What if Gilmore quits?

Written By: - Date published: 2:25 pm, May 8th, 2013 - 105 comments
Categories: accountability, john key, leadership, national, national/act government, slippery - Tags:

Stuff is reporting that John Key is signalling for Aaron Gilmore to stand down.

Prime Minister John Key says he can’t “reconcile” Aaron Gilmore’s text messages with his version of events of a boozy diner and has signalled he should stand down.

He contacted party president Peter Goodfellow this morning.

He can’t sack Gilmore from Parliament. But the move is a strong signal to Gilmore to step down.

“I find them difficult to reconcile with the version of events that Mr Gilmore gave my office … I said at the time if I found it difficult to reconcile those events I’ll treat this as a serious matter.”

This morning the National Party was shown text messages from Gilmore that appear to contradict assurances he gave Key.

What are Gilmore’s options?

He can try to tough it out and stay.

He can possibly stay as an independent like Brendon Horan, although this may require Key to remove him from the National caucus.

Or he can quit parliament.

The next on National Party’s list look to be Paul Foster-Bell Claudette Hauiti.*

Key won’t want any period of uncertainty that threatens his government’s thin majority.

What are the implications of Key’s latest statement?

[update]

Claudette Hauiti, in a 3 News article from August 2011, on her being a newby on National’s list, headlines her as: Lesbian, Maori, ex-Labour.   Moving a little beyond the sensationalist, stereotyping headline, we learn …. little:

Ms Hauiti says “I’m not made up of one particular thing, I’m made up of many things….my iwitanga…I’m also an urban Maori, I’m also a business woman…I’m also a mother and all those things help build a very strong character for the National Party”.

“I’ve had an excellent run to become the candidate for Mangere. I’ve had exceptional support,” she says.

National is struggling to shake its reputation as a boys’ club with only 16 of its 57 MPs being female.

We learn more from Express Online:

After I got my degree in journalism, I worked at TVNZ and they made me a political reporter. I’ve always had a background in politics and current affairs. I was also the producer of Eye To Eye with Willie Jackson, but all the programming I do has some political slant to it, whether it be subtle or not too subtle.

Although I’m considered socially liberal, economically I’m quite conservative and that has been because of my family background. My father has always been economically independent and insisted upon being independent of state funding. Having said that, we had always been Labour supporters and under the Labour party we got our first state house, but my parents worked very hard to buy it. I was brought up on the ethic of self-determination and self-reliance.

Hauiti was the 2011 National candidate for Mangere.

105 comments on “What if Gilmore quits? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Jeeves 1
    8 May 2013 at 2:28 pm

    Foster-Bell is already on his way in. Claudette Hauiti is next.

  2. quartz 2
    8 May 2013 at 2:28 pm

    Paul Foster Bell is back in. He’s got Jackie Blue’s seat. It’s likely to be Claudette Hauiti.

  3. Pete 3
    8 May 2013 at 2:30 pm

    I posted this in the other thread, but it’s more appropriate here:

    I wonder if Gilmore will go feral, stay on in Parliament and vote against the budget out of spite. Would that mean the Nats would have to court Brendan Horan? If the stars align, the government could fall over this if they fail to get confidence and supply.

    • Enough is Enough 3.1
      8 May 2013 at 2:39 pm

      I don’t think we want the government to fall right now. The polls are still too close for my liking.

      By Xmas we will be light years ahead though. Can we drag this out until then….

      • Gosman 3.1.1
        9 May 2013 at 1:01 pm

        Yeah the economic figures are all going the left’s way. Oh wait a moment….

    • Nick 3.2
      8 May 2013 at 2:42 pm

      Budget won’t fail because the Maori Party are bound to vote for it by the C&S agreement

    • Lanthanide 3.3
      8 May 2013 at 2:47 pm

      “Would that mean the Nats would have to court Brendan Horan? If the stars align, the government could fall over this if they fail to get confidence and supply.”

      SIGH.

      Everyone here keeps forgetting, the Maori Party have signed a Confidence and Supply agreement with National. That means they vote for the budget. Even without Gilmour’s vote, National still have 63 votes in favour of their budget.

      • Te Reo Putake 3.3.1
        8 May 2013 at 3:22 pm

        True, Lanth. But, if the Maori Party felt the need to break the C&S arrangement in order to give themselves any hope of being in the next Parliament, now would be a good time, aye?

