A random impertinent question about Donghua Liu

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 pm, February 21st, 2015 - 61 comments
Categories: john key, scoundrels - Tags: ,

Donghua Liu John Key

I am writing a post about the Donghua Liu timeline for tomorrow but one question jumps up and I wonder what the answer is.  Crowdsourcing help would be appreciated.

Today the Herald announced that Liu donated to the National Party the sum of $25,000 in August 2013.  It was said that the donation was to Jami Lee Ross’s Botany campaign.

Liu does not appear to be a details person.  His comments about the donation to Labour which includes a rowing club and a Chinese cement factory reinforce this.  Did he intend to donate it to Ross and not National?

The amount, $25,000, is above the the amount that can be donated anonymously to a party.  It has to be declared.

The National return for 2013 donations does not appear to include this particular donation.  It was dated April 30, 2014 and this is after the problems with Liu and Maurice Williamson became public but a day before Williamson’s resignation.

And it does not appear in Lee-Ross’s return of pecuniary interests.

So have I missed something or is National trying to pull a swifty?

61 comments on “A random impertinent question about Donghua Liu ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Gruntie 1
    21 February 2015 at 8:39 pm

    That’s why they “gave it back”
    So they can say they never used it – cos they know it stinks of corruption- again

  2. dv 2
    21 February 2015 at 8:44 pm

    Does giving it back mean they didn’t need to declare it?

    • mickysavage 2.1
      21 February 2015 at 8:47 pm

      If it has been returned immediately I am not sure but according to the Herald it was returned over 12 months later.

  3. joe90 3
    21 February 2015 at 8:48 pm

    First the Hurricanes, now this – (▰˘◡˘▰)

  4. Anne 4
    21 February 2015 at 9:33 pm

    Last night, Jami-Lee Ross said he did not intend to insult Mr Liu and any negative publicity associated to the businessman was not the reason the $25,000 was returned.

    He said the Liu donation was given to be used in the local Botany campaign, but was not spent as a $24,000 donation from the National Party covered his expenses.

    “So when the [donation and expense] returns were being put together after the election, it was decided the $25,000 should be returned to the donor because it was not used.

    Will anyone fall for that load of gobbledygook? The National Party returning money? An amateurish attempt to cover up the existence of the donation I’ll be bound.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11405494

    • mickysavage 4.1
      21 February 2015 at 9:43 pm

      There is a sense of desperation and Crosby Textor designed lines to avoid the proposition that National and/or Lee-Ross should have declared the donation but did not. And I get the feeling Lee-Ross is being offered up as a scape goat.

      • Anne 4.1.1
        21 February 2015 at 9:46 pm

        Don’t forget Lee-Ross figures prominently in “Dirty Politics” – a mate of Slater’s.

        • Lanthanide 4.1.1.1
          22 February 2015 at 8:28 am

          You mean, is mentioned a couple of times in passing?

          • Anne 4.1.1.1.1
            22 February 2015 at 9:15 am

            More than that Lanthanide. He was a regular communicator with Slater. He’s mentioned in email dispatches quite a few times. His candidacy was actively supported by Slater although in the latter part of the book there appeared to be some disagreement or parting of the ways.

        • linda 4.1.1.2
          22 February 2015 at 9:39 am

          he a very good mate of slug boy, as a side note does anyone know anything about the 400 names given to shonkey by the chinas president.

      • Paul 4.1.2
        21 February 2015 at 9:56 pm

        Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy…..

      • whateva next? 4.1.3
        21 February 2015 at 9:58 pm

        yet, I don’t think $25,000 would have been donated if it were only Lee-Ross who went for dinner

      • Clemgeopin 4.1.4
        21 February 2015 at 11:29 pm

        “And I get the feeling Lee-Ross is being offered up as a scape goat”

        He often comes across as bit of a goat in his comments anyway!

        Now may be being readied to be the sacrificial goat in this Chinese year of the goat.

    • Clemgeopin 4.2
      21 February 2015 at 11:13 pm

      These corrupt bastards think that they can fool most of the people all the time.
      Lucky our National party politicians aren’t in China where they shoot the buggers!

  5. whateva next? 5
    21 February 2015 at 9:52 pm

    I think it was returned 14 months later?, accusations around Cunliffe having “supported” him years prior to his charge, fall a bit flat now……no wonder these guys are so loaded with scruples of sewer rats.

