A Matter of Simple Logic

Written By: - Date published: 4:54 pm, September 16th, 2014 - 103 comments
Categories: election 2014, john key, Media, Spying - Tags: , , ,

One of the few journalists to do his job properly over the course of the dirty politics scandal has been Guyon Espiner. He has, without in any way breaching his duty of impartiality, seen it as his responsibility on Morning Report to put questions to, and demand answers of, the Prime Minister – and, when those answers have not been forthcoming, he has not hesitated to make that clear.

He has continued that approach as the scandal has widened to embrace the question of whether or not John Key has lied to us in denying the mounting (and many would say, convincing) evidence that New Zealanders have been subjected to mass surveillance by the GCSB.

Espiner’s interviewee this morning was Sir Bruce Ferguson, a former Chief of New Zealand Defence Force and subsequently the Director of the GCSB. The interview followed in the main a predictable course. Ferguson, although lacking any technical or specialist knowledge, was robust in asserting that there had been no mass surveillance under his watch (though how would he know?) and he revealed his own obvious limitations and prejudices when he dismissed the evidence to the contrary from Edward Snowden on the ground that the latter was “a traitor to his country”.

The fact that Snowden’s evidence across a wide range of issues has never been shown to be inaccurate in any way did not seem to concern him at all.

The interview then took, however, an interesting turn. Espiner, skilled interviewer as he is, asked the good Air Marshal how far the GCSB’s powers might extend in the case of someone – taking himself, Espiner, as an example – who was suspected of acting against New Zealand’s security interests.

Ferguson was pleased to explain in detail the steps that would need to be gone through before a warrant would be issued to look into the records available about, in this case, Espiner, or any other potential suspect. He agreed with Espiner that, once the warrant had been issued, everything about the individual who was the subject of the inquiry – e-mails, electronic communications and transactions more generally, lists of correspondents and contacts over a long period – would be available to the security services.

It was at this point that Espiner posed the critical question. I paraphrase and elaborate – “Where,” asked Espiner, “does that information come from? How is it that it becomes available? Who has been holding it and how did they get it? Since suspicion could suddenly and unforeseeably fall on any person and a warrant could be obtained in respect of that person, does it not follow that the full information that you have described about that person – and every other person – must have been held somewhere, ready to be made available in the event that it was needed? Does this not show that we are all subject to surveillance, in case the information is one day needed about any one of us?”

Ferguson was not at all discomforted by the question, mainly because he plainly had not understood it or its significance. He proceeded to provide yet more detail, at length, about how warrants were obtained, and seemed completely oblivious of the point that Espiner had made.

The rest of us, however, are able to ponder Espiner’s question at our leisure. If the GCSB is able, when a particular name is put to them, to produce the detailed information described by Ferguson about that person, how could that be done unless records are kept about all of us?

The evidence that mass surveillance takes place in New Zealand – evidence that the Prime Minister demands that we should produce before he will concede that he has misled us on the subject – seems, after all, to be a matter, not of physical proof, but of simple logic.

Bryan Gould

16 September 2014.

103 comments on “A Matter of Simple Logic ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Dont worry. Be happy 1
    16 September 2014 at 5:03 pm

    Time for Key to get the same message he gave Crusher…resign or be sacked. And you can take your Cabinet, that signed off on the spy bill, with you.

  2. brian 2
    16 September 2014 at 5:05 pm

    Thank you Bryan

  3. CeeEm 3
    16 September 2014 at 5:14 pm

    It all comes down to language.
    A question such as ‘are New Zealanders being mass surveilled’ is answered by a ‘no’ from the prime minister. This is because the government and the covert intelligence agency have defined ‘surveillance’ as something which requires a specific target, a suspicion or tip-off etc.
    ‘Gathering’ massive amounts of digital information on New Zealanders? Well, the answer is ‘yes’. But you see, they can ‘gather’ it because they are not using it. That is until they need to use it because now it is a matter of ‘national security’ and, you know, they have laws about that. So they get a warrant.
    It’s very useful, of course, that they have the massive amount of information in the first place.
    But it wasn’t gained by ‘surveillance’, see. No, because that would be illegal. And we trust our government not to do illegal things, don’t we?

  4. TeWhareWhero 4
    16 September 2014 at 5:20 pm

    The words ‘hoist’ and ‘petard’ come to mind.

  5. cogito 5
    16 September 2014 at 5:37 pm

    It was a great ambush by Espiner…

    Snowden’s presentation to the MoT last night is well worth listening to more than once, as his statements have a ring of knowledge and authenticity about them that is utterly lacking in anything from Mr Key.

  6. TeWhareWhero 6
    16 September 2014 at 5:53 pm

    I was very impressed by Snowden – have been by what he’s written as well.

    I rate Ferguson’s contribution by his description of the Snowden/Greenwald material as ‘crap’. Apt word, just used to describe the wrong thing.

    Never thought I’d say it as I am a political junkie but I just want it to be over so we can either start the fight against a morally and intellectually bankrupt rightwing government – or start the fight to keep a Labour-led government on task.

  7. blue leopard 7
    16 September 2014 at 6:00 pm

    I am repulsed when people refer to Snowden as a traitor.

    He didn’t betray people, he acted with their best interests at heart.

