What’s the play?

Written By: - Date published: 12:10 pm, October 16th, 2013 - 108 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, len brown, local body elections, Politics, scoundrels - Tags: , , , , ,

No-one’s happy with the revelations about Len Brown’s private life, apart from Slater (himself also an adulterer) who is wallowing in all the details that Chuang seems only too happy to provide. But what’s interesting is that this is clearly a political play. Who’s behind it and what do they have to gain? The players: Slater, Slater snr, Chuang, and Palino.

The timing is a clue. More specifically, why didn’t they drop this during the campaign? Mike’s theory is that it relates to the Banks court case. I respectfully disagree. Sure, it decreased coverage of Dotcom’s appearance yesterday but this is only a pre-trial hearing and if (when) Banks goes down, he’ll go down big.

I reckon, instead, that the timing relates to the election results coming out on Saturday. Chuang herself was standing for election. She wouldn’t have wanted this scandal hurting her own chances, so it couldn’t come out before she knew she had lost.

But isn’t it too late now that Brown’s been re-elected? Not if he resigns.

You’ll note that Chuang – by all accounts a perfectly willing participant in the affair – has been very quick to call for him to resign for the behaviour that she was part of. If she genuinely believed that the affair made him (and her) unfit for office, she would have revealed it ahead of the election.

Let’s draw some links: Chuang was a rightwing candidate, apparently linked to the Palino campaign. Palino’s campaign was run by John Slater, Cameron Slater’s father. Three days after the election results: Chuang’s telling all on Slater’s blog. hmmm.

To what end?

If Brown resigns (he won’t and at this stage I can’t see why he would) Palino doesn’t accede to the mayoralty automatically but he would be far and away the front runner for the new election that would have to be held quickly.

Is that the play? Palino couldn’t beat Brown, so now they’re trying to engineer a new race without Brown and before the Left can find a replacement, and one of the Right’s candidates is only too happy to use her personal life to further that cause.

lprent: Or is it at Rob Emmerson suggests, all just a byproduct of Cameron’s porn fantasies?

Whaleoil inflates Brown


h/t The Irascible Curmudgeon

 

 

108 comments on “What’s the play? ”

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  1. Rogue Trooper 1
    16 October 2013 at 12:17 pm

    Hear from RNZ Midday Report that Quax and some other Blue Ducks are calling for his resignation, followed by concerns being raised amongst Pasifika communities about the appropriateness of his Matai status.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 1.1
      16 October 2013 at 12:26 pm

      Thats silly, Brown is a cleanskin ( so far ) compared to someone like Boris Johnson

      • Puckish Rogue 1.1.1
        16 October 2013 at 1:52 pm

        Whats Boris Johnson got to do with this?

        • tamati 1.1.1.1
          16 October 2013 at 2:28 pm

          Boris “cassanova” Johnson makes Len Brown look as innocent as a choirboy. The difference is Boris never apologies for his conquests, he boasts about them. Then goes up in the polls.

          • Puckish Rogue 1.1.1.1.1
            16 October 2013 at 3:42 pm

            The difference is Boris johnson has nothing to do with this but keep trying to minimise

    • Unicus 1.2
      16 October 2013 at 5:03 pm

      No room for an air-head at the top of Council now – Len should appoint Mike Lee his deputy tomorrow

  2. mickysavage 2
    16 October 2013 at 12:20 pm

    Agreed and finding out when Slater first found out about the relationship is key. My pick is that he has known about this since well before the election but waited until he could cause the most damage.

    • Mickey 2.1
      16 October 2013 at 1:22 pm

      Oh please, Len Brown is 100% responsible for everything that has happened, no-one else.
      All this talk on blaming the Slaters or Palino or even the right wing in general is just bollocks.
      If Brown thought this wouldn’t come out, then he doesn’t deserve to be mayor, because he’s a bloody idiot.

      • Pascal's bookie 2.1.1
        16 October 2013 at 6:27 pm

        And once again, as always, the right wing notion of personal responsibility rears its derp filled head.

