Ambrose should sue as Police & Key fail Laws 101

Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, March 27th, 2012 - 56 comments
Categories: crime, john key, police - Tags: ,

To say someone broke a law when that hasn’t been proven, and without legal defence, is to defame them. It is a particular issue when a government figure does it because they are effectively imposing an extra-judicial punishment by sullying the person’s reputation.

The rules are strict – remember Clark lost a defamation case for saying a man was a murderer when he was actually convicted of manslaughter.

By saying Bradley Ambrose broke the law when that hasn’t been proven and he hasn’t admitted it, Key and the Police are defaming with the power of the State.

Key said he took his compliant on principle (‘the principle that he should be allowed to slag off voters in a public place and not have it come back to bite him).

Well, there’s an actual principle at play now. Key and the Police cannot be allowed to serve up extra-judicial punishments to whomever they choose by branding them a criminal and then not taking them to court to prove it. That undermines our rule of law and division of powers. Only in the case of summary offences can the Executive judge if a person’s actions are illegal. The offence Ambrose was accused of, and which he has not been found guilty of, is an indictable offence, not a summary one.

Ambrose should sue Key and Assistant Police Commissioner Burgess in defamation for saying what he did was illegal. Judging by the media coverage, he would have plenty of friends to help with his legal bills.

Here’s a sampling of the coverage –

Herald Editorial:

No crime had been committed, despite the police attempt yesterday to save face by claiming the cameraman’s action was “unlawful” or, in a telling show of doubt, “at least reckless”. The lawfulness would have been for a court to decide, but no prosecution will be taken…

….It suited the political times, or so Mr Key’s advisers thought, to turn this into a sprawling week of allegations against the media. We were, predictably and unimaginatively, likened to the News of the World, the UK tabloid closed after hacking a murdered girl’s mobile phone, among many other outrages. Then, Mr Key claimed we would publish parents’ private discussions of suicidal children. And when those preposterous attacks fell flat, he shrugged that the police had time to investigate this case because National had lowered the crime rate.

As it happens, the police took months to locate those who also drank coffee near the two politicians that day, to take pro-forma statements from a range of news photographers and journalists – including one whom they didn’t realise had stayed inside the cafe drinking coffee because he considered it a public place – and to work out a way to let the whole sorry mess drop without further embarrassment.

So a letter from the cameraman, Bradley Ambrose, to the two politicians expressing regret and explaining he meant no harm to them or himself was considered adequate contrition and the Prime Minister agreed with prosecutors that that should be that. The letter was consistent with Ambrose’s sworn evidence in a court action he took at the time.

The police announcement conveniently coincided with Mr Key being in Korea, responding through a brief press release. He noted the police claim the cameraman’s actions were “unlawful” but even he could not try to make much out of this sorry business. He did not believe a prosecution was “now necessary” and thought all could now move on.

Sadly, that should have been his view at the time. It was a stance he seemed incapable of adopting because of a misguided mission to stop what he imagined to be a “slippery slope” of media intrusion. There is no slope, slippery or otherwise, in the coverage of political or public affairs. There is a slippery slope, however, in police inquiries arising from political discomfort. As the police walked away yesterday, there was an unnecessary but chilling sting in the tail. The warning to Ambrose “sends a clear message to media that the recording and distribution of conversations that are considered private is likely to lead to prosecution in the future”. But “considered” by whom?

Vernon Small

Despite his protestations, it would not have damaged Prime Minister John Key much – had he not inflicted the damage on himself.

He could have shrugged and moved on. Even declared it the political cliche it was begging to be called – a storm in a teacup.

But instead he came over all “line in the sand” and righteous indignation.

Of course the media were an easy target and Mr Key was bound to win that battle, especially with the London tabloids in the news so recently last year.

But the slide in his approval was almost palpable on the campaign trail from the time of the stunt; a cosy cuppa with a party doomed to failure without that deal in Epsom.

In the end the teapot stunt scalded Mr Key the most.

Of more concern is the use of the prime minister’s office in the cause of “principle”, the high-handed raids on media organisations and the police putting a private citizen through the grinder.

