A glitch in the Matrix

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, May 6th, 2015 - 30 comments
Categories: john key, Media - Tags: , , ,

I’m sure there are rational explanations for the hilarious similarities between John Key (or at least, his office) stating that there is “no factual basis” to his allegations that the Snowden documents are fabricated, and a Republican senator called John Kyl excusing his allegations against Planned Parenthood by saying it “was not intended to be a factual statement” – explanations which don’t involve all human life being a computer simulation occupying our brains while robots leech our neural activity for a power source.

But that’s not nearly as much fun.

As the late, lamented Terry Pratchett wrote in The Truth,

‘A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on.’

Some politicians have always dealt to people or organisations they don’t like by smearing them. It’s even easier in our ridiculously fast-paced media and online environment, where the damage is done almost immediately, and any retraction or fact-checking is left trying to catch up.

But the tide seems to be changing on Key. Whether it’s journalists (and bloggers) buying into the narrative of third-term arrogance and unconsciously reinforcing it, or whether the disastrous start to the year – Sabin’s resignation, the Northland by-election, Amanda Bailey, the unnamed Cabinet Minister with a brother facing sexual abuse charges – really is just that disastrous, Key’s shine isn’t as shiny as it once was.

Just look at how painstakingly the media are transcribing him now:

“Well, I hope not. I mean we live in a global world where you know all sorts of stories do actually go round the world in varying form. I mean I didn’t pick up any single newspaper in any country I was in and saw it. So, the fact that something goes round the internet is quite standard these days.”

Paraphrasing cannot save you now, John.

And journalists like Tova O’Brien are getting a lot less forgiving when Key brushes them off with non-answers, as in this report on the Cabinet Minister’s brother. It’s probably only a matter of time before someone goes full Ed-Miliband-on-striking-teachers on him. (Hope I didn’t blow your election chances, Ed.)

It’s hard for anyone to look credible when all their weasel words and nervous smirks are just being put out there, unfiltered. Even the clearest speaker can look like a numpty in such circumstances, and John Key – whether by nature or design – has never been the clearest speaker.

But is this the beginning of the end? Is the “honeymoon” finally over? God only knows, but I’m of a similar mind to @LewSOS. The end never comes swiftly. The polls never shift 10 points overnight on the basis of one story (or four). But he isn’t getting those free passes any more.

lew on key

(Original tweets start here.)

30 comments on “A glitch in the Matrix ”

  1. Lanthanide 1

    ” The polls never shift 10 points overnight on the basis of one story (or four).”

    They did for Don Brash with the Orewa speech.

  2. RedLogix 2

    Lew was a regular here for a long time, and was always an insightful and cogent commenter. I’m inclined to give this line of thought some credibility.

    Stacked against this is Key’s extraordinary resilience in the polls. Key’s political management has been unique in NZ politics:

    1. He came with an intensive background in corporate politics; the ultimate training ground. Most New Zealanders have never encountered the likes of him.

    2. He ‘de-politicised politics’; eliminated the rhetoric, the ideals or any concrete plans and substituted a synthetic “I’m an ordinary Kiwi” facade that entertains and distracts, layered over the ‘amused contempt’ tone of the alpha male in the room.

    3. The on-going success of the two-track spin machine; the intensive brand-management, avoidance of any negativity that might stick to himself, while ruthlessly exploiting willing back-channels to do the necessary wet-work.

    This has been a powerful combination of skills, something the left has consistently underestimated to it’s cost. That some elements of the media are no longer quite so enamoured of it is of course a welcome thing. Their consistent failure to scrutinise and challenge this government on so many fronts has handed them three, if not four terms.

    But it is my gut feeling that there remains a broad swath of voters who remain emotionally committed to Key, for all the above reasons, and even if Lew is correct – the process of disillusionment may well be a lot slower than anyone here would like – unless we can find a way to give the wider NZ public a more lucid view of the who their Prime Minister really is.

    • Hanswurst 2.1

      1) and 2) are down to Key, although I don’t see any reason to assume that the blokishness is a “synthetic facade”. I imagine Key is just a fairly average joker by nature in his mannerisms, and that happened to be political gold during this period of NZ politics. 3) is not really down to Key, in fact I imagine he’s kept at arms’ length from it as much as possible. Any left opposition would have that machine to contend with, regardless of who is the leader.

