The Winston Principle

Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, April 9th, 2015 - 84 comments
Categories: Politics, uncategorized - Tags:

Some people, Left and Right state they won’t vote for New Zealand First while Winston is its leader. Various reasons are given including not trusting him, being self obsessed (only after the baubles of office) and loyal only to himself.

My question is:

Will the National voters who feel that way, still vote for National IF it is clear they need NZF to Govern post 2017 Election? Bearing in mind that many believe he will wag the dog, and they hate that about him?

Same question for those Labour folks who feel that way about Winston Peters, and what can we take from the Northland buy-election (if anything) about Labour voters who feel that way about Winston.

I am not a Labour voter. I do not have the same fear and loathing of Winston as others.

Discuss

84 comments on “The Winston Principle ”

  1. Lanthanide 1

    “I am not a Labour voter. I do not have the same fear and loathing of Winston as others.”

    I understand you’re a Greens voter. So you should be more concerned about Winston’s past history in blocking a Labour – Greens coalition deal.

    • tracey 1.1

      Thanks for the unnecessary warning Lanth. I am confidant that Greens are able to sit outside a Labour led Government with some influence, given they had some influence once with a national Government and now we have insulation in many more homes. Fortunately having seats in Cabinet arent as important to Greens as influencing policy.

      But that isn’t the topic, is it?

      Greens are not a”Major” Party, and I am asking people about where their principle (to not vote for Winston) go when it means needing Winston for their team to govern.

      • Lanthanide 1.1.1

        Sure, my point is raising this though is that you were marking yourself as some sort of dis-interested by-stander, but didn’t give any context as to why. I’ve now provoked that context.

        I have no disagreement with your position, I just think you should have written what is in 1.1 in your post to begin with.

        • tracey 1.1.1.1

          Why? I have been provoked to write the post based on comments prior to the Northland outcome and some comments in the last couple of days. I am interested in what people say but don’t have a horse in the race. Hope you are not telling me what I should or should not write 😉

      • The Lone Haranguer 1.1.2

        I very much doubt that many voters, either Nats or Labour, would have a hatred of Peters which was greater than their affection for their own party of choice. I think they will vote where they have always voted.

        Given that Peters will be unlikely to anoint another party pre-election, I think that the question you raise is a red herring at best.

        Really, we have no idea today, of what Peters is up to, let alone looking ahead to 2017.

        • tracey 1.1.2.1

          That’s why I directed it to those who have proclaimed they could never vote for Peters. That may not mean when push comes to shove and they stand in the booth they don’t default to their favorite party, but that is part of the point of the question.

          Also, Peters has been around a long time so the notion that no one knows what he is up to at any time is ridiculous. He has a pattern as do others. Looking past personal dislikes can colour that pattern but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

  2. shorts 2

    Why would anyone vote NZ First without Winston – its a one horse party and without him seems destined to disappear

    Not sure why anyone on the left would vote for him either – except in a situation like Northland

    • tracey 2.1

      Isn’t Labour pretty conservative too? Some Labour people might prefer a conservative rightish party they feel has more heart than Nat/ACT to a Green Party they perceive according to the memes picked up by the media?

      • Lanthanide 2.1.1

        Yes, NZFirst are more conservative, but there’s also the perceived racist element that would put a lot of people off, even if some of their policies were agreeable.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 2.1.1.1

          Racist ? It was more xenophobia.

          10 years ago it was the ‘concern du jour’ when you pushed back on opponents policies. Today ‘bullying’ is becoming the weapon of choice in political pushback

          And 10 years before that , was ‘reds under the bed’ or ‘dancing cossacks’ seen as racist ? ( ie anti russian). No one would have seen it that way.

          Churchill in the election campaign in 1945, with the war hardly over said the Labour partys policies would mean the return of gestapo.

          Political exaggeration has a long history in politics

    • Shane Jones is going to take over in the middle of the next term, or so I’m told. There may be some disgruntled alternative leaders in the current NZF caucus and Stuart Nash will be also be miffed at not even being considered, but that’s looking like the way it will play out. Jones has enough profile and support to get them over the 5% at the 2020 election.