        A snap election forced by the MP could restore some of the mana they have lost (so to speak). They could take the moral highground, say they’ve lost confidence in Key and his bumbling administration and its time to put it to the people etc.

        In those circumstances, Tariana might reconsider her retirement. Or she could waddle off knowing she’s helped end the career of two PM’s and vastly improved the lives of maori.

        Ok, just kidding about the vastly improved bit, it’s just her immediate family that’s done well out of her time in parliament. But given that she has no loyalty to speak of, why wouldn’t she stab Key as royally as she did HC?

        • Lanthanide 3.3.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 4:38 pm

          Historically snap elections and those that force them have been punished.

          The MP might be a little more of a special case, but the other side of the coin is why did they sign a C&S agreement in the first place if they weren’t going to honor it. Gilmour going rogue, or Banks being kicked out, would just smack of opportunism by the MP as they haven’t signaled any particular unhappiness about the government, aside them always voting against their legislation – Sharples keeps bleating on about “being at the table” as well.

          Also a snap election at this stage is unlikely to favour the opposition, so again not necessarily a great tactic for the MP to follow if they want to be part left government in the near future.

      • gobsmacked 3.3.2
        8 May 2013 at 3:50 pm

        Lanth is right. The govt majority on the budget is not threatened.

        Be careful what we wish for. Key might be quite happy to call a snap election saying “Aaron Gilmore is MMP’s fault! Give me a majority!”. We would then be relying on David Shearer to persuasively articulate the case for a Labour-led multi-party gov’t being more stable. That’s a roll of the dice, at best.

        • freedom 3.3.2.1
          8 May 2013 at 5:01 pm

          Labour might be wise to consider that even with National gone, they may not be leading the next Government of NZ. Many many people understand that National and Labour were both first time Governments once and after 38 PMs playing progressively chaotic table tennis with our country, a lot of people are thinking a change of tacticians might be just what is needed.

    • Mary 3.4
      8 May 2013 at 2:49 pm

      Yes, let’s hope Gilmore goes feral. The only trouble is that the Nats’ bully boys will try very hard to force him out of parliament from behind the scenes. Gilmore does have a bit to hang on to, though. There is a little wriggle-room in those text messages for him to say that he didn’t lie to Key. He did of course, but we want Aaron to stay! Go Aaron! Stand up to that Keys guy!

      • paul andersen 3.4.1
        8 May 2013 at 4:27 pm

        yes, I think aaron should stay on and wear a bright blue jacket with a large N on it as proof of what we have as a ruling -elite-.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 3.4.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 4:34 pm

          If he really wants to make a statement he will wear a suit with the letter N cut out with scissors. The hollow party and all that 🙂

  4. Robert Glennie 4
    8 May 2013 at 2:35 pm

    National will still have Peter Dunne and John Banks to rely on. Is there not time for Claudette Hauiti to become acquainted with the basics of Parliament before the Budget?

  5. Winston Smith 5
    8 May 2013 at 2:36 pm

    What are the implications of Key’s latest statement?

    -Parliament and the National party will be improved.

  6. One Anonymous Knucklehead 6
    8 May 2013 at 2:38 pm

    Love the way the Stuff headline: “PM turns on Gilmore” makes Key sound untrustworthy: Slippery hasn’t got your back, Aaron.

  7. mickysavage 7
    8 May 2013 at 2:46 pm

    It is fascinating watching National eating its young …

    • Tim 7.1
      8 May 2013 at 3:35 pm

      I was having that very thought MS just as I was watching Soimun Brudjiss in QT.
      I bet he’s no longer Aaron’s very best friend now

    • tinfoilhat 7.2
      8 May 2013 at 4:02 pm

      I was just thinking how similar they were to the Labour party.

  8. Blue 8
    8 May 2013 at 2:46 pm

    Why would he “have his back” ? Gilmore acted like an A grade arsehole, let down his party and needs to leave. Its a two way street in politics.

    • Mary 8.1
      8 May 2013 at 2:50 pm

      No, it’s a multi-way street in politics.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 8.2
      8 May 2013 at 2:54 pm

      Sorry, you appear to have missed the point of my comment, which is that the lying Prime Minister can no longer expect the media to cast him in a kindly light.

      • paul andersen 8.2.1
        8 May 2013 at 4:30 pm

        thats definitley the biggest change. now only trogladites like osullivan are boosting for key, the rest have pretty much had there eyes opened.

