolutely 100%, think: Trevatt, Armstrong, Gower, TV3 News, NZH, Watkins…

  2. weka 2

    “(and despite the polls I still find it hard to believe that a party machine that well resourced and that desperate can be beaten)”

    This is an aside, but the implications there are that might is what determines election outcomes rather than the shift in voting patterns. Isn’t the point of the Northland election that National might have misunderstood what people want? No amount of door knocking or leaflet dropping can overcome that surely?

    • felix 2.1

      I agree. In fact I’ll go further and say that if people in northland know what the nats have been covering up, and have seen the bullying and the bribery, blue shirts on the doorstep may well turn more people against them.

      • Macro 2.1.1

        I’m sure that is the reason. There can be few people left in Northland who don’t know (or do not have have a damn good idea) what this corrupt administration have been trying to hide. Only the true blues could possibly hold their noses and vote Obsourne. It is hard to believe that Key did not know, in fact it is so hard to believe that it is truly unbelievable; and that goes for, you know who’s bestest Osbourne as well.
        Nationalites shat in their own nest – and the stench has driven people with any sense of justice and moral decency away; and serve them right.

  3. fisiani 3

    Really enjoyable spoof post. One lone heckler equals the end of the “Key magic” Yeah Right.
    Stephen Joyce has run an amazing campaign in difficult circumstances. Diabolical is ludicrous. We will find out tomorrow how well he has done.
    You forgot to add the humour tag! Some might think the author is serious.

    • Hateatea 3.1

      Congratulations, fisiani. You actually posted a comment without saying ‘Honest John’. I live in hope that you might actually post something that shows some critical thinking regarding the flaws in NACTS activities current and past but I am not holding my breath.

      • alwyn 3.1.1

        “but I am not holding my breath”.
        Come on, do the country a favour and try it.
        Perhaps you’ll turn blue in the face, see the light and join the National Party?

      • fisiani 3.1.2

        Correct. I waited for you to acknowledge he was Honest John

        • Hateatea 3.1.2.1

          Same answer as I am giving Alwyn – hell will freeze over first. I don’t think he known how to be honest anymore, if he ever did.

          You are orshipping a false idol.

        • KJT 3.1.2.2

          Being satirical again?

          Fizzer

      • Murray Rawshark 3.1.3

        Fizzy has transferred his loyalty to Stephen Joyce.

    • Skinny 3.2

      I think you mean Joyce has run an amazing campaign for Winston Peters. If not then it’s the worst campaign I’ve seen by the snake oil salesman, granted he is up against a very tricky lawyer.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.3

      Diabolical is ludicrous.

      No. Diabolical* is the normal National position. It’s why you’re always on here defending Key’s lies.

      * I’m not sure if you understand the root for diabolical.

    • Tracey 3.4

      They would heckle Osbourne but he doesn’t seem to have any visibility.

    • NZSage 3.5

      I suspect the announcement of the Northland buy election result will coincide very nicely with fisiani’s hibernation date.

      It will be a long hard winter for him… poor guy.

    • Tom 3.6

      fisiani are you for real. You must be one of the wealthy 10% who are very greedy and have no intention of sharing the wealth. Or maybe your just a one eyed WASP’y Nats supporter. What ever it is I feel sorry for you, until you understand that sharing and helping people less fortunate that yourself is the only way to run a country. This all right jack thinking has bought this country to its knees. Wake Up.!!

    • billy fish 3.7

      Yes so true.
      Mr Joyce is double plus good and isn’t it great the chocolate ration has been increased

  4. felix 4

    I noted the other day that rather than the “Key magic” rubbing off on Osborne, we might just see the “Joyce-puppet KDC lookalike loser magic” rubbing off on Key.

    • Tracey 4.1

      It does appear to be a major admission (this by-election strategy) that Osbourne is irrelevant and the National Party is nothing more than John Key. Sure it has been this way for awhile but now they make no attempt to pretend that anyone else matters.

  5. saveNZ 5

    The problem is that Key and Joyce are arrogant control freaks, maintaining control by putting in vegetable National MP’s they can manipulate. Key is probably still trying to get Slater back on his dog leash. The wheels are starting to come off, on Team Key.

