All in the family

Written By: - Date published: 11:52 am, February 26th, 2012 - 91 comments
Categories: public services, scoundrels - Tags:

A couple of months after Hekia Parata was promoted to Education Minister (seemingly solely on her showing in Mana, certainly not on the strength of her performance as Acting Energy Minister), her sister has been promoted to a very senior position in the Ministry of Education created especially for her with no open selection process, below only the Nats’ UK import who now heads the ministry having previously championed the failed charter schools programme over there.

It seems a lot of the Parata clan are experiencing good fortune lately – her husband got a sweet gig ‘explaining’ asset sales to iwi, and several relatives got jobs in her ministerial office.

Political appointments to boards are one (undesirable) thing – at least they have a political function. Nepotism in public service roles is quite another.

Still, they say Parata has quite a record of personal grievances taken by staff – maybe her family are the only people who will work for her.

91 comments on “All in the family ”

  1. fabregas4 1

    Lets just wonder about the hallabaloo that would ensue if I appointed my sister as Deputy principal at my school – when the school didn’t have a Deputy principals role and there was no open job selection process!

    • happynz 1.1

      Yup. Imagine the blowback.

      The situation in other countries must be dire when New Zealand is held up as a model of transparency and corruption-free governance.

    • grumpy 1.2

      Surely, as an education professional, you knew she had been appointed since 2007?

  2. fender 2

    This robotic-retoric-reciting plastic woman is a crook so therefore fits in very nicely with Key and his band of nation-wrecking fuckwits.

  3. CnrJoe 3

    oh Heckled Pariah, how I wish you were still cheerleading for Petrobras in our Ngati Porou homeland. ^miss*u

    • marsman 3.1

      CnrJoe I was in your homeland over XMas and Parata’s name came up re Petrobras and I was told ‘cousin Hekia is an arsehole’.

      • Colonial Viper 3.1.1

        Well whoever said that is probably just envious that they didnt get gifted a high paid Ministerial position.

        • marsman 3.1.1.1

          C V . No not at all, they were thinking of their ancestral fishing grounds and how Hekia was trying to shit on them.

          • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1.1

            Sorry MM, I probably should have used /sarc tags.

            Thanks for the info.

          • Macro 3.1.1.1.2

            I was fortunate enough to go to the earth day event last year at the Auckland Town Hall where James Hansen was the guest speaker and Ngati Porou were present seeking support for their stance and protest. Ianmac’s comment about H Parata’s speech was interesting because the main speaker for Ngati Porou was a young woman with a young child on her hip and she was outstanding!
            There is a long hard fight ahead of us all, here in the Coromandel, on the East Coast, and on the South West coast.
            The sooner this shower are gone the better.

    • muzza 3.2

      http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=22251

      Yeah like a bad case of jock itch, only she will be harder to get rid of.

      It how we roll in NZ – No corruption here…

  4. ianmac 4

    I was very impressed with Minister of Education Parata’s 17 minute speech to a teachers conference in January. A full on fluent structured speech full of passion and flair and not a note in sight! So as a public speaker she is magnificent. Can’t think of any MP from any party who could do it better.

    However, the subtle hint of Education upheavals to come lurks beneath the fluent delivery. There is probably a ruthless streak at work there, which will make Tolley look like a pansy.
    And Nepotism is a gnat to to her progress and instantly treated with thumb squirting disdain.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1

      Parata is not to be underestimated. Unlike Tolley, who could never be underestimated.

    • fender 4.2

      IMO she looks better suited to endorsing useless products in infomercials than something important like education.

  5. fabregas4 5

    Any state servant laws broken here – if the position wasn’t advertised? (have to say her sister is well thought of – mostly).

  6. deemac 6

    in the UK they have finally banned the use of relatives as publicly-funded political assistants after several high profile cases of abuse of the system. The fact that many MPs employed relatives quite properly is beside the point – the public lost cofidence when they saw the rorts.

    • Macro 6.1

      Something we could well adopt here!
      And as an addendum – all the “hangers on” and mates as well.
      Both sides are as guilty of it – but this is an outstanding example of nepotism.

      • grumpy 6.1.1

        ….but……she is not employed by the Minister but by the Ministry – there is a subtle difference, but hey, let’s not let the truth get in the way of a good story.

        • Anne 6.1.1.1

          let’s not let the truth get in the way of a good story.

