Two face

Written By: - Date published: 7:28 am, July 20th, 2012 - 76 comments
Categories: john key, privatisation, treaty settlements, water - Tags:

John Key really is the master of being whomever his audience wants to believe he is.

For years, he talks positively about Maori water rights and interests to Maori. But, when an opportunity comes to split the Maori and Pakeha opposition to asset sales, he’s in Pakeha ears telling them that the ‘Maaris’ are trying to claim they own the water to make some quick cash.

He told the Maori Party that he wouldn’t legislate over the top of iwi water rights and interests as determined in the coming court battles concerning the water the power companies rely upon. It seemed like a significant win for the Maori Party (I was in Idiot/Savant’s camp, not Anthony’s, until I saw the catch). But then the weasel words came out to reassure the Pakeha audience. He wouldn’t legislate over the top of ‘rights and interests’ but he would over the top of ‘ownership’.

Iwi say that what they want is recognition of rights and interests, but Key has consistently called what they are seeking ‘ownership’. And that’s the difference,anyway? You tell me where the difference is between a right to use water to the exclusion of others (and, lease that right to others) and ownership of that water. Key uses the different words for the different audiences.

It’s spineless, deceitful and opportunistic… and, by god, he’s good at it.

76 comments on “Two face ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. mickysavage 1
    20 July 2012 at 8:03 am

    And he obviously sees this as an opportunity to wedge opposition to asset sales. Now the debate is no longer a clear cut opposition to the selling of our assets but more of a muddied debate about indigenous rights with a side serving of racist dog whistling.

    • Gosman 1.1
      20 July 2012 at 8:45 am

      Blame the Maori Council for providing the opportunity then.

      • Pascal's bookie 1.1.1
        20 July 2012 at 8:56 am

        Yeah. Damn uppity maoris should shut up. What wankers they are, forcing good people to be all racist.

        They need to take responsibility for other people’s racism right now. It’s an outrage I tell you.

        It’s just not good enough.

        If they didn’t stick up for themselves, the racists wouldn’t vent, and the PM wouldn’t be forced to pander to the racists.

        Poor racists.
        Poor PM.

        They are being abused. It’s basically slavery. WHY CAN”T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

        • Gosman 1.1.1.1
          20 July 2012 at 9:12 am

          The decision to tie in water rights with the Mixed ownership model of energy companies was made by the Maori council. They could have kept the two issues separate if they desired but didn’t. As mickeysavage pointed out this has allowed the Government to muddy the debate. You can hardly blame a politician for taking advantage of such a situation.

          • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1.1
            20 July 2012 at 9:16 am

            The decision to tie in water rights with the Mixed ownership model of energy companies was made by the Maori council. They could have kept the two issues separate if they desired but didn’t.

            I agree with you Gossie, the two issues are totally separate.

            The answer is simple. Key should be allowed to sell the power generators off but without any access to water or water usage rights.

            Because the two are separate things, right Gossie?

            • Gosman 1.1.1.1.1.1
              20 July 2012 at 9:22 am

              They can purchase the water rights from whoever owns it. I really don’t care if it is the Government, Maori, or Joe Blow down the street.

              • mickysavage …
                20 July 2012 at 11:29 am

                So Gossie, do you agree that Smile and Wave has been two faced with his pronouncements on this issue?

                • Gosman …
                  20 July 2012 at 11:49 am

                  No, just politically savvy. Wouldn’t you admit he has handled this better than say the last Labour Government did with the similar FSB issue?

                  • mickysavage …
                    20 July 2012 at 12:06 pm

                    Does “politically savvy” mean the same thing as making irreconcilable statements?  

                    • McFlock …
                      20 July 2012 at 12:14 pm

                      I am politically savvy.
                      You made two irreconcilable statements.
                      Key is a fucking liar.
                                
                      See how I conjugalled that last irregular noun? 🙂 

                  • gobsmacked …
                    20 July 2012 at 1:53 pm

                    It’s only “politically savvy” if you think the election is next week.

                    Instead, Key is likely to end up with …

                    – a delay to the gov’t’s flagship policy, causing major Budget problems
                    – an unhappy coalition partner, probably splitting soon (note – the Maori Party is a lot more than it’s co-leaders)
                    – a further diminished standing in the media
                    – if he doesn’t follow through and “protect our water”, more anger on the redneck right he is trying to appease

                    If you (Gosman) think this will look good for Key in three to six months, can you tell us how it will play out? Do you think the courts will dance to his tune? And if they don’t, what’s he gonna do?