    If that is a betrayal then it begs the question whose interests are these spy agencies aiming to protect?

    Clearly not the peoples’ or Snowden wouldn’t be considered a traitor.

    • Hugh Young 7.1
      16 September 2014 at 10:32 pm

      There is a higher patriotism than to a country.

    • D'Esterre 7.2
      17 September 2014 at 11:36 am

      @ blue leopard: “I am repulsed when people refer to Snowden as a traitor. ”

      The “traitor” epithet is one of those debate-ending assertions: a have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-yet statement. I’ve encountered it frequently when discussing this issue. People who resort to it don’t really have a countervailing argument, so they use it in an attempt to shut down debate. Nobody, after all, wants to be called a traitor – or even a sympathiser. Thus far, I haven’t heard the PM say it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he had done so.

      I’ve heard similar claims about Nicky Hager. The fact that he’s an investigating journalist seems to cut no ice with some people.

      Evidently, many people prefer propaganda to facts; they can’t bring themselves to accept that the PM is not the knight in shining armour portrayed to date by the mainstream media. And they have even greater difficulty with the revisionist portrait when it’s being presented to them by said mainstream media.

      • blue leopard 7.2.1
        17 September 2014 at 1:26 pm

        +1 Agree with what you write.

        The bit about preferring propaganda, is a really horrifying concept to me, the thought that is the case really is chilling. I guess propaganda is designed to appeal to peoples’ sentiments, though – if it wasn’t it wouldn’t work.

        Interesting you mention that re not hearing the PM say it [yet!], come to think of it, neither have I. (Thank the heavens for small mercies)

        Obama, and his obedient minions have been. I am really very stunned when I hear them say such things – it just sounds so backwards*, it is hard for me to imagine such idiocy appealing to anyone. (*Like labeling people ‘commies’)

        • D'Esterre 7.2.1.1
          18 September 2014 at 10:30 am

          @ blue leopard: ” I guess propaganda is designed to appeal to peoples’ sentiments, though – if it wasn’t it wouldn’t work.”

          With regard to propaganda, there was an interesting piece on RNZ’s Sunday morning show last Sunday 14th September. Wayne Brittenden’s “Counterpoint” talks about Rear Admiral Eugene Carroll, a former Pentagon insider. Wallace Chapman follows it up with an interview with Jeff Cohen. The issues discussed are very illuminating, especially in light of what’s happened here over the last 6 years.

          It’s on the website; I recommend it if you want to know how we got to where we are. And how it is that people will believe what Dear Leader says to them, rather than what Edward Snowden and Glenn Greenwald have revealed, or the vileness under the stone which Nicky Hager has lifted up.

          What do we do about it? Point it out to people, I guess; and persist in pointing it out. People do need to look sceptically at what the news media tells us – and most of all, we need to take what the PM says with a great big handful of salt.

  8. coolas 8
    16 September 2014 at 6:02 pm

    Gould is spot on here. Espiner conducted the interview brilliantly. Sir Bruce said there was ‘absolutely no mass surveillance,’ but agreed GCSB would have access to all historic communications of someone they were investigating. As Snowden said on Monday night, he just had to, ‘open the box.’

    Appears Sir Bruce has been trotted out to pour cold water on the ‘Moment of Truth’ revelations but because he’s so puffed up with his own self-importance he ended up pouring oil on the fire.

    And dismissing, ‘anything Snowden says because he’s a traitor,’ reveals this establishment clown has no idea of the risk to personal freedom Snowden took to uncover the treachery Five Eyes has perpetrated on the citizens of USA, Canada, UK, Australia and NZ.

    If we’re pointing fingers at traitors mine goes to Sir Bruce before Edward Snowden

    • Chooky 8.1
      16 September 2014 at 10:15 pm

      +100…”this establishment clown has no idea of the risk to personal freedom Snowden took to uncover the treachery Five Eyes has perpetrated on the citizens of USA, Canada, UK, Australia and NZ”.

  9. Colonial Viper 9
    16 September 2014 at 6:04 pm

    Thanks for pointing this out Bryan. *Quietly upgrades opinion of Espiner*

  10. Tracey 10
    16 September 2014 at 6:18 pm

    interesting observation but not one picked up by the msm…

    Can someone show me where in the docs released by Key yesterday it shows NZ rejected Spearhead, cos Tova o’brien just said that Keys documents proved spearhead never happened here and having read them I cant see how she concluded that

    • Jessica Parsons 10.1
      16 September 2014 at 6:26 pm

      The MSM keeps repeating only that John Key declassified documents to disprove the claims, without any details of what those declassified documents actually referred to once in public.

      Without the details, some people have obviously internalised the “disprove” part. An accident on MSM’s part? I think not…

      • Tracey 10.1.1
        16 September 2014 at 6:29 pm

        Which makes me think that tova hasnt read the docs just the PMs press release that fronted them.

        • karol 10.1.1.1
          16 September 2014 at 6:56 pm

          She said she’d run things by me before she speaks – not a woman of her word.

        • politikiwi 10.1.1.2
          16 September 2014 at 6:57 pm

          Has anyone explained what relationship CORTEX has with SPEARGUN?

          Because until evidence is produced that the two are synonymous, the Key declassified documents mean nothing.