      • Ron 2.2.1

        Are you interviewing your keyboard. The only obvious way for Shane to take over would be for Shane to be on the party list at next election in a high enough position to become leader. Is that what you mean? Sounds unlikely

        Shane Jones is going to take over in the middle of the next term

        • te reo putake 2.2.1.1

          And yet that’s what’s going to happen. It’s Winston’s party; he gets to choose his own successor.

        • weka 2.2.1.2

          “The only obvious way for Shane to take over would be for Shane to be on the party list at next election in a high enough position to become leader.”

          Is that based on NZF leadership rules?

        • Stuart Munro 2.2.1.3

          As Labour found, Shane doesn’t attract broad support. Parachuting him into New Zealand First would be pretty iffy, though it’s possible Winston’s imprimatur could help. Winston has to produce something this time though, or all his soft support may be gone by 2017. The world economic outlook is pretty flat, and NZ is unlikely to outperform it – folk will be hurting.

          • Brutus Iscariot 2.2.1.3.1

            He doesn’t need to attract “broad support” – he’s not running for PM. He’s potentially the leader of a niche political party.

      • Skinny 2.2.2

        I can see Jones standing in Whangarei and finishing off the job Peters started by winning Northland. There was no sensible reason National were strong past Wellsford. That has now changed thank goodness.

        I see a policy opening that will resonate with the Northern voters that should cement NL for Peters next time and gift Jones the Whangarei seat. Have to keep that one to myself for the time being sorry folks.

        • te reo putake 2.2.2.1

          “Have to keep that one to myself for the time being sorry folks.”

          Why?

          • Lanthanide 2.2.2.1.1

            Because last time he shared “secret inside information” about Winston, it was proven to be 100% wrong within mere hours of his posting.

            This time, without saying what his ‘secret information’ is, when nothing is different 6 months from now he can pretend this little event never occurred.

            • Skinny 2.2.2.1.1.1

              Cut it out chicken little, you can hardly shoot the messenger on information provided to me by Peters crew. It obviously suited Peters to come in under the radar.

              • Well, that comment didn’t actually make any sense at all, Skinny! What are you on about?

                • Anne

                  Skinny will reveal all in due course trp. Be patient – there’s a good lad. 😛

                • Skinny

                  LA la gets the message. A quick recap for you TRP. I was told by NZF insiders Peters wasn’t going to stand in Northland. I commented about what I’d been told, It was final day of declarations. Within 2 hours Peters confirms he was standing.

                  Regarding your why question TRP.
                  All policies start with an idea, so I have approached the appropriate Labour spokesperson mooting my idea, their reaction got a positive nod & smile with sound feedback. So now on to the next party for their opinion, then the next. If it gets cross party support from the Left then the PR spin can begin, and a spanner in the works for Nact is hatched 🙂

                  • So, just to check, if any policy comes out in the next month that more than one party agrees about, we’ll know that’s down to you, skinny?

                    Mind you, if it’s that good an idea, why does it require you to contact the other parties? Why isn’t the NZLP person you contacted doing that? That’s their job, after all.

                    I only ask because it’s pretty clear from your ‘Winston standing’ anecdote that you don’t know any actual insiders in NZF. Y’know, people who actually know what’s going on. So, if it’s any good as an idea, it might be best left to the professionals.

                    Again, this all just sounds like big noting to me. But, so that you can properly claim credit when it actually happens, why don’t you email Lprent the details in confidence? He can keep it a secret until it’s public knowledge, then we can all give you the credit you’re due.

                    [lprent: I don’t tell anyone nuffing ]

                    • Skinny

                      Geez your a cynical prick, probably devoid of ideas of your own to boot by your churlish cheap pot shots.

                      You know Labour & other democratic political party’s don’t just adopt an idea and turn it into policy overnight, well other than National in a ‘buy election’ by plucking 10 bridges out of their arse.