  6. gsays 6

    hi all, is that you skinny, giving our dear leader a hard time.
    tsk tsk.

  7. ianmac 7

    After the last Election friends who are Nat supporters were jubilant over their “landslide victory.” I expect that they might realise just how fragile that victory was/is.

  8. vto 8

    “magic” is a good way of describing key….. synonyms of which include….

    : sorcery, witchcraft, wizardry, necromancy, enchantment, spellworking, incantation, the supernatural, occultism, the occult, black magic, the black arts, devilry, divination, malediction, voodoo, hoodoo, sympathetic magic, white magic, witching, witchery; charm, hex, spell, jinx; mojo, orenda; makutu; informalmuti; raresortilege, thaumaturgy, theurgy

    Not good things

    • Colonial Rawshark 8.1

      But very effective

      And the literal rational intellectual left cannot easily counter it. It requires another wizard – Winston – to make the impact.

  9. Is “buy election” a typo or a freudian slip?

  10. esoteric pineapples 10

    The litmus test of how loved John key actually is, will come after he quits politics and we see how people greet him in the street, restaurants, etc. I don’t think he will ever get a genuinely warm welcome in the way that Helen Clark does, for instance. He will have his place in history, but he will not be looked back on with great affection.

    • fisiani 10.1

      Have a look at the polling post nearby showing the blue line hovering near 50% since Honest John became Leader and the red line near 30% no matter who leads Labour. You are delusional. After 6 terms in office John Key (18 years) when he retires he will still get the warmest welcome of any Prime Minister in over 30 years.

      • Pasupial 10.1.1

        Blow it out of your fizzy anus.

        • fisiani 10.1.1.1

          What we’re not prepared to accept are pointless personal attacks, or tone or language that has the effect of excluding others.

          My handle is fisiani.

          • joe90 10.1.1.1.1

            My handle is fisiani.

            echoes….

            https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBEYA0bUwAALE6h.jpg:large

          • Pasupial 10.1.1.1.2

            fisiani

            There was a very clear point to my statement, though I appreciate that you are mentally unequipped to understand anything that doesn’t conform to your prejudices. So in your own words; “You are delusional”.

            If you are having trouble accepting the robust standard of debate here from those who are heartily sick of your gaslighting bullshit, then you are free to fuck off elsewhere.

            • fisiani 10.1.1.1.2.1

              What we’re not prepared to accept are pointless personal attacks, or tone or language that has the effect of excluding others.

              • Pasupial

                fisiani the repetitive

                How do you even manage to type? When you so obviously have your fingers shoved in your ears while chanting “lalalalala” to block out anything that might disturb your fine opinion of yourself.

                Dishonest John the shonky sociopath may one day speak a lie directly to your face one day – if you’re a lucky wee underbridge dweller. You don’t have an ounce of his facile glibness, all your own lies just feel so painfully rehearsed. I can’t even be bothered thinking of anything original to say to you anymore:

                “Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.”

      • vto 10.1.2

        just like muldoon

        dishonest john is just another Muldoon and will be regarded the same by history

        • tc 10.1.2.1

          muldoon at least built stuff, key’s just asset stripped and put our soverignty, laws, priavcy, soldiers lives etc up for sale

      • DoublePlusGood 10.1.3

        How the hell would John Key stay out of prison for another 9 years?

    • Stuart Munro 10.2

      The litmus test will be after he has been hanged and burned, and his ashes cast into the sea, how many New Zealanders will weep, that do not weep for joy.

      • thechangeling 10.2.1

        “that will not weep for joy(ce)” lol.

        • Stuart Munro 10.2.1.1

          It’ll be gravy for Joyce – there’s nothing else in that shambling pack of ambulant dog tucker that could even begin to lead a credible opposition.

    • Weepus beard 10.3

      He’ll be known as the most divisive and polarising of PMs New Zealand has ever known.

  11. Enough is Enough 11

    John Key has always been heckled. From the day he was elected the 50%+ of the electorate that despise him have stood up to him and let him know about it.

    Winston will win by a landslide.

    Every true lefty who in Northland must vote Winston this week. It is the only way of ensuring that National cannot ram though further draconian laws in this term.