            • John 1.1.1.1.1.2
              21 July 2012 at 11:35 am

              I imagine the power generators have long term resource consent to use the river water. Any dispute would be with who ever granted that consent, but the consent wouldn’t be threatened.

          • framu 1.1.1.1.2
            20 July 2012 at 9:20 am

            ” You can hardly blame a politician for taking advantage of such a situation.”

            whatever happened to personal responsibility?

            • Gosman 1.1.1.1.2.1
              20 July 2012 at 9:23 am

              From whom?

              • framu …
                20 July 2012 at 9:26 am

                the person taking advantage of the situation obviously

                • Gosman …
                  20 July 2012 at 9:30 am

                  Not really. A tailor made situation presented itself and has been taken advantage of for political effect. I expect that in most politicians.

                  • Deano …
                    20 July 2012 at 9:53 am

                    He’s taken advantage of an opportunity to foment racial discord. If you think that’s honourable, that says a lot about you.

                    • Gosman …
                      20 July 2012 at 10:23 am

                      So was Helen Clark’s led Government trying to forment racial discord as well then?

                  • framu …
                    20 July 2012 at 9:56 am

                    No gossie its really obvious, stop playing the fool.

                    expectation and responsibility arent the same thing are they

                    you might expect someone to behave a certain way – when they do they arent magically absolved of responsibility for their actions just because they did something we thought they would.

                    as PB says below “Why not? Is he not responsible for his actions?”

                    seriously – this is preschool level sh*t

                    • Dr Terry …
                      20 July 2012 at 4:33 pm

                      Gosman (above) is trying out the well worn old bit of scurrilous nonsense, that is, “two wrongs make a right”. Not all of us will fall for it.

          • Pascal's bookie 1.1.1.1.3
            20 July 2012 at 9:23 am

            “You can hardly blame a politician for taking advantage of such a situation*.”

            Why not? Is he not responsible for his actions?

            *Note in passing that I dispute your version of ‘the situation’, but that’s beside the point of whether Key or the MC is responsible for Key’s actions.

            • Gosman 1.1.1.1.3.1
              20 July 2012 at 9:36 am

              Compare this to how the previous Clark led Government responded to a similar situation.

              At the time of the Foreshore and Seabed ruling the Clark Government had a kneejerk reaction of not only stating that the Foreshore and Seabed were Government controlled and would remain so, (similar to what John Key did), but then went and created legislation to ensure that this would be the case.

              John Key on the other hand placated the right with his statement about Water rights but has now placated the Maori party to a large degree by moderating his opinion.

              Seems like a win-win as opposed to the Clark led Government’s lose-lose strategy.

              • Pascal's bookie …
                20 July 2012 at 11:16 am

                I can’t for the life of me see how your comment relates to mine, but no matter.

                First up, read this. It’s short:

                http://norightturn.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/key-weasel.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

                Second up, read this. It’s the NZHs story announcing the court finding that triggered the F&S deabte, and helpfully, (or not as the case may be), contains both the government’s and the then opposition’s knee jerk reactions:

                http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3560098

                Third up, if you’ve still got the heart for it, try this, paying attention to the date:

                http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0307/S00369.htm

                I think the govts eventual reaction was to the oppositions fear mongering rather than to the decision itself.

                For my thought on that eventual reaction, serach this site. I’d recomment putting:

                bookie “good and drunk”

                … into the search bar and checking the ‘comments’ box.

              • Dr Terry …
                20 July 2012 at 4:35 pm

                And Gosman is a “loser-loser”.

              • mike e …
                21 July 2012 at 11:05 am

                Goose once again your facts are wrong Michael Cullen minister of treaty settlements at the time,Said Maori could carry on litigating at huge cost to Maori or prove continual usage rights from 1840 and the labour govt would settle.
                Quite different from your losing strategy.
                Now all National has done has been to give back the right to take expensive litigation again back to square one.

      • xtasy 1.1.2
        20 July 2012 at 9:12 am

        It is an insult to all Maori to have a state of affairs in NZ, where not only a right wing, red-neck appealing government, led by a two faced leader named Key (…”to professional lying” may be a fitting name addition) and supported by an even worse right winker like Banks (heard his speech in Parliament yesterday?), do all to discredit and frown upon Maori.