          I agree. Like Hekia Parata’s claim it had nothing to do with her. Nah, of course not. The ministry appointed the sister of their political boss quite by chance. I mean, they didna even not know she was the boss’s sister?

          Pull the other one!

          • Grumpy 6.1.1.1.1

            Yet according to fabregas, she is highly regarded. Are you saying she should not have got the job because she is Hekia’s sister?

            Some families just seem to be full of high fliers, surely something for others to aspire to.

            • Macro 6.1.1.1.1.1

              The post wasn’t even advertised.
              It’s a senior appointment.
              The minister actually has a say in such appointments.
              What part of Nepotism don’t you understand?

              • Anne

                The post wasn’t even advertised.

                Worse than than that. It didn’t exist. It was created for Madam Minister’s sister. Former Deputy Secretary, Rawiri Bell appears, at best, to have been shunted sideways to make way for Apryll Parata… at worst, demoted to an inferior position.

                It was not about who was the best or most deserving person for the job. Ms Parata may be competent and have experience, but she got it on the basis of who she was. Disgraceful.

                • seeker

                  Spot on Anne. However, I think “disgraceful” is an understatement and am trying to think of a more semantically robust and yet accurate descriptor of this abhorrent situation. It appears to be another little uncivilised, self serving, mordor-formed gem from Key’s unsavoury government.

                  • Anne

                    You may consider “disgraceful” an understatement seeker, but I can assure you it was typed with considerable vehemence – like… bashing the keyboard. 🙂

                    • grumpy

                      I suggest you save your “disgraceful” for Chris Carter. How could he appoint to a high position, a person who was the sister of a future National Cabinet Minister?? Had he no idea??? Did the name “Madeline Setchell” mean nothing to him.

                      Hardly any wonder he’s been banished to Kabul (a job he got, apparently, entirely on his own merits).

                    • seeker

                      Understand totally Anne. Hope your key board survived the “brought on by more distasteful – cunning -conniving- national government behaviour” onslaught!!!

                • Macro

                  Yes you are right Anne – I forgot to add that to the list.
                  I just can’t understand why Key hasn’t wheeled Ms Parata into his office and asked what the heck is going on? It reeks!

                  • Draco T Bastard

                    I just can’t understand why Key hasn’t wheeled Ms Parata into his office and asked what the heck is going on?

                    Because he knows exactly what’s going on (nepotism) and fully supports it. In NActs world it’s all about looking after your family and your retainers/masters and screwing everybody else.

                    • grumpy

                      Turns out she’s been in the job since 2007 …….

                      Quotation from Greens spokesperson Catherine Delahunty:

                      “It’s not someone who is coming in from the outside with no knowledge. It does become interesting when it’s two sisters running the Ministry of Education because it does sound to the public like it puts power in the hands of one family.”

                      She said her main concern was about the direction the ministry was taking, not the personnel.

                      Looks like Greens are OK, just Labour because of her sister – anyone remember Madeline Setchell????????????

                    • Draco T Bastard

                      Turns out she’s been in the job since 2007

                      If it’s the same job then why is it portrayed as a as a new position?

                      There are two points that make the appointment dodgy:
                      1.) It wasn’t advertised
                      2.) The possibility that the minister had a hand in the appointment.

                      She said her main concern was about the direction the ministry was taking, not the personnel.

                      And here’s me thinking that it was the personnel who drove the direction…

                    • seeker

                      +1 unfortunately DTB. Having worked for the Director Education Practice at Gardiner Parata Ltd since 1997 she will be used to business and education and be perfect at assisting in facilitating the setting up of Charter schools

  7. Macro 7

    Quite frankly this is conscionable behaviour.
    Where is our Media?
    Where are the ethical standards of a Prime Minister who allows this sort of thing to occur? Oh! that’s right! I forgot there aren’t any for this “shower”.
    The sooner this lot are out of office the better.

  8. Zetetic 8

    course, the real irony is that Tories are all anti-public service until they can use it to suck on the taxpayers’ teat

    • Macro 8.1

      Exactly! – but that’s all they are interested in is it not? Themselves.

    • Colonial Viper 8.2

      Yep same as subsidies and welfare for corporates and the rich. No problem with any of those.

    • burt 8.3

      Zetetic

      I’m absolutely behind you 100% of the way.

