A letter of thanks from Nicky Hager

Written By: - Date published: 2:31 pm, December 21st, 2015 - 71 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, activism, police, Politics, scoundrels - Tags: , , ,

Worth sharing. This arrived in my mailbox yesterday, and I was just musing this morning about how effective this example of cooperative action on the left had been. As Nicky Hager effectively points out, by donating this money for the legal costs of challenging this unlawful political search and intimidation, we get to help keep the arteries of democracy open. I’m certainly happy with the results thus far from my donation.

Incidentally I think that Assistant Commissioner Burgess is simply lying when he denies that this was political intimidation.  Ordered by politicians or done of his own volition, he has form at abusing the power of the police by involved in the political intimidation of critics of the government. The documented scale of the unlawful searches done into Nicky Hager’s private and work life without judicial oversight and with the complicity of a number of companies and government organisations was simply obscene and makes a mockery of Burgess’s claims that this was just another case.

And just for the record and the inevitable idiot trolls, over the decades I find that I agree with Nicky Hager on about two thirds of the conclusions of his books. However his facts are clear, and his arguments are based on those facts. It makes his books worth reading.

Anyway, this is what Nicky Hager has to say. He is characteristically somewhat more considered than I am. 😈


 

Dear friends,

On 2 October last year the police raided our home and I had the hugely encouraging experience of watching hundreds of you coming to my aid on Givealittle: giving money and, just as important, sending kind messages and giving moral support. The financial support made it easy for us to decide to launch legal action, asking the court to declare the police search unlawful and have my computers and files returned without the police getting access to them.

I hope you saw the news last week, where my lawyers Julian Miles, Felix Geiringer and Steven Price resoundingly won the first stage of the legal action. The High Court judge, Denis Clifford, declared that the police search had been “fundamentally unlawful”. It is a very important decision for New Zealand.

The court costs and other expenses for this stage (not including lawyers fees) were about $30,000. The police may yet appeal the decision (if they do I think their appeal will fail) but even without that we have two more court hearings coming on different parts of the case. Your combined Givealittle support has taken all the financial stress out of taking legal action, thank you, because we knew we had money to get us through.

There’s more of the case coming, including at some stage getting my gear back, but the most important decision is that one that happened last week. It firmly establishes a precedent that if investigative journalism produces work with a high public interest, then it deserves legal protection to ensure that the public can continue to receive important information about the actions of the powerful.

It takes many hands to win a case like this. Meg de Ronde and Rochelle Rees organised the Givealittle campaign. Adam Bolleau, Bryce Edwards, David Fisher, Gavin Ellis, Seymour Hersh and Wayne Stringer provided expert evidence. Many others gave advice and practical assistance. And you all helped the ship to float by your encouragement and by ensuring we could pay the bills. I am very grateful for you joining us in this fight.

Nicky Hager, 20 December 2015

71 comments on “A letter of thanks from Nicky Hager ”

  1. Ben 1

    No sympathy, Hager received stolen property and used it for his own financial gain. As the saying goes “You make the bed you lie in”.

    He gets the award for Hypocrite of the Year.

    • Lanthanide 1.1

      Yip, let’s just focus on the messenger, and not the message, eh?

      You should be equally (or more) upset at Whale Oil for working as a paid shill for various companies without publicly stating it.

      • Tracey 1.1.1

        Perhaps when hager embarrassed clark creating corngate, Ben was a fan? Of course that woud make him a hy…..e.

    • Kevin 1.2

      So by your fucked up reasoning Ben, Woodward and Bernstein should have been prosecuted?

      Seeing as how they worked for a newspaper that made money from selling newspapers…

    • fender 1.3

      Ben sleeping all ya life have you. The book was written to expose the dirty creeps and their MO

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 1.4

      Hypocrite of the Year should surely go to John Key for bringing back Royal Honours while advocating for a flag with the Union Jack removed. Nicky Hager has integrity which is a quality which is poorly understood by many of the political right who just cannot understand people who do something for the good of others rather than the financial return.

      • greywarshark 1.4.1

        Altruism does not exist in neo liberal theory. All things done bring personal gain of some sort in their view, and therefore generous or sacrificial actions arise from the self-centred pursuit of goals or satisfaction .

      • Tautuhi 1.4.2

        The neoliberal philosophy worship the $, a social conscience does not enter the equation, it is all about how much money you have and the status attached to your net worth.