        Also do we have a mainstream, privately owned media, that hardly mentions anything about the Waitangi Tribunal now (heard Radio Live, Radio Network’s 1ZB and the likes lately?), so that the wider public do not get properly informed at all.

        Bias, misinformation, even “hatred” are stirred up, and sadly the senior Maori Party MPs and ministers cling to being “part” of such a government.

        It is now rather acceptable to most, that new migrants with different cultural needs are welcome to build their temples, mosques and cultural centres in Auckland, while Maori get such a dispiccable treatment re their cultural and customary rights, being Tangata Whenua.

        Talk about divide and rule. Yes, that is exactly what Key and consorts are doing. It sadly works with too many, and here we seem to have one such expert in this.

      • John M 1.1.3
        21 July 2012 at 1:35 pm

        Yeah, the Maori Council held a gun to his head and told him what to say.

        • xtasy 1.1.3.1
          21 July 2012 at 9:58 pm

          If someone held a gun to my head and without reason, I would say F off!. That did not happen though, aye?

    • aerobubble 1.2
      21 July 2012 at 11:31 am

      As a taxpayer, who government owns energy companies, why would I continue to take my energy from a partially state owned company when I get the same price for energy from a fully state owned company and more dividends? Seems reasonable that a huge fiscal backlash could hit anyone who buys the state energy assets. I mean, who wants the social stigma of both getting energy from a partially owned energy company and buying into the economic argument that selling the best performing asset in the portfolio is correct investment practice (or smart given the energy limits of the world oil supply). But worse, could you live with the shame of actually owning a company that has government control??? what has neo-liberals come to, are they weak, did they not understad free market theory???

      Its like Key has pick all the stupidiest ideas and rolled them into one giant farce, he is now smoking very slowly to show how incompetent a politician and an economic savvy person he is.

  2. fnjckg 2
    20 July 2012 at 8:16 am

    Excellent graphic!

  3. xtasy 3
    20 July 2012 at 8:59 am

    Hi there —

    what else does anyone expect from John Key?

    By the way, I am missing some mention of an event on this forum, which may also lead to more exposure of more lies by Key and his government:

    I thought you guys may just like to be informed of the ‘Education Show and Tell’ event in downtown Auckland tomorrow (01 pm, 21.07.12, outside Britomart), which is published also via this link:

    http://www.facebook.com/events/233426863443947/

    Again I find NO mention of this on many forums and certainly not in the mainstream media, so apart from those who know of the Facebook page, I fear hardly anybody will be informed, hence resulting again in a feared LOW turnout.

    I thought that the Standard may have taken interest in that event and somewhere on this website have made a mention of it, so interested students, tutors, public members interested in attending, same as the so vague and ambiguous political party membership, may also be informed and can consider going there tomorrow.

    So here is a “mention” of it at least!

    • Gosman 3.1
      20 July 2012 at 9:19 am

      Not really on topic there. Perhaps you should have placed this in Open mike instead.

      • xtasy 3.1.1
        20 July 2012 at 9:24 am

        I tried the contact for emailing this, but it did not work. Get your point re Open Mike and will re=post.

    • TightyRighty 3.2
      20 July 2012 at 10:06 am

      You know why the mainstream media don’t care about your little rally? It’s not mainstream. It’s fringe loony rubbish like the claytons maori spokespeople annette sykes et al.

      • vto 3.2.1
        20 July 2012 at 10:09 am

        You’re right of course tightypantys, mainstream is tv show The Block, and cooking shows, and crime-porn like the Ewen MacDonald trial. Brain-dead sugar-hit crapploa.

        We should just stop complaining and head off to the mall.

        • xtasy 3.2.1.1
          21 July 2012 at 9:52 pm

          they got the ultimate “crime porn” from America tonight. See how they indulged into that one. As sick it was, and as it happened to hit the release of corporate US film business, why bother spending time on sickoes, please? I hate suicides, murders, certainly mass shootings, but the fact that the msm so focus on them makes me decide: Well, sorry, it is sad and bad, but there are more REAL things that need addressing, really! Why focus on the pimple rather than the cause for it?

      • xtasy 3.2.2
        20 July 2012 at 2:39 pm

        Your rubbushing of such activities won’t stop more intelligent folk to attend and also take a stand against your beloved Prime Mischief Minister, wanting to further dumb down the populace. Clearly you are trying to dismiss it as catering to the “loony fringe”.

