Alfred Ngaro reprimanded for being “naïve”

Written By: - Date published: 7:54 am, May 15th, 2017 - 53 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, censorship, community democracy, democracy under attack, national, Politics, same old national, spin, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: ,

Was Alfred Ngaro’s statement to the Auckland Regional Conference of the National Party evidence of naivety or evidence that National wants to suppress all opposition?

From the Herald:

Associate Housing Minister Alfred Ngaro has been reprimanded and apologised to Prime Minister Bill English for “naïve” comments which appeared to warn Labour candidate Willie Jackson of consequences if he attacked National on its housing policies.

Ngaro’s comments at National’s northern regional conference were reported by Newsroom, which said Ngaro appeared to suggest Willie Jackson could lose Government support for his organisation’s bid for a second charter school and Whanau Ora contracts should Jackson criticise National on the campaign trail.

“We are not happy about people taking with one hand and throwing with the other,” Ngaro reportedly said.

Newsroom reported he had issued a warning “not to play politics with us:” “If you get up on the campaign trail and start bagging us then all the things you are doing are off the table.

Jackson was the head of the Manukau Urban Maori Authority which runs a charter school in Mangere and has a Government contract to deliver the Whanau Ora social programme.

Naive? Is this the best they can come up with? He threatened everyone who criticises the Government with having the prospects of contracts with the Government being removed. This is third world banana republic stuff.

But this is the defence that National is running.

Finance Minister Steven Joyce said the comments were inappropriate and Ngaro had apologised to English, deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett and Joyce.

“He got a bit carried away. It’s not the way we operate. We work all the time with providers who have different political views. It’s important you do that and we certainly don’t look to take an approach where a provider would get penalised for their political views. It’s fine to disagree with people politically but to make any suggestion it might impact on your relationship with government, that’s where it’s overstepping the mark.”

He put Ngaro’s comments down to a rookie mistake and frustration with the way National’s policies were being portrayed.

“But he realises what he said was over stepping the mark. He’s very disappointed in himself.”

I’m sorry but it is the way that National operates.  If you need evidence then look here and here.  As an early example these women who criticised government benefit policy had their personal details released by Paula Bennett.  Or the Problem Gambling Foundation whose contracts were not renewed for apparently opposing Government policy?

And if you want more detailed information on what is happening then this report prepared on the democratic reality for New Zealand’s community and voluntary sector provides chilling reading. The report’s conclusion is captured in this paragraph:

While New Zealand’s community and voluntary sector organisations have in the past been a strong and necessary voice for the most marginalised of our society, since the 1980s their place in democratic conversations has come under challenge, almost to the point where for some groups the only option is to remain silent. Responses to our survey demonstrate that the community and voluntary sector in New Zealand is not simply silenced by disapproving governments, they have been constrained by the very mode of governance that has come to dominate in the early part of the 21st century. The silencing is achieved by disciplining the sector through state funded contracts which encompass strong managerial requirements for accountability, auditing, measuring, and evaluating outputs. The move from a welfare state to a neo-liberal contract state constrained the conditions that underpin a healthy relationship between the state and the community and voluntary sector. There is a lack of trust between these two sectors; reduced space for experimentation in programme delivery or innovation as new “social issues” arose; and, there was little in the way of a longer term vision for those areas of policy response in which the community and voluntary sector was seen to be responsible (outcomes needed to be achieved with one-off projects in short time frames). The result is a community and voluntary sector that almost continually must check itself to ensure that it does not “bite the hand that feeds it”.

And how naive do we expect our Cabinet Ministers to be?  Don’t they know about the Cabinet Manual and in particular clause 3.16(c) which requires Ministers to take care to ensure that their actions could not be construed as improper intervention in operational or contractual decisions that are the responsibility of the chief executive.  In more healthy democracies this type of event results in Ministers losing their warrant.

To my mind the most upsetting aspect was Ngaro’s threat to Radio New Zealand.  RNZ is a beacon of professional journalistic independence.  Without it the media coverage of this Government would be severely weakened.

Willie Jackson will be complaining to the Prime Minister.  As he should.  Government contracts should not be dependant on the docility of the organisation applying.