When a senior police officer effectively declared Ambrose guilty of intent yesterday, without a trial, it turned a bitter taste into a very bad taste in the mouth.

There is no doubt Mr Key got what he wanted: a threat that lasted long enough to keep the sound on the tapes out of the public ear. Oh, and an announcement when Mr Key was well out of the country.

That happy coincidence only adds to the unpleasant flavour.

John Hartevelt

a faint stench still hangs over the whole saga. In the police reckoning, the recording was serious enough to pursue with three part-time staff executing search warrants on newsrooms during an election campaign.

But it was not serious enough that police would bother chasing down whoever it was that published what appeared to be a version of the tape online. What’s more, a simple apology letter appears to have been the key to getting the supposed law-breaker off.

The impression left by the comments of police and Key in the wake of today’s decision is that taking matters any further was just not worth it.

Then why all the fuss in the first place, especially if law-breaking has been established by police? Key got himself, via the law, in front of a mildly embarrassing recording being released during his campaign for re-election.

David Shearer

Labour Party leader David Shearer said Mr Key’s complaint and the subsequent investigation, which occupied three officers part-time, was “a complete waste of time”.

“Four months later, Mr Ambrose comes out with exactly the same statement as he did four months ago and it’s enough to drop the case.”

Though the letter was written eight days ago, “police decide not to pursue the charges three days after John Key goes overseas”, Mr Shearer said. “It’s all too convenient, it seems to me.”

Winston Peters

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the timing of the police announcement suggested an improper degree of co-operation.

“It invites the question as to whether or not there is a parallel discussion wrongfully going on between the government of the day and law enforcement officers.”

Mr Peters said the cafe meeting “was a political stunt against the democratic interest of the country”.

“It came horribly unstuck; he should have the guts to say so.”

56 comments on “Ambrose should sue as Police & Key fail Laws 101 ”

  1. RedLogix 1

    But of course Ambrose won’t sue. He’s been thoroughly monstered by both the Prime Minister and the Police and I personally wouldn’t blame the poor SOB for wanting to put this as far behind him as possible.

    It is of course the big media players who were the real target all along, and reading these editorials, even couched in fairly polite terms… tells us that they’ve gotten the message loud and clear.

    And they don’t like it.

    • marsman 1.1

      Hopefully the MSM will start hounding Key about his nasty policies now as they should have been doing from the word go.

    • deuto 1.2

      Re the possibility that Ambrose may or may not sue for defamation, imo this is still open, based on his interview on Morning Report this morning. In the interview, he actually calls for Key to apologise to him and leaves the question of defamation action open. Ambrose also stated that his giving the recording to the Herald on Sunday arose out of a lightheared conversation with a Herald reporter with the HOS then contacting him and asking for the recording. He also reiterated that he was not paid for it.

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2513845/bradley-ambrose-says-he-may-sue-pm-for-defamation.asx

      • Pete George 1.2.1

        “Ambrose also stated that his giving the recording to the Herald on Sunday …”

        He still hasn’t said how TV3 got the recording?

    • lprent 1.3

      But of course Ambrose won’t sue.

      It is unlikely, it’d cost well above $30k to mount, take at least a year to get to trial, and turns on points of law with few direct local precedents. It’d be risky. He has already had many months with little work due to the PM’s comments which means it’d have reduced his ability to mount such a case.

  2. Tc 2

    You know shonkey and the hollowmen play by their own rules. The police allow themselves to be compromised by the govt when they’re meant to be above that sort of political gaming.
    another fail of our democracy just the way the NACT like it and the MSM only have themselves to blame for being so compliant with Key instead of hammering the deceptive banskta salesman.

  3. Come guys no surprises, politicians after all are human.

    The Spirit in the Gene: Humanity’s Proud Illusion and the Laws of Nature

    «As for pointing to our mental failures with scorn or dismay, we might as well profess disappointment with the mechanics of gravity or the laws of thermodynamics. In other words, the degree of disillusionment we feel in response to any particular human behaviour is the precise measure of our ignorance of its evolutionary and genetic origins.»

    – Reg Morrison

    Politicians will scramble over dead babies to get to the top of the heap.