    VOTE WINSTON.

  12. Adrian 12

    One of the surprising characteristics of a sociopath ( according to a study of financial market traders done by a Swiss University, Basel I think, they were comparing FMTs to sociopaths ) was that 50% of people could spot them and 50% couldn’t, but given another type of sociopath the 50% ratio stayed the same but the mix of spotters was quite different.
    There’s Keys popularity explained possibly.
    BTW, sociopaths needed about 4 of 10 or so traits to be considered as such, financial market traders averaged 7 to 8 traits.

    • saveNZ 12.1

      So true.

    • Colonial Rawshark 12.2

      Both National and Labour have created and entrenched an economic environment which disproportionately rewards sociopathic behaviour. Neither are willing to reverse it, perhaps tinker a bit with it around the edges.

      • Draco T Bastard 12.2.1

        The move to a rentier society and then collapse seems to be the innate track of capitalistic societies. And, no, the ‘rulers’ won’t change the direction even when it becomes obvious that the path that they’ve set us upon is the path to disaster.

      • Skinny 12.2.2

        Yes backed up by the NL ACT candidate telling me the other day that the party see’s Labour as a future coalition partner. Little wonder they think this way when you critique some of the LP MP’s and the last intake of candidates. They are realistic ‘not under Little.’

        • Colonial Rawshark 12.2.2.1

          The Anderson’s Bay Peninsula Branch of the Labour Party (Dunedin South) will be voting on a formal denounciation and renounciation of neoliberalism at its AGM this weekend.

          Someone in Labour has to.

          • Skinny 12.2.2.1.1

            Bloody good stuff cobbah you should flick me a copy we can do the same thru our LEC. Say hi the brother Jim Kelly.
            How honoured I feel, just got an invite to the grey fox election gig and a big thanks for pulling in votes from our network. Its all about building bridges and it starts in Northland, ‘coalition bridges that is’ cheers Stephen Joyce & John Key we couldn’t have done it without your bridge building skills 🙂

      • thechangeling 12.2.3

        Correct. It’s most often referred to as neo-liberalism with a corrupt, cronyist twist.

  13. Pasupial 13

    Gordon Campbell has a good point on the disadvantages of; Shon Key neglecting his Prime Ministerial duties, to scurry back to Northland and shove his hand up muppet Osbourne’s ass:

    Supposedly, New Zealand’s destiny lies in Asia… OK. So, if that’s the case why didn’t Prime Minister John Key – who was already in South Korea – stay in the region so that he could attend the state funeral on Sunday of Singapore’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew?… Key has put the domestic interests of his party ahead of New Zealand’s wider interests on the world stage.

    Its not as if Asia won’t notice that New Zealand will have no senior government figure present. The Singapore Straits Times has already begun totting up the heads of state set at attend…

    in the circumstances, putting the Northland by election ahead of attendance at his funeral is a slight on Singapore, and will do nothing to advance New Zealand’s claim that it has a serious commitment to Asia. Of all people, Key should have realised that going to Lee Kuan Yew’s state funeral is the price of being in the club.

    http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2015/03/27/gordon-campbell-on-a-funeral-in-asia-and-northland/

    • Colonial Rawshark 13.1

      SE Asian governments have had plenty of time to get the measure of Key and his Cabinet. His snubbing of Singapore over a panic about a by-election will merely confirm their long held assessments.

    • Karen 13.2

      Even Audrey Young is criticising key for this on her twitter feed (sorry, can’t link for some unknown reason)

    • shove his hand up muppet Osbourne’s ass

      That would explain the squint.

  14. Adrian 14

    On Sunday Key is in Melbourne, as 12th man, of course. You know they couldn’t have done it without him, just as the ABs and every other NZ team have found him to be indespensible when it comes to the big games.
    When we win I’ll bet he takes to the field.
    He’s such a pathetic try-hard.

    • Skinny 14.1

      He is throwing Osborne under Winston’s bus by taking off on Saturday and not sticking around. He reminds me of the Italian cruise ship captain who abandoned his sinking ship.