  6. Neil 6
    21 February 2015 at 10:05 pm

    Something stinks here & its emanating from this donation not being declared, you’re quite right there Mickey, I looked at that to about it not in their declaration & seen it wasn’t listed. This has surely got to be a major embarrassment to Key that he has been caught out blatantly lying & also goes to show how much The Herald is in the Nats pockets.

  7. Stuart Munro 7
    21 February 2015 at 10:27 pm

    The Herald’s behaviour in this is particularly disgusting – Cunliffe – writes a form letter: told to resign – Key accepts a donation and illegally conceals it: that’s ok, the Herald fully endorses political corruption.

  8. Ovid 8
    21 February 2015 at 10:27 pm

    Did Liu get a receipt? Did he claim the donation with the IRD? If so, did he return any tax refund when he got the donation back?

  9. Upnorth 9
    21 February 2015 at 10:32 pm

    It was returned that what matters – lets be fair here, Labour did retrospective donation law changes, and all parties dont declare time donated in lieu (no pun intended).

    Review the law on donations

    See here is how I see it:
    Anyone who makes a 10.00 or a 1m donation has the same objective – keep the govt of the day in power or help change govt. The motives are the same no matter the value.

    There is zero difference – see PSA donated a huge amount of resources to change the govt and laws at the last election – is that going to be declared by the left bloc – NO.

    Of course the Nats knew and of course Labour knew – the decision was to refund and has been done. If it hadnt then I agree on full frontal assualt.

    Solution
    Monthly returns – that will keep the papework tight and take out any time line conspiracies

  10. irascible 10
    21 February 2015 at 10:34 pm

    The Herald’s story implies that Ross gave Lui back his original cheque – 15 months after the donation was given him…and then, immediately after the HO of the National Party donated the same amount to Ross’s campaign account.
    This has the look of COVER UP and corruption around both Key and Ross. I look forward to John Armstrong and the Herald Editorial calling for the immediate resignation of all involved. (fat chance!)

  11. Rob 11
    21 February 2015 at 10:39 pm

    Where is John Armstrong when you need him eh?
    John key will probably not remember the dinner but that will not be a problem either eh!

  12. tc 12
    22 February 2015 at 7:29 am

    Nothing a little retrospective law under urgency cant fix, gee its good to be king and rule over the land as we please.

    worse case they throw JLR under the bus, hes tainted by DP and botanys due for another dodgy nat mp anyway. Could get a discount down at sockpuppet warehouse while they shop for northland and stash a few away for laters.

  13. mary_a 13
    22 February 2015 at 7:44 am

    Dirty cash, dirty activities, dirty politics, dirty money laundering, all involving one very dirty PM!

    More odious stench of corruption!

    Hardly surprising is it, given John Key is leading a very filthy game?

  14. coaster 14
    22 February 2015 at 8:08 am

    Did they bank the chq?. If they did it should have been declared.

    im starting to think national arnt that corrupt, there just hopeless at managing anything, but are good at covering there arses after they have stuffed up.

  15. Visubversaviper 15
    22 February 2015 at 8:31 am

    The Herald story says that the donation was mde to the “Botany Cabinet Club”. These Cabinet Clubs are part of the Nats atempt to disguise who is giving them $$$$.

  16. john 16
    22 February 2015 at 9:06 am

    If the money was returned after the electoral return was filed them common sense dictates it should have been included in the return. They charged porr old Banksy for the same re Kim Dotcom

    • rawshark-yeshe 16.1
      22 February 2015 at 10:48 am

      Actually John, no, they didn’t. Banks’ prosecution was regarding a mayoral election campaign.

  17. Andrew Geddis 17
    22 February 2015 at 9:08 am

    According to the NZ Herald story:

    Outside court, he told the Herald he gave $25,000 to Mr Ross through the “Botany Cabinet Club” and “subsequently this amount was refunded”.

    We don’t know much about how these “Cabinet Clubs” work, but it is possible that National has set them up so that in theory donations made to them are a “candidate donation” to an individual electorate organisation. As such, they don’t have to be declared until after the next general election (rather than annually, as is the case for party donations) and Lee-Ross doesn’t have to include it in his declaration of pecuniary interests (campaign donations are exempted from this).

    • mickysavage 17.1
      22 February 2015 at 9:23 am

      Thanks Andrew. I was under the impression that cabinet club donations were declared by the party.

      TV3 said the following in an article last year (http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/paying-club-gets-access-to-national-mps-2014050616#axzz3SPdXUirs):

      3 News can reveal details about a fundraising network used by the National Party to get donations in exchange for access to MPs and ministers.