        Truth is you are obviously worried that the conference by your favoured pack of manipulators, self serving party members, the present political “elite” that so well looks after the big business and red-neck lobbies, may get a bit “upset”, when some protesters turn up at the gate and given them their messages.

        Let us wait and see, what will happen, and how our new minister of police will “direct” her loyal servants in blue to deal with any protesters. Some of them are still quite boiled hot, under the lid, after having been beaten, pushed, shoved and draged off violently during a not so long ago budget protest.

        They are keen to meet and confront Tolley, Collins, Key, English, Joyce and those other ones!

      • mike e 3.2.3
        21 July 2012 at 11:10 am

        Tighty allmighty another racist rant Annette Sykes is better educated than your self your profession is probably the most despised in the world today if you want to talk about loony rubbish that would make you an insider and an expert.

  4. TheContrarian 4
    20 July 2012 at 8:59 am

    John Key can’t be trusted? Why does everyone sound so surprised.

    He’s a politician, none of them can be trusted. You make it sound like this is news. They are all two faced and hypocritical and will all capitulate, and engage double talk.

    Carry on.

    • Deano 4.1
      20 July 2012 at 9:01 am

      so much for ‘ambitious for new zealand’

    • Draco T Bastard 4.3
      20 July 2012 at 1:43 pm

      So we should just go on not holding them to account, allowing them to be untrustworthy while working in our name?

      • TheContrarian 4.3.1
        20 July 2012 at 3:42 pm

        Not what I am saying at all. Was just amused by what I read as surprise that a politician was two-faced. By all means hold them to account.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.3.1.1
          20 July 2012 at 3:53 pm

          I don’t think of it as surprise, I think of it more as brining it to peoples attention.

          • McFlock 4.3.1.1.1
            20 July 2012 at 4:11 pm

            I think there’s also a slight difference between “can’t be trusted” and “been caught telling insultingly-obvious pork pies”.
                   
            In most of the jobs I’ve ever had I haven’t been trusted. People followed up to make sure that I was doing the job correctly, cash and property was audited, document access logs were made so leaks could be investigated, confidentiality statements signed, record checks carried out, relatives and associates contacted to verify, training/certifications refreshed periodically rather than just trusting me to know what to do, etc etc etc.
                          
                
            But like the vast majority of people who go through those procedures, I had absolutely no issues. Key, yet again, is demonstrated to be a lowdown, lying liar from Liarton in Lower Liarland.

            • TheContrarian 4.3.1.1.1.1
              20 July 2012 at 4:49 pm

              In Lower Liarland people wear hat’s on their feet and hamburgers eat people.

              • McFlock …
                20 July 2012 at 5:01 pm

                Nah, liars just say that to sound tough. 
                 

                • TheContrarian …
                  20 July 2012 at 5:04 pm

                  Do if a liar told you the truth does that mean they are lying to themselves? 

                  • TheContrarian …
                    20 July 2012 at 5:05 pm

                    ‘Do’ should be ‘So’

                  • McFlock …
                    20 July 2012 at 5:18 pm

                    Only if they had convinced themselves that they were lying to me.
                               
                    After all, if they were being 100% truthful then they’d be lying about their nationality even if they truthfully said they were from liarland. But then they’d know that I’d then doubt the truthiness of the true things they just said, in fact I’d probably suspect the reverse, so they’d still be lying to me via the cunning ruse of honesty.
                         
                    The bastards. 

        • Puddleglum 4.3.1.2
          20 July 2012 at 4:28 pm

          Nowhere in the original post – or subsequent comments, for that matter –  was there any indication, sugggestion or even implication that Key’s behaviour was a ‘surprise’. Quite the reverse, since it claimed that this was a long-standing practice of Key’s.

          Given that the post itself lacked any indication that Eddie was surprised, exactly where did your perception of the post being an expression of ‘surprise’ come from?

          In your view, is merely the act of writing about a particular politician’s deceitful behaviour ipso facto an expression of surprise? If so, then how would it be possible to hold a particular politician to account without committing the ‘amusing’ gaffe of expressing surprise?

          Or are your comments just expressions of the auto-stimulation of your funny bone? 

    • mike e 4.4
      20 July 2012 at 7:51 pm

      Shonkey
      Merrill Lynch
      Money Launder

  5. Observer AKL 5
    20 July 2012 at 9:02 am

    Turia seems to understand what Key is saying …..

