Work life balance

Written By: - Date published: 8:22 am, July 20th, 2014 - 172 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, john key, workers' rights - Tags: ,

So David Cunliffe is now being criticized for having a short break with his family during the school holidays.

David is somewhat unusual for a politician. He is happily married to Karen who he has been with for decades and has two sons. His family life is important to him and he recently did what many kiwi families did and had a short break away.  He is the leader of the Labour Party, a party that was formed to protect and enhance workers lives, so trying to get a bit of work life balance should not be thought of as a negative thing.

It is not as if he was the only politician to do this. Amongst many others John Key was in Hawaii and Jonathan Coleman was also away. Their absence meant that they were not able to adequately respond to the incredible disclosure this week that political pressure had been put on the SIS to allow Kim Dotcom to stay in New Zealand but I did not see their absence criticised in the main stream media.

And it is not as if David was not working at all. For instance here is an article about him campaigning with Clutha Southland’s candidate Dr Liz Craig and meeting the Queenstown Lakes District Mayor and Councillors.

To be honest I prefer if David takes the odd break. He has this habit of overworking himself and he is much more effective when he is not overtired.

And I must admit that I am getting tired of the media repeating attack lines rather than reporting the news. The repetition of the line that Labour’s chances would improve if Cunliffe was not leader has been shown to be statistical junk yet they still repeat it. Hell, based on the question asked I would be more inclined to vote National if John Key was not leader although the chances of this occurring would be practically rather than absolutely zero.

And to the unnamed Labour MP in the story the less about you I say the better.

So Fairfax how about you play your part and report on the issues that matter and apply the same rules to both parties. Our country’s future is at stake and we need to have balanced cover and proper consideration of the important issues as well as a system that respects politicians being able to spend time with their kids.

172 comments on “Work life balance ”

  1. idlegus 1

    the stuff poll is ridiculous too, so far more ppl would not vote labour if cunliffe was not the leader, wtf does that even mean? i was just thinking i hope someone is doing a bit of a tally of negative stories towards cunliffe compared to key, i thnk the numbers will quite telling, considering cunliffe gets a negative story every 2 days. even the morning bozos on the sound radio station, a station that used to pride itself on only playing music, have anti-cunliffe rants every morning. it actually made me go & donate some money to the labour party, & i will do now every week until the election. the right still fear cunliffe, otherwise why the negative stories.

    • big bruv 1.1

      The right fear Cunliffe?

      You’re joking. He is the best thing that ever happened to us.

      • felix 1.1.1

        …and that’s why you spend no time at all attacking him. 🙄

        • big bruv 1.1.1.1

          Felix

          I attack him because he is without doubt the most unlikable person to ever grace the political stage in this nations history, and I must admit, that I really enjoy rubbing Cunliffes nose in it.

          Do I fear him?, hell no. The man is a gift to the right and one that I hope keeps on giving for some time to come.

          Had you not been so ideologically blind you would be able to see that if you had kept Shearer then you would be odds on favourites to win come the 20th of September (thanks to the undemocratic MMP system)

          • swordfish 1.1.1.1.1

            Nah, Little Bruv. Despite a good deal of bullshit to the contrary, Labour was, in fact, trending down with Shearer (everyone from you to our local milk monitor, lurgee, to dear old hockey sticks Jane Clifton have got this entirely wrong. It’s what happens when you prefer to shoot off at the mouth rather than go back and actually check the polling record).

            We’re also beginning to see a number of journos in the MSM suggest that Labour has been falling ever since Cunliffe took over. Reality: Throughout the last 4 months of 2013, Labour did better under Cunliffe than it ever did under Shearer, averaging 4 or 5 points higher than Shearer was managing when he resigned. Even this year, Labour under Cunliffe was doing mildly better than under Shearer until very recently.

            And Shearer, of course, would have been annihilated in the leadership debates. But then, of course, you’re already well aware of this, little fella.

          • felix 1.1.1.1.2

            If anything you said was true, you’d be plumping for Cunliffe and talking down Shearer.

            But it’s not.

            So you don’t.

            You dumb fuck.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1.1.3

            Big Bruv prefers Capill or Garret.

          • anker 1.1.1.1.4

            What is unlikable about Cunliffe???

            IMO people like Muldoon was one of the most unlikable people. Rude and aggressive.

            What on earth would make you say Cunliffe is the most unlikable. And please give examples, don’t just use labels like Mathew Hooton did on Q and A this morning. I understand he said Cunliffe had a narcissistic disorder. He should be sued for that. He is not in the position to diagnose that.

          • Dialey 1.1.1.1.5

            I see big bruv that you are just indulging in the random character assassination techniques that Nicky Hagar identified in The Hollow Men, empty words from hollow men with no substance or basis in reality.
            For those who haven’t seen or don’t remember, its worth a relook to see what is really happening all over again. Here’s the link to the subsequent documentary clips

            http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-hollow-men-2008

          • tinfoilhat 1.1.1.1.6

            “…….because he is without doubt the most unlikable person to ever grace the political stage in this nations history,..”

            What a silly immature comment, all that we can conclude is that you have very little knowledge of NZ politicians over the last century or so.

    • deep throat 1.2

      this is getting creepeier and creepier.
      on the op-ed page of the SST this morning is the supposed inside dope on DC and then on page 11 is an ad for some guy who looks like Norman Bates.
      Did he say he would only take a full page if they did a smear on DC?

  2. Ant 2

    It’s risible how regularly this “unnamed MP” damages his own party, it shows such utter contempt and disregard for its members.

    • David H 2.1

      Unnamed? They had Goff King and Shearer ALL named.

      A lot of MPs are really f….. off about it,” he said. “They are all working hard up and down the country, and f…… Cunliffe is on holiday. Guys like [Phil] Goff and [Annette] King and [David] Shearer, these guys really want it badly and they are working like their lives depend on it. And I think they are a little incredulous about what the guy is doing.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10287781/Skiing-holiday-puts-Cunliffe-on-slippery-slope

      Personally if they are all bent out of shape, then they should fucking resign, and let someone in who WANTS to win the seats.

      • The thing is, by naming all those other MPs it rather neatly narrows down who the MP-doing-the-talking is.

          • Tom Jackson 2.1.1.1.1

            I found the idea of it being Mallard slightly odd judging by his recent behaviour. He seems to love campaigning and to be enthusiastic about Labour’s policies.