                      “You don’t know any actual insiders in NZF. Y’know, people who actually know what’s going on. So, if it’s any good as an idea, it might be best left to the professionals”.

                      If that was true I find it rather odd myself + partner were on the guest list of some 60 – 80 people at Peters election night gig.

                      Now there’s a good lad take a seat in the corner and please think again before commenting silliness like you just have.

                    • Dude, you’re the one who admitted that his ‘insiders’ got it completely arse about face. So, excuse my cynicism.

                      By the way, your working method for getting this policy adopted isn’t a million miles away from Nationals ghost bridges. If it is as good as you reckon, take it to the LEC or your local branch and try and get it adopted there and then taken to conference. You might test the waters by running it up as a guest post here, too. You might be surprised at what a little crowd sourcing will do.

                    • Skinny

                      “Dude, you’re the one who admitted that his ‘insiders’ got it completely arse about face. So, excuse my cynicism”

                      As I’ve said previously when I was told he wasn’t standing ‘a week or so earlier’ subsequently strong calls came for him to stand, I even said it was a pity as I felt he had a good show. Given the only reason he didn’t stand the previous election was because his sister was standing for Labour in Northland, I heard he would not stand against her. Peters has been around for 40 years and played his cards close. Of course it crossed my mind he was foxing, so be it pass the message on, the only ones he was intending to fool were the Nat’s no harm unintentionally playing along ‘ if it was propaganda’ I’m sorry if a few people felt duped on here. The insider reads the posts, knows my handle on here and probably played me, we haven’t even discussed the charade.

                      Of course running it thru the LEC and onwards to the policy council (LP) however having a bit of fun thru the media along the way by lambasting National is all part and parcel of the game of politics is it not. 🙂

                      Please take the pissing contest with TRP to open mike. I am not interested in having it rehashed again in this thread – Tracey

                    • Skinny

                      Perhaps you tell TPR to get off my case, I’ll defend my honour right here when taken to task thank you very much.

                    • Skinny

                      Rodger that cobbah Iprent your integrity is not in question. Still in the discussion stage. If it has wings will fly it by you.
                      Cheers.

                    • swordfish

                      1prent: I don’t tell anyone nuffing

                      Good, because ‘If there’s one thing I hate more than a murderer, it’s a dirty, rotten, stinking, filthy Grass’.*

                      * Michael Caine: The Long Good Friday (1980).

  3. fisiani 3

    Silly post. Winston will not be around in 2017. I doubt if he will be alive given the clear but admittedly subtle clinical evidence he currently portrays. Notice how he can no longer cogently win a point of order. Can NZF exist after Winston steps down? Can it win a seat or poll 5%. Can it work with the Greens? I reckon No on all three counts.

    silly commenter. Only barely squeezed into the context of the post in second sentence but otherwise failed to address the actual post. If this starts a series of posts about your comment I will move all to Open Mike. Tracey

  4. repateet 4

    What do you reckon, NZF put Shane Jones up in Epsom and the Nats tell their mob to vote for him!

  5. Anne 5

    Problem with Winston Peters he has a habit of getting the required number of MPs to be able to form a coalition with whomsoever he pleases. In 1996 it was National. In 2005 it was Labour. The fact both govts. ended up losing at the next election was more to do with the election cycle ( 3 terms in power) than it was Peters and co. It’s likely to happen again in 2017 but this time (hopefully) at the beginning of a 3 term cycle rather than the end.

    I heard an interesting story about the young Winston. He grew up in a strong Labour family and voted Labour as a young man. But when he decided to enter politics he concluded his prospects for advancement lay with National rather than Labour so he switched sides. He was right because Muldoon was at the start of the height of his powers. In fact its well known Winston learnt his craft at the feet of Muldoon who took a liking to him – not surprising because they had backgrounds in common. Muldoon’s Mum was a Labour Party member in Mt Albert for most of her life. She only dropped out when her boy became a senior politician but legend has it she never stopped voting for Labour.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 5.1

      Check your numbers;

      “whoever he pleases” doesnt match reality.