  9. Ad 9
    8 May 2013 at 2:47 pm

    This, plus the rest, gives a good rotting out-they-go stench to this Government.

    Popcorn is heating up.

    • Mary 9.1
      8 May 2013 at 2:53 pm

      The popcorn will go cold very quickly if Gilmore leaves parliament. It will be extremely boring of Gilmore if that’s what he does. I know he’s probably in many respects pretty boring already but that doesn’t mean he needs to continue to to be boring. Come on Aaron, this is your chance.

  10. King Kong 10
    8 May 2013 at 3:00 pm

    Nice to see you kind hearted lefties baying to see someones life destroyed.

    If Helen Kelly and her union were representing Gilmore she would have exploded by now at his treatment.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 10.1
      8 May 2013 at 3:03 pm

      Do you think his life is going to be destroyed? He has all the skills necessary to become an investment banker or tax exile.

      • Tim 10.1.1
        8 May 2013 at 3:36 pm

        …. or some other kind of pimp

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 10.1.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 3:51 pm

          I’m not sure he has the cunning or knowledge of the less edifying aspects of human nature to make a successful pimp.

          • Clockie 10.1.1.1.1
            8 May 2013 at 4:55 pm

            That’s a mighty fine double act you guys have got going there.. 🙂

            • Colonial Viper 10.1.1.1.1.1
              8 May 2013 at 5:00 pm

              Well, that’s not pimping, that’s acting of another nature…

      • tricledrown 10.1.2
        8 May 2013 at 11:35 pm

        primitive primate what Slippery is saying Aaron your not even in my league when it comes to lying, we want a more professional class of liar like me .
        When I lie I get away with it every time !
        For even trying to imitate my leadership your a goner!

    • mickysavage 10.2
      8 May 2013 at 3:04 pm

      So KK what aspect of Gilmore’s treatment do you think it is unfair?

      I don’t see anyone baying. All I see is a level of bemusement and amusement as National kneecaps itself.

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 10.2.1
        8 May 2013 at 3:12 pm

        I will miss him. As the wide mouthed frog said, “You don’t see many of those, do you?”

      • King Kong 10.2.2
        8 May 2013 at 3:14 pm

        Lets be fair, this issue is no using of slave labour (field) fiddling expenses then sabotaging your leader (carter) or even cracking one off on the taxpayer (jones).

        He got pissed and acted like a bit of a cock. The subsequent heat has become the story and now he has lost his job.

        That is politics I guess. All I was pointing out was the irony of how much glee there was around here at the prospect of a Dad of two losing his income.

        • Clockie 10.2.2.1
          8 May 2013 at 3:31 pm

          Wellll…. He has bragged about having done well enough that he never needs to work again. I don’t think anyone is going to starve here.. Also of course, being a parliamentarian should never be regarded as a “job”. It is ideally something that people expect to do for a part of their working life because they believe in what they are doing and as a service to the country. Of course I’m talking ideals here and they’re in short supply among pollys. Also if you “act like a bit of a cock” when the leader of your party has bragged about setting higher standards I think you can expect to get the old heave-ho don’t you, really??

          Also, you chaps are always telling us that there is plenty of work out there for those who want to do if you’re not a lazy bludger who’s fussy about what you’re prepared to do.

          From what is freely available in the public domain it appears that the man is a braggart, a bully, and a big noting liar. This is who he is, not a temporary fall from grace while pissed.

          • King Kong 10.2.2.1.1
            8 May 2013 at 3:46 pm

            I am glad that you are so certain that he can be written off as someone who deserves all he gets off the back of a week of sensationalised media articles.

            The left, ladies and gentleman. The moral guardians of caring.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 10.2.2.1.1.1
              8 May 2013 at 3:49 pm

              Stop being so precious, Precious. Oh, and point out where someone has written him off. Clockie, who you replied to, describes his fall from grace as “temporary”. Are you experiencing cognitive dissonance again much, sweety?

              • Clockie …
                8 May 2013 at 4:24 pm

                Ah-hem, well actually, I pretty much did “write him off”. Based on what the man writes about himself and what others are reported to have said about him, it seems plain to me and I suspect many others that he is not someone you’d want as a landlord or a boss. Personally I wouldn’t want him as my brother in law, my rubbish collector or my MP either thanks.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  8 May 2013 at 4:28 pm

                  Ok, well I guess you’ll just have to suffer KK’s accusations 😆

                  • Clockie …
                    8 May 2013 at 4:43 pm

                    Willingly :). This is about chickens deservedly coming home to roost. Most of us who have been wage slaves and tenants at some time in our lives have been on the receiving end of the crap handed out by the Aaron Gilmore’s of this world and yes, by golly-gosh, it is rather nice to see them come a cropper occasionally.