        • The Lone Haranguer 2.1.1.2

          Your witch hunt presumes that there is a real live breathing MP out there saying this stuff.

          Who can prove that the “journalists” involved werent just interviewing their laptops and making this crap up?

          I would have thought that any MP making comments like that would be at some risk of being “outed” and given MPs self preservation instincts, they wouldnt turn on Cunliffe unless they knew the knife was already in his back.

          I think its all a bullshit fabrication

          • Stephanie Rodgers 2.1.1.2.1

            Journalists may “interview their keyboards”, but when they do it’s more likely to be phrased as “some within the Left are concerned” or “it’s been said that”. In this case there’s a specific, lengthy quote from a source. I’d be very surprised if it were spun out of whole cloth.

            And it’s not a “witch-hunt” to wonder who the source of a public, petty anonymous quote is.

            • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.2.1.1

              Well, a “witch-hunt” is not really the point, just part of the process. It’s a political burning at the stake which is required here, and I think the Labour Party need to find and sanction the MP responsible to the full extent that the constitution allows.

              Mercy may be granted if a sufficiently grovelling apology on camera is delivered, saying sorry to Cunliffe, caucus colleagues and the larger membership.

              • Murray Olsen

                Mercy? Nope. Treachery at that level should not be rewarded with mercy. Cunliffe should demote all the ABCs, just to encourage the others.

    • “unnamed MP”?

      The article consistently refers to a “party insider” or “senior party insider” so it’s not 100% clear that it is referencing an MP.

      Having said that, there is this quote:

      “”We will be having a talk to David at caucus about his work ethic on Tuesday. We’ll be letting him know he’s got two months to turn this around, and we’re backing him and right behind him but he’s got to lift his game.”

      That does suggest an MP but it’s not conclusive.

      I don’t really have any clue who would be saying this sort of thing – just reading the tea leaves – but whoever did say it to a journalist and was happy to be quoted to that extent clearly is not interested in there being a Labour-led government after 20 September. He (and it explicitly says ‘he’ in the article for the insider) as good as told people that Cunliffe is not PM material:

      The insider believed Cunliffe’s decision to go on holiday showed he didn’t have the qualities to become prime minister.

      Anyone truly interested in the fortunes of Labour and, in particular, Labour MPs – as the ‘insider’ claims to be – could not possibly think that this little chat with a journalist was a good idea.

      Completely disingenuous or completely stupid.

      The most obvious explanation is that it was a deliberate act of sabotage. After all, it was in response to something that the public were unlikely to think was a ‘gaffe’, or even unusual or, for that matter, anything at all that might jeopardise Labour’s chances in the election. Instead, the outburst was triggered by a 3 day holiday that had barely caused a ripple – until now.

  3. Saarbo 3

    From a political point of view, Cunliffe’s holiday is not nearly as damaging as this “insiders” little rant, this is a continuation of the lack of discipline of some of our caucus members who should just shut the fuck up. Im not sure if it is helpful us going here and adding any fuel to this. Clearly the most damage to Labour comes from the little “insiders” who leak shit to the media and the media then pay back their “insiders” by continuous negative slanted stories against Cunliffe. I suspect that David Cunliffe has too much integrity to play these stupid little games…the irony.

  4. TightyRighty 5

    Criticising the member who would say what every employee would say if there boss went on holiday right before a crucial pitch? You want the business, you have to get it before you rest.

    Trust MS to come out and try and polish a turd for Cunliffe. You honestly expect that government should just be handed to you with no scrutiny?

    • Tom Jackson 5.1

      And if he’d worked solidly the whole time, there would be articles attacking him for neglecting his family.

      Just wait. I’ll bet the media put pressure on Labour to dump him this week. It’s been in the mail for some time.

    • anker 5.2

      TR @5 the more critical pitch is the debates against Key your moron.

    • Foreign Waka 5.3

      You absolutely wrong. Think about it. 50% of voters are women, most would argue that it is preferable to have a man in charge that knows of priorities in ALL situations. One of the most important ones: being there for the kids. This is what counts, not the smear campaign that is being instigated by those wannabees.

    • Murray Olsen 5.4

      So what exactly have you said about Key going on holiday for two weeks, constipated moran?

      • David H 5.4.1

        I hate to tell you this but it’s Moron..

        Moran is an asteroid and they can’t get constipated.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10372_Moran

      • TightyRighty 5.4.2

        Key is the incumbent, riding high in the polls. Also, National are effective without Key. i.e. they don’t act up when the teacher is out of the room. Labour have all their hopes pinned on cunliffe, who is languishing in the polls, out of touch with real New Zealand and can’t manage his own caucus. the differences are so stark that any meaningful comparison about the impact of holidays and who should and shouldn’t take one is impossible

  5. veutoviper 6

    Thanks MS for this post. I was ropable this morning when the first thing I read was the Stuff article on Cunliffe. I was even more ropable when I then read a certain comment on Open Mike here suggesting that Cunliffe was not out putting up billboards.

    Yesterday, none other than Patrick Gower took a Instagram photo of Cunliffe putting up his first billboard and posted it on his Twitter account.

    http://t.co/zsWoze48z9

  6. Ad 7

    The man actually fell down flat with the flu for most of those three days – anyone could ask him or Karen.

    And OMG if Labour politicians don’t have the courage to come out and front themselves to the criticism, they probably won’t mind if every Labour MP publishes their full days diary, every day if the year, for media scrutiny, just like he does. So we can all see their exact productivity for the taxpayer dollar they are taking.

    I don’t see too many people working as hard as DC. I am heartily sick of the disunity.

    • Colonial Viper 7.1

      The man actually fell down flat with the flu for most of those three days – anyone could ask him or Karen.

      Which is of course as we all know, a sure sign that he needed the break. The weeks leading up to election day are pretty much a 24/7 workload and I am glad that DC got a spell off with his young family. I think some others in caucus who now have adult kids have forgotten completely what its actually like to be raising young children.

    • ianmac 7.2

      Is it possible that the insider is none other than Cameron Slater? If the insider was really an insider he/she should be excommunicated painfully and instantly with no appeal. He/she says about 20 MPs are going to tell David what they think of him at Caucus on Monday. Really?

  7. big bruv 8

    Cunliffe is being attacked by his own caucus Micky. While I do agree with those who say that Labour is totally out of touch with the people of NZ one would have to say that on the issue of Cunliffe’s unpopularity the caucus are very much in agreement with most Kiwis.