      1996 was a clean national-NZF coalition, going with labour would have required a 3 way coalition with labour- Alliance- NZF

      In 2005 National-ACT- NZF -Dunne (60) didnt make a majority- they needed 61

      Politically you want to be the bride not just one of a couple of bridesmaids,

    • DH 5.2

      It’s funny how people keep saying Winstone Peters favours National when he’s way more to the left than the present-day Labour Party.

      NZ First policies are very socialist, far more so than Labours.

      I find it hard to trust a man who wears a suit that (probably) costs more than my car but I do find a lot of the criticism of Peters to be hypocritical and ill-founded.

      • Tracey 5.2.1

        I agrre that people are underestimating how right Lab has become. A hint was pre election preference to go with nzf not Greens. Unless it was bluff on the basis it wanted the voters to think that and if they got the numbers Lab would deal with the contradiction later?

  6. Olwyn 6

    The problem to me is that Shane Jones and Stuart Nash seem to stand for a slightly softer rural version of the current National Party. I think this because of the things they say and the kind of support they appear to have. While Winston is around he is able to keep NZF to a soft nationalist/centre right/small-to-medium business (including farming) party. With the other two, I would have to be convinced that they are not just another couple of sell-outs hooking onto a brand that is not yet exhausted.

    Our MMP would work well if parties represented clearly identifiable constituencies and coalitions were formed on that basis. But we are a small country, and parties are too easily diverted toward what is wanted by international corporations and local ticket-clippers, or publicly vilified if they resist. Winston has done better than most that area – he has survived several public thrashings, and managed to win Northland despite their machinations. His appeal lies with his perceived commitment to NZ, and his resilience in maintaining it.

    • Colonial Rawshark 6.1

      The problem to me is that Shane Jones and Stuart Nash seem to stand for a slightly softer rural version of the current National Party. I think this because of the things they say and the kind of support they appear to have.

      Regardless of actual political orientation or constituency, best of luck to the parties who take these two self-centred operators on as MPs. They will need it.

  7. Puckish Rogue 7

    I like your posts Tracey so here goes…

    Its a tricky one because past history shows Winston doesn’t play well with others so it seems to me my only real options are to:

    Swallow a dead rat and vote National and hope they get enough votes to lessen Winstons influence (lesser or two evils perhaps)

    Swallow an even bigger rat and vote Act as a counter-balance to Winston but that will end up making National weaker

    Swallow the biggest rat and vote Labour but that will bring in the Greens and may well bring in Winston anyway

    I’d have to give serious consideration to abstainign from voting which I’ve never done before

    • Skinny 7.1

      Relax buddy, Hooton and his mates will have spun up another party on the Right for you to vote for by the end of this year/begining of next.

      • b waghorn 7.1.1

        They don’t need to make a new one the nats could kill act off and accommodate crazy collin and the kid beaters lots of nzf voters could handle voting for them

        • Skinny 7.1.1.1

          No I believe their polling says they would have lost more support than worth the risk of doing a deal with the god bothered ones. Hence they never accommodated them.

      • Puckish Rogue 7.1.2

        I do like the idea of Shane Jones running NZFirst…

        • felix 7.1.2.1

          Most National Party supporters probably do. He’d make a good little poodle.

    • Tracey 7.2

      thanks for posting on the question PR.

      i wonder if the “principle” Or swallowing the dead rat from left Nats and right Labs will cancel it out as a factor?

  8. Shona 8

    Shane Jones couldn’t organize a pi** up in a Brewery. he would be the kiss of death for NZ First. Ron Mark is far more capable and appeals to their core supporters, especially the younger ones .Surprises me how many young people under 30 I know , who have voted for them.

    • felix 8.1

      Why overlook the current Deputy Leader?

    • Tracey 8.2

      Winston is, as you suggest, not just a figurehead but a tireless “worker”. if he has folks doing the hard yards would they stay and do it for Jones?

      Fascinating that the DP is not even part of the conversation. Tracy Martin just a token? And if ues, to what?