Ngaro is an interesting person.  He is part of National’s christian conservative brigade and clearly holds rather authoritarian views.  Views that are clearly out of place in a properly functioning democracy.

53 comments on “Alfred Ngaro reprimanded for being “naïve” ”

  1. rob 1

    Naivety or just a bully boy? smacks of that Collins and blubber boy attack double those that attack them. just more proof of how nasty and vile these rwnj are.

    • Johan 1.1

      “Naivety”, not really! This type of filth is all part of the National Party culture. Collins, the dirty politics coming out of the prime minister’s second office, Paula, and liar John Key all dropping and trying to pick-off individuals. This is typical behaviour of Tory ratbags.

      • In Vino 1.1.1

        Hypocritical too. Truly stupid people do not know that they are stupid. In the same way, I would suggest that truly naïve people do not know that they are naïve. An escape-word from a bunch of spinners. And he apologised to the wrong people… Total idiot, unlikely to go far in politics.
        Maybe Martyn Bradbury has an interesting point – why are Labour not calling for his resignation (Cunliffe’s resignation was called for over a far lesser and totally fictitious matter)? If Blinglish sacks him before Labour has even called for it, is that not a win for National?

  2. lprent 2

    I suspect that the naive part was stating National’s active policy in public. It was too honest for even hypocrites to swallow.

  3. Ad 3

    That distinction between “advocate” and “charitable” when an NGO seeks charitable status is also pretty mean in this country.

    I am particularly looking forward to the Supreme Court decision in the Ruataniwha Dam decision. Forest and Bird is an advocacy organisation that attracts pretty big donors and plenty of pro bono legal grunt. I like supporting them.

    If anyone is considering selling out of Auckland or semi-retiring, worth considering which NGO they could contribute to, to give our remaining nodes of opposition as strong a voice as possible.

  4. That was a great scoop by newsroom. What a dickhead Ngaro is.

    • Johan 4.1

      Darien, how could you say that about one of our minister? After all he is a man of the cloth and knows best;-))))))

  5. ianmac 5

    Wonder if Ngaro’s comments were deliberate. Make a threat, then withdraw it but leave the sense of the message just the same. By getting Ngaro to make the threat on behalf of the big names, that leaves them in the clear. No?

  6. Karen 6

    Toby Manhire on the The Spinoff has written a brilliant analysis of Ngaro” apology and what he is really saying.

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/14-05-2017/alfred-ngaros-heartfelt-apology-what-he-said-and-what-he-meant/

    • RedLogix 6.1

      Exactly. I’ve history with being willing to give people a second chance. We all fuck up; I’m an expert. But this simply does not cut mustard.

      When you look at the Ngaro’s presentation … ‘naive’ does not apply. He knew precisely what he was saying.

      • tc 6.1.1

        Exactly. Calculated threats delivered in an unambiguous manner by a national supercity based througher.

  7. The decrypter 7

    Round one to Jackson. Ngaro is dazed, walked into corner post, Fox is in his corner frantically fanning him with a Maori party towel .

    • mickysavage 7.1

      Heh

    • “Mr Jackson told Morning Report Mr Ngaro’s comments were “unprecedented” and “very disappointing”.

      “I’ve never heard of a minister threatening a community organisation like this.

      “It’s a direct threat and its a worry for me.

      “I’ve got over 100 people who work for me and we serve thousands in our community and we have contracts right across the state sector.”

      He said it was not just about him, it was about the rights of the community.”

      Bill English says he would “go back and check through the decisions Mr Ngaro had made to ensure they were not based on the political views of his opponents”.

      Ngaro has handed this to Jackson on a plate, given him a cudgel with which Jackson can gently beat him, wide-eyed and naively, to a pulp (politically).

  8. North 8

    Don’t believe a shred of this shit – ‘I was naive and wrong and I’ve apologised to the PM (and whichever minister)….’ Smacks of so many past apologies made to Key by his underlings. They’ve still got the message out there – ‘Quit bagging us or we’ll use our power against you….’ Scum they are.