    • KJT 8.1

      Did a poll, did you?

      Cunliffe is very popular in my circles, even amongst the businesspeople.

      The feeling is that the neo-liberal has beens, in Labour and National, have done enough damage and are holding Cunliffe back.

  8. SPC 9

    One of the most telling comments ever made by a politician was by John Key back in 2005, when as National Party Finance spokesperson he said that the purpose of their tax cut alternative to WFF, was that it encouraged people to be at work on Saturday mornings rather than watching their children play sport. As if this was an unproductive use of their labour.

    This more than anything else is the guiding ethos to the policies his government rolls out.

    The human being as an economic unit for maximising profit for invested capital.

    • Andrew 9.1

      link please.

      • SPC 9.1.1

        It’s hard finding links back to 2005.

        But while looking I found this.

        In 2003 he suggested that MPs should look at the United States, “which has a minimum of two weeks holiday a year, and the economic prosperity in the US is so much greater than New Zealand’s”.

        http://www.thehollowmen.co.nz/commentary/key.shtml

        • KJT 9.1.1.1

          As opposed to Key, who has about 6 months off.

        • KJT 9.1.1.2

          Shades of Gina Rienhart enjoying totally unearned millions while claiming Australian workers are paid too much and have too many days off.

          Ignoring the fact that the US economy is collapsing under the weight of too much money in too few hands.

          • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.2.1

            And Key also thought we should have followed Ireland’s example in becoming a low tax global financial hub. Key is a well paid shill for the 0.1% and the bankster community.

            • KJT 9.1.1.2.1.1

              Just as well National were out of Government for that 9 years.

              Their policies worked so well for Ireland, of course!

              Just as well the collapse of Ireland, was enough to slow down the delusional bunch of thieves, that are John Keys National.

              Keating’s regulation of our banks, and Cullen’s refusal to borrow for tax cuts, (Policies which National would have reversed) saved us from the worst of the GFC.

  9. anker 10

    I have commented recently a few times on the comparison of negative stories about Cunliffe versus Key. There also a mountain out of molehill thing going on re coverage of Cunliffe. One small rather insignificant thing gets blown up into a mountain. Key’s “mistakes, lies, brain fades completely minimized.

    As I pointed out in another comment, Peters made two clangers (claiming he had info that could bring Collins down and the Chinese buying Huka Lodge). But that was not given too much air time. Certainly nothing like that disgraceful stuff poll “which of Cunliffe’s clanger’s is the best or worst”.

    I have thought the bias against Cunliffe and pro Key would make an excellent MA thesis topic, but hell that would be academic!

    ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO PEOPLE? e.g. has anybody got some time where we could scan the newspapers and tally up what we already know, find an ethical journalist and publish it (I am struggling to think who this would be of course). I can’t think of one single journalist who has been pro Cunliffe. The thing that really galls me is when “left wing” commentators trash DC as well. Gordon Campbell, who I normally respect needs to take a good look at himself for his article in the Wellingtionian of DC apology.

    • @ anker..

      “..ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO PEOPLE?..”

      one outlet where you cd have effect is in the comment-threads of those stories that so annoy..

      ..sometimes @ whoar i have linked to crappy stories..urging readers to speed-read said crappy-story..

      ..but to linger in the comments-thread..

      ..’cos that is where all/any entertainment is to be found..

    • Rosie 10.2

      Hi anker. The anti Cunliffe / pro Key, minimising our govt’s major f up’s/ maximising the opposition’s little nothings or completely manufacturing them is frustrating beyond belief. It’s getting unbearable and I wonder if complaints made are falling on deaf ears. Is our democracy just a big joke, a game for the editors of our newspapers?

      And, yes I was also really disappointed with Gordon Campbell’s column in The Wellingtonian a few weeks back. It’s particularly frustrating that those who are normally on to it like Campbell throw down the road spikes to create havoc for a campaign that is otherwise charging ahead with positivity and momentum.

      So what to do you ask.

      Personally I simply don’t have the time to document all the anti Cunliffe pro key articles and lay formal complaints. I’ve only managed to lay one informal complaint with Fairfax over a particularly appalling article about Cunliffe’s” top 10 gaffe’s”. It read like it was written by some drunk tr**l who was having a laugh on a Friday afternoon.

      What I AM doing however is getting around to mostly everyone I know and asking them what their thoughts on the election are, are they voting, who for etc? I’m doing this to encourage people to get out and vote but also to gauge people’s reaction to the media and see what messages they are taking on board. I can tell you, they are soaking up the BS like sponges and it takes quite a bit of talk to get the clear and true message across.When they get it though, the attitude does a 180.

      What has been alarming is the number of Labour voters who have said to me “Labour are over”, “We’re gonna lose”, “It’s gonna be another three years of Key”. These are a small sample of actual quotes.It’s not just a Labour perspective though. I’m getting that from Green voters and NZ First voters.

      It seems there are a number of Standard commenters who are making formal complaints, big ups to them! The media can’t go unchallenged on their BS.

      I think as well we need to be having real life conversations with people. It’s time consuming and takes a bit of effort, combatting the spin one person at a time, but it’s essential, and as I’ve seen, works.

      Finally, re a study of the media framing. There’s got to be students doing this. It would be a meaty topic to sinks one’s teeth into.

      Sorry for the long rant.

      • anker 10.2.1

        Thanks Rosie, I am working for the L P. And I will try talking to people more. Its just hard when even Labour people and the likes of Gordon Campbell and Chris Trotter buy into it to.

        This morning I noticed Steve Braunias had a secret diary of David Cunliffe and I normally enjoy him, but I couldn’t bear to read it. Its like everybody is joining in kicking him to the ground and they just keep on kicking. It is undeserved and undemocratic. And NZders will be the losers if we lose him.

        The shit he has had to put up. Whale Oil stalking him having pics of him buying shoes, Hooten, claiming he has Narcissistic PD. The gaffes thing. I was furious when I saw that.

        • Foreign Waka 10.2.1.1

          The labor party might be lucky if they wont get into power as it looks increasingly so that the economy is going into a downward spiral as the situation in the east deteriorates and Europe changes its trade laws. The milk solids are down by around 8% and that is a lot (!) and the farmers have not paid down their debt during the sunshine years. Brace yourself for more sales of large farms to foreigners and consolidation in that sector. Once Christchurch has most of its rebuilding done and Auckland stagnates (maybe not housing, but lets exclude his for a moment) NZ will be were it all was 5 years ago. And it will be National who will have to answer for that.