  9. felix 9

    This ‘I might vote NZF if it wasn’t for Winston’ line is National Party bullshit.

    It’s up there with ‘I might vote Greens if they would just shut up about trying to build a better world’.

    It’s nonsense. It’s coming from people on the right who want to kill NZF off before they become a real problem for National, and lefties are starting to parrot it too.

    • Tracey 9.1

      I hear it more from righties than left. Partly why I put it up. Poke the hive and see if the truth flies out. So far only PR has written from perspective of one who is put off by Winston but I wonder if he could really bring himself to abstain?

      • Anne 9.1.1

        I hear it more from righties than left.

        As I’ve said before it goes back to the 1990s and the Winebox saga. He pissed off a lot of righties and they haven’t forgiven him. He dared to take on the super-rich pricks and in the end he won. Some had to flee the country and hide in places like Switzerland. I had it on reliable authority at the time that if they returned to NZ they would be arrested by the police. Finally some sort of unofficial amnesty must have prevailed because they seem able to come and go at their pleasure now, but they keep low profiles.

        • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.1

          It may well be that for the super-rich but for me its because he gets away with so many lies hes completely untouchable

          Remember how Huka Lodge had been sold to the chinese…its going to be sold…ooops a daisy

          Anyother politician tried that kind of carry on they’d get crucified (yes even Key) but Winston just keeps on keeping on

          Whats his latest thing, chinese buying farms? buying houses? taking up uni spots or is it now the indians turn? Does it matter, not really because its Winston

          No means no (no cheques cash only)

          • Paul 9.1.1.1.1

            I think you’ll find Key lies more regularly.
            Have you seen blips list?

            • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.1.1.1

              Has blip done a list for Winston?

              • tracey

                Have you read BLiPs list?

                If saying something and going back on it is an issue for you, then key’s behaviour must be of interest. Yesterday you said integrity was important to you in politicians?

                I wonder why the Righties who dislike Winston so much haven’t done a BLiP style list?

      • Puckish Rogue 9.1.2

        I’m not one of these people who think you must vote because *insert reason here*, there are many varied reasons why one wouldn’t want to vote (it just encourages them ba-ding ding) or shouldn’t vote

        But I do like voting, i like the illusion that I have a little say in the direction this country goes but if what you suggested came to pass I would have to abstain from voting

        While I understand why tactical voting happens its not something I want to have to do and theres currently not many options for me to vote for (Act hasn’t been Act for a very long time anyway) so really I’d abstain and see what happens

        Plus it does help that Winston can’t be trusted so a vote for Winston is a vote for whoever offers him the most

        • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 9.1.2.1

          blah blah ..

        • felix 9.1.2.2

          I like how you make it sound like it’s complicated choosing who to vote for when you basically support everything National does and says.

          • Puckish Rogue 9.1.2.2.1

            did you read what Tracey wrote? It is a difficult question to answer

            • felix 9.1.2.2.1.1

              No its not.

              You don’t abstain.

              You go into the booth and you tick everything with a blue square next to it.

              • Puckish Rogue

                Yeah see Tracey asked a question, I answered it and you well haven’t really contributed anything

                • felix

                  Yes she asked a question because earlier you said you’d consider abstaining from voting.

                  What I’m saying is that was rubbish. You’re just running Nat lines as usual.

        • tracey 9.1.2.3

          I don’t think that believing your vote is a little say in the direction of the country is an illusion.

          • felix 9.1.2.3.1

            He says he likes voting, but then he implies that he might abstain if he can’t guarantee his desired outcome beforehand. Waaaaaah.

            It’s almost as if he isn’t really that much into voting at all.

          • Puckish Rogue 9.1.2.3.2

            I guess mean more like over a million people voted for National so if I hadn’t voted nothing would have changed

            Plus when it comes down to it its either National or Labour so really its not much of a choice anyway

  10. red-blooded 10

    Winston Peters is a blow-hard braggart and (let’s not forget) he’s been shown to be a shonky trader and liar (think back to the Serious Fraud Office investigations into his lies about political donations). He’s also a bigot.