  9. Rosemary McDonald 9

    The Grey/Sedgewick report “Fears, constraints and contracts” linked to in the post is an in depth report on the relationship between NGOs and respective governments.

    While National has taken bullying to a whole new level, under Labour the relationship between NGOs and their associated Ministries was less than perfect and it behooves Those Who Aspire to Lead Us to read the report entire, and take note.

    The enthusiastic embrace of neo liberalism by both Labour and National has ensured that the provision of taxpayer funded services and supports are almost totally dependent on NGOs….in fact…it lends a great deal of credibility for a government to be able to broadcast the fact that relationships have been formed with respected ‘charities’….exploiting the public’s existing trust of such organisations.

    To some of us over the past decade or so….it has become the measure of an organisation’s effectiveness as advocates if the organisation’s government funding is reduced or removed.

    Perhaps the Labour/Green alliance could have a wee(but urgent) think about this issue and come up with a policy toot sweet? 🙂

  10. james 10

    If you need evidence then look here and here.

    There are no hyperlinks in that sentence.

    • Whadda ya think about Ngaro’s threatening behaviour, James? Dirty politics? Unethical? Typical of right-wing politicians? Revealing of National Party thinking?

      • James 10.1.1

        I think the word I would use is disgusting. He should be held to account – an apology is not good enough.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.1.1

          Guilty of telling the truth about existing policy.

          Guilty of letting the mask slip, of exposing the National Party for what it is.

          No wonder he regrets it.

        • The decrypter 10.1.1.2

          Spot on james,

        • Robert Guyton 10.1.1.3

          Well said, James. Little’s selection of Willie Jackson has turned out to be an excellent one, hasn’t it, given the opportunity that’s been presented to him now by Ngaro.

        • mac1 10.1.1.4

          Absolutely, James, and the Prime Minister on Radio NZ this morning had to have the interviewer, Guyon Espiner, point out the relevant Cabinet Manual section pertaining to conduct such as that shown by Ngaro- conduct that English said was ‘wrong’.

          I suspect John Key might have been more proactive, eckshully, on this type of conduct for a Minister.

          • keepcalmcarryon 10.1.1.4.1

            Nah Key would have been relaxed about it.
            Anyone got Ngaros number? Theres a restaurant in Hanmer he’d enjoy.

        • North 10.1.1.5

          Respect for your frankness James.

  11. It’s a Sicilian message
    by Andrew Geddis
    Alfred Ngaro appears to think the Government can stop its critics taking part in government programmes. That’s not just wrong from a political morality standpoint, it’s flat out illegal.”

    “Furthermore, I can’t help but wonder if Ngaro has actually all but guaranteed the Manukau Urban Māori Authority’s success in its future applications to participate in government programmes. Because if it does get turned down, there’s a good chance that it would head off to court to challenge that refusal on the basis that it was motivated by unlawful discrimination.”

    Read more @Pundit

    • Rosemary McDonald 11.1

      “Read more @Pundit” Here…http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/its-a-sicilian-message

      Classic Geddis!

      >>”So if the Government ever were to retaliate against some critical individual or group by refusing it access to a government programme, or blackballing it from future contracts, it would be acting not just wrongly but unlawfully too. Which rather saps the venom from Ngaro’s threat, because I think that there’s no way it could be carried out in the open way needed to send the necessary message.

      Furthermore, I can’t help but wonder if Ngaro has actually all but guaranteed the Manukau Urban Māori Authority’s success in its future applications to participate in government programmes. Because if it does get turned down, there’s a good chance that it would head off to court to challenge that refusal on the basis that it was motivated by unlawful discrimination. “<<

      Hoist by their own petard, no?

      • Jilly Bee 11.1.1

        Just read the Pundit blog by Andrew Geddis – nearly spat my coffee over my keyboard when I read this gem of a reply from Wayne Mapp – copy and paste with all the errors intact! ‘Anyway a rather sharp poltical lesson for Alfred, who is actually a decent person with a guenuie sense of social justice. Not surprising given his role as a Pastor in a relatively poor community.’ Really Wayne, really – I’ve read a few snippets about what a bullying person he was regarding an incident at Tamaki College (?), hardly the actions of a decent person with a genuine sense of social justice.