      I imagine that that has probably been a large part of Key’s success over the years; he doesn’t need to get into complicated policy explanations or elaborate spin. He just needs to front up as himself with a couple of very simple soundbites accompanied by his own matey, rambling bullshit, and that looks likeable enough to keep him afloat. I imagine that he has considerable skills as a decision-maker and a people manager, but the key to his popular success is a simple formula that comes naturally to him.

    • greywarshark 2.2

      We might try reminding them that he is part of the National Party not a fun uncle visiting and handing out goodies and having adventures to tell the littlies.

  3. Skinny 3

    It’s over when Judith says it’s over. She has Key cornered, he has pretty much put himself in checkmate after Northland and ponygate. I think Key will be relieved to get out while the going is good. National know they are gone in 2017 and Key don’t want the job of turning hard right, gone by Christmas leaving Collins plenty of time to put things in place that will be hard for Labour to unbundle. The Tories in the UK have done exactly this as they get booted out of office today.

    • Sans Cle 3.1

      Bit of a tenuous connection, out of left-field , but every time (after Ponytailgate) I now hear Collin’s name mentioned, this article resonates!
      (not inflating Key to any status as ANY sort of philosopher, least of all Aristotle….but the pony link is glaringly there).

  4. North 4

    Red Logix – appreciate your careful analysis @ 2. However, unless New Zealand is unlike any other political community there is the matter of ‘the critical point’. There’s a maudlin’ old country song, from memory entitled “Angels Don’t Fly”…….”they just walk away……one step……at a time”.

    Even Churchill suffered electoral defeat in 1945. He was not gauche, nor a fake rugby boy, nor 11 years old. Have to say “eventually” but the embarrassment factor will become just too excruciating.

  5. Ray 5

    When is the Left and the so called “Loyal Opposition” going to realise while Governments lose elections there has to be a creditable government waiting to take power
    John Keys hair pulling is (to put the very best spin on it) unbecoming of a PM and most people would think worse than that
    But if “Dirty Politics” didn’t move the electorate this isn’t either, might be the start of the rot but who knows

    Rather it is time for the Opposition to show us how they are going to fix overpriced housing (hint, more tax and regulations are unlikely to work) and make life better for all most all of us or at least 50%

    • “..When is the Left and the so called “Loyal Opposition” going to realise while Governments lose elections there has to be a creditable government waiting to take power..”

      + 1.. no..hang on..!..make that +a few hundred..

      ..i dunno what the fuck labour are actually doing – but being an ‘efficient opposition party’ currently isn’t one of them…

      ..key screws up..people look over at little/labour – and go ‘yeah..nah..eh..!’..

    • lprent 5.2

      I’ll give you a hint, houses out in the back of beyond (Huapai is 27km from the CBD) with little or no transport won’t either. SH16 out there was full most days of the week back in the early 1990s when I last spent a lot of time driving there. The road up there is still 2 lane and doesn’t handle the existing traffic.

      The problem is that is the only idea that National seems to want to understand is to build Auckland without doing even the basic planning that is required. Instead they just waste time and money doing fuckall. They spend the existing transport taxes required to do most of the things required largely outside of Auckland.

      FFS The only new project that they have on the books at present for Auckland is a road that has nothing to do with Auckland. The holiday highway will be good for the North and a few holiday makers. But it does absolutely for Auckland.

      We already have more than enough roads out NE for people who want to pay for MacMansions and long drives. There are no funds for widening SH16, for putting bus lane up the Northwest, or anything for the greenfield estates Huapai way. And there are vast swathes of land out past Massey on the existing SH16 motorway. But guess what. People aren’t building there because people don’t want to drive that far.

      Meanwhile we don’t have the transport in the existing city to get around, especially the inner 10km suburbs next to public transport where people want to live (easy enough to see – just look at where the house and apartment prices are rocketing), and National spends nothing on the transport.

      Instead the National fuckwits try to stop the Auckland Council from doing its job – putting up medium density housing in town. Basically we should kick the central government out of Auckland province, raise our own roading taxes, and put in what we need rather than what some dickheads from Nelson (Nick Smith), or Christchurch (Brownlee) or Tauranga (Bridges) think we should do. That is what Labour should suggest…

      In fact that was what they’d gotten to back in 2008. It was what the regional fuel tax was for.