        Brown is responsible for everything he did. No argument.

        But on what planet is he responsible for what whaleoil does? Please explain to me how Brown is responsible for making whaleoil’s decisions.

  3. King Kong 3
    16 October 2013 at 12:22 pm

    This is obviously political muckracking by Slater which you are right to oppose. Good job with the aspertions on this birds character and the personal discrediting of her as a whore.

    • BM 3.1
      16 October 2013 at 12:27 pm

      Yes, Len’s the victim here, people need to remember that.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 3.1.1
        16 October 2013 at 12:32 pm

        Arent you the type that rails against NZs culture of ‘cutting down tall poppies’

        But you got the headline half right. Browns family is the victim here

        • BM 3.1.1.1
          16 October 2013 at 12:43 pm

          No, Len was set up.
          I’ve heard from good authority that Bevan Chuang is actually Cameron Slater in drag.

          This is all a very clever and devious plan hatched by crosby textor and implemented by John Key to undermine Len Brown and the left movement in Auckland.

          Big business once again undermining the democratic process, a travesty of the highest order. Shame on you National.

          • ghostwhowalksnz 3.1.1.1.1
            16 October 2013 at 2:03 pm

            Its no surprise that Banks, a former mayor and Slaters good friend is in court this week, on corruption charges.

            Its likely Slater held back a day due the weather delaying the case.

            And dont you think is strange that a ‘journalist’ is working with Slater o this. A class of people he despises and ridicules whenever possible.

            Just an exception in this case ?. Or are there higher political operatives at work, as its well known there is constant feeding of stories for his blog from the Beehive and nationals shady research unit

            • Tigger 3.1.1.1.1.1
              16 October 2013 at 8:13 pm

              The right have used Chuang and will discard her when done. KK, don’t paint them as pro-women here. They’re the ones using her like a prostitute. I suspect she was even paid for her services.

    • bad12 3.2
      16 October 2013 at 12:44 pm

      The only evidence of whoring i have seen round here is your own ‘attention whoring’,(i assume you are bored and trying to earn yourself a spanking),

      The Post points out the ‘truth’ that Bevan Chuang was a willing partner in the little dalliance She and Len engaged in,

      Really what’s She moaning about, Len being a cheapskate and buying Her cheap undies???, perhaps poor old Len’s 4 outta 10 in terms of lustfullness and performance has Her whining,

      Besmirch Her reputation, you like Blubber-boy seem to have both been born with brain damage, if this does anything to Len Brown’s reputation then as a willing partner She must share in that equally…

  4. ghostwhowalksnz 4
    16 October 2013 at 12:22 pm

    Its Slaters close friends Banks and or Williamson.

    They would be the likely contenders at the next mayoral election, and they need Brown in office ( as does Slater) now in order to run against the usual sins of Len Brown .- Rates ,debt, etc

  5. greywarbler 5
    16 October 2013 at 12:34 pm

    Good points and the required circular and iterative thinking for this type of political foreplay. Dick Quax – I think he lost all his marbles when he was out running and training. I think he should spend the rest of his life hunting and gathering them together again.

    Just a thought abut Quax and his ilk. I think anyone should take care when considering athletes for politicians, they are too often self centred and narrow goal-driven, silo mentalities. Actors also require wariness, like chameleons they can appear in whatever guise is most advantageous, and tend to fall in love with the role in which they got the most acclaim. The real person can be hidden as Peter Sellers was supposed to be or as unrecognisable as a Vorlon in Babylon 5, but not as far-seeing, almost unknowable.

  6. ghostwhowalksnz 6
    16 October 2013 at 12:35 pm

    “Prominent media commentator Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater has been outed for an extra-marital affair by a court judgment this week.”

    That was 2012

    But heres the ‘irony’

    “Cameron Slater said he was aware of the judgment and its content but declined to comment.”