      Literally putting some distance between Joyce and himself, Judith Collins smile will be just as wide as Peters if he wins on the night 🙂

  15. Brewer 15

    Bad week for National:

    Brazil has demanded an explanation from New Zealand after reports New Zealand’s foreign intelligence agency the GCSB spied on its campaign to get Brazilian diplomat Roberto Azevedo elected as Secretary General of the World Trade Organisation in 2013

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11424168

    • ianmac 15.1

      Note that McCully dismisses the issue as just journalist talk. He said,
      “”If foreign governments want to raise issues about the assumptions being made by journalists we will respond. We will do this in private rather than through the news media.”
      Clearly this is a totally unimportant issue to this Government. Ha!

    • Murray Rawshark 15.2

      It’s been on the news in Brazil. Seems they’re not happy.

  16. Alan W 16

    Why all the gloating?
    How can this aid formation of a Labour lead government at the next general election?
    Assuming Winston wins, NZ first continues to roll along and maybe increases its share of the party vote.
    Winston holds the balance of power at the next general election.
    We all know that there is mutual loathing between NZ First and the Greens; they will not form a government with each other.
    National cosies up to NZ First, Labour still in opposition.
    Yes?
    No?

    • ianmac 16.1

      Simple Allan. A tall poppy who was tall under false pretences is crumbling. Hooray!

    • marty mars 16.2

      + 1 Alan

      Winston winning, which I hope he does, doesn’t bode well for labour imo. I think some have confused tactics with strategy. All this will do is increase the ability of NZF and diminish labour. Sad to see so many think the gnat lapdogs will grow some spine and oppose their gnat benefactors – come the next election they will do what they’ve done previously and go for the babbles – and notwithstanding some grandstanding it will pretty much be business as usual till then.

      • Skinny 16.2.1

        Cut it out mate let’s take one street battle at a time in this war. We need a win, runs on the board. With respect who is to say Peters won’t be pushing daisies by the time of the next election. Labour just have too rid the deadwood and sort their policy platform the leader is not a worry next time around.

        • marty mars 16.2.1.1

          Sure labour needs a win – guess what it will be winstons win on saturday not labours or the lefts. and lol to your last sentence.

          • Murray Rawshark 16.2.1.1.1

            It’ll be NAct’s loss. That’s the best that was on offer at the moment. I’ll take it.

            • marty mars 16.2.1.1.1.1

              Yep well I’ll shut up about it now – I also want a gnat loss and I’m not labour so whatever they do or think I’ll leave them to it. My warnings have fallen on deaf ears.

              • Macro

                Yeah. I’m afraid Labour have cloth ears for the strugglers in NZ society. 🙁
                Too many vested interests in protecting the stuff-ups they did in the past. What they did in the 80’s and 2000’s may have been with the best of intentions, but it was to the detriment of those at the bottom, and that is never good policy.
                Frankly i don’t see any hope of a change until the “middle class” wake up to the fact they are being well shafted as well. This is going to take some time. Now we have the situation that to make ends meet, both spouses must work full time, and children spend all day in day care. Something that we in the 50’s and 60’s used to point derisively at happening in the USSR!
                Globalisation and “free trade” all sound wonderful, but they have had the effect of importing lower labour standards and pay into our country, and we (Labour in particular!) still haven’t learnt!

                • + 1 Yep spot on Macro. I think the middle class will only wake up when it is all far too late – especially since the 2 major parties love spinning them lines about how it is all going to get better tomorrow. I remember computers coming in and the great ideal of more spare time – just ended up taking the laptop home and working more hours and this ‘unintended consequences’ outcome is rife throughout our society. We still haven’t learnt because the pain of realising that WE are the problem is too hard to accept – much better to listen to liarjohn and pretend.

                  to change will take revolution not evolution methinks

                  • Macro

                    Yes Marty and the other factor is that with both working full time (and longer and longer hours because of increasing work demands) and then having to give quality time to the kids and drive them all over the country for swimming, dancing, etc. Parents have no time to actually sit down and think just what it is that is happening to them. Many have never lived in a pre-neo-liberal economy and have no understanding of what life might be like if they didn’t have all the whiz bang things the TV tells them to buy.