        • Rosie 10.2.1.2

          Talking with people is the most immediate way of counteracting the spin, even if it does seem like a mammoth task in light of the daily berating David Cunliffe receives.

          You’re so right, it is undeserved, so completely undeserved and undemocratic. For the sake of the country it’s critical we vote a left coalition government in, and the media are pulling out all the stops to prevent that from happening. I keep asking myself why.

          As for David himself he deserves a standing ovation for all the shit he has to put up with.. He doesn’t have the luxury that Key has, who not only gets away with murder but can call the media knuckleheads when it suits him.

          Some of us have waited a long time for such a leader (I remember meeting him and shaking his hand in 2005 when I was working in Blockhouse Bay, up in Akld when I lived there. He was campaigning. It struck me that he was at ease talking with a shop girl like me. I also noted his sincerity and ability to listen and wondered if he would make a leader one day) David Cunliffe is the reason I am voting Labour again. (Lol, there’s others, but the choice of him as leader cemented it for me)

          Now we are here, and that leader has been democratically chosen it is frustrating beyond belief to have our chances threatened by a vicious media agenda.

          • blue leopard 10.2.1.2.1

            +1 Rosie

          • Olwyn 10.2.1.2.2

            +1 Rosie. It seems as if there are people in NZ who cannot abide the slightest obstacle to the rape and pillage of this country, whose wishes the media take very seriously. I take heart from South Australia, where I visited a relative in March. There was a state election on, and all of the polls and papers predicted a Tory landslide. The final result was a narrow Labour victory. I too am door-knocking, talking to people and so on.

            • Rosie 10.2.1.2.2.1

              That it is a heartening outcome, despite the odds for South Australia Olwyn. We can do it too 🙂

              If we do, the media machine in NZ, inc APN, Fairfax, Mediaworks etc will fall into a collective gasping and choking fit, crying in a heap on the floor and wailing “oh where did we go wrong!”

          • anker 10.2.1.2.3

            100+ Rosie.

    • Tom Jackson 10.3

      ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO PEOPLE?

      Not a lot. You just have to take it. A healthy dose of stoicism would help immensely in the coming weeks.

      The solution is brutally simple. Those who engage in these attacks do so because there are no consequences. If I were the Labour Party, I would bide my time and when next in government introduce a massive public broadcasting bill. One part of this bill ought to be to bring all state news organisations together in a website that would compete with the Herald and Stuff. Since it’s all moving online anyway, it’s not like there has to be a publicly funded newspaper, but that is what it will be. Even if it only gains a moderate audience, it would go some way to damaging the others’ business, and they won’t like that at all.

    • Dialey 10.4

      I did a very quick little count over a month of the articles that allowed comments or not. The result was twice as many articles on John Key did not allow comments as those on David Cunliffe, it’s as if Stuff were putting a little cocoon around the PM to prevent any negative perceptions being broadcast

    • Rodel 10.5

      anker- To counter the cheap shots of the propagandists we should make some facts known to all New Zealanders.
      David Cunliffe is relentlessly portrayed as a failure by the right wing media propagandists in New Zealand- The venom from propagandists is akin to the “Ditch the Bitch” posters that Helen Clark had to put up with but his list of achievements suggests that he is far more qualified to be Prime Minister than John Key could ever be.

      As a teenager his intellect was recognized by a scholarship to study the International Baccalaureate in Wales. He then went on to gain a BA with first class honours at Otago University.

      He worked as a diplomat for some seven years gaining a diploma in Social Sciences with distinction.

      As a Fulbright Scholar he attended Harvard University (John. F. Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Business School) gaining a Master of Public Administration.

      In his younger days he played rugby and while in Wales he helped build a sea rescue boat in which he with others patrolled the coast.
      He has worked various jobs: in a chip shop after school to help his family, later as a student planting bushes, and then in a shearing gang, and after graduating from Harvard he worked for 4-5 years as a business consultant with Boston Consulting group in Boston and Auckland.

      In 2008 he was conferred as an Honorary Fellow of New Zealand Computer Society for his significant contribution to the ICT sector

      David Cunliffe has been an Associate minister of Finance, Minister of Immigration, Minister of Communication and Information Technology, and Minister of Health.

      I suggest that with Cunliffe’s range of experiences in occupations, qualifications and academic achievements, New Zealand will be far better off with him as Prime Minister than with a Merrill Lynch money trader and as a family person and genuine New Zealander he is a lot more likeable.

  10. SETI 11

    Yeah, I mean it’s not like there’s yet another new poll showing mid 20’s support that would demand every day is maximised to try and win the election, and minimise any long term damage that could eventuate from a such a trouncing. Campaigning is overrated anyway.

  11. TightyRighty 12

    @SPC got a link for that telling comment?

  12. SPC 13

    So tighty righty says that only the bosses/those in power are entitled to holidays.

    And big bruv says that the ABC faction is trying to be popular with Kiwis who do not support Labour by turning on their own leader.

    Do they see their bent to leadership sacrifice in tough times as a way to demonstrate their capability for political opportunism and thus earn the public’s trust/confidence in their talent for government?

    What a totally inept shower.

  13. Ad 14

    Big Bruv I’m not sure if you have staff, but I have plenty of deadlines and projects to meet, yet I still made sure that everyone I could got three or four days off last week.

    I’m not sure why David Cunliffe has to be less of a human being than John Key. See any National Party MPs criticising John Key for not putting up billboards personally?
    Thought not.

    • BM 14.1

      He’s the challenger, Key is the incumbent, he’s proved himself, Cunliffe hasn’t.

      • TeWhareWhero 14.1.1

        Key certainly has proved himself – but not in a good way.

      • anker 14.1.2

        Bm @ 14.1 So people aren’t entitled to take time out from work until “they have proved themselves”……………………..I hope your not an employers

        • BM 14.1.2.1

          Cunliffe is the boss, Labour is his company and it’s floundering on the rocks.

          How would you feel if you worked for a company and you knew it was in the shit and your job was at stake and the boss decided he’d fuck off for a skiing holiday?

          Be honest, you’d be wild

          • Ad 14.1.2.1.1

            If any board begrudged the Chief Executive three days leave for working that hard that long, be honest, the shareholders would see it and sack the board.