          • karol 10.1.1.2.1
            16 September 2014 at 7:06 pm

            There’s Keith Ng’s explanation:

            CORTEX has nothing to do with SPEARGUN:

            SPEARGUN sits at the major highways of our network, extracting metadata from the traffic that goes through and sending it elsewhere. CORTEX sits at the driveway of businesses and ISPs, checking what goes in and out for signs of malware activity. The two are very different beasts.

            The metadata probes that Greenwald refers to are used to covertly extract metadata. According to the Cabinet papers, CORTEX “will in all cases operate with the consent of the participating organisations”. The programme described in Greenwald’s documents is not CORTEX.

            According to Key, a “test probe” was built to sit on the Southern Cross cable. That is the whole country, not “participating organisations”. Further proof that the purpose of the probe had nothing to do with CORTEX.

            Ryan Gallagher also explains and asks some questions:

            In a bid to prove this, Key declassified documents later on Monday (after we published our story) that outlined a project called Cortex. Key seemed to think — or perhaps hope — that these documents would kill off any concerns and put the controversy to a swift end. But they fail to address a number of crucial issues — critics have already dismissed them as a “red herring” — and in fact only seem to cloud matters further.

          • Tracey 10.1.1.2.2
            16 September 2014 at 7:07 pm

            Its supposed to be smoke and mirrors. The doc drop by Key depends on the media and others not actually reading them.

            Its working so far…

            Spearhead to my knowledge is not mentioned by name in those documents. Key seems to want us to think Option 2 was Spearhead but he provides NO proof of that in these documents

            Cortex didnt start its development til december 2013

            But option 2 from 2012 was being developed until sept 2013…

            Option 1 was implemented, or authorised to be implemented in april 2012 and included “automated investigation capability”

            Option 1 is still in operation, unless Key has other documents saying its not.

            The documents make no direct mention of x-keyscore

            Thats all i can tell you.

  11. tc 11
    16 September 2014 at 6:34 pm

    Thanks Bryan. Hats off to guyon who stands out in a very low brow RNZ line up these days.

  12. Tracey 12
    16 September 2014 at 6:47 pm

    and now is Fisher saying that to serve his personal interests Key ignored a warning from gcsb that releasing those documents was a threat to the nation’s security, or have I misread it?

  13. vto 13
    16 September 2014 at 6:54 pm

    I missed the interview but the account above certainly does mean that we have been mass spied.

    That question needs to be posed again and again until we get a truthful answer.

  14. Te Reo Putake 14
    16 September 2014 at 7:02 pm

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20149770/ex-gcsb-director-rejects-edward-snowden%27s-claims

    At the six minute mark, Espiner nails it.

    Espiner: “They could have the ability to then find pretty much everything thing they want, right?

    Agent 86: “Yes, yes, but, but …”

  15. phant0m 15
    16 September 2014 at 7:11 pm

    This is making a mountain out of a worm dropping. Nowadays virtually anyone’s movements could be reconstructed with reasonable accuracy from their digital footprint and other publicly recorded information. Security cameras are everywhere, airports, hotels, train stations, bus terminals, taxis, intersections, shops etc. Your phone leaves a record of your movements. Your bankcard leaves a record of your movements. No one cares until you become a “person of interest” but where is the problem if those responsible for our security reasonably retrieve whatever bits of that information they are able to access.

    • Binders full of women 15.1
      16 September 2014 at 7:31 pm

      Totally agree. The logical answer is prob not that John Key is sitting on masses of our data. More likely when the spooks need something they deal with telcos. It’s not hacking. Nothing that you type, text, dial or view is lost forever. People with right skills and clearances can find stuff and the telcos assist when our public interest/safety is at stake. The Police and Internal Affairs often have to work with telcos and I assume GCSB have similar deals. Remember when the baby was kidnapped from Wellington? Ransom call made from tel box, tel box analysed, tracked immediate prev call… busted. So yes a lot of stuff is stored.. but not by the govt, and not illegally. Nice try- but it feels like yet another ‘moment of truth’.

      • framu 15.1.1
        17 September 2014 at 8:50 am

        so – why do they have xkeyscore?

        if what you and phantom are saying = bad guys get caught anyway cause the cant really hide to start with – why are tax payers dollars being used to buy and run a system that does what can be done allready?

        whats the purpose there? duplication? throwing $$ in the air and going “wheeee”? or something else?

    • One Anonymous Bloke 15.2
      16 September 2014 at 7:32 pm

      The problem is that the whole purpose of it is economic espionage, which is what they talk about when we aren’t listening, and political advantage. The lies about terrorism are lies: they can’t protect us from that, in fact there’s plenty of evidence their policies make it worse.

    • weka 15.3
      16 September 2014 at 7:43 pm

      “Your bankcard leaves a record of your movements.”

      Don’t know what’s happening with the telcos, but banks at least afaik still won’t release bank records to the govt unless there is a good reason. Which means that the govt has to ask and there is a process to follow. That’s different than the govt having carte blanche access to data on its own database where it can do fishing expeditions.

      Besides, if there really is no problem, why are they lying about it?