      But while we are about resetting the bar lets discuss what that means, and how we have it stay reset next time your team take the levers and they themselves suckle from the teat of good family fortune.

      Perhaps we could audit the appointments and if any are found to be inappropriate then, well then… , um I guess people could just pay the money back and move on?

      • Macro 8.3.1

        I think we ALL agree on this burt.
        UK have legislation forbidding such practice and we should follow suit.
        And as I suggested earlier, mates and hangers on as well.

  9. Santi 9

    I expect the brave PSA to jump at her defense. Wait a minute…..

    • Colonial Viper 9.1

      Why? Which of Parata’s relatives is losing their public service job?

      • muzza 9.1.1

        Given her background, it seems they are continuing a long running lineage of public service…

        She was also a Senior Executive Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

        Guess some people are just more likely to be in charge of the rif raf than others eh!

    • burt 9.2

      Santi

      Is she a member ?

  10. Rif Raf, do you hear that, I wonder how far up into the National Government that expression comes from as it is the same language my daughter uses as to why National are better to govern.

    She got a university education under Labour, and quickly went up the ranks as she is good at her job. But now we her family are not of the right class so we don’t see her anymore, I guess we are the rif raf, interesting that it is the same terminology, and both come under to John Keys favored few.

  11. james 111 11

    I smell a rat alright not a good look. Reminds when Anette King was Health Minister ,and her husband suddenly began to pick up a whole lot of Health Board contracts.
    These Politicians once they have their snout in the trough they just keep feeding. Thats why we dont want 120 of them

    • Draco T Bastard 11.1

      james the turd proves that he’s a moron – again.

      It’s not the number of MPs that allows them to get away with nepotism but the inscrutability. Quite simply, the public doesn’t know enough to hold them to account.

    • Zetetic 11.2

      if anything, fewer MPs would reduce accountability because each MP and minister would be more powerful and Parliament’s checks and balances would be reduced.

    • Kotahi Tane Huna 11.3

      You can’t even get your puerile bullshit right. Lind was the Chief Operation Officer of Hawkes Bay Health Board. He didn’t tender for any “contracts”.

      Refresh your memory, and please try and keep up.

      The only aspect of your remark that passes the reality check is that Parata’s behaviour is “not a good look”. Sometimes it’s better to keep quiet and be thought a fool that speak up and remove all doubt.

  12. james 111 12

    Yup Kotahi Lind got fed all the good oil so he could pick up the contract. Then Cunliffe fired Hausmann because he knew to much and went to the media. Some of us have good memories not locked in by ideaology. Their snouts in the trough so deep talk about conflicts of interest just like Paratas guess it goes to shw the Labour isnt as white as driven snow in this area im sure I can find some more instances if you want them

    • Descendant Of Smith 12.1

      You mean like this one James.
      http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/call-2-4m-govt-contract-scrutinised-4188236
      No doubt this useless white middle-class parenting program will have been received by all white middle class parents by now – though I’m not sure why my copy hasn’t arrived.
      And of course no connection between the National Party and Parents Inc is there?
      Greg Sheehan CA
      He is a former general manager of the National Party and the Auckland based charity Parent’s Inc.

      • happynz 12.1.1

        Yeah, I remember that whole ‘Tool Box for Parenting’ thing. Paula Bennett’s excuses were about as lame as can be.

        Yeah, I think it is a good idea to re-visit the article linked in the post above. This thing stinks. Has anyone seen any of these toolboxes? Has then been any reviews about the effectiveness of the toolboxes?

        Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said there was no need to go to tender, as Parents Inc had exactly what the Government wanted.

        “They have got the product that we really want for this,” she said.

        “It is really the toolbox that we are buying and no one else has it, so if we put it out for tender someone else would have to create something which is already there.”

        The chief executive of Parents Inc is Bruce Pilbrow who was appointed by Bennett to the Families Commission two years ago

        His resignation from the Government-appointed Families Commission was announced last Tuesday, just two days before the contract was revealed in the Budget.

        Bennett said this was a coincidence.

        “He had absolutely no idea that he was getting this contract so there was no correlation there, in fact when he said he was resigning I obviously knew he was but I couldn’t say to him ‘this was might look a little bit funny’ because he didn’t know so he had to resign at his own will and at his own timing,” she said.