            And yes, Labour members are the shareholders.

          • anker 14.1.2.1.2

            BM@ 14.1.2.1 I would feel pleased and re leaved if my boss took a break when he could so he was able to come back rested. The hard yards are ahead. It is a good time to take time off. It seems that at least Cunliffe has been contactable while on leave. Not like Key.

  14. BM 15

    It basically boils down to the fact, David Cunliffe is not leadership material.

    And that’s not an insult to David,you either have it or you don’t and unfortunately for David he doesn’t.

    • anker 15.1

      BM@ 15……………..”David Cunliffe is not leadership material”.

      Really? I guess that’s in your opinion.

      He was head boy at his high school. This position inevitably goes to a young person who has shown leadership potential

      He won a scholarship through merit to the Alantic College in Wales. His peers (who were there on merit i.e. bright kids) voted DC the most likely person in their year to become a world leader.

      I think I would trust these views rather than yours.

      • Naki man 15.1.1

        There is a difference between head boy and PM. 90% of the population don’t want Cunners as leader. Not even his own MP’s like him.

        • anker 15.1.1.1

          Naki Man at 15.1.1 Your colleague BM didn’t say PM, he said Cunliffe’s not leadership material. He gave no evidence to back this up, so its only his opinion. I gave evidence that supports DC leadership potential.

          90% of the population not wanting Cunliffe as a leader means nothing. Norm Kirk who IMO became one of NZ greatest leader’s, at one stage when in opposition only polled 6% as preferred PM. He went on to be truly great as acknowledged by many world leaders both while he was alive and when he died. Even Muldoon acknowledged him as one of the two politicians he respected, the other being Holyoake. So I give no credence to opinion polls re popularity.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 15.2

      Seem to remember his recent write up in the Herald, teachers at his school remember Cunliffe.

      When the same info about Key came out a few years back, NO ONE from his school days remembered Key AT ALL.

      When Key came back to to Nz and started making waves, it was because he was splashing cash around ( this was the cause of a major party row at the time as Slater the party president was caught out by Boag his successor in not passing all the money on.)

  15. anker 16

    I have just read the article about a Labour MP criticizing Cunliffe and as much as I believe the existence of the ABC’s, I am not sure that this rant is really credible.??? I am highly suspicious about it. It sounds made up to me.

  16. Tsubasa 17

    You’re a bit of a massive apologist for Cunliffe’s BS, Micky.

  17. Clean_power 18

    I have to doubt the quality of the advice given to David by McCartten. Is Matt a Mana mole or what?

  18. Ad 19

    The ABCs just further unified the membership against them.

    • David H 19.1

      It’s about time they resigned and let some new blood in. But they won’t, they would rather sabotage the election just so they can stick their snouts into the trough for another 3 years.

  19. anker 20

    TSubasa @17 There is nothing to apologize for about Cunliffe. The apology needs to come from the very biased msm.

  20. TightyRighty 21

    @spc you idiot. Read my comment again. If the boss goes on holiday right before a crucial pitch, the employees would rightly be pissed. That’s not leadership, and Cunliffe should know this.

    • Judge Holden 21.1

      Key’s on holiday. His caucus must be pissed.

      • Mary 21.1.1

        Yeah, but the biggest surprise is that not one National MP has shown disdain publicly about this at all, not even anonymously! Not one! Now there’s loyalty for you, eh?

      • Enough is Enough 21.1.2

        Why would they be pissed with 50% plus support he is pulling?

        • Murray Olsen 21.1.2.1

          Kiwis say “pissed off”. Are you a seppo sent over to help Key give the country away?

          • Enough is Enough 21.1.2.1.1

            Well done! Yes that is exactly what I am here for.

            Please explain more Kiwisms to me. Start with “seppo” you racist fool.

            • Murray Olsen 21.1.2.1.1.1

              Seppos aren’t a race. You’re too bloody thick to try to explain anything to.

          • TightyRighty 21.1.2.1.2

            nice, lead with the anti-immigrant back hander. “kiwis” don’t say pissed off exclusively. they often use the two words independently of each other. isn’t there a NZF conference you should be attending for the free lamingtons and sausage rolls?

            • Murray Olsen 21.1.2.1.2.1

              Anti-immigrant? Nah. More like a foreigner on a fixed term contract for the purposes of helping Key do away with our sovereignty.

              As for you, Constipated Moran, you just pop in with cut and paste garbage from Blubber Boy. What a pitiful existence.

  21. Ad 22

    BM re leadership, the first duty of leadership is to lead yourself and your family.

    That it Key’s standard, and it is Cunliffe’s.

    The only leadership failure here is that of the unnamed MP who chose to break caucus confidentiality and make a deliberate and undermining media story.

    • Weepus beard 22.1

      Can’t see any reference in the Kilgallon article to the insider being an MP. Just says insider, repeatedly. The insider does not even name MPs who are upset. There are no facts in the article at all as far as I can see.

      • ianmac 22.1.1

        But the insider claims that at least 20 MPs are pissed off. How would the insider know that while Parliament is in recess? A ring around perhaps? Or did Cameron just guess?

        • Colonial Viper 22.1.1.1

          these will be the same MPs who have forced Labour into a semi-neoliberal “the market will deliver if we just structure it right” tact and are wondering why it’s not appealing to the voters.

        • kenny 22.1.1.2

          Agreed. The Stuff article says ‘Labour Party insider’ – does not say Labour Party MP!

          More lies and anti-Labour rubbish.

    • Anne 22.2

      Unnamed MP? According to Mike Williams on Q&A there’s nothing to indicate he’s an MP. He could have been a Labour Party activist. Admit I haven’t seen the article yet so am going on Williams’ word.

      I’ve had a gutsful of this undermining of Cunliffe. It’s now got to a very serious stage. Labour must stand up and thunder its disapproval. Cunliffe must stand up and thunder his disapproval. No more turning the other cheek. Matthew Hooton took advantage of it this morning to make the most scurriloius attack thus far on Cunliffe. He described him as having “a narcissistic disorder”. My god, listen to who is talking!

      Even Dr. Raymond Miller stood up for Cunliffe. He pointed out, with some anger in his voice, words to the effect that “the constant attacking of David Cunliffe is getting beyond a joke. No matter what he does or says he’s attacked for it”.