    • Puddleglum 15.4
      16 September 2014 at 9:40 pm

      Hi phant0m,

      Have you read (recently) the GCSB 2013 Act? In particular, have you read the bits about ‘information infrastructures’ and ‘access authorisations’ to those ‘infrastructures’?

      As I read it, the Act now permits the GCSB to access those information infrastructures without them realising it. It’s anyone’s guess what ‘devices’ (as termed in the legislation) the GCSB has sitting waiting to be activated for this purpose.

      In effect, the ‘information infrastructures’ (telcos, banks, etc.) become (one of) the data warehousing vehicles for the GCSB.

      Rodney Harrison (QC) discussed this at the time:

      “The GCSB bill abolishes the restraint on GCSB activities to “foreign intelligence”, and instead confers three considerably expanded functions. When Mr Key stated on television that the first of the three things the GCSB would be empowered to do is “foreign intelligence-gathering – nothing to do with New Zealanders”, he was in error. The new 8B function discussed below covers both foreign and domestic intelligence-gathering.

      …

      Secondly, a new intelligence-gathering and analysis function is to be conferred on the GCSB under 8B. This function is very broadly worded. In particular it permits the gathering of intelligence about “information infrastructures”[i.e., Section 8B(1)(b)]. That is defined widely enough to cover all types of electronic data systems (phones, computers, ISPs and telecommunications networks) and their content.”

      So, even if we ignore the revelations of Greenwald and Snowden there’s still a hugely expanded set of functions and powers of the GCSB to access massive databases of information using ‘devices’ that appear to be ready and fit for purpose.

      The loopholes are so big you could drive the proverbial through them. And this was meant to be the legislation to protect us from mass surveillance?

      • Tracey 15.4.1
        17 September 2014 at 1:37 pm

        And that explains why today Key basically said thatNSA is spying on us all but not GCSB, it is just under his watch that the NSA has been able to do so unfettered.

        I briefly worked on a case a long time ago with rodney harrison and worked with his brother in a law firm. I have alot of respect for that family, their integrity and their minds.

    • Tracey 15.5
      17 September 2014 at 7:07 am

      and yet John key doesn’t say that. He says all that you say is not happening to us here in NZ

  16. Stephen 16
    16 September 2014 at 7:15 pm

    In Ferguson’s interview on Nine To Noon today, it became clear he has a very strict definition of “surveillance”. Ryan asked him what surveillance and interception are.

    His answers made it clear that to him, “surveillance” is what happens when the agency has taken an interest in you, starts searching for your stuff and inspecting the results. The collection of material up to that point is apparently not surveillance. This seems to be why he can deny there is mass surveillance with such apparent clarity and honesty — the GCSB have an operational definition that is at odds with normal people’s understanding of the word.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/20149786/former-gscb-head-on-snowden-claims-about-mass-surveillance

    • Steve 16.1
      16 September 2014 at 7:39 pm

      Absolutely agree Stephen. Having just read Bryan’s post and the response from Ferguson it is pretty clear that he believes it is only when an agency looks at information on an individual does he consider it surveilance. The simple collection of information of an individual does not, in his mind, constitute surveillance.

      So with this in mind Ferguson, in all the interviews he has done in the past 24 hours, has not refuted any of the Snowdon and Greenslade allegations.

      Good on Espiner but where are the rest of the media on this? All we had from Gower tonight was a pathetic ‘No Reveal” story about KDC’s email.

    • AsleepWhileWalking 16.2
      16 September 2014 at 8:00 pm

      We all knew there would be some way of framing this that would mean Key has been telling us the trooth all along. Ta-dah! Instant credibility.

  17. Bastables 17
    16 September 2014 at 7:21 pm

    Are they going to be putting the interview up on the RNZ site soon? Small niggling concern that they may not put it up.

  18. keith ross 18
    16 September 2014 at 7:24 pm

    I have to admit that Ferguson didn’t come across as the sharpest tack in the box although he did seem very pompous and self important. Why do these people get knighthoods? For being stupid and telling lies, well done catching him out and he didn’t even know it !

  19. Te Reo Putake 19
    16 September 2014 at 7:27 pm

    Mass surveillance vs mass cyber protection.

    Interesting definition of surveillance on Wikipedia:

    Surveillance (/sərˈveɪ.əns/ or /sərˈveɪləns/)[1] is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people for the purpose of influencing, managing, directing, or protecting them.

    So protection is a subset of surveillance? Then what’s Key accidentally revealing when he reckons we’re only doing mass cyber protection?

    http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/government-considered-mass-surveillance-but-ruled-john-key-video-6080067

    • Rich 19.1
      16 September 2014 at 10:06 pm

      I wouldn’t particularly trust Wikipedia on a definition of surveillance.

      Too many editors there lauding up one of the main militarist states of the world.

      • Te Reo Putake 19.1.1
        16 September 2014 at 10:32 pm

        Not really a question of trust, Rich, more the coincidence that Key’s weasel words don’t seem to mean anything.

        • Rich 19.1.1.1
          17 September 2014 at 6:50 am

          No they don’t, so that’s fair enough, I see what you mean now (Key) protection = (our) surveillance. The other issue for me is how much the ministers are not over their portfolios, their jobs don’t seem to require that. Collins was the most obvious example, there wasn’t even lip service to the position, but Tolley and English have also shown how they really aren’t putting forward any ideas here. So who is running the country?