  7. amirite 7
    16 October 2013 at 12:58 pm

    In any way, it stinks of another right wing set up, just like the sacking of the Environment Canterbury, the suspension of democracy in Christchurch, the police raids on the Herald and TV3, the spying on journalists, the setup and blackmail of Dunne, etc etc etc

  8. Murray 8
    16 October 2013 at 1:30 pm

    Slater’s involvement takes the edge off the whole issue and makes it all slightly humourous. Who wants to take this buffoon seriously

  9. Sam 9
    16 October 2013 at 2:22 pm

    Oh poor Len, now he wants understanding about his extra martial affair. He should have thought about it before jumping into the sack with the woman concerned. How the story came out is irrelevant, he is just another politician who could not keep his “wiener” in his pants.

  10. tamati 10
    16 October 2013 at 2:31 pm

    Nah, there’s no VRWC here. All Slater cares about is is his page view count.

  11. gobsmacked 11
    16 October 2013 at 2:41 pm

    Meanwhile, in Parliament this afternoon David Cunliffe has produced damning proof that Nick Smith has lied – to Parliament, to the public.

    Therefore, Smith must now resign.

    But no willies were involved, only Ministerial responsibility, integrity and the public interest, so who cares, eh?

    What a sorry mess NZ politics and media have become.

    • NickS 11.1
      16 October 2013 at 8:54 pm

      Huh?

      Too tired to go digging, so chance of a source? And I’m guessing it was over the dam in Hawke’s Bay. Labour and the Greens are doing brilliant work on it so far, but with clear and undeniable proof, Smith is going to commit a major case of foot-in-mouth and dig himself in deeper.

  12. Tracey 12
    16 October 2013 at 2:46 pm

    Mickey according to slater he has been talking to the naive woman for “weeks”

  13. King Kong 13
    16 October 2013 at 3:04 pm

    Good to see all the regular feminists on the Standard (with their ability to find offence seemingly anywhere) are coming out all guns blazing to condemn the blatant mysogeny being displayed in a lot of the references to this slutty chick.

    • felix 13.1
      16 October 2013 at 6:22 pm

      Could you point to some of these “references” please? The only one I can see is yours.

      Oh hang on, is that what you mean? That no-one’s taking any notice of your horrible comments?

      Poor monkey.

  14. Janus 14
    16 October 2013 at 4:05 pm

    Were I an Aucklander (which I thank the gods I’m not) I likely would have voted for Brown.

    However, IMHO when you stand for public office you by implication at least subscribe to a higher standard of morals and ethics than apply to the rest of us. Sure, what Len did what not illegal. Sure, at the most basic (sic) level what two consenting adults get up to in private is no-one else’s business. Len Brown the private citizen can get up to whatever he wants to in private and as long as he doesn’t break the law it’s purely a matter for those concerned and those directly concerned by it – ie family.

    But if you voluntarily adopt a public persona you voluntarily adopt a necessarily higher standard. If Len’s wife had known about this and OK’d it I’d rest easy but it appears she didn’t and didn’t. And if Len Brown will deceive his own wife in order to indulge his personal desires what possible confidence could I or any other Aucklander have that he hasn’t or wouldn’t deceive me or us – who has far less right to expect honesty and integrity from him than his wife – if it suits his personal agenda.

    That’s why he must go. It has nothing to do with what he did or who he did it with. It’s because as a result of lying about it his integrity, so necessary to to someone holding public office, is now fatally compromised – just as it is with John Banks and his lies over ‘voluntary contributions’.

    • Rogue Trooper 14.1
      16 October 2013 at 6:48 pm

      good points, imo, though infidelity would occur across all forms of public office, carried out by a variety of people.

    • karol 14.2
      16 October 2013 at 6:56 pm

      Thank you for your troolish concern. i am actually an Aucklander and did vote for Brown.

      I do wish that SleazeOil had made Brown’s affairs public before the elcetion ended, so that it could have been factored in to voters decisions.

      You seem to have a skewed view of higher standard morals and ethics. nothing from you about the way Sleaze Oil timed the release of this information so voters wouldn’t learn about it til after the election. Their possible candidates (Palino and Brewer) had little hope of winning the election, even with Brown’s affair in the public domain. So they timed the release of the information to benefit themselves in an un-democratic way.