        • fender 10.2.2.2
          8 May 2013 at 3:41 pm

          You sure are a strange animal KK, just this morning you claimed Gilmore was a ‘sex criminal’.

          Now you are concerned for the financial future of someone who has boasted that investments he has made mean he never needs to work again.

          • King Kong 10.2.2.2.1
            8 May 2013 at 3:52 pm

            Don’t for one second think I give a toss about Gilmore. Just pointing out that you can call us Torys sociopaths but you lefties like to watch someone being mauled in public as much as the next man.

            • fender 10.2.2.2.1.1
              8 May 2013 at 4:02 pm

              Nothing wrong with celebrating the fact that an incompetent wanker gets kicked out of a position he should never have been placed into in the first place.

              If National had a robust list selection process this fool wouldn’t be anywhere near parliament, it’s not a place for monkeys despite appearances.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 10.2.2.2.1.2
              8 May 2013 at 4:03 pm

              Schadenfraude is a necessary part of politics, especially as a setback for the National Party might just result in a decrease in infant mortality rates.

            • Clockie 10.2.2.2.1.3
              8 May 2013 at 4:48 pm

              Ape. So you don’t give a toss about him either, but we are sociopaths…

              Considering how much hard-arsed muck you fling around about other people on your periodic visits to this site, I think it’s just a little rich for you to be taking the high moral tone with us now, don’t you think? (That was a rhetorical question) No, you don’t think.

            • emergency mike 10.2.2.2.1.4
              8 May 2013 at 5:55 pm

              “…you lefties like to watch someone being mauled in public as much as the next man.”

              Oh ya it’s so weird how our hippy-love dries up when it comes to egotistical, arrogant, lying, born-to-rule bullies who are getting a 6 figure salary from the state to be our democratic ‘representatives’.

        • Kevin Welsh 10.2.2.3
          8 May 2013 at 3:48 pm

          “All I was pointing out was the irony of how much glee there was around here at the prospect of a Dad of two losing his income.”

          Really KK?

          I think the glee is more about the fuckwit who threatened to have someone else’s employment terminated, is about to have his terminated.

          • Clockie 10.2.2.3.1
            8 May 2013 at 4:27 pm

            Kevin Walsh +1. This is where much of my own feeling about this lovely man comes from.

        • Populuxe1 10.2.2.4
          8 May 2013 at 4:19 pm

          You mean, like Darren Hughes?

        • tricledrown 10.2.2.5
          8 May 2013 at 11:39 pm

          king kong you are asking us to believe your bs.Gilmore is last on the list so will be vert unlikely to be re elected any way!
          Wasn’t it Mattspew hootten that said he should go instantly!

    • Te Reo Putake 10.3
      8 May 2013 at 3:38 pm

      “If Helen Kelly and her union were representing Gilmore she would have exploded by now at his treatment.”

      Rubbish. Any advocate with HK’s smarts would have told him to fess up completely and openly and not try to wriggle out of it. The incident would have already been yesterdays news if he had been properly advised. His difficulty is that he appears to have used John Key as his union rep, following the path laid down by the PM over the last five years: a BS, bluster, forgetfullness and ‘so what?’ attitude have worked for Key. It’s just that Gilmore isn’t half as good at it as his boss.

      The guts of it isn’t that Gilmore is getting his marching orders for being a pompous git one drunken Saturday night, it’s for dragging Key into the frame by behaving just like him in the cover up.

    • Colonial Viper 10.4
      8 May 2013 at 3:45 pm

      If Helen Kelly and her union were representing Gilmore she would have exploded by now at his treatment.

      Trust all these right wing layabouts who want the benefits of union protection without actually joining a union.

      • King Kong 10.4.1
        8 May 2013 at 4:05 pm

        Who mentioned benefits. The only way that Aaron Gilmore could become a more hated figure is to have Helen Kelly represent him.
        Just ask that Aussie actors union and the maritime union.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 10.4.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 4:10 pm

          Do you think he’s “hated”? I think he’s just made an egg of himself and I hope learned one or two valuable lessons: drinking with lawyers has its costs and learn to apologise well.