  20. Rodel 20
    16 September 2014 at 7:31 pm

    ‘ Journalist’ Tracey Watkins (Monday September 15), writes, “While Labour leader David Cunliffe talks to empty street corners , Prime Minister John Key is man alone, waging battle on every front…” I’ve seen Cunliffe and he’s not addressing ’empty street corners.

    For chrissake how dare she call herself a journalist writing bias like that. Oh I forgot. Now that Cameron Slater has been adjudged to be a journalist, she is now in the same category as him. That explains everything.

    Does Watkins write this rubbish or does an anonymous sub editor change it to ensure a right wing bias?

    • karol 20.1
      16 September 2014 at 7:35 pm

      I’ve seen a National Party van cruising around my hood. People were ignoring them. But then, that’s Kelston.

      Probably depends a lot on the hood, the time of day, etc.

  21. JonL 21
    16 September 2014 at 7:39 pm

    ” but where is the problem if those responsible for our security reasonably retrieve whatever bits of that information they are able to access.”

    The problem is in what the definition of “reasonably retrieve” might be. Your idea of reasonably retrieve may not be that of some authoritarian desk jockey who just decides to have a look or perve on somebody – just because he can.

  22. logie97 22
    16 September 2014 at 8:08 pm

    Just an aside, but we need to start a campaign to get Bryan Gould onto Mora’s afternoon panel. (assuming he has the time).

    Could see Farrar and Boag both getting cold feet…

  23. alwyn 23
    16 September 2014 at 8:22 pm

    Unfortunately we have to take note of Gould’s comment
    “Ferguson, although lacking any technical or specialist knowledge, was robust in asserting that there had been no mass surveillance under his watch (though how would he know?)”
    If he is really as ignorant as Gould would like us to believe we must assume that he hasn’t the faintest idea of whether it would be possible to get the information about things that happened prior to the warrant being issued, and anything he said that implied it could be done is wrong. After all “how would he know”?

    • Local Kiwi 23.1
      16 September 2014 at 10:48 pm

      Who’s we? truth deniers?

      What Ferguson should have said is,
      “I am totally out of the picture nowadays” instead of looking like he was informed .

      He would have salvaged some credibility if he then had given up the plastering he was attempting?

  24. Jrobin 24
    16 September 2014 at 8:29 pm

    Agree about Guyon, Bryan; the bosses are probably rueing the day they hired him as he was supposedly right wing, but he is definitely one of the few professional journalists in the small Nz pond. Reading the Sydney papers report on the “Moment….” was a striking contrast to our generally ill informed and colloquial
    B grade media. There are to be fair, some exceptions apart from Guyon. Lisa Owens, John Campbell even Barry Soper, for actually reporting the missing Roy Morgan Poll.
    The Prime Minister has set the tone and Greenwald’s comments on that tone should be sobering for the whole nation. Dismissive, immature and under the guise of stupid, Key is also a skilled equivocator. He has degraded our public discourse and made ignorance, illiteracy and deceit standard fare. Shame on you John Key for bringing our country into disrepute with thinking people planet-wide. The only silver lining, he has been great for stimulating satire and parody.
    Will this surveillance culture be turned back with a new Govt. Mr Cunliffe will have to be reminded of this week if he starts to cuddle up to the NSA. But how would any of us know or be able to prove spying. The TPPA is another whole can of worms revealed again this week. Phil Goff seems dangerously keen to sign this creepy agreement. Challenging times for democracy.

    • lprent 24.1
      16 September 2014 at 9:55 pm

      He is right wing. Told me so at the interview I did there a few weeks back. Personally I don’t really care if the interviews are done well and are informative.

      I did wish that he’d been a little better prepared for my interview. Instead he was running more on the usual crappy myths about TS from the right, mostly from 2008 as far as I could see.

  25. Peter 25
    16 September 2014 at 8:32 pm

    Maybe its time for The Standard to publish its own list of NZs’ most objective/respected MSM/Internet reporters? We have to start somewhere to improve the quality of information.

    • Local Kiwi 25.1
      16 September 2014 at 11:02 pm

      Bloody good idea Peter.

      I was thinking of that last week.

      And also we should print a list of the worst Papers and polling companies.

      A sort of a mass media critique.

      • ShanghaiSue 25.1.1
        17 September 2014 at 12:09 am

        We need a list of of journalists, editors, their country of origin and who owns the paper and where it is owned from

    • weka 25.2
      17 September 2014 at 12:03 am

      I suggested this the other day too, that we come up with a list of criteria for public service journalism and then see who meet which criteria as issues arise.

  26. fambo 26
    16 September 2014 at 8:48 pm

    The ancient Greeks discovered the atom through logic.

    • Lanthanide 26.1
      16 September 2014 at 10:21 pm

      They theorised it. They didn’t ‘discover’ it in any meaningful sense, ie they couldn’t use the information to make predictions about how things would work.

  27. 100% Pure NZ 27
    16 September 2014 at 8:56 pm

    Degradation Nationale de MSM

  28. Tim 28
    16 September 2014 at 8:59 pm

    Yes it was an extraordinary comment by Ferguson after his tirade about Snowden being a traitor – I doubt that Ferguson could even comprehend the concept of a whistleblower acting out of conscience. In Ferguson’s world orders, chain of command and hierarchy are all that matter. Interesting that both Snowden and Assange were home schooled.