    As for how all that might affect the chances of my voting Labour… Well, let’s put it this way: the Greens can talk up their one policy concession about housing insulation all they want; the fact is that if that’s all they’ve achieved on a tangible level after all these years in parliament, then it’s not a great record. Now, I personally wish that Clarke had gone with the Greens rather than Winston all those years ago, but I guess she saw that he was going to be hanging around for quite some time and had the potential to block future Labour governments, whereas the Greens (while also having staying power) were never likely to actively undermine a Left(ish) government by dealing with the NACTs on confidence and supply.

    Basically, I don’t see how voting Green would disempower Winston, unless there was a massive swing to the Greens and the people swinging were NZ First voter (not a likely scenario). I really hope Winston runs out of steam soon (and that’s all he is – hot wind), but if he doesn’t I see a Labour vote as the best way of moderating his power, either by making a Lab/Green government possible or )at the very least) by containing the level of power he and his could wield within a Labour-led government.

    While I would be really sad to see the greens locked out again if Labour goes with NZ1, I don’t think voting Green is my best choice.

    As for Shane Jones – this would make NZ1 even more of a political joke, making it obvious that no-one in the party except the glorious leader actually gets a real say. Still, it would be good for a laugh, I suppose…

    • tracey 10.1

      Are you saying that you would vote for Labour even if it meant Winston was their coalition partner? I think that is the upshot of your post, just clarifying?

  11. sabine 11

    i never had an issue with Winston, but then I also have never voted for National in NZ.

    if we need Winston, then we need him. That simple.

  12. Macro 12

    Various reasons are given including not trusting him, being self obsessed (only after the baubles of office) and loyal only to himself.

    I would have thought that those “qualities” comprehensively summed up most of the National MPs, I wonder how those voters on the Right who parrot the above lines can honestly vote at all?

    • tracey 12.1

      And some on the Left too.

      I was impressed by Goff and his petition of MPs on nuclear arms reduction today… but I still have more suspicion of him than i have of Winston (possibly irrationally).

      • Anne 12.1.1

        He’s pretty straight up tracey. Yes, he’s an integral part of the right faction in the Labour Party but he can be trusted to keep his word and behave in a principled manner. His motivation is way more altruistic than Winston Peters.

        • tracey 12.1.1.1

          Not so straight up about whether he is going to stand for Mayor of Auckland, dodged that one despite miraculously becoming spokesperson for Auckland issues, when Adern and Twyford seemed to have a pretty good handle on it.

          My suspicionis of his right-wing neolib-ness. Remember his email to me about the TPP?

          • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 12.1.1.1.1

            His focus now would have to be meeting with key [no pun intended] sources to provide funds for his mayoralty campaign.

            • Tracey 12.1.1.1.1.1

              BUT he came out well with the petition to reduce nuclear arsenals last week. So he is not all bad

      • Macro 12.1.2

        Yes some on the Left too! Goff is more about believing in the neo lib principle I feel. I think he truly does believe that is the way to social justice for all. As for others – one Stuart Nash springs to mind….

  13. humPrac 13

    “Various reasons are given including not trusting him, being self obsessed (only after the baubles of office) and loyal only to himself.”
    WOW, just WOW. People don’t vote for NZF because of argumentum ad hominem against Peters and no one is addressing the policies.
    http://gifrific.com/jennifer-lawrence-sarcastic-ok-thumbs-up/
    Check the gif in this link – it sums up what I’m thinking right now.

    • McFlock 13.1

      I reckon I’ve a good handle on his position – he’s an old-school tory, not a neolib – but if someone doesn’t trust him to do what he says, why do his promises/policies even matter?

      It’s not like voting for someone else because one doesn’t like Winston’s suits. If you don’t trust a politician at all, everything that they say or commit to is worthless.

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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    10 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
    13 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
    13 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
    13 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
    15 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
    18 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
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    13 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
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