      The Green Party is calling it a secret racket, but because the donations are declared there are no rules broken.

      The first rule of Cabinet Club is you do not talk about Cabinet Club. Four National MPs 3 News spoke with said they were not sure what it was.

      The National Party holds 42 electorate seats which fundraise through functions.

      Supporters pay a fee or donation to the party to attend three or four “informal luncheon/breakfast get-togethers”. They get access to ministers who attend, though the party claims “not in a ministerial capacity”.

      MPs choose how their Cabinet Clubs are run. It’s what National MP Nick Smith calls “pizza politics”.

      …

      The National Party won’t say how much it makes from Cabinet Club. Donations between $1500 and $15,000 are declared but anonymous.

      National received 185 anonymous donations in that threshold last year, raising $866,000.

      The return is here (http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/plain-page/attachments/national_party_donations_return_2013.pdf)

      I took it from the article that the donations were declared.

      • Andrew Geddis 17.1.1
        22 February 2015 at 9:58 am

        I guess the devil is in this detail:

        MPs choose how their Cabinet Clubs are run. It’s what National MP Nick Smith calls “pizza politics”.

        If Lee-Ross is spruiking for personal donations (rather than party ones) then he can hide them away until after the election. Maybe other clubs are run in a different way?

        (Note, but – $25,000 buys a hell of a lot of pizza!)

      • Clemgeopin 17.1.2
        22 February 2015 at 10:52 am

        Was this latest issue covered by TV1 or TV3 news yesterday or not?

    • Anne 17.2
      22 February 2015 at 9:37 am

      Thanks for that Andrew Geddis.

      I think we can safely say the primary purpose of the “Cabinet Clubs” are/were to effectively ‘launder’ some of their donations.

      They lost much of their previous ‘laundering’ strategy when the Clark government changed the Electoral Act. Large donations were deposited in $9,999 lots and that way they didn’t have to declare them. It was also a strategy practiced by ACT in the 1990s and early 2000s. In those days John Boscawen was in charge of their finances, so it was no surprise to me when he spear-headed the “DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK” meme (ably supported by the NZ Herald) later that decade. He would have been sore at having his cosy little number pulled out from under his feet.

    • Stuart Munro 17.3
      23 February 2015 at 1:20 am

      Yeah – it’ll be like the shell fishing companies that employ the slave workers – no NZ company is ever liable for anything. Bad enough at sea, in politics it’s worse.

  18. freedom 18
    22 February 2015 at 9:12 am

    I’ll just leave this here, again

    Want to get some transparency into the funding of politics in New Zealand?

    Perhaps it Is time for an Election Donation Register of New Zealand ?

    THE EDRNZ:
    The EDRNZ is an escrow body which collects and distributes donations for all local and central government election candidates and or political parties.

    Any party or individual standing in local or central government elections registers with the EDRNZ and is paid donated monies minus an administrative tax.

    A handling fee is applied on all donations for administration of the EDRNZ.
    This could be a small tax deducted from the donation itself.

    KiwiBank is an obvious choice to administrate the fund.

    All donations are deposited and logged with the EDRNZ then distributed to the relevant party or individual. With modern banking on-line processes this would be an efficient near instantaneous transaction from donation to EDRNZ to candidate. (especially quick if the candidate banked with KiwiBank)

    it would also be completely transparent and accountable to the current agencies tasked with overseeing the funding mechanisms of NZ politics.

    DONATIONS:

    Private donations below $1,000 can be anonymous but are still declared on a public register.

    Any individual or private donation over $1000 is not anonymous and is declared on a public register.

    Any donations from a business or charity are not anonymous and are declared.

    Donations from a trust, of any amount, would not be anonymous and must be declared on the register. Occasional audits of the anonymous “private donations” should show up attempts to circumvent this.

    Any private donation of any amount not made in the name of a NZ citizen or resident of NZ would not be anonymous and must be declared on the public register.

    All cash donations, bucket collections, electoral office collections and ‘raffle’ sales etc are processed/declared as per origin of funds. -this is an obvious grey area for cases where this total exceeds $1000 but it is hardly an insurmountable obstacle.

    The circumstances of its collection would show the totals were legitimate. E.g. the deposit slip from bucket collections. Large single donations (over the $1000 limit) are very rare from a bucket day (I am confident dodo eggs would be more common).

    If such a donation was made however, a donor’s details could easily be logged by the collector or alternatively the donation can be made using any number of modern technical services such as mobile Eftpos and Square, for example.