    But for the life of me I cannot see the difference between water rights and entitlement

    Perhaps Turia has the same gift for slipperiness as Key? Four faces between the same two people

    So strange …..

  6. Colonial Viper 6
    20 July 2012 at 9:03 am

    Hence the symbol used in Chinese for a government official (官) has two mouths.

  7. Observer AKL 7
    20 July 2012 at 9:11 am

    Viper

    Brilliant

    Turia and Key however, both want to screw more money out of the common man to give to their wealthy friends.

    Identical slippery Twins. That’s the black and white of it.

  8. marty mars 8
    20 July 2012 at 9:27 am

    “He told the Maori Party that he wouldn’t legislate over the top of iwi water rights and interests”

    There is no evidence for this, apart from Tariana saying ‘they’ told her that. This is the area of vulnerability for their rickety construction – opposition MP’s should focus on this issue until someone breaks.

  9. vto 9
    20 July 2012 at 10:06 am

    I still fail to see the value in all this hoohaa. The Tribunal hearing is underway and the court actions will follow shortly, all of which will hold up, stall and stuff the asset sales process and shake this roten government to its core.

    All of that has nought to do with the politics that Key and the MP are fiddling with. Doesn’t it? I mean, these actions taken by the Maori Council are completely independent of MP and Key.

  10. captain hook 10
    20 July 2012 at 10:17 am

    more gum flapping and smoke and mirrors.
    the question is who gets the biggest share allocation?

  11. starlight 11
    20 July 2012 at 10:40 am

    Of course Key cannot be trusted,his old workmates said he would sell
    his mother if he could, need and humanity dont mean anything to this character.
    The water rights issue is one that key and co would have known about but decided
    to ‘play the divide and rule card’ knowing that they could reel the maori party in any
    time they want.
    Divide and rule tactics are also seen in the current welfare changes, they are punative
    dividing and debilitating,key chooses to make an example of those that would not
    have voted for him anyway, while he and his co-horts live very well off the taxpayers,
    he is now claiming that 20hrs is full time work for those who would not have voted national.
    Bene bennett may have the portfolio but key’s paws are all over it.
    Trust has to be earned and to date key and his band of feckless seat warmers have
    done zip to install trust into the minds of nz’ers who see through his facade.

    • bad12 11.1
      20 July 2012 at 11:02 am

      Oh Slippery has known full well the concerns Maori have over ‘water rights’, the Prime Minister has been in largely secret negotiations with the Iwi Leaders Group over the very issue of ‘water rights’ for the past 4 years,

      2 faced hardly describes the Prime Ministers actions over such ‘water rights’, changing the vocabulary depending upon which interested party He is addressing at any given time,

      For each, the Maori Party, the Iwi Leaders Group, the Waitangi Tribunal, the New Zealand Maori Council, and just as importantly if not more so, the New Zealand People, the Prime Minister has on any given day exhibited a differing attitude and expressed thought on the ‘water rights’ issue,

      Given that Slippery has been negotiating behind closed doors for the past 4 years with a group of Maori who He wrote to in 2009 agreeing that Maori has ‘rights’ to water and inviting negotiations with them on the issue the man is simply far too duplicitous to be trusted by any of the party’s involved…

  12. gobsmacked 12
    20 July 2012 at 11:06 am

    This is all that needs to be said on the matter …

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/key-weasel.html

    Except to add – the problem with Key’s game is you end up alienating voters on all sides. Better to stand for something, and make it clear, so you may lose some, but gain others. Labour take note.

  13. marty mars 13
    20 July 2012 at 11:43 am

    Vernon Small is on to it

    The statement, issued after late-night talks on Wednesday, notes the Government’s undertaking not to legislate over the rights and interests in water, as they are negotiated with iwi and hapu.

    Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia seemed to take that as a promise not to legislate against any rights, including proprietary interests, determined by the courts in response to the Waitangi Tribunal hearing.

    But in a raft of interviews Mr Key, Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson – and even Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples – took a narrower view. They talked of a promise not to unwind “rights and interests”, many of which are already in law as part of settlements.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/7312880/PM-diplomatic-but-water-stance-stays

    How slippery does a slippery snake need to be, to be considered a very slippery snake indeed.