      • Tautuhi 1.4.3

        JK probably does not even understand the symbolism of the NZ Flag and its meaning, most Maori People I speak to are against changing the flag as the Union Jack represents the partnership between the Maori Chiefs and British Crown which was systematically undone by the Settlor Governments who failed to honor the TOW, tell JK to talk to Turnbull and get them to change their flag as they copied ours?

    • NZSage 1.5

      Yep Ben, in your world it’s all about the money eh?

    • lurgee 1.6

      No sympathy, Hager received stolen property and used it for his own financial gain. As the saying goes “You make the bed you lie in”.

      Yeah, bollocks. Hager identified a matter of important public interest and brought it to public attention.

      You’d be calling for Woodward, Bernstein and Deep Throat to be jailed, wouldn’t you?

    • Paulq 1.7

      What a hateful person you are.

    • Wainwright 1.8

      It’s called public interest and if you think there’s money in books do sod off and write one.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.9

      I’m sure the compensation payout will more than make up for the whinging wingnuts whinging and whinging and whinging 😆

    • savenz 1.10

      @Ben – is the government going to change the judiciary now, that they lose so often in court due to their constant illegal actions?

      Kelsey, Hager, underpaying of carers of disabled people, underpaying of beneficiaries….

      Welfare for financial gain… my first thoughts are Saudi businessmen in need of some charitable donations or SkyCity convention center hand outs to encourage more gambling….

    • JonL 1.11

      Pathetic clown!

  2. Tracey 2

    Kia kaha Nicky. Keep their feet to the fire.

  3. esoteric pineapples 3

    I find the most satisfying way of saying “stuff you” to people screwing up the environment, workers rights, etc is to make a donation to those fighting them. I highly recommend it to everyone.

    • lprent 3.1

      So do I. If they are rational, well argued, and reliant on facts in making their argument (right or wrong)* than I will support them. But I’m pretty selective and finicky about who I will support.

      It has been a pure pleasure supporting this one because of the clarity of the process. Because it was so well supported it will lead to a fundamental shift in how the police, crown bodies, and others are able to request ex parte search warrants and presumably other ex parte court orders. It is quite apparent that in this case that trust process was deliberately abused (just as it was with this case Judge scammed by a legal idiot and his pet pest).

      In this case the abuse of the duty of candor was by the lay police rather than a lay civilian. However in either case is there is no real recourse by the court for being lied to (by omission) in the way that there would be for a member of the bar. Perhaps that should be changed. In my view the law should be changed so that contempt of court proceeding could be initiated against the individuals making such submissions by the judiciary for such breaches of trust.

      I’m just reading the decision of Justice Clifford at present (Hager v Attorney General (PDF 500K)). There isn’t a lot of scope for the police to appeal in that unless they want to try to overturn the common law of the duty of candour in ex parte applications.

      * ie not one of those nutty ‘justice” hang-em-high freaks at LF pursuing their own vendettas (read almost any post at LF), or the slavering ratings watching hypocrites at Whaleoil or most of the shock jock radio/tv shows (thing of that idiot Mike Hosking as an example – he makes Cameron Slater look rational).

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1

        It has been a pure pleasure supporting this one

        Ditto.

        it will lead to a fundamental shift…

        You are confident in this conclusion?

        • George Hendry 3.1.1.1

          One is never sure, except to say that more will have been achieved than would have been gained by doing nothing.

          To me this looks like real democracy in action, transparent all the way, from the ground up and in response to the genuine leadership that Mr Hager has provided. Not that I imagine he would ever wish to be PM, this looks like the way a real PM would behave.

          Perhaps LPrent would be kind enough to give us Nicky’s account details again (could simply ask Westpac) so we can start funding the next case.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1.1.1

            I agree with both of your first two paragraphs, and I’m still curious as to the source of lprent’s optimism.

            I can see why Justice Clifford’s judgement and Pete George vs. Rabid Fuckwit are relevant…I probably just need to think about it for longer.

            Perhaps it’s that lawyers become judges…only human and all that…

            Nope – maybe these cases set a precedent…which other judges are required to consider? Genuine question – if so, how does it affect the tendency for establishment types to issue warrants?

            • George Hendry 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Caveat – I prefer being optimistic because being pessimistic is just too depressing and needlessly damaging to the quality of life.

              That said, this looks like a model for future democratic involvement, a highly effective, peaceful (and all the more effective longterm for being so) and concerted social response to police corruption and political malfeasance. A ‘Nicky Hager focus group’ affair which has to be reckoned with by corrupt rulers when plotting their next deviancies.