  12. Just heard English on rnznews – what a useless dick seriously the gnats must be cramping themselves over the tick from dipton.

    • tc 12.1

      They dont care after 3 terms of plunder. Bills there to provide a false sense of authority and control, as he has none over the preset course.

      He will get the last legislative changes rammed through and then park his butt by the band on the stern of their 3rd term ship as it sails towards the GE.

  13. Keith 13

    What a loathsome creep Alfred is but honestly, he is simply the real face of the National Party, one we rarely get to see with such honesty and without all the smoke and mirrors.

    He simply fronted these arseholes true agenda but got snapped in the process. It is without doubt that have been taking away and rewarding dependent on the agencies loyalty to National first and New Zealand a distant last, since they got in, in 2008!

  14. Keith 14

    “it’s not the way we operate”, so says Stephen Joyce. Never a truer word spoken.

    No its not Steve, you have other bover boys doing your dirty work like this so your slimy ministers can pretend their hands are clean. That’s the only difference.

    • tc 14.1

      Yes its an out and out ‘screw you’ and alfred made the mistake of not having somone else do the dirty work.

      probably because he enjoys this type of work himself.

  15. Bill 15

    Is Ngaro’s nonsense going to be the beginning and the end of this? Or used as ‘an in’ to expose the root problem of business priorities being imposed on and wrapped around social issues?

    The silencing is achieved by disciplining the sector through state funded contracts which encompass strong managerial requirements for accountability, auditing, measuring, and evaluating outputs. The move from a welfare state to a neo-liberal contract state constrained the conditions that underpin a healthy relationship between the state and the community and voluntary sector.

    I’m thinking that the use of “constrained” is a nice punch pull there 😉

    Yes, Ngaro was naive to overtly state what ‘everybody knows’.

    Bennet’s unconscionable reaction to Natasha Fuller and Jennifer Johnston is encouraged by the culture of that grows under the shift outlined in the linked “Fears, Constraints and Contracts” report.

    Severing funding for the Problem Gambling Foundation (and I’d pick there’s a fairly long list of others) is enabled by the same.

    Sadly, I’m picking that Ngaro will merely be a whipping boy for a few days and people will celebrate scoring a few hits against National, but that the focus won’t expand to encompass the insidious culture (liberalism) that informs his comments because…yup, that goes beyond just National.

    • Rosemary McDonald 15.1

      >>>”The silencing is achieved by disciplining the sector through state funded contracts…”<<>”When New Zealand’s oldest women’s rights organisation, the National Council of Women, lost their charitable status in 2010, their members fought back, eventually regaining it on appeal in 2013. However, their experience demonstrated the risk to charities in New Zealand who engage in activities that cause embarrassment to the Government and which could be defined as “political advocacy”.”<>>”Big charities are claiming income tax exemptions while small non-profits struggle to gain official charity status under the current rules, a new report says.

      The New Zealand Initiative’s latest report, titled Giving Charities a Helping Hand, calls for the Government to provide greater transparency in the charity sector, set clearer rules and processes, and remove the “unfair” tax advantages enjoyed by the for-profit arms of charity groups. “<<<<

      Total reliance on government funding and an agreement to have only 'official' DPOs (Disabled People's Organisations) collaborating with Ministries and Government has killed disability advocacy in New Zealand. Ditto for the umbrella organisation representing carers.

      The result being that for many of us there is simply no organisation we can approach for real support. We are on our own.

      Result for the Ministry and the Government.

      • Bill 15.1.1

        See, in a post about alleged naivety…shouldn’t a government and its departments be actively seeking out social orgs and finding ways (financial just being one tool in the box) to help them achieve their goals where those goals are deemed to be socially worthy?

        • Rosemary McDonald 15.1.1.1

          You’d have to properly define “social worth”.

          Apologies for how the comment at 15.1 came out…I’m having real issues with formatting at the moment. I’ve either been virussed, (new word, just made it up 🙂 ) or my geriatric lappy is in her death throes.

          • Bill 15.1.1.1.1

            Yup. That’d need defined or debated by society. But at the moment we’re operating under an imposed regime of market friendly measurable indicators that are – devoid of pretty much anything to do with humanity or society.