      • greywarshark 5.2.1

        I have heard the story of bad suburban planning before. Here’s a piece from Te Ara on 1950-1970s problems that foretell what will arise from National’s juvenile policies today.

        By the 1970s, however, many new suburbs had come to be seen as boring and depressing places to live. Part of the problem was the lack of community facilities. After the Second World War the urgency of the housing shortage meant that nearly all development funding went into building houses, and little attention was paid to supplying the new housing estates with community facilities or public transport.
        http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/suburbs/page-5

  6. Ray 6

    Not often we agree Phillip!
    But I will say that will Labours new leader and a few more Nat stuff ups we will have a change of Government come next election
    Mind you I thought/hoped the same last time but that was before the Dotcom stuffup and the scandal surrounding Cunliffe scared the voters Right

    • but if we get ‘a change of government’ that is no better than that fucked-up clark/neo-lib model..that came before..

      (and going on their election ’14 policies – they wd have been just that..)

      ..and given little vowed to get rid of the ‘radical/lefty’-policies of that ’14 camapaign..(!)

      ..ya hafta wonder – (but not for too long..)

      ..tweedledee meet tweedledum..

      ..new boss – same as the old boss..

      • Bearded Git 6.1.1

        You really are a grumpy old man Phillip. Positive suggestions are what Labour needs.

        Twyford destroyed Dr. Smith’s housing policy on MR this morning. Providing Labour sticks with it’s policy of major house building of affordable houses this is fertile ground for votes.

        Key sounded like a jerk on MR on Monday-he is starting to lose it big time.

        Yet another drop in dairy prices this morning-the Nats policy of relying on one commodity coming home to roost. Several journos have started talking about the end of the “rock-star” economy.

        Little is careful and competent and in Northland showed some tactical nous.

        Governments lose elections. The 4 factors above give grounds for optimism, and the Greens will push Labour further to the left in or out of coalition.

        • phillip ure 6.1.1.1

          re-thinking/new policies that clearly address what they have neglected since the neo-lib revolution ..

          ..’are what labour needs’…

          what fucken use to anyone will another drilling/mining/fuck-the-poor labour govt. be..?

          ..a clark redux – no thanks..!

          ..and once again – going on their ’14 election policies..

          ..that is all they are promising..(minus the ‘radical’-bits – like a capital gains tax..f.f.s..!..)

        • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1.2

          Positive suggestions are what Labour needs.

          You mean like this one?

          • higherstandard 6.1.1.2.1

            Yikes I’m in agreement with both Phil and DTB …it must be the end times.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1.3

          Here’s a few more suggestions about what Labour and the Left in general could be discussing:

          Even these issues are trivial by comparison to the unacknowledged cloud that hangs over our politics: the impossibility of infinite growth on a finite planet. All major parties and media outlets are committed to never-ending economic growth, and use GDP as the primary measure of human progress. Even to question this is to place yourself outside the frame of rational political debate.

          Monbiot has more, lots more, that needs to be addressed here as well as in the UK.

  7. Tracey 7

    “I mean I didn’t pick up any single newspaper in any country I was in and saw it”

    This is classic Key. If you read it again it could read, with the help of a single piece of punctuation

    I mean I didn’t pick up any single newspaper in any country I was in, and saw it

    So, it’s not that it wasn’t reported it was that he chose not to read a single newspaper in any country he was in.

  8. SMILIN 8

    ”A single newspaper” would have done but it shows the character of a creative merchant bankers zeal to achieve a profit under pressure bound to complicate it for someone, the poor probably, or in this case the readers.

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    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    5 days ago
  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #48 2023
    Open access notables From this week's government/NGO section, longitudinal data is gold and Leisorowitz, Maibachi et al. continue to mine ore from the US public with Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Fall 2023: Drawing on a representative sample of the U.S. adult population, the authors describe how registered ...
    6 days ago
  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    6 days ago
  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    6 days ago
  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te PĹŤkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    7 days ago
  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    7 days ago
  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    1 week ago
  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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