          PS: and always front foot your mistakes.

    • paul andersen 10.5
      8 May 2013 at 4:33 pm

      I dont want aaron destroyed. I want him to remain as a glorious example of keys asperational society, an example of the free market and unrestain excess and what the feral, sorry free market, throws up.

    • QoT 10.6
      8 May 2013 at 4:53 pm

      So … you missed the hilarious bit in his self-penned CV where he brags about never having to work again, I take it.

      • Colonial Viper 10.6.1
        8 May 2013 at 4:54 pm

        Won’t anyone think of the children? Private school fees are a human right!

  11. Mary 11
    8 May 2013 at 3:12 pm

    I think Key’s being very clever. He’s calling on Gilmore to quit so that he stays credible dealing with an incredible situation, but he doesn’t want Gilmore to quit because of the numbers. So he says he wants Gilmore to quit but that he can’t force him to and that sacking him is a long, drawn out process and that it might be better to just wait until the next election because Gilmore’s number 59 with no portfolio responsibilities so it’ll be easier and cheaper for everyone. That’s the strategy I see coming from Key. The headline reads: “Key turns on Gilmore”, but that’s not quite right. Key wants the public to think this, but wants Gilmore to stay. What a slime:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8644577/Key-hints-at-Gilmore-to-quit

    If I were Gilmore I wouldn’t be bullied like this. Key’s treating Gilmore with absolute disdain, not by saying he wants to sack him, but by saying this but in reality wanting him to stay on to prop his shonky government up. In these circumstances if I were Gilmore I’d quit the National party and fuck Key over as an independent.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 11.1
      8 May 2013 at 3:14 pm

      Think of all the connections you could make in that time, if you were Aaron Gilmore 🙂

      • Mary 11.1.1
        8 May 2013 at 3:36 pm

        Well, Brendan Horan might be one, but that’s not the point. The point is that Aaron Gilmore is an MP with lots to offer and no matter what John Key and others say Aaron is going to stand up to his principles and do the job he was elected…I mean…put in the job to do. It just so happens, and it’s a pity, that he’ll just have to fuck Key and his mates over in the process.

      • tricledrown 11.1.2
        8 May 2013 at 11:43 pm

        Aaron Gilmore new job talk back host with Michael Laws!

    • karol 11.2
      8 May 2013 at 3:34 pm

      It keeps Gilmore in the headlines, instead of the appalling up-coming Spy Law amendments.

      • mickysavage 11.2.1
        8 May 2013 at 3:44 pm

        It also obliterates coverage of Shearer’s speech.

        Funny thing but Goff got a bounce in the polls when he dumped Carter, Shearer got one when he dumped Cunliffe and maybe Key is planning on the same thing. It appears that some kiwis like it when their leaders beat up on elected representatives.

        • karol 11.2.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 3:57 pm

          It also gives cover to the 105 jobs lost at Solid energy, and the possible low prices of MRP shares.

          Cunliffe was on fire aout Labour’s power policy in the General Debate today.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 11.2.1.2
          8 May 2013 at 5:01 pm

          Nope. Key has utterly wimped out. “I don’t think we will move to expel him from the caucus…”

          All the damage, none of the benefits 🙂

  12. Ant 12
    8 May 2013 at 3:25 pm

    LOL that lawyer dude must count as one of the worst mates ever.

    This dude obviously wanted to cause some ruckus haha.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 12.1
      8 May 2013 at 3:35 pm

      Yeah, I can see why he contacted the hotel, but who told the media?

    • Clockie 12.2
      8 May 2013 at 3:40 pm

      Ant. He told the truth. You wouldn’t understand.

      • Ant 12.2.1
        8 May 2013 at 3:52 pm

        Please, as if a barman would take a pissed twit saying “John Key will fire you!” seriously.

        The two bros obviously have some beef, we get to see it happening in public.

        • Populuxe1 12.2.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 4:22 pm

          Presumably said beef was being wrongfully dragged in to Happy’s Fubar and the possible implications that would have on his legal career. That sort of thing tends to piss lawyers off.

        • freedom 12.2.1.2
          8 May 2013 at 4:27 pm

          “Please, as if a barman would take a pissed twit saying “John Key will fire you!” seriously.”

          hmmm
          imagine you are a barman at a Heritage Hotel, a preferred supplier of the Nats piss ups, where National have just held a conference. An MP of that party is berating you and you think you would not be worried for your job ?