              No one donates mindlessly to a cause like this, as those of us who do will all be aware that to do so is to stick our necks out to some degree. Awareness, plus working together, plus keeping at it, one brick at a time, average social awareness rises ever so gradually till one day we all know too much to elect a court jester ever again.

              They don’t like us watching, they know they’re corrupt, or why would they lie about it so. We have to keep watching them, and part of that consists in the risk we take to do it. Through risk and pain society grows up.

  4. wyndham 4

    Aii power to you Nicky – – – and to that wonderful sister of yours.

  5. Chooky 5

    Go Nicky Hager and family …have a great Xmas and holiday !

    …we will toast you Nicky Hager for fighting for and upholding democracy through fearless investigative journalism!

    • Tautuhi 5.1

      Apart from Nicky Hagar who actually has a pair of g****s, Investigative Journalism is virtually dead in NZ, close similarities to East Germany and the Stasi Network.

  6. lurgee 6

    If the right were capable of coherent, logical thought, they’d be as appalled by the police raid on Hager as the left. It represents a disturbing abuse of power by the state. Any principled rightwinger would be able to look beyond the tribal aspect of “their team” being discomfited and see that “their team’s” behaviour was worrying for people opposed to the state apparatus acting as an unlawful bully.

    • lprent 6.1

      It happens irrespective of the flavour of the government. The police cases against animal rights activists or the tuhoe camps and just about every activist left group in the last Labour government suffered from exactly the same level of institutional intimidatory stupidity in the police and a blatant disregard of the process of the law by them. The only real difference was the lack of a direct political motivation from the government of the day.

      The desired effect appeared in all of these cases to be a chilling of the level of peaceful debate in society. Hell, from the police tactics it appeared to me like they wanted to force people to go underground to provide them with better sport…

      • Tautuhi 6.1.1

        I don’t think we have particularly smart/intelligent people in the NZ Police or Security Services here in NZ, the quality of intelligence information is often questionable ie the raid on the Puha Gang in the Ureweras which made world headlines, based on a terrorist cell in the outbacks of NZ, it is all designed to put fear into the hearts of New Zealanders that we are under threat and observation by our own security services. Sick society we live in.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1.1

          If intelligent New Zealanders are attracted to other professions than police work, what would be unusual about that?

          Are cops in other countries noted for their IQ?

    • Pat 6.2

      except that historically the power of the state (read deep state) supports the “right”…so perhaps its not surprising the right is unconcerned

  7. Pat 7

    it shows the measure of the man….I doubt the same would occur from his opponents direction…certainly not wth the same tone.

  8. Whateva Next 8

    Great that Nicky felt buoyed by the tangible support, and cannot think of any other way the appalling behaviour of govt ministers using an attack blog to do their dirty deeds, would have been exposed.The ends justify the means, so let’s not get distracted by nonsense arguments about “stolen emails”.

  9. Mulling it over 9

    Greg O’Connor gave a excellent example of the “straw man” technique on Morning Report today, when he told us that there wasn’t a political advisor in the police force pulling the strings.
    Was anyone else concerned about his comment (haven’t had time to do a transcript) the gist of which was that the Police pay more attention to cases that have a high media profile?

  10. Pat 10

    lol…Mr O’Connor lost credibility a long time ago…am surprised RNZ settled for a comment from him…obviously no one in a position of authority was willing to comment

  11. Wainwright 11

    Nice one Nicky,.

  12. Manuka AOR 12

    The best news, leading into the new year..

    Cheers!

  13. savenz 13

    Well done Nicky Hager for standing up in such a humble and intelligent way! He deserved all the donations and I hope he gets the compensation he deserves.

    Send a message Nicky! A ground swell of support is behind you!

  14. upnorth 14

    I understand process and process was wrong and so I say well done but there is some issues for me.

    Hager said he lawyered up when he wrote the book. Fair enough hot potato stuff but part of the analysis would be that he would be asked about his source. This could come from various ways – police complaint number one.

    Why does Hager ask for donations on legal fees when he made money from the book?
    If he is awarded costs then will Hager refund all the donated money?
    At what stage does he provide the real details behind the book – at this stage the book is sensational in nature, interesting read for people interested in politics but the reality is and still is – national stormed to victory so the public gave their final determination on the book – no one really cared.

    Jobs, education, health, environment are what people are thinking about – cut and paste emails is about as exciting as watching my dog play with a piece of paper.