    • Chooky 28.1
      16 September 2014 at 10:25 pm

      Yes that is interesting ie “Interesting that both Snowden and Assange were home schooled”

      …i think there was an American soldier in Afghanistan that went awol and came back and told everyone like it is…and he was home schooled…they did not seem to know whether he was a hero for surviving or a traitor for leaving.

  29. Reddelusion 29
    16 September 2014 at 9:23 pm

    The left is consumed with john key to the point of obsessive compulsive disorder There are conspiracies around every corner. Most of what is in place was under Helen Clark watch and would remain under a new labour government. People don’t care and accept it is simply part of living in moden times under the western alliance in a troubled world, The downside been a negliable impact on our privacy

    On a similar theme I see tv one was using software tonight to extract meta data from face book to see how many times party leaders names where mentioned. John key must resign with this blatant surveying of private meta data by a SOE.

    One more thing last night I did not see one document pertaining to be individuals specific private data, email, text, lots of hot air yes but hard evidence, no. The only private data I have seen is that hacked and stolen illegally and then published and distributed by the hard left, but that ok because the hard left no better and it was for the greater good, a left wing agenda. Preventining terrorism, criminal activity etc who all communicate though the public internet to hide their activities and communication is not. The spy agencies have no choice to trawl the internet is that is where these guys like ISIL are hiding and communicate covertly Time to get real my leftie friends, GCSB are not interested in your amazon account.

    • ianmac 29.1
      16 September 2014 at 10:17 pm

      No concern about privacy Reddelusion? Why do you not use your name then?

    • Puddleglum 29.2
      16 September 2014 at 10:49 pm

      I think you’ll find that the people who see conspiracies around every corner are John Key (it’s all a left wing smear/conspiracy – Hager, effigy burning, etc.) and Steven Joyce who said that the Eminem lawsuit was politically motivated:

      “” So good on them, but we’ll be contesting it pretty seriously. We don’t believe they’ve got any grounds at all and we suspect its politically motivated.””

      Paranoia is rampant on the right.

    • Dakta Green 29.3
      17 September 2014 at 12:12 am

      A Movie or NZ Politics as usual…?

      The movie opens on the wedding of Don Vito Corleone’s daughter, Connie. Don Corleone is a powerful man, and it was not without the use of violence that he achieved this position during the course of his life. The wedding scene gives a perfect setting of where and how the Don’s power extends; from the regular worker in a neighbourhood, to the immensely popular singer, to the friends in politics and right to the ruthless killer, Don Corleone has links to people ready to ask him favours and to pay him back. Some are trustworthy, some are not, but thanks to his intelligence and intuit the Don can almost always distinguish the two.

      Take two … Kiwi Godfather Synopsis

      Don Key gets some juicy info from his big SIS[ter] Sirvail about a rival gang leader and arranges to feed him to his attack dogs. Thanks to his Intelligence the target rival is paid back double. Movie ends with a beer and a barbie with King Key. But not before he takes over the Gold Coast Savings Bank. The G.C.S.B. will be a nice fit in the Corporation. Fit right into the key Team.

      When tools of state are used against political enemies movies are made.

      ‘From Hollow Men to Shallow Man’ Directed by Dim Kotcom, fresh from his Mega success, Moment of Truth, and coming to Theatres this Summer…

    • dv 29.4
      17 September 2014 at 7:23 am

      How do you feel about say Russia, Siria etc trawling through your data- That OK

  30. philj 30
    16 September 2014 at 9:43 pm

    xox
    Redelusion. You have nothing to hide, right? We all have privacy, it’s part of being human. I don’t expect you to understand.

  31. Rich 31
    16 September 2014 at 9:48 pm

    The docs that Key released yesterday, look to me to have two separate entities blacking out the content. Also although it looks like this has been done physically you can actually select what is below the masking even if it comes up as ^ or ‘ so I’m not absolutely sure that it has all been done physically. But even despite that I’m pretty sure the Americans would have good enough technology to unmask what is behind any physical blackout, and as these documents were previously marked ‘for New Zealand eyes only’ I would have a problem with it just at that level.

    Releasing these documents showed clearly how un-Prime Ministerial this guy is.

    Bronagh, who are you voting for?

  32. Reddelusion 32
    16 September 2014 at 9:58 pm

    You are right philj i have nothing to hide but I do respect privacy ( unlike left wing and criminal hackers), however as per above there is a price to maintain our freedom and way of life, The trade off is the negliable impact on our privacy. Even here it’s only meta data, for your specific private data to be accessed a warrant is required. If this is the case you probably do have something to hide

    • McFlock 32.1
      16 September 2014 at 10:27 pm

      whereas I see it as a major impact on our privacy for a negligible improvement on our security.

      Like the nudie scanners the yanks put in their airports.