        Pilbrow said he actually told the Minister he wanted to resign from the commission six months ago but he agreed to stay while a new chief executive was appointed.

        He said the award of the contract is the result of hard work building the reputation of the Tool Box.

        “Like any good CEO I have built relationships over the last couple of years,” he said.
        http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/call-2-4m-govt-contract-scrutinised-4188236

        What’s Pilbrow been up to with his CEO bad-self and how well is he doing? (bloody well with a couple of million, I reckon)

        Any feedback on the effectiveness of that toolbox?

        I swear, what an absolute abuse of taxpayer money.

    • Kotahi Tane Huna 12.2

      James111 I’m sure you can find any number of ways to whine and bleat about how “Labour did it too”; that’s why I used the word “puerile.”

  13. grumpy 13

    I call bullshit on this. She hasn’t been promoted, she is one of 7 Deputy Secretaries and was appointed by Labour in 2007.

    Your information is crap.

  14. grumpy 14

    Well, it now appears she was appointed by none other that the Hon. Chris Carter. I don’t think they are related – do you?

  15. Red Rosa 15

    The UK takes the biscuit for corruption stories this week….

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/feb/25/a4e-welfare-emma-harrison-properties

    Breathtaking. I guess NZ just on a smaller scale.

    • Colonial Viper 15.1

      the failure of the Tory government’s contracting out of unemployment services is even more breathtaking. Halving the rate at which the long term unemployed find jobs since the Tories started their corporate ‘workfare’ bull shit is bad.

    • grumpy 15.2

      I didn’t even know Chris had moved on from the UN…………

  16. Colonial Viper 16

    UK’s privatised school academies do worse than state schools

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/feb/25/academny-schools-fewer-gcses-study

    Geez these tories and their hairbrained connivances are shit for kids.

    • grumpy 16.1

      Just as well Chris appointed someone who really knew their stuff eh?

      …and just think, it was way back in 2007……………….

  17. grumpy 17

    Hello??????? …..anybody here??????

    • Descendant Of Smith 17.2

      Deputy Secretary Māori Education: Apryll Parata
       
      Apryll took up the role of Deputy Secretary Māori Education in late February 2007, bringing a wealth of experience in education to this position.
       
      She has taught and held management positions in a number of secondary schools on the East Coast and in the Wairarapa.
       
      Apryll has a BA in Māori Studies from Waikato University and a Diploma of Secondary Teaching. As well as being a teacher she has been Principal of Ngata Memorial College in Ruatoria, a Private Secretary to a Minister of the Crown and has also been the Director Education Practice at Gardiner Parata Ltd since 1997.
       
      Some of her work as a consultant has included working in the area of Maori medium education, and facilitating reviews of planning processes at Te Puni Kokiri.

      Apryll has tribal affiliations with Ngati Porou and Ngai Tahu.

      I’m half on grumpys side – she has been around a while in education at a senior level. The bit I’m not is – I can’t see why if it is not a Ministerial appointment why it wouldn’t be an advertised position.

      • Brooklyn 17.2.1

        Arguably because there wasn’t really a vacancy, the Dep Secs had their portfolios reshuffled as the rest of the organization was reorganized and they took this opportunity to move sis to an inward facing position to avoid potential conflict of interest. No promotion, Just a stupid non-story born of lazy journalism.

  18. fabregas4 18

    All this stuff about Nationals Standards and Charter Schools – this lot say it is because of failing schools and dodgy teachers and principals – now it is the Boards too – if this is true why is most of the western world going down this line – to failure after failure – trying to catch up with us.

  19. Brooklyn 19

    This Story is a load of kak. Apryll Parata’s former position at the MoE, to which she was appointed during the Labour administration, reported directly to the secretary of Education. She’s been moved sideways to a position where she will not be offering advice to the minister. This is not the only inaccuracy in the Herald article.

  20. Ianupnorth 20

    Funny how no-one has remembered Bill English’s brother was gifted a job ‘restructuring’ the Ministry of health – an area he had no knowledge or experience of….

    • felix 20.1

      He was from fed farmers though, so plenty of experience at being a blinkered neo-lib ideologue. Which pretty much matches the job requirements.

    • Colonial Viper 20.2

      yeah the MoH is a shell of what it was three years ago…many senior experienced people who haven’t been pushed have decided to leave ahead of the inevitable. Many to well paying public sector positions in Oz.