                    • So true and sadly i feel that it is deliberately created for us by others. I really feel despair for people caught up in having, absolutely having, to work their guts out just to stay still, just to tread water and keep it out of their mouths – it is an absolute disgrace and indictment on our society and the manifestation of the gross inequality felt by so many.

                      There is no time to think for many people, just a desperate movement to keep everything going. I’m lucky in some ways in that where I live other values come to the fore for many – but there is no glamour in being poor – it is still bloody hard work 🙂

              • Murray Rawshark

                That’s two of us who aren’t Labour. We have two and a half years to build something before the next general election. In the meantime, Winnie could slow Key down a bit. Labour doesn’t seem to want to.

            • Skinny 16.2.1.1.1.2

              +1 Murray
              The effect of the Nat’s getting dealt too will wake the fuck up plenty of other regions outside of Jaffa city and Christchurch, from the trance of Teflon John. Hopefully Peters wins and then the shit sticks to the slippery prick.

  17. Once was Tim 17

    “In simple terms, National is demonstrating third term disconnect, division among its factions, and pomposity and arrogance……”

    Took ’em a long long time to wake up eh?, but at least they have.
    What now for the rest of New Zill?

    Will we have to wait for the quinsiqinces of the TPPA to kick in, and the muddle class to be hit in the pocket before we get people re-engaged in politics? I suspect so. (Like Split Ends – it won;t happen overnight, but it WILL happen)
    The good thing is though, that when they do (I.e. the sleepy laid beck hobbits, pissed as newts 3 nights a weak [some even lumbering great chocolate-loving, Tui-sucking; “the Bitchelor”-viewing” cashie-job tradies and others – fucking great lumps of fucking lard], they’ll be very very angry.

    (Just as an aside……why that’s occurred is almost completely down to what was once termed a 4th Estate – who I don’t see coming out of our future unscathed)

    WHEN they do, those of us on the left will be able to preach the Natzi mantra (of personal responsibility, etc., etc., etc.). I can imagine a not-too-distant NZ, and world, where those responsible for signing away sovereignty and the ability for self-determination to be held accountable – PERSONALLY. No doubt when it happens, they’ll be squealing like stuffed pigs, blaming their contemporaries and colleagues (imagine QT in Parliament for example with all those ‘nodders’ worshipping Our Saviour JK, etc.). I don’t think it’s going to cut it for them somehow.
    I’d suggest that when the shit hits the fan, all that personal responsibility mantra the plebians have had to suffer will be translated into personal LIABILITY.

    Christ! How we never seem to learn from history
    ……I’ll hit enter/submit now, cognisant of the possibility of being banned (because of a discussion with some1 I usually admire, but who – I my opinion – seeks to normalise RATHER than deal with a serious problem afflicting laid back New Zill [ FATNESS OBEISITY, SUBSERVIENCE to the sugar pushers]).

    Useless lumps of lard ARE uselss lumps of lard – Worse if they’re also FAT fucking useless lumps of lard and there’s an Osbourne who epitomises a FAT (due to laziness, greed and avarice), USELESS lump of lard – who also happens to be not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Hopefully there won’t be two separate threads on this site dealing with FAT USELSS LUMPS OF LARD apologists

  18. mac1 18

    There might be another useful corollary of Northland voters dumping a poor candidate who should have won by a country mile.

    That is, in a General Election, voters might learn in a practical way that MMP allows voters in an electorate to reject a poor candidate and still assist the party of their choice with their party vote.

    That lesson would resonate long and loud in Party rooms.

  19. dv 19

    Is it my imagination have the Nats had a large number of poor candidates?

    All the one that have been dumped.
    Has anyone got a list?

  20. Penny Bright 20

    Today – followed John Key like a bad smell in KeriKeri!

    He had his ‘squeaky’ voice .

    A sure sign that at the end of the day he is feeling neither ‘comfortable’ nor
    ‘relaxed’?

    Penny Bright

  21. Upnorth 21

    I say Winny will win but the real bad story here is Labour ditched Northland – showed no fight or ticker – this is not lost me and many other people.