    • Who cares if it’s a surprise? It’s not acceptable behaviour, it wasn’t when clark did it, and this is honestly a lot worse given that it’s not even arguably a matter of semantics here- if a judge (or jury) doesn’t convict, behaviour is by definition not proven to be illegal.

      • Puddleglum 3.1.1

        Yes, it also happens to be an evolved response to shame those who are found out doing this sort of thing.

        One of the most effective sanctions is public humiliation – we’re ‘designed’ to be vulnerable to it (well, most of us). 

  4. ghostwhowalksnz 4

    I guess the police will add this one to the list of ‘crimes prevented’

    The fact that he is in Korea makes him more accountable, because he doesn’t normally make himself available for comment in NZ unless his minders pre approve the questions .

  5. Mr Peters said the cafe meeting “was a political stunt against the democratic interest of the country”.

    What about Peters’ political stunt in Invercargill the following Thursday? He used the recording for his own political purposes.

    And he appeared to be in cohorts with TV3. Their promotion of the storm in the teacup could also be questioned – particularly their interst in trying to influence our democratic process.

    • So Petey what about the teapot tape itself.  Was it not the political stunt to end political stunts?  And if so why are you trying to divert attention to a Peters’ meeting in Invercargill?  Did charges arise from that meeting?  Did the police execute search warrants on major media organizations because of something that was overheard at that meeting? 

    • Galeandra 5.2

      One questionable act should not be excused because of another questionable act by someone else. ‘What about…?’ is not an apologia at all, though I am sure you want to preserve the aura of sainthood that surrounds the leader of the Blessed Hair.
      And its cahoots, dipstick, cahoots.

    • Uh, it’s “in cahoots” if you mean there was some sort of conspiracy going on. In cohorts would imply they were peers or served together in the armed forces, both of which are ridiculous things to say about a TV station.

      As for Peters’ grandstanding? Might have been a distraction if the Nats had actually had any sort of serious policies they were campaigning on, but they didn’t, and honestly, a publicity stunt blowing up in your own face is great news during an election, it doesn’t take a conspiracy to want to tv-bash Winston or anyone else who’ll talk about it.

      National chose to make the election about PR, and they shouldn’t complain about having to sleep in their bed after they’re the ones who made it.

    • starlight 5.4

      No matter what you say or think about winston peters,he is not afraid to stand up and bring
      rorts to the public attention.
      Most nz’ers agree we need peters in parliament and to be quite honest,it would be ho-hum
      without him there.

      • Pete George 5.4.1

        “he is not afraid to stand up and bring rorts to the public attention.”

        I presume you mean other party’s and people’s rorts.

        “Most nz’ers agree we need peters in parliament”

        How do you know that?

        • McFlock 5.4.1.1

           
          More NZers think Peters should be in parliament than NZers who think anyone from UF should be in parliament. Quite a few more.
               
          But do you think Ambrose should sue for defamation, Pete? Or why do you disagree with the article above? I think it would be reasonable, but I’m not sure he has the cash to go through with it.

          • Pete George 5.4.1.1.1

            It’s up to him obviously, but I’d recommend he calls it quits.

            Otherwise he might find himself in a position where he has to explain how TV3 also got the recording. And if and how Winston Peters got the recording or transcript (or more probably enough information to play the public with TV3).

            • McFlock 5.4.1.1.1.1

              Here’s a likely explanation for all of the above: as soon as he gave it to his boss, further distribution was out of his control. Not his problem, legally or otherwise.
                 
              Personally I think that the only reason against going for defamation is the cost and the obvious small-minded and petty vindictiveness of the state apparatus at the moment – while it’s possible he’ll win, they will definitely seek to bankrupt him with their own costs should he lose.
                   
               

        • David H 5.4.1.2

          How many seats did Peters win? A 8. And how many did your lot win ??? eh ?come on, oh yes thats right ONE!

    • North 5.5

      PG – Key and Botox Banks furnished and filled the teacup by seeking to parade their “omnipresence”. In karma, the tea spilled. Key’s response – to whimper and simper like an entitled schoolkid denied.