      A couple of days ago, I reported a conversation I overheard in a cafe between two older women. It is precisely this constant attacking of David that is giving these ‘less informed voters’ the wrong perception of the man – a perception planned by Key and his cohorts (Crosby/Textor included) the moment he became the leader of the Labour Party.

      • Chrissy 22.2.1

        un-named mp? well, he did say ‘we’ when referring to caucus meeting on Tuesday, so I guess that’s that.

        What he’s done, of course, is shit on every single Labour person out there working their arse off to get as many into parliament as poss. I dont care if the Leader took a final breather ahead of the intense election campaign. But I do sure as hell care about this bullshit.

        The voters understand a holiday. They dont forgive this kind of self destructive shit so easily.

      • Ad 22.2.2

        David Cunliffe also has a team at his own electorate that have been beavering on quite happily with the campaign while he does the leaders’ job of roaming across the country. So he has had sufficient leadership-growing capacity to enable leaders to emerge underneath him that get the job done.

        Billboards went up, massive campaign headquarters servicing the Auckland western hub, huge phone canvassing effort for months, fundraisers continuing, and after personally putting up a billboard yesterday afternoon, shouted the team drinks at New Lynn’s Black Salt Bat. Like a leader should.

        Sincerely hope the MP that complained has that kind of leadership capacity around him. If they intend to be a challenger in future, they are going to need it. DC has it in spades already.
        And I back him.

        • Anne 22.2.2.1

          All the more reason why Cunliffe and his supporters should blow their own trumpet Ad. Also, all the more reason the Labour Council and Caucus should stand up publicly and say enough is enough. If they do it in the right way there are votes to be won over… many NZers won’t like the kind of underhand game the Nats and their media acolytes are playing. But first they need to come out into the open about it because most voters have yet to recognise what is happening. I know of intelligent people who are believing the rubbish.

          It might be obvious to the likes of us, but the majority of people don’t take the same interest in politics and therefore they’re ripe for manipulation.

          • Colonial Viper 22.2.2.1.1

            Yeah I know smart people around the place, LAB supporters, saying…surely Grant Robertson would’ve been a better choice. The anti-Cunliffe stuff is slow, but it is gradually corrosive. And you are right, not one more iota of it should be tolerated.

          • anker 22.2.2.1.2

            Anne 1000+

        • Colonial Viper 22.2.2.2

          +100

      • lprent 22.2.3

        Unnamed MP? According to Mike Williams on Q&A there’s nothing to indicate he’s an MP. He could have been a Labour Party activist. Admit I haven’t seen the article yet so am going on Williams’ word.

        Wrong. The quote was

        “We will be having a talk to David at caucus about his work ethic on Tuesday. We’ll be letting him know he’s got two months to turn this around, and we’re backing him and right behind him but he’s got to lift his game.”

        The ‘we’ has to be someone at the caucus meeting. The only people apart from MPs at the caucus are the party secretary Tim Barnett, and probably the president Moira Coatsworth. I can’t see either of them making this type of unnamed attack.

        • swordfish 22.2.3.1

          “…a senior party insider…”

          So we’re not just talking some obscure backbench ABC newbie, here.

          • Stephanie Rodgers 22.2.3.1.1

            Mallard has said it’s not him on Twitter (CV gave a link above). And it’s more than likely not Goff, King, Shearer or Cosgrove unless the insider likes speaking about themselves in the third person …

          • David H 22.2.3.1.2

            Take yer pick Goff, king, Chippy or Mallard. My money’s on Chippy.

        • Weepus beard 22.2.3.2

          It sounds like the royal we to me and something that Kilgallon has inflated. Why would Kilgallon not just say MP if it was an MP? It would make the story sound even better.

          Say you are right though, who can you see making this type of unnamed attack?

        • Foreign Waka 22.2.3.3

          “Letting him know that he has 2 months to turn this around”? I think the labor party has some members that need to be reminded that it is them who need to turn around and frogmarch out the door… yes, keep walking and don’t stop. How dare to have such conversation towards the boss and to top it all off, 10 week before election. This looks to me like sabotage.

          • deep throat 22.2.3.3.1

            my money would be on the SST taking norman bates’ money for a full page ad only if they told lies about David Cunliffe.

        • Hami Shearlie 22.2.3.4

          But isn’t David Cunliffe in Nelson on Tuesday? If it was an MP wouldn’t they know when he would or wouldn’t be there if they wanted to haul him over the coals? Something doesn’t smell right about this. Are Fairfax taking a leaf out of Granny Herald’s book and deciding to just “make things up”??

          • lprent 22.2.3.4.1

            Alternatively they just screwed it up.

            The NZ Herald probably didn’t make facts up. They didn’t check what they had. What they had was Nationally fabricated crap.

            • Anne 22.2.3.4.1.1

              When you say Nationally fabricated crap I presume you mean crap fabricated by National. Such as… putting the story out there for some fool reporter to pick up on and run with it? In the event of such a scenario I would agree with Ianmac who suggested Cameron Slater.

              According to our lovable rogue (sarc) Patrick Gower, senior Labour MPs flew to Auckland today for a crisis meeting. A spokeman claimed it was a pre-scheduled campaign strategy meeting. I’m inclined to believe the latter but can’t rule out the former.

              • lprent

                Who knows? Who cares?
                You simply don’t screw around with leadership 63 days from election day. If there are such Morans, then we will deal with them as a party.

                But surely you’d have to be a dickhead in the order Cameron Slater to think that it would be feasible.

          • Weepus beard 22.2.3.4.2

            Here is Steve Kilgallon’s work email address off the Stuff/SST site. Anyone else want to ask him about it?

            steve.kilgallon@fairfaxmedia.co.nz

          • Kiwiri 22.2.3.4.3

            I have just read that Cunliffe will be on the Nelson Mail/Stuff online Q&A ‘live’ @ 4.30pm today, with the chat box open from 3.30pm:

            http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10290443/David-Cunliffe-live-chat

            And also publicised on his Facebook page:

            https://www.facebook.com/david.cunliffe.labour

    • David H 22.3

      And I would not want to be that ‘insider’ when the Labour Caucus meets, because they will be pissed at the bad press from a self serving little toerag.

  22. Mike 23

    He will have plenty of time to spend with his family from September 21
    9 weeks away from something he has wanted all his life, falling further behind in the polls, with the party and caucus and party fragmenting – he takes a week off?!