  33. Reddelusion 33
    16 September 2014 at 10:08 pm

    Also philj be interested in your response to my points rather than throwing up a strawman

  34. JanMeyer 34
    16 September 2014 at 10:34 pm

    Psssst …. hasn’t anyone told Mr Gould about the official Standardista position on Guyon Espiner? 🙂

    • North 34.1
      17 September 2014 at 6:47 am

      Pssst…..your framing of The Standard is an irrelevant distraction JanMeyer. Your Linus’s Blanket. If you have an opinion about Espiner’s effort let’s hear it.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 34.2
      17 September 2014 at 7:45 am

      🙄

      You can tell what people do by the things they accuse others of. In this case we have a right winger smearing the left for an alleged “party line” that we all toe.

  35. mac1 35
    16 September 2014 at 10:36 pm

    So, my megadata is stored with the G-man somewhere in G-storage waiting for the warrant to be issued to uncover it, and the contents of the e-mails behind the metadata are also retained as well?

    It occurred to me, how secure is the G-man’s G-storage facility? Can it be hacked, by someone other than a warranted intruder?

    Has anyone ever asked whether GCSB/SIS e-mail systems have been illegally accessed? We know companies and government files have been accessed by unauthorised users. Can the GCSB/SIS offer complete security?

  36. Local Kiwi 36
    16 September 2014 at 11:23 pm

    Red – Delusion you are,

    God, the android is toxic.

    Who has caused this “troubled world” Your lot did.

    Trigger happy lot.

    You are all a bunch of war mongers always wanting to invade someone else’s country.

    I was in the army when this country needed me I would go.

    I was not required but my mates came home damaged for life, and it was a war called Vietnam.

    We never fixed that situation did we?

    You losers, it seems you lot have the need to always be reckless with others to send young to be slaughtered for what?

    Wars are fabricated mostly for financial interests not morals you creep.

    Go toxic somewhere else, just leave us in peace.

    Go join Nazi Bilderberg where you belong.

    Puddle gum is right
    Paranoia is rampant on the right.

  37. cricklewood 37
    17 September 2014 at 7:05 am

    Seems to me that the argument Key et al is going to run along lines of… it isnt surveillance until someone lays eyes on it. Until that time its just data collection etc…

    • Tracey 37.1
      17 September 2014 at 7:11 am

      actually the argument key is running is NZers are not being mass surveilled.

      play with weasel words as he does is only to convey that one simple mistruth.

      even some of the right wingers above agree Key is lying, they just don’t use those words.

  38. Craig Glen Eden 38
    17 September 2014 at 7:54 am

    One issue is the Telcos have been storing info for years, it in itself is data collection. Society/ Parliament has not had the debate about the issues of the individuals privacy rights around this very act. I think many people would not want their conversations recorded if they had the choice the thing is they dont have the choice.
    So the NZ Government/ GCSB/SIS may not be collecting the data but many other sources are. So if a Telco collects the data and its not released some people might not have a problem with that others I suspect will. This is why the likes of Ferguson is so cocky because they know they are not collecting mass data but they know who is and how to get it.

  39. Observer (Tokoroa) 39
    17 September 2014 at 7:55 am

    Hi Bryan

    Ordinary NZ people appear to feel quite happy about being comprehensively tracked. They feel that the data will never be used malignantly.

    Is comprehensive data collected from our industries and Businesses? Or is the Surveillance confined only to individuals?

    If so, does the Five Eye Sharing Club absolutely guarantee that information will not be made available to American, British and Australian competitors. ?

    What steps does our Prime Minister take to protect our Industry from the Five Eye spies?

  40. ESMA 40
    17 September 2014 at 8:27 am

    RNZ now prefixing the Moment of Truth with “The So Called”. Why not prefix everything John Key says with “The So Called Moment of Truth” every time he opens his slippery gob.

    I loved (sarcasm) RNZ non scientific interview with punters in various parts of the country (that soaked about 10mins), Just after the Nicky Hager interview.

    Then another no show with John Key, but the kindly played a long sound bite from his lordship from TV (the advantage of this is that he is not asked hard questions)

    Then we have Peter Sherwin interviewed without challenge that the poverty Gap is not increasing (however he only did a survey of 20 years). 3 minutes before the News. Is he the same guy that wrote the following? No mention of Education gap either.

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/tags/peter-sherwin
    •BUDGET 2014: Will the asset sale shortfall need topping up?
    Greens/Labour sabotage could cost MRP float $400m
    •The opposition’s electricity policy may have wiped a huge sum off the value of the Mighty River Power listing.
    •The partial sale of state-owned assets such as Mighty River Power by floating on the NZX is a “win win win”!
    •Mighty River Power share offer opens today

    Is there a weighting to RNZs reporting? Particularly between 7:00-8:00

    Did like Guyons comment though regarding GCSB and Joyce (how would you know the ingredients of the can, if your not allowed to open it)

  41. MrSmith 41
    17 September 2014 at 9:14 am

    I don’t think Sir Bruce is big John Key fan, so if asked the right questions he may gladly bury Key.

    Remember the spat around Key’s appointed of Fletcher.

    From the Herald:

    Sir Bruce said yesterday he took “great exception” to Mr Key’s comments.

    “He is smoking dope basically on that one, he really is, that’s an outrageous comment to make.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10876297

  42. Ross 42
    17 September 2014 at 9:32 am

    Bryan,

    I listened to the interview with Ferguson. Didn’t he make it clear that a warrant was required *before* any surveillance could take place? (Of course if that were the case, then any investigation into an individual wouldn’t capture any evidence that may have existed up until that point in time.)