      It actually would be the worst thing for Auckland, democracy and Aucklanders for Brown to stand down right now. It would create instability. Brown needs to be there to help bed in the new council and boards. An election now would be a farce with out any really credible candidates.

      I prefer Brown to stay, and then see early next year if he is fatally wounded. That would be a better time for another campaign – time for potential candidates to become organised in a full campaign.

      You concern for moral and ethical standards are so skewed to one element in the whole issue, it is hard to take seriously.

    • Pascal's bookie 14.3
      16 October 2013 at 6:58 pm

      Fair enough. That’s your opinion, and it’s not an uncommon one.

      But is one that baffles me a bit when I think about it, so I’d be genuinely obliged if you could help me out.

      1) What is it that is so special about ‘public office’ that requires this rule? Or does the rule go wider?

      For example, fund managers and executives of listed companies have great responsibilities to the people whose money they manage and to their shareholders, respectively. Are their marriages public property in the same way that you say politicians should be? What of civil servants? Or teachers, police officers, journalists, doctors, the list goes on.

      2) Does this rule only apply to marital infidelity, or is that just an example of the sort of things that politicians should resign for? If the latter, what are some other examples?

      All politicians, for example, use spin on the campaign trail. they actively craft statements in ways to create impressions. To highlight things they think will be positive, and play down the negatives. They refuse to answer questions for example, changing the subject. Why should this sort of thing be accepted as legitimate, which it surely is. This seems to me to go to the trust citizens place in politicians in a much more direct way than marital infidelity does, even though I agree with you that the breach of trust in marital infidelity is great.

      3) Is there any evidence, rough and ready or otherwise, that indicates that politicians who are unfaithful to their spouses are worse as politicians than those who are faithful. The list of politicians who have done appalling things with regard to their family life is long. Ghandi. MLK. Churchill. FDR. I’m sure you get my point. Is there any evidence that this stuff really matters, other than symbolically. Which is not to say that symbols aren’t important. But they can be counterproductive at times.

      thanks.

      • gobsmacked 14.3.1
        16 October 2013 at 8:39 pm

        Yes, PB. It’s frustrating that we keep asking this basic question (“If it applies to A why does it not apply to B, C, D …”), and never get a reply from those who say he must resign. Gosh, it’s almost as if they don’t care about the principle at all.

        For the 3rd (4th, I’ve lost count?) time I ask – if Brown must resign for infidelity and “lack of integrity”, should all Ministers, mayors and MPs who have done the same in their private lives, also resign?

        If not, explain why not. It’s all “public office”.

    • Adele 14.4
      16 October 2013 at 7:59 pm

      “…As it was, he was queasy and disturbed. He had known the voyage to the Auckland mayoralty would be fatal at worst, an endless rolling trough of white lies and spume that ended on the shattered keyboard of a Council desk, but he had not been prepared for the particular horrors of the journey, of which he was still incapable of speaking, even to himself. Mr Brown was by nature accepting of any deficiencies in his own person—fear and insecurity both turned him exceptionally easy—and it was for this reason that he very uncharacteristically failed to assess the tenor of the extra-marital relationship he had just ended.”

      The above is an extract from ‘Gluminaries’ a non-booker prize winner book about power and stupidity.

      • Rogue Trooper 14.4.1
        16 October 2013 at 9:06 pm

        MAN!

        • Rogue Trooper 14.4.2.1
          17 October 2013 at 10:47 pm

          an omnipresence. must talk to vto; this Eleanor Catton has a special mind, reminds me of An Instance of The Finger Post Iain Pears, and Dellilo, Dickens and Fielding (Henry) 😉 just flows, ahhh, The God of Small Things ,a wonderful book. Enjoy (I Will) psss, think of how many hours we read by choice…

  15. Tanz 15
    16 October 2013 at 5:31 pm

    let’s all throw stones…is Len’s behaviour any better?