    ‘Ready to Win’ indeed

    • swordfish 23.1

      “…Falling further behind in the polls…”

      Well, no. Labour is 2-3 points higher in the latest poll (Herald-Digi) than in the other 2 polls of July. Also higher than their rating in one of the June polls and equal with their rating in another.

  23. deep throat 24

    I see somebody has turned up the heat under the dancing fleas this morning.
    hop hop hop little fleas.
    you just foaming at the mouth because as much as you profess adherence to the principles of democracy you would rather have a right wing fascist dictatorship with Key as the clown prince.

    • Ad 24.1

      I think we can deliver that message to those in the Labour caucus who choose to deliberately undermine Labour during this campaign.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 24.1.1

        You seem to think that political journalists never MAKE IT UP!

        Theres is a history of a good storys thats are mostly untrue.

        Im sure in this one that the party insider is in the national party –

        Thats the reason for the journalists ‘never revealing their sources’ because they make shit up!

      • phillip ure 24.1.2

        those who have ‘undermined labour’ are those who dragged the party back to the right..

        ….and those who allowed labour to be dragged backed to the right..

        ..that is when the polls started tanking..remember..?

        ..and that recent reconfirmation of the raising the pension age..

        ..has probably hastened that process..

        …there being no difference between labour/national on their environmental-policies..(as noted by fitzsimon on a pol-talk-show last wknd..)..still drilling/mining etc..

        ..nothing really to end poverty…

        ..what the fuck are people meant to get excited about..?..

  24. swordfish 25

    Well, I’m confused.

    Could Dominion Post journalists please work out what their position is on their dodgy would you be more likely to vote Labour if Cunliffe stood down poll ?

    On the one hand, both Vernon Small and (in the article Mickey links to) Steve Kilgallon believe Labour’s poll numbers “would climb quickly if its leader quit”

    On t’other, the Dom Post’s Senior Political journalist, Tracey Watkins, argued just yesterday that “voters would punish such as visible display of panic and disarray just two months out from an election.”

    So which is it, Dom Post ? – climb quickly OR sink as a result of voter punishment ?

  25. Ad 26

    Possibly the most infuriating thing about a Labour MP breaking ranks this deep into the campaign is that that it spins off its own braoque fractal of meaningless sequel stories.

    I would never expect most MPs to pause for a second and go “hmmm what does this sound like outside of my head”, but putting the story out deliberately on the day Labour activists are working the second-hardest point in the campaign besides voting day, the wasted media space this is getting is deliberate and stupid.

    The blowback in caucus Tuesday should be on them, not Cunliffe.

    If any MP has a problem with David Cunliffe, Pick Up The Fucking Phone and Call Him.

  26. swordfish 27

    I wonder if I detect a slight contradiction in the words of this “senior party insider” ?

    “We’ll be letting him know he’s got two months to turn this around, and we’re backing him and right behind him…”

    And then immediately below: “The insider believed up to 20 of the 33 Labour MPs were deeply unhappy with Cunliffe’s leadership…”

    Followed by: “The insider believed Cunliffe’s decision to go on holiday showed he didn’t have the qualities to become prime minister.”

    “backing him and right behind him, eh ? Yeah, right behind him ready to stab.

    • Colonial Viper 27.1

      It’s a major problem and the membership will be primed and ready to move to cut any disloyal MPs off at the knees, within their own electorates.

    • left for dead 27.2

      I take it Clare Curren didn’t get a visit from D C when he an is family tock a small break earlier this week?

  27. Belladonna 28

    Would it be worth Labour putting a note in with the leaflet drops called facts and lies or something similar. Stating the lies and the FACTS, all in bold print. Also somehow get it out to the public about what a lot of lying creeps the media is made up of these days. I hope Moira and Tim are working on doing something to deal with this. Haven’t seen much so far to indicate they are. It infuriates me that the media are undermining democracy in this country.

  28. ianmac 29

    Update: from Kilgallon at that. A bit late mate!
    Labour Leader David Cunliffe has hit back at criticism of his leadership saying he works as hard as anyone in politics.

    Cunliffe was in Queenstown last week for a skiing holiday with his family, a decision questioned by Labour MPs according to a party source.

    “David Cunliffe works 16-18 non-stop days, pretty much 7 days a week, with a few hours for family on one weekend day. I have been his media director since January; in that time he has had perhaps about 6 days leave from a highly demanding schedule that would have flattened most ordinary people,” media director Simon Cunliffe said.

    The three-day break was a well needed rest as the gruelling election campaign begins in earnest, his camp said.

    “For the record, David Cunliffe spent three days, Monday to Wednesday, with his family skiing. He was back at work on Thursday doing regional visits and meetings with Labour Candidate Liz Craig in Queenstown, and then travelled to Timaru for a day of media… on Friday. So he was working,” Simon Cunliffe said. …

    So a beat up!
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10287781/Skiing-holiday-puts-Cunliffe-on-slippery-slope

    • Weepus beard 29.1

      That is a pathetic backtrack from the SST. Looks like Simon Day has had to come in and clean the mess up as his byline was not on the original article this morning.

      If Kilgallon can’t get simple facts like what Cunliffe’s movements were last week when the whole article was about what Cunliffe’s movements were last week then serious doubt must be cast over the rest of the allegations.

      • Tautoko Viper 29.1.1

        Thanks, Stuff, but the damage has already been done!

        “A previous version of this article mistakenly reported Labour’s most recent polling at 23.5 per cent. It also incorrectly said Cunliffe had taken the week off when he was away for three days.”

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10287781/Cunliffe-I-work-as-hard-as-anyone

        • Weepus beard 29.1.1.1

          Yep, they were forced to change the headline also. This morning it read Downhill: Skiing holiday puts Cunliffe on slippery slope.

          It appears they were taken to task by David Cunliffe’s media director so for them to change the article shows how errant it was in the first place.

          I don’t believe the insider exists.

  29. rhinocrates 30

    Why doesn’t the caucus just rename itself the People’s Front of Judea and be done with it?

  30. Foreign Waka 31

    Firstly, every normal (emphasis) person appreciates that a party leader is not afraid to walk the talk and takes time for his family. God on you, David.
    Secondly, I think labor has itself resigned to loosing already and have started an inside battle and lines are being drawn on who is in whose camp. Like a Kindergarten really and it will not win any votes. Perhaps it is time to establish a new labor party with people that are forward looking without loosing sight of the history of this country. Otherwise, this country will have to accept hat it will be a state of the USA in the next 10 years.