      Don’t we just naturally give our little ones a good talking to when they whine about the downside of their failed stunts ?

      New Zealanders do not “owe” these buffoons life-long insurance against what they reap.

      It’s no good anyone lashing Winston. What was he meant to do ? “Oh sorry you giants of men, here, let me wipe it up for you……..”. Their arrogance and hubris got the better of them and good job !

  6. burt 6

    New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the timing of the police announcement suggested an improper degree of co-operation.

    I’m sure he knows exactly what he’s talking about…..

  7. ghostwhowalksnz 7

    The rest of the world continues to treat ‘overheard’ conversations as legitimate news.

    A live microphone caught a private moment of candor by President Obama on Monday as he told President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia, during a discussion of the contentious issue of missile defense, that “after my election I have more flexibility.”
    http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/microphone-picks-up-obamas-private-exchange-with-medvedev/?ref=world

    Yet only in NZ is the tinpot dictator model followed. And Obama was talking about sensitive issues with a foreign leader, not political chit chat with a electorate candidate

    • Pascal's bookie 7.1

      Snap 🙂

    • aerobubble 7.2

      Obama, unlike Key, had not just told the press that they could record video and take pictures, but it would be illegal to put up the full video on the web where a lip reader could transcribe it.

      The expectation that Key could have a private conversation with Banks while video was being taken is absurd as it is abuse of our common sense. geez, they have devices now that aim a laser at glass and can record the sound vibrations.

  8. Dv 8

    The next time a media stunt is set up like this by the NActs, the media should just boycot it.

    • The media were a big part of promoting it and making it happen. They kept talking it up and asking when it would happen. And then some of them kept pushing and promoting it for a week afterwards.

      Right from the start they were as big a part of the circus as Key and Banks.

      I think this case illustrates how the media can be the problem, not the solution.

      • Fortran 8.1.1

        Pete George

        You are right – the media had nothing better to do and Ambrose was one of their chosen ones so lets eviscerate Key and Banks, who are in elected seats whereas Winston was not elected – his party was. They will be out next election with a Labour/Green coalition (Labour being led by Greens wants (and will get))).

        • aerobubble 8.1.1.1

          Yes! The Herald and National created and then prolonged a publicity event. Ambrose did nothing wrong, he was told he could take video from outside the coffee shop and anything said was off the record. And as yet it has not been made public by the Herald, Ambroses employer.
          The teapot saga was an abuse of power by the government and the Herald in my opinion, and should shock everyone who loves liberty, boycott the Herald already!

  9. vto 9

    “. The warning to Ambrose “sends a clear message to media that the recording and distribution of conversations that are considered private is likely to lead to prosecution in the future”. ” This slides off into the states secret service machniations…

    … it is ok for the state to record the public’s own private conversations, but not ok for the public to record the state’s own private conversations.

    Yet another reason many people give the state the one finger salute.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 9.1

      “it is ok for the state to record the public’s own private conversations” but they need a warrant !

      Except when they cant be bothered to comply with the law.

      You would be surprised how many police ‘overhear’ conversations.

  10. aerobubble 10

    A few comments on teapot sound recording. Now that the Police have been clear that recording a publicity stunt could cause legal risks to members of the press, will the press now give the guarentee that all recordings will not be listened to where they may potentially invade the privacy of public politicians in public place. This it not the nineteen century, sound recordists can cheaply offshore their recordings before they listen to them (or use software to crop speach and feed it into a speach to text converter, without any human input and oversight) where others not privy to the nuance details of the lawful collection. Maybe someone overseas in Iceland wants to buy all recording taken legally for a cent each? In the particular teapot saga, the recordist had been given consent to record for the duration of the event only then to have the terms renegotiated by the PM press handler at the last moment, please turn your microphones off AND get out TEMPORERILY, thus ?twarting? the ability of the mob of journalists to gather up their equipment in the ensuing ruckus. Even during the tea ritual Key knew his lips could be read – a common danger for politicians where cameras are positioned in their face. But worse, Key picked up the microphone pouch, so he was well aware of holding someones property, that could have be a terrorist pouch. His duty of care to himself, to his invited guests – the press, all counter the argument that he was the victim. Or rather architect?