    [karol: I have moved this whole thread from the John Banks one. It was taking over and derailing the Banks’ discussion]

    • Te Reo Putake 15.1
      16 October 2013 at 5:43 pm

      Ha! A tad desperate, Tanz. One had sex with a woman he shouldn’t have sex with, the other fucked with democracy. I think you know who’s gonna come off worse in the long run.

      • chris73 15.1.1
        16 October 2013 at 6:01 pm

        One is also alleged to have threatened a womens career unless she kept quiet about the affair

        • Te Reo Putake 15.1.1.1
          16 October 2013 at 6:07 pm

          Yeah, I think we all know you sent those texts, Chris. But nice try anyway.

          • karol 15.1.1.1.1
            16 October 2013 at 6:19 pm

            Actually, how many texts. Yesterday the story was that she had started receiving threatening texts after Brown broke off the relationship.

            Today it is ONE text.

            • chris73 15.1.1.1.1.1
              16 October 2013 at 6:37 pm

              Well as long as its only text then thats all right then

              • karol …
                16 October 2013 at 6:43 pm

                The implication of the difference between one text and many is clear.

                Now, do you have anything to say about the sending of Banks to trial, and the act that he had to stand down?

        • felix 15.1.1.2
          16 October 2013 at 6:08 pm

          Yeah that’s definitely true. No way it’s just something the serial liar and hypocrite Slater told you.

          • Anne 15.1.1.2.1
            16 October 2013 at 6:21 pm

            What’s the bet SlimeOil and co. set up the anonymous calls to the ‘little lady’ knowing it would look like Len Brown was responsible. It’s the sort of corrupt and slimy trick one would expect of them.

            • chris73 15.1.1.2.1.1
              16 October 2013 at 6:43 pm

              and I bet they engineered two minute noodle Lens entire affair as well I mean those dastardly righties probably set the whole honey trap themselves…poor El Cheapo Len didn’t stand a chance

              4/10 Len isn’t responsible with credit cards and isn’t responsible around young women but he slapped himself and cut up the credit card while trying to make amends so what do you think hes going to slap and cut up over this?

              • karol …
                16 October 2013 at 6:46 pm

                And John Banks isn’t responsible for the allegedly anonymous donations because he didn’t look at what he signed – even thought here is some pretty compelling evidence that he manipulated the gifting in order to disguise the fact that it was money for future favours?

                tr000ls too busy diverting from such a major anti-democratic piece of Banksie corruption.

                • tinfoilhat …
                  16 October 2013 at 8:11 pm

                  Some of us thing that Banks and Brown should both go, hopelessly flawed people who have no place as an MP or Mayor.

              • BM …
                16 October 2013 at 6:48 pm

                Yeah, I wonder if he’ll cut up his junk on national tv, thus demonstrating to the voter that this sort of behavior won’t happen again.

                To be honest I think it’s about the only thing that will save him.

              • The Al1en …
                16 October 2013 at 7:29 pm

                @c73
                Taking your cues and material from sick note slater is really sad, but not as much as seeing a topic about the shady ‘alleged’ criminal John Banks twisted, distorted and diverted onto Len Brown.

                It’s true I think Len should walk, or at least, because it’s so soon to the election, rerun the poll to legitimately earn the mandate fair and square with all facts known, but JB should go to prison because of the criminal nature of his ‘alleged’ illegal activities and what he’s done.

                That you can’t see the discrepancy of severity by linking the two cases or are wilfully running flak is the saddest of all.

        • Colonial Viper 15.1.1.3
          16 October 2013 at 6:12 pm

          One is also alleged to have threatened a womens career unless she kept quiet about the affair

          Sadly, the biggest threat to that woman’s career appears to have been herself. And her right wing “friends”.

        • ScottGN 15.1.1.4
          16 October 2013 at 6:16 pm

          Alleged by whom? I’ve been following this story on NZ media today and not one main news site has made this allegation.

          • chris73 15.1.1.4.1
            16 October 2013 at 6:55 pm

            In her affidavit she was sent a text threatening her career, she alleges it was probably from the unhygienic Len Brown

            • Colonial Viper 15.1.1.4.1.1
              16 October 2013 at 7:18 pm

              So she attests that it’s her own opinion? Good to know.