  31. Dialey 32

    Talking about holidays, I note that Don Brash also took a holiday in Hawaii just before the 2008 election campaign, anybody asking who he and Key meet there and why? Journos are you awake?

  32. deep throat 33

    They are awake but they have had their cojones cut and they have turned into a gutless bunch of geeks concerned only with their paychecks.
    they do what they are told like good little apparatchiks.
    this country looks like a democracy on the surface but underneath the BS its just another fascist dictatorship hiding the truth behind the big lie.

  33. infused 34

    Holidays are important. Two months from an election not so much.

    Have one after you win/lose

    • Foreign Waka 34.1

      Disagree, as there are school holidays and everyone is trying to have the job split looking after the kids and if you an give them something of a normal family life. 3 days is not very much for Mr Cunliff’s kids who deserve their father in their lives too. Basically, if you are standing for values about family time and both parents in the kids life – deal with it and get real.

  34. infused 35

    Don’t agree with one of the biggest elections for Labour. Not for the state they are in.

  35. Charlieboy 36

    Labour really cannot win with the MSM. When Helen was leader she was criticised for being childless, now DC gets it in the neck for spending a few days with his young kids. Key took time out to watch his son play softball in the US, no flack from the MSM.
    Look folks, this is b——t.
    An “insider”…..really! When did Key stop hitting his wife! Ya get it?
    But I get it, there’s an election coming and the Natz want the biggest mandate they can get so that in the next three years they can do….well what? They sure as he’ll ain’t telling. The MSM isn’t asking, they are consumed with tearing Labour to shreds. They will be rewarded with mucho troughing in the next three years.
    I’m voting Left. I will not be party to the destruction of the country I love.

  36. gobsmacked 37

    Labour MP says Cunliffe is a tosser.

    So, MSM reports that Labour MP says Cunliffe is a tosser.

    So, Labour supporters blame MSM, for the deliberate, destructive actions of a Labour MP.

    The problem will be solved when Labour people want to face up to it, not try and blame somebody else for it.

    Stop protecting the traitors, and start demanding better.

  37. Charlieboy 38

    Hey gobby, I am demanding better, I’m voting left to stop the Natz carrying out the further destruction of this country.
    By the way when did Key stop beating his wife. Dont ya get it? If the MSM print rumour from “insiders”,they are big enough and ugly enough to take the hit or come up with some “fair and balanced” reporting.
    Oh that’s right, even that’s become a joke now.
    Well I won’t be party to it, I will vote left. Three more years of lies and slick propaganda will destroy this country.

  38. SPC 39

    A real workers party would not have MP’s in it that resent their leader having time with family at weekends or a holiday.

    It’s what the party was for.

    It’s also a sort of glass ceiling where only a woman without children can aspire to leadership. And men are expected to be absent fathers and hand over the parent role to their wife.

    So one hopes that Little was not involved. So who in the party resents others time off to be with family? One hopes Robertson is not involved.

    Given Mallard says it was not him (and assuming he is not lying), and given Goff, King and Shearer and Cosgrove are named in the article – who is left of the senior insiders?

  39. Hami Shearlie 40

    Fairfax said it was a senior party person, they didn’t say WHICH party though did they?? It smells fake!

  40. Jack 41

    Very unbalanced and dangerous country we are living in these days.

    Media is totally unbalanced and involved in chequebook journalism, however the NZ sheep are following MSM s instructions and will do as they are told.

  41. kenny 42

    So let me get this straight – a journalist can get some information from a ‘senior party insider’ and publish whatever this insider says. Does this journalist check this information out or does he get the go-ahead from his editor and publishes regardless, even though this story has the potential to do untold damage to someone? Supposing this story is malicious and untrue – who is accountable? Can this journalist be made to divulge the identity of the ‘insider’? It seems not.

    So damage has been done to someones reputation but nobody is held to account?

    Something wrong there!

  42. Clean_power 43

    Without knowing the source one can only speculate, but the names of Mallard and Hipkins are among the suspects. An inside job, maybe?

  43. Anne 44

    The reference in the article to the caucus source being a ‘he’ might be a form of subterfuge to further disguise the person’s identity. It’s possible ‘he’ might actually be a ‘she’.

  44. rightofleftcentre 45

    Reading this article and particularly the comments one is not left with the feeling that Labour us a united forward looking and progressive force ready to assume the role of governing the country. And this is your own home ground ffs!
    And you wonder why the country at large is rejecting you so solidly?
    But what would they know…. you, of course, know better.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 45.1

      You think these critics vote Labour? Or is your false concern delivered in bad faith?

      National is the Party of false beliefs, the party of people who think they know better than the evidence, whether it’s evidence of child poverty, cost/benefit analyses of roads of political significance, the Greenhouse Effect, fresh water quality, education, you name it, National has a policy that flies in the face of the facts.

      Way to trip over your own benchmark.

  45. What've a next 46

    Great post, saying exactly what so many feel and think.
    +100

  46. Vaughan Little 47

    There is a lot to be upset about.

    BUT

    On the positive side:

    Isn’t it great to support a party, to be part of a movement, that really cares about the country’s future.

    Isn’t it fantastic that we can work for the dignity of the poor and marginalized whether our party is in power or out of it.

    Come election day I will gratefully, and with a tonne of peace of mind, give all my ticks to Labour.

  47. Murray Olsen 48

    I actually think that the more said about the unnamed MP, the better. Scabs should be outed. They should be expelled from the party. They should be sent to Coventry.

  48. Charlieboy 49

    There is something very important in what Vaughn Little writes here. As an ordinary punter there is not a lot we can do to change the way that the media, the PR spinners, the negative letter writers or the destructive policy coming out from the Natz.
    My only power is in my Vote! When I state my support for Labour and what they stand for I know I am doing the right thing. Win or lose, I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing for my family, my community, my country.
    Yes, it does give me fantastic peace of mind, I recommend it.

  49. Crunchtime 50

    According to the latest idiot Herald article, the “problem” is Cunliffe is “not sexy”. Neither is John Key, so what the hell does that have to do with anything.

    Cunliffe could project even more confidence and charisma than he already does. But he already does a lot though…

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  • 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 ...
    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 StepbyStep 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 thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats 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. Heres 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. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen 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 ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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, ...
    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, ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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
    7 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
    9 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
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