    Now my understanding, however non-professional, on the law is that for a remedy to have be available for wrongs they has to be shown to be a loss of some kind. Key in fact gained a week of media turd blossums. The teapot tape sensation, what was in it? what was Key hiding? Key victim of smear campaign! So let’s just partially sum up. Key controlled the venue, Key had motive to create a crisis, Key gained from the crisis at the detriment of democracy shutting out real election debate. Very tacky. And yeah what about the law on elections, if Key shuts down a private cafe and stops the premises from selling coffee to have a photo op, is that a benefit for his campaign???

    Anyway, its chilling all right, not only to the press freedom, but to every citizen who now knows its quite legal at the last moment to change the rules, in this case turn a public event into a private one, and not give reasonable time for journalists to comply, more so, the expectation was journalists would not comply since they collect first mentality, their job is to find controversy after all. Just imagine this for a second, take any profession, a postal worker whose job it is to deliver mail, happens into a CCTV camera area and meets a raging dog. The classic infinite force means immovable object, does the controller of the space have a duty of care? to arrange matters so dogs do not attack postal workers. Did the sound recordist have a duty of care owed to him by the PM and his press handler? I would say yes, I would suggest that the PM alledgely took advantage of his own lack of care and has now offended not only the press but many citizens who found his lack of moderation and eagerness to take up Police time (which they have ample) was gross. Remember the PM changes the rules, turned a public stunt into a partially private one, did not provide adequate time for journalists to comply despite having consented to them recording there, and continue recording through the glass of the cafe, not only that the PM knew his lips were moving and being recorded, Key also failed to have remove the microphone and sat down at the table despite the risk to his own security, who knows what have been in that bag. Sorry, but to make any claim that a sound recordist lack care surely opens the PM to the same, and if the intent was to cause a controversy, the PM had much more to gain that this sound recordist. Did, the PM benefited by saying something controversial when he hypothosied there was a microphone in that pounch on the table, his own staff should have cleared the table of such devices they see every day if they believed privacy was so important.

    Look how easy is it for an organizer to hire the most inappropriate person to judge a skateboarding event, not provide background checks, or training, or any effective filtering, and some big aggressive man is placed where young highly annoying young people are likely to be. Maybe the PM press handler should have resigned, maybe press should boycott events managed by the idiot who changes the rules and exposed the PM to temptation. The PM is a human being

    after all, he has a unconscious, his unconscious would have been aware of recording devices at press conferences and would have made the connection between the bag on the table even if Key had not consciously, it was gift he could not help buy take, and a gift the sound recordist could not help himself but pass to the editor, likewise. But who had the control, who had the experience, who have the duty of care. The PM handlers.

    The stench is now hurting John Key because he still doesn’t get it, it looks like a set up, which he was well rewarded by shutting down the election debate with a classic turd blossum of news noise that helps the incumbent party and him. The press are pissed off, and so are many who loath nasty politicians who abuse the duty of care provided by high office. The PM is not the only minister that has a problem with due diligence, and eases into the lack of care core to abuses of power by good people doing bad. The moment it was decided to have a private conversation in a partially public arena – cameras full on and glass shuting off sound – they had a duty to clear the area so recently containing microphones. Its frustrating that Police have failed to standup to the PM and act as a impartial referee in this case, since obviously the PM does not have a right to say how video should be used just because the PM does not want the sound recorded (even when his lips can be read). Would you suggest that a person who consents to run in a race, can decide to tell the judges how to measure who wins at the last moment?

  11. ianmac 11

    Oddly Ambrose was never interviewed by Police. How odd is that given that the Police were able to declare that he had done it intentionally. Strange justice there methinks.

  12. tsmithfield 12

    I actually agree with you Eddie on the implications of this situation for Ambrose.

    It would have been better for him either to have been sent to trial and found not guilty, or have it found by the police that there was no charge to answer. As it stands, he is in no-mans land. He effectively has a guilty sentence over him, even though he hasn’t been found guilty.