  14. fnjckg 14
    20 July 2012 at 2:09 pm

    metaphysics for master of prophecy
    -no-thing grand about that

    (to john from j)

  15. Fortran 15
    20 July 2012 at 2:30 pm

    I look forward to learning what percentage of the shares in MRP are taken up by:
    1.KiwiSaver providers
    and
    2.Maori (big rich tribes)

    I suspect that not a good percentage will finish up with Mums and Dads.

  16. fnjckg 16
    20 July 2012 at 3:26 pm

    “pffffft! (inhalation through mask, pass it on).

  17. marsman 17
    20 July 2012 at 4:22 pm

    There is a photo in today’s DomPost of John Key wearing gumboots. I seem to remember a photo of that other pretend Prime Minister Jenny Shipley wearing gumboots shortly (?) after which we gave her the BOOT. Is this Shonkey’s Gumboot Moment? We can but hope.

    • xtasy 17.1
      21 July 2012 at 9:55 pm

      Do they wear them on their heads, genital parts (for whatever), on top of their heads, or what? I’d be interested, really?!

  18. The Woodpecker 18
    20 July 2012 at 4:35 pm

    These are not the actions of a PM. He stinks like a corporate raider. Shamefull and disgusting

  19. Foreign Waka 19
    20 July 2012 at 5:05 pm

    Every living thing has an absolute right to water, period.
    What seems to be in discussion under disguise is the “ownership” of water. Once any group or party owns water as a resource an automatic restriction of access and an absolute power over people takes hold as water is necessity to sustain life. Now, to lay claim to such ownership or right is more revealing than any other hick hack that becomes such destruction, isn’t it. If there is in the future only access via payment (water meters?) the group that least can afford this resource will first experience hygiene and health problems. I have heard people talking about the means of “cleaning” rainwater with Jenola (!). It seems that there is already some anxiety about access.

  20. Phil 20
    20 July 2012 at 7:55 pm

    Honestly, I despair of mainstream politics.
    So a center right capitalist makes two calls;
    1. We all own the water.
    2. No one owns the water.
    When we all know, whoever is using the water for production purposes owns the use of the water (and therefore by every definition) owns the water.
    Has everyone forgotten “Ownership is nine tenths of the law”?
    And capitalism is about ever decreasing circles of ownership?
    Who gives a flying fuck who Key states owns the water, when we know that whoever owns the right to use the water for the purposes of production owns the water?
    Same as any other asset that is used in the pursuit of product for profit.

    The Maori Party have shown that the notion of pan tribalist capitalism is alive and well.
    That Maori capitalist institutions hold the power in this debate and can be trusted to follow the capitalist idea to the Nth degree.

    And Labour is doing what?
    Despair, probably ain’t strong enough to be truthful.

    • bad12 20.1
      20 July 2012 at 8:53 pm

      I am not personally in favor of Labour when they do the monk’s retreat act cloistering themselves in the vows of silence over an important issue of the day,

      Sometimes the electorate is just begging for Labour to take a lead by expressing an alternative course of action that should be taken other then that of Slippery and the crew, the more often then not silence tends to give the impression, even if that impression is false, that Labour would be behaving in Government in exactly the same manner,

      On an issue of such gravitas as ‘water rights’, ‘water ownership’ though and while the Waitangi Tribunal is sitting it is probably ‘good politics’ from the opposition to let the process run it’s course,

      My word of advice on an issue that has deep effects within Maori-dom such as the present water one is that when such issues arise Labour/Green don’t resort to closed door negotiations with some of the stakeholders,

      Where Slippery and National have got the present issue so utterly wrong is to have initiated ‘negotiations’ with only a small section of the deeply interested and involved stakeholders in the issue…

  21. captain hook 21
    21 July 2012 at 5:18 pm

    the thing is that in our unicameral system the party in power can virtually do what they like and there are no checks and balances.
    kweewee and his mates will wrap all their predations in such a large tissue of misinformation and verbiage and then take the lot as if it were their right to dispose of anything they please.

  22. xtasy 22
    21 July 2012 at 10:35 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jtFNykJ_eI

    This is the German Sarah Wagenknecht, leader of the Left Party, and a smart, outspoken politcian, trying to remind the wealthy society in Germany, that is still benefiting from the poverty and inequality in Europe.

    She speaks truth and a lot of it. Sadly no English translation. How terrible. Capitalism is digging our grave, for sure! Fuck Key, fuck the world capitalist order and put a total stop to it, seize the control of assets in NZ!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jtFNykJ_eI

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-25T06:54:58+00:00