  16. Tricledrown 16

    Stephen Joyce making excuses for Ngaro when Joyce is the Dirtiest backroom bully doing exactly to any govt funded organization or govt funded research that puts National in a bad light.

    • The decrypter 16.1

      The finger prints of Joyce are all over this. Shows me he is in panic mode over the tactical appointment of Jackson. Maori seat losses spell real trouble for them.

  17. Red Blooded 17

    Wasn’t it Shane Reti threatening locals not to criticise National or they wouldn’t get their road sealed during the Northland By-election, wasn’t it Paula Bennett attacking people publicly who criticised their policy. Most certainly a pattern with this government. Bullies by nature.

  18. Sabine 18

    I will never forget Alfred Ngaro come in to my shop at the last election, demanding to speak to my husband!
    No hello, i am Alfred Ngaro blablablah, no only “is your husband available’.

    So i look at him like ….you are a weird man, and tell him i don’t have a husband. lol

    He was very confused asking me about Mr. XXX and says does he not work here? No, Mr. Ngaro, that man is not my husband, he is my boyfriend, this is my business and he does not work here.

    He literally turned on his heel and left. Mind having a Labour Candidate Rosette, next to the Internet Mana Candidate Rosette thingy on my wall did not help with his confusion.

    but yeah, that man needs to move into the 21st century. Not that i think he is able to, but he does come across as a very oldfashioned klutz.

  19. rhinocrates 19

    Ngaro, Smith, Coleman, Collins, Bennett, Bridges…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iRff_gqxc0

  20. Sacha 20

    Ngaro doubled down in a TV interview after delivering his speech and before Joyce got to him: http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/05/lloyd-burr-alfred-ngaro-s-threat-to-willie-jackson-was-worse-than-just-a-brain-fart.html

  21. JustMe 21

    In the early 80s and referring to a National MP in Muldoon’s government he(this National MP)said to my late father’s boss that because a certain company did not donate to the National government then they, this company, would not receive contracts. In other words veiled threats but a National MP.
    That National MP had a alcohol problem and said such a thing in one of his usual drunken states. But I do believe back then alot of the National MPs have alcohol problems as booze was available and free for them to consume in abundance.
    Here we are in election year 2017 and also very close to the next election.To date we have heard of Paula Bennett happily and without any ounce of remorse providing the names of beneficiaries who have criticised her and the National government to the NZ media. In fact Bennett boasted to anyone listening that she would happily do it again. Where was Bill English’s voice when Paula Bennett was making threats???!! Oh right…. his lack of condemnation at what she said shows he was(and quoting John Key’s pet words) comfortable with what she did. That shows a shallowness when it comes to Bill English.
    After almost 9 years in government the Alfred Ngaro’s of the NZ National Party have become arrogant. They will botch-up time and again and will resort to what they are famous at i.e blaming someone else for THEIR mistakes.
    How many times have we ever heard of National MP admit he or she makes mistakes? Answer: Hardly ever. It’s like they think they are so crash hot and making mistakes is something that happens to commoners(and the Opposition Parties)but never, ever to a National MP.

  22. Ngaro’s a thug.

    Any apology given to the same group and its culture that fostered that sort of thug mentality in the first place is no apology at all.

    If Ngaro truly was repentant he would apologize to the Salvation Army , John Campbell and Willie Jackson , – in private and in public. And THEN be checked against the interpretation of clause 3.16(c) in the Cabinet Manual .

    Then and then only will justice be seen to have been done.

    Until then , that ‘ apology ‘ is nothing more than a cheap hollow fob off of the New Zealand public.

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    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, ...
    18 hours 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, ...
    18 hours 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
    18 hours 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
    19 hours 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
    22 hours 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
    22 hours 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
    23 hours 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
    24 hours ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    1 day ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    1 day ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    1 day ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    3 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    3 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    4 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    5 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    5 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    6 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    6 days ago
  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago
  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    6 days ago
  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 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
    1 hour 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
    12 hours 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
    18 hours 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
    19 hours 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
    21 hours 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
    22 hours 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
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