    The other point I was trying to get to yesterday, before I inadvertantly got into a bit of trouble, was that I wonder if Ambrose also is now liable for the costs that Crown Law was claiming recently. From what I remember the case Ambrose took was to get a judicial declaration that there was no case to answer. As I understand it, the judge left it for the police to make that decision. Given that the police appear to be saying there is likely a case to answer, but they are not going to persue it, it seems to me that Crown Law would have grounds to persue Ambrose for costs. Perhaps MS might be able to shed some light on this point.

    I agree with Eddie that the police shouldn’t be saying that what Ambrose did was unlawful. What they could say is that it is the opinion of the police (and crown law?) that Ambrose acted unlawfully. However, I don’t think they are in a position to make a definitive statement to that point, as it leaves the impression that he has actually been found guilty.

    • Pascal's bookie 12.1

      The police statements are deeply confused:

      http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/the-real-problem-with-the-teapottapes-decision/

      http://publicaddress.net/legalbeagle/police-ambrose-not-guilty/

      there are good reasons to believe that a prosecution would not have been sucessful, based on the police’s own statements yesterday.

      • deuto 12.1.1

        This post by Andrew Geddis on Pundit is also worth reading (and the comments) –

        http://pundit.co.nz/content/half-a-baby-for-everyone

        • aerobubble 12.1.1.1

          If I change the terms of a contract, i.e. turn a public invited press stunt into a partial private moment and expect the press not to have lip readers amongst their rank, without any mutual agreement that they will turnoff their lip reading abilities, and this is not noticed by Geddis. Its not the first time I have found Geddis reading of the law to be offensive to common sense.

          • McFlock 12.1.1.1.1

            That doesn’t mean his interpretation of the law is inconsistent with its meaning 🙂

            • aerobubble 12.1.1.1.1.1

              Yeah. But he should be aware as a lecture of law that selecting a subset of the evidence will invariable change the direction of accusation since this is basic to all forum. Ignoring contextual evidence that the event was an open press stunt rather than a private discussion between two people, and that partial privacy was impressively hard to provide since lip readers can legally review the legally obtained video.

              Did Key and Banks have an expectation of privacy when a video camera was pointed at their mugs? Did they both invite journalists to their meeting for uncensored media stunt. Yes. So why would they expect the same privacy they would have got behind the podium that they never expect to get in front of the podium while they were all too aware of cameras.

              Its not a CCTV camera that people expect can hear them talking, these were top notch professional cameramen whose journalistic profession depends on independence from censorship. The idea that a politician on the podium, primarily for the press, should sudden expect privacy.

              Off the record, cannot protect you on live TV, why would Key think it would?

  13. Blue 13

    The most concerning thing is that the police were full of shit when they said that Key would be ‘treated just like anyone else’ with regard to this complaint.

    That is patently not true. The police are under political influence now, and woe betide whoever John Key turns his sights on now.

    The message is clear: take John Key on and you will be defamed and shamed with no hope of ever getting justice.

    The media are too busy being all self-righteous about themselves, as usual, and have not said much about the fact that this is the most chilling political climate in years. Fuck all that rubbish the Herald came out with over the EFA – this is the real attack on democracy, and not a peep out of them.

  14. aj 14

    An interesting comparison is taking place now: lets see how long the police take in deciding whether to lay charges or not in the skateboard incident

    • ghostwhowalksnz 14.1

      The papers are all ready saying the police are not interested in the skater incidents.( In spite of having video)

      The real problem that ‘police ‘ and ‘prosecution’ is combined as one in NZ for all practical purposes.

      • felix 14.1.1

        Video of two assaults, confession on video to responsibility for both assaults, and several eye-witnesses to both.

        Good thing he’s a middle-class middle-aged shaven-headed white dude in ugly shorts I guess.

        • Vicky32 14.1.1.1

          Good thing he’s a middle-class middle-aged shaven-headed white dude in ugly shorts I guess.

          And yet, and yet… From what I saw on Clive last night about this, he was backed up by at least one other organiser of the skate tournament, who also said that the little shite he assaulted had been monstering 6 year old.
          Teenage boys deserve to get their ears pinned back now and then. They’re (many of them) awful bullies.