              • felix …
                16 October 2013 at 7:43 pm

                Bit weird that she says “probably”.

                Surely she’d recognise Len’s phone number if it was from him. Shit, you’d think she’d have it saved in her contacts.

                Can’t imagine anyone else who’d send such a message from an anonymous number. Oh, except the Slater child of course.

                • the pigman …
                  16 October 2013 at 7:47 pm

                  +1 – he would be one of the few who knew the story was going to be run for the month prior…

    • ScottGN 15.2
      16 October 2013 at 5:45 pm

      Len remembered to list the donation he received from Sky City so yes his behaviour on this matter has been better.

  16. cricklewood 16
    16 October 2013 at 7:23 pm

    On mobile so no reply button PB. But in answer I would say that if your organization has dismissed staff lower in the pecking order for what amounts to the same offence. It must be very hard to justify why someone all the way to the top should survive the same offence. Imho the same rules should apply in an organisation from top to bottom… if its good for the goose et al

  17. Jeff 17
    16 October 2013 at 7:35 pm

    This has Crosby and Textor written all over it! Find a willing “victim”. Dangle “victim” in front of “target”. [Target known to have a pre-dilection for Asian girls / women and to be a little loose in his hormonal balance!] Find a “victim” who has a seriously well developed need to become famous (or notorious!) and Bob’s Your Uncle!

  18. Pascal's bookie 18
    16 October 2013 at 8:41 pm

    There is fair bit of shit being talked by lefties here on this.

    Any claim that this is a honey trap, are just grade A nonsense. Not quite as stupid as when the same claim was made in the Worth case, but not by much. It’s also an offensive claim that’s completely unnecessary.

    Whale is a fuckwit, and so is the ‘journalist’. Both of their track records speak for themselves. Whale’s claims that he has no political motivations are grade A bullshit. Go after that. A day ago you could of all climbed into his hypocrisy about how he treated the Worth complainant, but you’ve pretty much let that boat sail with the crap people have been spouting about this woman.

    I’d say at the moment that the woman has made some poor decisions in trusting them. But really, truly, there is fuck all that needs to be said beyond that. Be better than that. FFS. Attacking her when you have no actual evidence of her doing anything wrong is not only offensive, but it legitimises those tactics. It’s also stupid because it won’t achieve anything.

    And as for any righties paying attention, you clowns are just sickening. You have absolutely no credibility whatsoever, so ya’ll can just keep your yaps out of it too.

  19. Blue 19
    16 October 2013 at 9:09 pm

    What’s the play? It’s in the first line of this post. The only person who wins is Slater.

    If he wanted Brown out as mayor he’d have told all during the campaign. Don’t anyone try to make me laugh by suggesting he’d wait until he had a signed affidavit.

    Destablising the mayor after he’s been elected is chump change.

    The lady in question doesn’t seem to know what she wants – except possibly attention. Which she is now getting in spades.

    No, the winner of this week’s jackpot is a repulsive right-wing blogger who just broke a massive story that got everyone clicking and restored his ascendancy after his disastrous run as the editor that killed the Truth.

    He wanted to make sure the story was watertight by getting a signed affidavit, his informant wouldn’t provide one or go public until after her own electoral chances were sunk, and he didn’t mind waiting because he couldn’t give a shit about Len Brown – it was really all about him.

    • karol 19.1
      16 October 2013 at 9:15 pm

      Yep. And now Chuang, not really understanding how she’s been used, has gone to ground, upset at the kind of attention she’s getting, and probably hadn’t anticipated – albeit she’s blaming Team Brown, unwilling to believe how SleazeOil has manipulated her.

  20. Rodel 20
    16 October 2013 at 10:12 pm

    Slater an adulterer..? C’mon …who’d ever……Oh never mind……
    I just don’t want to think about it…

  21. JLLJames 21
    16 October 2013 at 11:15 pm

    I’m happy about it, so your post is not accurate.

    Man you guys talk some shit on here.