          Ant, you obviously know shit about how hospo works in NZ

          • Ant 12.2.1.2.1
            8 May 2013 at 6:53 pm

            LOL I know how hospo works and I’d be pretty sure John Key or his office don’t bother ringing up to get people fired from their jobs when you refuse to serve an intoxicated party. Anyone with a modicum of common sense would think it was a laughable threat.

            I mean John Key is a c*nt, but I think he prefers to destroy 1000’s of peoples jobs in one fell swoop not one at a time.

            • freedom 12.2.1.2.1.1
              8 May 2013 at 7:03 pm

              it’s hard for PM to lean on a barman but dropdead simple to lean on Heritage a bit

            • Colonial Viper 12.2.1.2.1.2
              8 May 2013 at 7:09 pm

              Nah, you’re a dickhead and you know shit.

              Plenty of hospos have had final written warnings or been fired due to customer complaints.

              But yes there are plenty of rich dickheads out there who think that mistreating service workers and threatening peoples jobs is ‘laughable”.

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 12.2.2
        8 May 2013 at 3:56 pm

        Who contacted the media? If it was Riches he did considerably more than tell the truth. Gilmore is the architect of his own misfortune but, if I can expand the metaphor, he employed a pretty good builder.

        • Colonial Viper 12.2.2.1
          8 May 2013 at 4:18 pm

          There be poets amongst the Standardistas!

          • Arfamo 12.2.2.1.1
            8 May 2013 at 5:01 pm

            If you think that our poets are good
            They cannot match those in the ‘hood
            Where Aaron spouted dickhead’s verse
            And things just went from bad to worse
            If he thought John Key was his muse
            Too bad, now he’s beneath Key’s shoes

  13. QoT 13
    8 May 2013 at 4:58 pm

    My father has always been economically independent and insisted upon being independent of state funding. Having said that, we had always been Labour supporters and under the Labour party we got our first state house, but my parents worked very hard to buy it

    Oh good, a true bootstraps-myth hypocrite, then.

    • McFlock 13.1
      8 May 2013 at 5:11 pm

      Taking the “cognitive” out of “cognitive dissonance”.

    • karol 13.2
      8 May 2013 at 5:25 pm

      Yep Depressing. No doubt Key would love having her in his caucus to support his own bootstraps myth – and as a tokenistic rep of the kind of women his government tends to marginalise.

  14. Anne 14
    8 May 2013 at 7:53 pm

    Campbell Live had a poll should Aaron Gilmore resign?

    91% said yes.

    I can just picture them sitting on their couches lounge suites… ” ya know, that was a terrible thing to do embarrassing the prime minister like that and he believed him. That’s really bad. Let’s text our votes…”

    Umm, what about the waiter?… “waiter. what waiter? Oh, I dunno about him. It’s John Key we feel sorry for…”

  15. jaymam 15
    8 May 2013 at 8:37 pm

    I shall be looking forward to putting up election billboards with a picture of almost anyone, with the text “Do you know who I am?”

    • mac1 15.1
      8 May 2013 at 11:38 pm

      I think there should be a post asking for ‘born-to-rule prat’ stories. There seems to be a few in behind people’s comments on the Gilmore saga, and/or stories about the abuse of workers by members of the public.

      Jaymam’s comment immediately brings one to mind, for me.

  16. vto 16
    8 May 2013 at 8:51 pm

    Hauiti sounds like another dopey confused tory who doesn’t even realise that the things they think are great are pretty much all of a typical collectivist social base. The classic example is Fonterra. And now here we have Hauiti extolling the virtues of the left. Yet she is a fully fledged right wing nutbar.

    They are like another species.

    Somebody should patent their dna and forwrad sell it to museums.

  18. Tanz 18
    9 May 2013 at 4:58 pm

    see, how the list system is a rort? Unchosen by the voters and can’t be rid of by the voters either. Key must be spitting chips. The guy is going to ride it out till next year, maybe. All that money…

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    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    8 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    9 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    9 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    12 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    14 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    15 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    15 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    16 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    18 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    19 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    21 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    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
    8 hours 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
    10 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
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  • 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 ...
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  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
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  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
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  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
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  • Taupō takes pole position
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  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
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  • Government focused on getting people into work
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  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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  • 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 ...
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  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
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  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
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  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
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  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
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  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
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  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
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    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
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  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
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