    I hope all that donated get their money back if Hager is awarded costs plus some additional compensation – remember he knew what he was doing from day one.

    I had an interesting chat with a person about the fact – how do you check on people when the people who break news are doing their own private investigations? I hope you get my drift on this. I am a decent person and whatever you think of WO it was still stolen property – I think black ops got confused with what it all really is – politics.

    This I believe is the whole confusion on the matter – politics be it left or right is all about being ahead of the opposition.

    I personally still in Father Christmas so for 95% of the general public I will be kicking back over the festive season and Hager will be the very last item on my list of things I will be caring about.

    the people voted a re-sounding no to the book – it is just a fact plain and simple – time to accept this point and move on

    • fender 14.1

      Yeah I think I get your “drift”, you’re decent enough to accuse Hager of hacking.

      “…. politics be it left or right is all about being ahead of the opposition.”

      Yeah but not at any cost like the indecent subjects in the book. Read it.

      “I personally still in Father Christmas so for 95% of the general public I will be kicking back over the festive season and Hager will be the very last item on my list of things I will be caring about.”

      I think you’re trying to say you still believe in Father Christmas, so do 95%, and that you’re going to ask him to stop you from commenting on blogs related to Hager. Or do you mean the Dirty Politics book is the last item on your list for Santa?

      The people did vote, it was a General Election, not a referendum on a book.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 14.2

      Upnorth, move on all you like: we’ll be more than happy to drag you back to have your face rubbed in it some more. After all, it’s no less than you deserve.

    • Brigid 14.3

      “I hope all that donated get their money back if Hager is awarded costs plus some additional compensation ” Oh please! Of course you don’t.
      And I actually don’t need, nor want you to be concerned about what happens to money I’ve donated.

      I hope that you definitely do move on. Over a cliff perhaps?

      • upnorth 14.3.1

        Brigid I am sorry you have to reply in such a way – re read I congratulated Hager on winning against incorrect process. He is a journalist so should be almost part of his time of story telling.

        My question is will he refund money donated as a good person would do.

        If you accept a refund is your decision.

        I even suggested in my post he might be awarded additional compensation – reflect please and I hope you realise saying jumping off a cliff is not mature thing to say.

        Luckily I have good marbles in my head and will take the comment as immature rather than discussing a point or opinion.

        • reason 14.3.1.1

          upnorth must realize that the Police stopped Nicky Hagers present work projects ………..depriving him of income.

          The police also stole his daughters laptop computer as part of the illegal raid and it was vital for her upcoming school exams ………… apart from the stress and additional difficulties the police actions caused his daughter Nicky no doubt had to buy her a new computer …..

          A good person/poster would recognize that the legal fees are only part of the many financial costs and disruption that this politically motivated police harassment caused Nicky Hager…….

          A good person would support the police paying these full costs ……

          Otherwise Nicky is still well out of pocket.

          I also tend to think the police and the Nats are quite happy to punish the messenger ( Nicky ) as another example of what happens to journalists who expose or report the truth about them ……..

          Catching RawShark could be like having a tiger by the tail for the Nats ……

          The state sponsored sequel of Dirty politics like the initial book would be ugly stuff ……about JK, slater and the dirty politics crew.

  15. Redelusion 15

    All fish and chip paper now, people moved on a long time ago Whole saga just bores middle NZ now, the jk deranged will cling to it however, every one else it’s a non event or just a continuation of the loony lefty circus, re Mana internet party campaign, sue bradford and her rent a mob posse, attacking JK for every pc slight know to man, mock outrage etc etc long may it continue

    • Lloyd 15.1

      If you keep telling people with “middle of the road” (i.e. swayable by the MSM) that John Key is a lying bastard and you cannot trust him, the message may eventually get through. Make a point of telling a couple of people a day. (Not the same ones!)

  16. Whateva Next 16

    Yes dear

  17. Bruce 17

    Good on you NIcky. Let’s bring those ships home with everyone on board safe and well fed.

  18. Mike Bond 18

    That the left can not see that the majority of Kiwis are not concerned about Dirty Politics and Nicky Hagger is beyond me. If the police now appeal this decision and a higher court overturns the decision, will they then say that National have influenced the judge? Most probably. I see Trotter has named his politician of the year as Bill English and not any one from the opposition as we would expect from him. His reason for this is that he thinks that Labour have done nothing to show their supporters that they will be doing anything for them. Everything from Labour has been attack National and John Key in everything they say or do. The negativity that turned voters off from them in the election just continues. Why would anyone vote for Labour? What are they offering the man in the street? I really hope the new year brings a new approach from Labour and an opposition that has something to offer except negativity. They need to look at the polls. A year of some glorious stuff ups from National and they have not lost any support. Why is what Labour needs to be asking.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 18.1

      A simple glance at Labour’s blog is all that’s needed to show that Mike Bond is lying. Press-release after press-release and hardly a word about Key.