  21. Whis i nu sumbody dat wos in gud job,cos i wudnt av to aply fer it,wudnt need cv,
    wudnt need refres,i wud b part of da dweem team,how gud wud dat b (:

  22. hateatea 22

    Simple fact checking would have quickly ascertained that Apryll Parata, a well respected educator has been employed by the Ministry of Education since 2007, while Hekia Parata entered Parliament in 2008 but didn’t become Minister of Education until late 2011.

    I know nothing of other family members being employed by Ms Parata but I agree that the use of Sir Wira Gardiner by the Government to facilitate the hui with iwi was stunningly bad judgement by the PM or whoever decides such things.

    Please note, I am far from being an admirer of Hekia Parata but it would be great if we fact checked just a little for beating her over the head about something that was nothing to do with her 

  23. Adele 23

    Yes, lay off the bashing. I can’t help but think that Parata also being Māori adds fuel to the flame of outraged indignation. Nepotism = Māori like giving jobs to the whanau.

    Thank you Brooklyn for clarifying the story behind the media-spin – which raises another annoyance.

    We all know that the media cannot be relied on for accuracy or fair comment. So in this particular matter why was the media made gospel? Pūkana to the hypocrisy.

    • Anne 23.1

      I can’t help but think that Parata also being Māori adds fuel to the flame of outraged indignation.

      Rubbish Adele. It has nothing to do with Hekia Parata being Maori. But it has everything to do with the arrogant, bumptious political ideology – and the sense of entitlement it gives them – that she and her Nat. Party colleagues have embraced with open arms.

      • muzza 23.1.1

        Well said Anne, Adele is simply out of order using the race card, and hence gets a big F.O from this end! Shame on you Adele, and you forgot to mention, its because she is a Maori Woman, so of course, that we here are all sexists. Maybe she prefers the company of women, and is hard of hearing or partially sighted , all off which of course can be used as diversionary excuses, for the continuation of close quater political appointments, which continues the long standing abuse, regardless of which colour the party flag is!

      • Adele 23.1.2

        Tēnā koe, Anne

        Do not preach to me from some holier than thou place. Fairness is hardly your forte. It seems that neither Hekia or Apryll Parata have acted inappropriately.

        Nepotism it is not – yet you want to continue to crucify both these women like some vengeful nun. Where do you get your sense of entitlement? God?

  24. james 111 24

    Well done Grumpy for exposing the facts no one else will say it! Its strange how quiet it went on here after that.

    I have always said that Chris Carter had alot to answer for aside from his Travel expenses , and poor detectable letter writing skills LMFAO

  25. grumpy 25

    …our work here is done…..now we go to save Open Mike……………

  26. Erima 26

    You guys should do your research properly. Hekia’s sister was the Deputy Secretary Maori in the Ministry of Education long before Hekia every became Minister. What has occurred is a need to avoid a conflict of interest between the Minister and her sister, so the sister has been moved to a position that better reflects that separation and avoids conflict of interest. TRY HARDER TO GET THINGS RIGHT PLEASE