          • Kotahi Tane Huna 14.1.1.1.1

            Men supervising the behaviours (let me count the ways) of teenage boys have no excuse for violence. The teenagers won this encounter.
            The second assault was potentially very serious indeed. If anyone ever tried to hit me in the throat like that I pray that I hit them first and they stay hit.

            • aerobubble 14.1.1.1.1.1

              The benchmark is moment of insanity, a man obviously inappropriate for the job, lost his cool. Probably happens a lot. Was there intent?
              From what I’ve seen it looks like the management of the event was insufficient.

          • hawk 14.1.1.1.2

            So stopping bullying by bullying.

            Thats a great plan.

            So a supporter of the bald tough guy says “Oh but they did it first to other kids” makes it all ok. Despite the fact you have no evidence of this happening.

            So going further with your great theory on how to stop bullying. Is now the father of the child (that on video footage) was knocked to the ground by a man. Should go and whack this bully to the ground like he did to his son.

            Yip that a great solution.

            • aerobubble 14.1.1.1.2.1

              Exactly. Because the event was so badly managed, the correct procedure would be to talk to the event organizer about the man, not to as you point out to have a second moment of insanity that escalates the issue.

              If someone gets in your face, then the last person you should be wanting to engage with is the angry mad who lost his rag whose in your face, reasoning with him is counter-productive. Back off, find his boss and give him your full attention.

              The manager of the event should have immediate asked the judge to leave and said sorry to all the kids, that they were all winners on the day.

              But NZ has a culture of being far too soft on poor managers.

          • felix 14.1.1.1.3

            Perhaps you didn’t see the whole video, Vicky.

            He also lunged at and grabbed a guy by the throat, hard, and totally unprovoked (not that provocation is either here or there).

            He’s a thug and he shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near kids until he sorts his shit out.

            • Vicky32 14.1.1.1.3.1

              He’s a thug and he shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near kids until he sorts his shit out.

              You’re right really, Felix!
              My remarks were coloured by an experience I had a few days ago. In a park outside the PT Chev library, I came across a former neighbour and schoolfriend of my son, being monstered by another guy, and ended up sticking up for C., even though I know he’s a sore trial (he’s struggled with ADHD and drugs) and I wished I were a big man and could have looked threatening… as it is, I am a 153 cm 44 kg woman, and I’ve learnt over the years that merely speaking to boys and asking them to behave merely results in their derisive laughter and insults. Whilst most teenage boys are well-behaved, some of them simply can’t resist picking on younger boys, girls of any age and old women! (NB – by girls I mean females between 0 and 18 years old, not women..)

              • felix

                I know what you mean Vicky32, and I know kids can be right bastards sometimes. But as adults we still have a responsibility to not lay into them.

  15. Jackal 15

    John Key defames

    Claiming that there is not enough public interest in the teapot tape debacle is ludicrous! The police have in fact labelled Ambrose a criminal without a trial. This is undoubtedly to ensure Key’s complaint isn’t viewed as a wasteful employment of police time…

    • aerobubble 15.1

      I disagree. Police rightly have to collect the video of the event which means *all* the video.
      I have no problems with the gathering part of the Police case.
      The problem I have is how does a politician have an expectation of privacy when he has a camera pointed at his face, when the politician invited the press to have cameras pointed at his face, and the expectation of all there was for a open press conference, and any last moment revisionism by the PMs courteirs that it was suddenly a private meeting was far fetched at best, and more likely a suggestion for the press to get the best presentation. That Key and Banks were ‘secretly dealing’ the post election spoils. All pretty much incentive for the press to push in closer.

  16. Eduardo Kawak 16

    If the police and govt made a deal with Ambrose to write the letters of regret in exchange for the case being dropped, then they must also have gotten Ambrose to sign an NDA of some kind which would prohibit him from pursuing a defamation case or chase the court ruling on whether the tape conversation was public or private. John Key alludes to other conditions in this article.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6641462/Key-turns-other-cheek-over-tape

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    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 ...
    1 hour ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    5 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    13 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    15 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T07:49:20+00:00