      Is Mike lying deliberately or as a result of sloppiness and a total lack of personal responsibility?

      Who cares, the man’s a liar.

      • Mike Bond 18.1.1

        So glad that in your world Labour are racing up in the polls and all is well. In the real world, they are making no traction and are known for their negativity only.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 18.1.1.1

          So now you’re lying about my opinion, eh. Not to mention conflating your own with “the real world” – another lie.

          In fact, you don’t even represent the thirty percent of eligible voters that support National.

    • Tautuhi 18.2

      This is starting to make Watergate look like a Children’s Tea Party?

      However the NZ Judiciary will be instructed by the Government to turn the decision over, just like the David Bain Enquiry.

    • Tautuhi 18.3

      Unfortunately under JK we are witnessing the breakdown of democracy here in NZ?

  19. Kev 19

    But is Hager a journalist? At least one journalist doesn’t think so:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/70382467/Karl-du-Fresne-Can-Nicky-Hager-really-be-called-a-journalist

    Granted, the crown regarded Hager as a journalist so it’s understandable that the judge would regard Hager as a journalist too. But that doesn’t mean the the police can’t appeal on the grounds that Hager isn’t a journalist and that the crown made a mistake by regarding Hager as one.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 19.1

      You sound desperate. Is du Fresne’s opinion relevant on your planet?

      Please set up a fund to waste money on your fantasies. Call it “The Crying Wingnut Charitable Appeal Against Reality”, and watch as you flush dollars down the toilet.

      Go on fatmouth, let’s see you back your dribble with some action.

      • Kev 19.1.1

        It will become relevant on your planet if the cops decide to appeal on the grounds that Hager isn’t a journalist.

        Which by the way I don’t believe they will.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 19.1.1.1

          You’d better put your money where your fat mouth is then, like we did for Nicky.

          We won. You, not so much. Loser.

  20. Tautuhi 20

    NZ Police haven’t moved on from the raids on Polynesian overstayers in the Muldoon era, however I guess these guys are the reminants of that era. The goon squads, red squads, bully boys whatever you want to call them.

    Still a severe lack of professionalism in the NZ Police.

  21. reason 21

    Is Karle-du-fresene a journalist?????……… yes but a very shit house one with bigoted prejudiced opinions backed up with angry stupidity………… I guess we could call him old school right wing.

    Karle-du-frense once called for a police officer to be demoted or sacked and also labeled him a wowser…….du-frsenes motivation was because this officer had spoken spoke out against the effects of Alcohol and the Alcohol industry on frontline police and their work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHI-4NWB8n0

    It’s quite a basic fact that the drug Alcohol causes its own crime wave ……..

    Approximately half (49.5%) of all homicides recorded between 1999-2008 involved either a suspect or victim being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

    A high percentage of Serious violent and sexual crimes often involve alcohol abuse and intoxication
    “Alcohol was a major factor in the bashing, which was apparent in a lot of physical and sexual abuse cases the unit dealt with”, Mrs Schaare said– Detective Sergeant Kylie Schaare child protection unit.

    Police staffing and roster numbers for shifts/days are in part based on times of maximum alcohol consumption …………. How may frontline police staff have New Years eve off ???.

    Of course Alcohol abuse has a huge effect on crime ……….. But police officers speaking out about this have taken a step too far and they should be out of the job according to du-fresne ………

    Du-fresene has many such examples of be a total wanky idiot ….I guess he’s just writing to his audience…..Kev.

    The Neanderthal journalist Karle-du-fresene is a right wing hack who probably feels jealous and inadequate compared to Hager

  22. Ian 22

    You are superior- this is ‘truth’. Probably best you relax.

    You must use ‘all evidence’ to capture ‘a sitting duck’, relax, calm yourself down.

    Cool, calm and collected, that’s my man.

    Also of note: One man is restricted, one man is not.

    [lprent: Exactly how is this related to the topic of the post? I very nearly threw you into the autobot spam queue because that is what this comment read like. ]

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  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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