    Well done NZ first – very sad day for Labour

    • Anne 21.1

      Good grief Upnorth where have you been these past few weeks? Labour has done nothing of the sort. We’ve got Kelvin Davis in Te Tai Tokerau and by 2017 we’ll have Willow Jean Prime in parliament too as a Northland list MP. The reality was: Labour didn’t have a show in hell of winning but NZ First did! At this point in time the aim is to reduce the NAct majority so it will be harder for them to emasculate the economy and introduce draconian measures aimed at further eroding social outcomes for the poor and the dispossessed – not to mention the steady erosion of our privacy.

      • Skinny 21.2.1

        Cheap shot Marty don’t tell me your still sore over Hone getting cleaned out in TTT. The chicken shit puts up a novice in the by election. The L/D cleaned his clock with ease the other night when he started his what if diatribe on the 2014 election. Ask Bright she was there. Last I saw of him he was standing outside licking his wounds while I was talking to Prime & Robin Grief.

        • marty mars 21.2.1.1

          all I did was + 1 you dick – if that’s a cheap shot you need to get out more.

          I have said many times that yes Hone lost and that is that – but sure it still hurts because I think he was great in the house and I miss him in there.

          and sorry I wasn’t there the other night – unlike you I’m not at all of the significant events of the last and this century bathering to the significant people about what a winner I am – you know those that have to skite about themselves just show how weak and useless they feel and are – sort your shit out mate – do a course or some self development to offset this major external recognition deficit you have – fuck you might even make something of yourself if you do and that’ll be nice won’t it.

        • marty mars 21.2.1.2

          Sorry skinny after pigmans comment I didn’t realise I was agreeing with a trole – shame on me – so please accept my apologies for calling you a dick and saying you need to get out more – I’m sure you get out more than enough.

          As for Rueben Taipari Porter – he is a man of Mana. Have a read you may be surprised

          http://mananews.co.nz/wp/?p=4167

          • Skinny 21.2.1.2.1

            ll good Marty I posted my last comment then read your peace offering, by that stage I couldn’t edit.

            Rueben speaks well, I actually rate him fairly highly. My objective was to pull all the candidates up when they start plucking shit out of their own arse and stray away from their partys policies. Rueben was on a roll and made few mistakes, apart from blaming every other party then his own for their defeat. While Prime may have been non fussed, or diplomatic about cracking Labour for placing Davis out the backdoor ‘again’ on the list so he had to win his seat or he was on the dole, I wasn’t and called it. Yeah and the dot com connection came up as a result, Reuben attempt to defend him and got the why support a neo liberal treatment and I knocked him over with ease. I assume he learnt a lesson, the one trick pony style doesn’t work if some in the crowd have heard it all before. Very content keeping the left party’s left thanks. BTW taking up an offer from ACT has already been politely rejected.

        • marty mars 21.2.2.1

          no I don’t but thanks for pointing it all out – I certainly hadn’t gone back and read his previous comments – my bad, sorry about that.

          • the pigman 21.2.2.1.1

            Don’t apologise! I don’t keep tabs on these chumps either, but when their comments are as fishy as that, I sometimes run due diligence 🙂

    • the pigman 21.3

      Cry me a river, may it wash away the concern troles.

  22. Pasupial 22

    I haven’t seen any guidance from TS moderators on this, but I imagine that we won’t be able to comment on the byelection from midnight to 7pm tomorrow when the voting booths close. All I could see on the Electoral Commission site was:

    Friday 27 March
    All political advertising ceases and election signs taken down by midnight

    Saturday 28 March
    Election day for Northland By-election
    Voting places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm

    http://www.elections.org.nz/events/2015-northland-election-0/northland-election-timetable

    So while I’ve got time, I want to take one more opportunity to urge any in Northland to vote for Peters. A Nat/NZF government can’t be worse than our present NACT one, and even just having to bribe Dunne will at least slow down their schemes a bit. Also, if you are in Northland and have the time – scrutineer a booth, or a count (get in touch with a campaign headquarters now); it’s tedious but very important work.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • 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
    1 hour 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
    2 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 ...
    2 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
    2 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 ...
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    7 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
    8 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
    8 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
    8 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
    9 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
    10 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
    12 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
    24 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    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
    6 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
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T05:04:15+00:00