    /b/

    • Colonial Viper 21.1
      16 October 2013 at 11:20 pm

      Insightful comment, thanks, you really added to the discussion here.

      • JLLJames 21.1.1
        16 October 2013 at 11:30 pm

        np. The interesting thing about this saga is how everyone is no longer focusing on how someone who held themselves out to be a religious family man turned out to be quite the opposite. It’s also worth noting that this wasn’t an isolated sexual encounter. That I could understand and, although its morally reprehensible, live with. But there is a definite pattern here of, at a very minimum, misleading those (i.e. his family) who are meant to be the people he cares most about in his life. If that’s how he treats such people, then what else is he getting away with?

        A leopard never changes its spots.

        • Colonial Viper 21.1.1.1
          16 October 2013 at 11:49 pm

          Hey you want to declare yourself the new Pope and ex-communicate Len Brown, you go right ahead. As tricldown has noted – would you like to sift through all elected officers in the country and fire the ones who have had extra-marital affairs?

        • fender 21.1.1.2
          16 October 2013 at 11:51 pm

          Are these spots related to the alleged STD ?

          “….what else is he getting away with?”

          I bet he kept his socks on.

          • Rodel 21.1.1.2.1
            17 October 2013 at 10:08 pm

            JLL James
            ‘A leopard never changes its spots?’ Sorry but that’s a 19th century cliche..
            After Darwin and Dawkins its been proved that they do.. Might take a wee while in Len Brown’s genome and it won’t happen overnight …but it will happen.

            Mine did.

  22. tricldrown 22
    16 October 2013 at 11:48 pm

    Don Brash and Nick Smith both claimed to be born again christian family men!
    It seems there is some sort of sordid pattern emerging here.

  23. Chris 23
    16 October 2013 at 11:53 pm

    Not sure why everyone is giving this bit of titillation so much oxygen.

    dnftt

    Mountain/molehill etc

    Now Banks’s funny business on the other hand… that is something worth as much oxygen as possible

  24. the pigman 24
    17 October 2013 at 12:42 am

    From Bevan Chuang’s facebook page 2 hours ago:

    “Thank you to my family and friends who have been so supportive of me over the last few days. I don’t intend to make any more public statements in the near future to anybody, as I deeply regret what has happened recently. I have been foolish, but I feel used, abused and manipulated by people I thought were friends who have been taking snippets of what I have said to advance their own political agendas and muck-raking campaigns. And would Cam Slater and Palino’s team PLEASE stop texting and calling me. This is harassment!”

    Would say that the penny has finally dropped…

    (Status is readily shared around FB, in case anyone is worried about privacy issue..)

  25. Tracey 25
    17 October 2013 at 5:09 am

    Stop vilifying chuang. Attacks on her suggesting she carries greater responsibility for browns predicament than he does are sexist and hark back to the evil eve nonsense.

    in an interview with michelle hewitson slater said he hates hypocrite s.

    his self loathing speaks volumes.

  26. Tracey 26
    17 October 2013 at 5:15 am

    He doesn’t mind being called stupid, or a bully, or vicious. The only things you could call him that would bother him – bothering him sends him into a hissy-fitting cyberspace rage – would be a liar or a hypocrite… hewitson on slater

  27. Sable 27
    17 October 2013 at 9:06 am

    Great cartoon. What surprises me most is that revelation that anyone would want to have an affair with Slater in the first place. Reminds me of an old cane toad.

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  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 hours ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    4 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    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
    5 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
    7 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
    8 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
    11 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
    13 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
    13 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
    13 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
    14 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
    17 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
    20 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
    1 day 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
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  • 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 ...
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  • Judicial appointments announced
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    10 hours 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 ...
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  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
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  • 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 ...
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  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
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  • 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 ...
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  • 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 ...
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  • 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 ...
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  • 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 ...
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  • Government backing mussel spat project
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  • Government focused on getting people into work
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    2 days 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 ...
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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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    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
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    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
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    4 days ago

  • 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
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
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    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
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    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
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  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
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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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    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
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  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
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