    THE PUBLIC REGISTER:
    Your vote is your vote and that should always be private information between you and the relevant electoral body. When it comes to political donations however, I strongly feel if you don’t want people to know you donated to a particular party then why are you donating to that party?

    I am confident NZ could produce a public register detailing the donated amount with an associated donor identity that does so without signing away excessive amounts of private data. The Addresses or locality of the donor for example need not be specific or even public, but would of course be available to the proper agencies if any irregularities had to be investigated. The transfer of data to the EDRNZ Public Register would not need to be instantaneous and a weekly or even monthly update would suffice.

    It would not be difficult to shape a register with the suitable oversights, which also provides the necessary social protections.

    There are numerous opportunities to massively overcomplicate the environment of a body like EDRNZ, and despite the spin-doctored wailing and the gnashing of teeth from some heavily invested interest groups, the actual mechanics of its operation are incredibly straightforward and there is no reason for it not to operate efficiently and most importantly, transparently.

    Transparency in the funding of politics … it is not difficult.

  19. linda 19
    22 February 2015 at 9:50 am

    let not forget the 400 names chinas president give shonkey and shonkey didn’t seem overly happy about in .

  20. adam 20
    22 February 2015 at 12:03 pm

    I’m confused – if you get a gift and it’s worth a lot of money – in this case almost twice the basic income of a single person on a benefit.

    Why would you hold on to said gift for longer than a year with the intention of giving it back?

    Why would you then have to use spin, to explain said gift?

    And finally, how many people can the PM throw under the bus – till his backbench revolts?

  21. Treetop 21
    22 February 2015 at 12:07 pm

    How many names does Donghua Liu go by?

    Have all names been checked?

  22. ropata:rorschach 22
    22 February 2015 at 12:24 pm

    In business, to accept gifts of any kind from suppliers are a huge ethical violation.
    Undeclared conflicts of interest when tendering work are automatic disqualifiers.
    These kinds of deals are called kickbacks and bribes, and totally illegal.

    But ethics for sale seems to be built in to National’s DNA.

  23. scotty 23
    22 February 2015 at 12:32 pm

    Armstrongs ‘ next Herald column should be a beauty.

    His demand for Key to resign ,over the latest Donghua Liu donation scandal – should segue nicely into his overdue apology to David Cunliffe

    • adam 23.1
      22 February 2015 at 2:30 pm

      scotty – If Armstrong apologise to Cunliffe – me who has love of labour – will give the Kelston labour MP a donation.

    • Stuart Munro 23.2
      23 February 2015 at 1:21 am

      Nah, it’ll be an exhaustive critique of Russel Norman’s hairstyle.

  24. SMILIN 24
    22 February 2015 at 1:11 pm

    Appears Chancellor Key is true to form of his tenure as PM
    When is the whole country going to learn the phrase “Sovereign Nation “

  25. Rolf 25
    22 February 2015 at 2:32 pm

    Be a bit more sensitive instead of always throwing dirt on and persecuting China and Chinese. Every piece of dirt slinging means one less kiwi affair with the Chinese, one less bottle milk sold in China and one less can of formula sold in China. etc. In China, if a politician helps a Chinese in business then it is normal, an unwritten obligation, and not corruption to support his party or group. China has today nine political parties. In China, the money is handed to the politician, who hands it to his party. In New Zealand it is different when politicians try to help business. . Kiwis need to understand that all the rest of the world does not follow Kiwi culture or laws. Now kiwis are just freezing themselves out of the entire Asian community, and instead borrowing money to sustain their welfare.

    • Clemgeopin 25.1
      22 February 2015 at 2:47 pm

      Rolf, you unethical idiot. What you are advocating is that we Kiwis should become a corrupt country just like those corrupt countries.

      We DON’T need to do that. We must NOT do that. Instead, let them do business in an ethical manner using our liberal laws and institutions that have good ethical rules and lawful procedures.

      We shouldn’t want to sell or do business with corrupt countries/officials using any dirty/unethical/unlawful means.

      It is astonishing that any worthwhile person of character and integrity will even advocate what you are stating. Unbelievable. Do you know that the Chinese government even shoots their corrupt when found guilty?

      I read that the Chinese president has given Key a list (400?) of Chinese immigrants here to be deported back to face charges!

      No, I do not condone capital punishment. But I most certainly do not condone corruption. You shouldn’t too. No one should.

  26. ianmac 26
    22 February 2015 at 2:55 pm

    Note Mickey has new post up re the Donation.

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  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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