    • alwyn 42.1
      17 September 2014 at 2:11 pm

      I had another careful listen to the piece and he does claim that a warrant must be available and that they can only look, or listen to things that have happened AFTER they have the warrant.
      That was the purpose of him saying that Espiner had the way it worked wrong and then explained it again.
      He never says that they have access to material that comes from a time prior to their getting a warrant.
      You have to listen to it quite carefully though. I can see why Bryan Gould got it wrong.

      • McFlock 42.1.1
        17 September 2014 at 2:41 pm

        🙄
        If a warrant only allows analysts to look at data gathered after the warrant is signed, then there’s no point in the mass storage of metadata in the first place. It can be gathered at any exchange or server from the time of targeted activation, just like standard law enforcement wiretaps.

      • lprent 42.1.2
        17 September 2014 at 3:01 pm

        I just find that kind of argument is splitting hairs on a useless basis.

        A lot of the issue for me is that they are collecting the information at all *before* they have a warrant.

        Think about it. If that was the case for a phone tap or any other form of surveillance, then that would require a whole review by the courts before it could be used. But apparently not in the case of internet traffic, Skype calls, etc etc.

        Then there is the “chinese wall” defence that Ferguson put up. They don’t look before they get a warrant when they have the information already available? Pull the other one. I simply don’t believe them.

        The only real way to be sure that the spooks and their overseas “hands” aren’t looking for something to get a warrant over is to remove temptation. Don’t collect the information.

        It is damn hard to see what they have been doing with the information that is useful in the first place.

        • alwyn 42.1.2.1
          17 September 2014 at 5:38 pm

          Where do you get evidence that “they are collecting the information at all *before* they have a warrant. ”
          As I read Ferguson he was denying that it was being collected, which is I think what Key claims also. What Ferguson seemed to be saying was that they collect material AFTER the warrant is issued but don’t look at anything that is not covered by the warrant.
          If for example they had a warrant to tap your landline and in doing so they recorded your daughter talking to her boyfriend this would have to be immediately deleted. (And it is only an example. I have no reason to think they suspect you, or that you have a daughter etc etc.)

  43. sable 43
    17 September 2014 at 12:40 pm

    I don’t agree. I have read a number of pieces by this guy and I feel he comes across as strongly right leaning….

    In my opinion if you want objective investigative journalism in NZ visit a blog (obviously not old you know who) or look to independent journo’s who operate outside the machinery of the MSM in NZ.

  44. Scottie 44
    17 September 2014 at 1:10 pm

    Maybe simple logic might also tell us when the Government tries to seek out information on persons of interest it may well not be there. That would be because there is no mass intelligence gathering of NZ citizens. I’m sure NZ and every country in the world do however pay attention to people it has identified as high risk. Maybe we should wait until some terrorist group blows up a bus or a nightclub here and then think about why we should have known about their activities?

    • McFlock 44.1
      17 September 2014 at 2:48 pm

      maybe mass surveillance and close alignment with US intelligence services will increase the attractiveness of NZ as a target. Maybe we’re better off not relying on the same US intelligence services who failed to warn us of the only terrorist act committed by foreign agents in New Zealand, in 1985.

      Maybe the only real way to beat terrorists is not to be a paranoid chickenshit in the first place, rather than destroying every New Zealander’s freedom for fear of a few nutbars.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Determining the Engine Type in Your Car
    Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • How to Become a Race Car Driver: A Comprehensive Guide
    Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • How Many Cars Are There in the World in 2023? An Exploration of Global Automotive Statistics
    Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • How Long Does It Take for Car Inspection?
    Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • Who Makes Mazda Cars?
    Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • How Often to Replace Your Car Battery A Comprehensive Guide
    Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • Can You Register a Car Without a License?
    In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the Rule If you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • Mazda: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Reliability, Value, and Performance
    Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • What Are Struts on a Car?
    Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • What Does Car Registration Look Like: A Comprehensive Guide
    Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • How to Share Computer Audio on Zoom
    Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • How Long Does It Take to Build a Computer?
    Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • How to Put Your Computer to Sleep
    Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • What is Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT)?
    Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • iPad vs. Tablet Computers A Comprehensive Guide to Differences
    In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • How Are Computers Made?
    A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • How to Add Voice Memos from iPhone to Computer
    Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • Why My Laptop Screen Has Lines on It: A Comprehensive Guide
    Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • How to Right-Click on a Laptop
    Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • Where is the Power Button on an ASUS Laptop?
    Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • How to Start a Dell Laptop: A Comprehensive Guide
    Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Serious populist discontent is bubbling up in New Zealand
    Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    13 hours ago

  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
    In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset Gateway Laptop A Comprehensive Guide
    A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
    “You talking about me?”  The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
    Bowalley Road
    16 hours ago

  • A crisis of ambition
    Roger Partridge  writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    16 hours ago

  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    16 hours ago

  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
    Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    17 hours ago

  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
    Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    18 hours ago

  • The worth of it all
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    21 hours ago

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    23 hours ago

  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    23 hours ago

  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    23 hours ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    24 hours ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    24 hours ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    24 hours ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    24 hours ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    24 hours ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    24 hours ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    1 day ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-20T16:09:06+00:00