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  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Modern Maori myths
    Michael Bassett writes – Many of the comments about the Coalition’s determination to wind back the dramatic Maorification of New Zealand of the last three years would have you believe the new government is engaged in a full-scale attack on Maori. In reality, all that is happening ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Dreams of eternal sunshine at a spotless COP28
    Mary Robinson asked Al Jaber a series of very simple, direct and highly pertinent questions and he responded with a high-octane public meltdown. Photos: Getty Images / montage: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR The hygiene effects of direct sunshine are making some inroads, perhaps for the very first time, on the normalised ‘deficit ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Oh, the irony
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Appointed by new Labour PM Jacinda Ardern in 2018, Cindy Kiro headed the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms to the welfare system. Kiro had been Children’s Commissioner during Helen Clark’s Labour government but returned to academia subsequently. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Transport Agencies don’t want Harbour Tunnels
    It seems even our transport agencies don’t want Labour’s harbour crossing plans. In August the previous government and Waka Kotahi announced their absurd preferred option the new harbour crossing that at the time was estimated to cost $35-45 billion. It included both road tunnels and a wiggly light rail tunnel ...
    3 days ago
  • Webworm Presents: Jurassic Park on 35mm
    Hi,Paying Webworm members such as yourself keep this thing running, so as 2023 draws to close, I wanted to do two things to say a giant, loud “THANKS”. Firstly — I’m giving away 10 Mister Organ blu-rays in New Zealand, and another 10 in America. More details down below.Secondly — ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago
  • The Prime Minister's Dream.
    Yesterday saw the State Opening of Parliament, the Speech from the Throne, and then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s dream for Aotearoa in his first address. But first the pomp and ceremony, the arrival of the Governor General.Dame Cindy Kiro arrived on the forecourt outside of parliament to a Māori welcome. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • National’s new MP; the proud part-Maori boy raised in a state house
    Probably not since 1975 have we seen a government take office up against such a wall of protest and complaint. That was highlighted yesterday, the day that the new Parliament was sworn in, with news that King Tuheitia has called a national hui for late January to develop a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • Climate Adam: Battlefield Earth – How War Fuels Climate Catastrophe
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). War, conflict and climate change are tearing apart lives across the world. But these aren't separate harms - they're intricately connected. ...
    4 days ago
  • They do not speak for us, and they do not speak for the future
    These dire woeful and intolerant people have been so determinedly going about their small and petulant business, it’s hard to keep up. At the end of the new government’s first woeful week, Audrey Young took the time to count off its various acts of denigration of Te Ao Māori:Review the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Another attack on te reo
    The new white supremacist government made attacking te reo a key part of its platform, promising to rename government agencies and force them to "communicate primarily in English" (which they already do). But today they've gone further, by trying to cut the pay of public servants who speak te reo: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • For the record, the Beehive buzz can now be regarded as “official”
    Buzz from the Beehive The biggest buzz we bring you from the Beehive today is that the government’s official website is up and going after being out of action for more than a week. The latest press statement came  from  Education Minister  Eric Stanford, who seized on the 2022 PISA ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again
    There was another ETS auction this morning. and like all the other ones this year, it failed to clear - meaning that 23 million tons of carbon (15 million ordinary units plus 8 million in the cost containment reserve) went up in smoke. Or rather, they didn't. Being unsold at ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Government’s Assault On Maori
    This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that ...
    4 days ago
  • Rising costs hit farmers hard, but  there’s more  positive news  for  them this  week 
    New Zealand’s dairy industry, the mainstay of the country’s export trade, has  been under  pressure  from rising  costs. Down on the  farm, this  has  been  hitting  hard. But there  was more positive news this week,  first   from the latest Fonterra GDT auction where  prices  rose,  and  then from  a  report ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • ROB MacCULLOCH:  Newshub and NZ Herald report misleading garbage about ACT’s van Veldon not follo...
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  In their rush to discredit the new government (which our MainStream Media regard as illegitimate and having no right to enact the democratic will of voters) the NZ Herald and Newshub are arguing ACT’s Deputy Leader Brooke van Veldon is not following Treasury advice ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Top 10 for Wednesday, December 6
    Even many young people who smoke support smokefree policies, fitting in with previous research showing the large majority of people who smoke regret starting and most want to quit. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Eleven years of work.
    Well it didn’t take six months, but the leaks have begun. Yes the good ship Coalition has inadvertently released a confidential cabinet paper into the public domain, discussing their axing of Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs).Oops.Just when you were admiring how smoothly things were going for the new government, they’ve had ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Why we're missing out on sharply lower inflation
    A wave of new and higher fees, rates and charges will ripple out over the economy in the next 18 months as mayors, councillors, heads of department and price-setters for utilities such as gas, electricity, water and parking ramp up charges. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Just when most ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did We Get Here?
    Hi,Kiwis — keep the evening of December 22nd free. I have a meetup planned, and will send out an invite over the next day or so. This sounds sort of crazy to write, but today will be Tony Stamp’s final Totally Normal column of 2023. Somehow we’ve made it to ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    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 ...
    5 days ago
  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago
  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    5 days ago
  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    6 days ago
  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    6 days ago
  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    6 days ago
  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    6 days ago
  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    6 days ago
  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • First big test coming
    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • The Song of Saqua: Volume III
    Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...
    6 days ago
  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    1 week ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    1 week ago
  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    1 week ago
  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity
    New Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
    The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says.  “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in Dubai
    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Study shows need to remove distractions in class
    The Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Post-Cabinet press conference
    Most weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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