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And then there were four

Written By: - Date published: 4:21 pm, October 14th, 2014 - 173 comments
Categories: labour, Nanaia Mahuta - Tags:

Nanaia MahutaParliamentary reporters are tweeting that Nanaia Mahuta is to enter Labour’s leadership race.

Update:  And Nanaia’s candidacy has been confirmed.  From Stuff:

Mahuta said she had decided this afternoon to run for the top job. She joins Grant Robertson, David Parker and Andrew Little in the leadership race.

Mahuta said the other candidates had a lot to offer but she offered a difference.

Her run at the leadership is a sign of the party’s Maori caucus flexing its muscle.

Mahuta said the Maori and Pasifika base had retained a key vote for Labour.

She said she had been a solid contributor to the party. She had come to the decision to run for the leadership “not lightly”.

173 comments on “And then there were four ”

  1. JanM 1

    It would be good to see her as the deputy leader

    • Ant 1.1

      Yes, I think Nanaia would be great.

    • Clemgeopin 1.2

      Why not as leader? I think that would be great, actually!

      My 1st and 2nd preference votes are sorted now: Mahuta, Little.

    • Tom Gould 1.3

      The dream team: Little as leader; Mahuta as deputy; Cunliffe as finance and #3. Signed, sealed and soon to be delivered.

    • AmaKiwi 1.4

      I predict Nanaia will win the leadership contest because she has a month to enroll 10,000 Maori in the Labour party and decisively win the membership vote.

      She will win the Maori and Pacifika in caucus and probably some Pakeha women.

      Cut the paternalistic crap about how she will make a nice deputy.

      Nanaia is the odds-on favorite to win the leadership.

      You want a major shake-up in the Labour party. This could be it.

  2. Skinny 2

    Not sure if it will happen? Maybe the Left of the part crunched the numbers and it’s too close to call on first ballot so Mahuta is called in too dilute Parkers vote?

    • Chris 2.1

      Trouble is she’ll dilute the left vote and let Robertson romp home. Little’s the only hope for reestablishing core Labour values before installing a proper left leader from outside. Robertson will be rubbing his hands hearing of Mahuta’s entry. Stupid, stupid people.

      • Lanthanide 2.1.1

        The election uses STV, so there is no “dilute the left vote and let Robertson romp home” problem.

      • mickysavage 2.1.2

        Preferential voting system. I can see supporters clustering to the left (Little and Mahuta) and to the right (Robertson and Parker). Then whoever gets through the early rounds will probably get the majority of support from the other candidate who drops out.

        I do not see this as hurting at all.

        Besides Nanaia is an utterly decent human being and in my view quite a star. She will bring a dignity to the contest that it would otherwise not have.

        At this stage I would certainly rank her in my top two preferences.

        • Chooky Shark Smile 2.1.2.1

          +100….. to Nanaia ..I would like to see her as Leader ( in absence of Cunliffe) but if not , then Deputy…she is someone I would vote for!

          ….and she will bring a cleansing to the whole sorry business

        • leftie 2.1.2.2

          @mickysavage.
          Me too.

        • Bunji 2.1.2.3

          I don’t think you can characterise Grant or Parker as “right”. That’s not where their policy platforms sit.

          But I’m very pleased to have Nanaia join the race. She’ll offer a different perspective and make sure it gets discussed at the meetings.
          Much like Diane Abbott was needed at the UK Labour Leadership selection a couple of years back.

          • mickysavage 2.1.2.3.1

            Thanks Bunji.

            I agree about Robertson not being “right”. I would also agree that Little and Robertson are probably in a similar position but I used Little’s likely Union support as a reason for his categorisation.

            I was making a generalisation of the likely area they will derive support from rather . Nanaia I would certainly categorise as “left”.

            • Colonial Viper 2.1.2.3.1.1

              Robertson isn’t right wing.

              But he will quickly and easily come to accommodations with the right wing (pro-free market, pro-globalisation, pro-American empire, pro-corporate rights, minimal market intervention) elements of the Labour Party.

          • Not a PS Shark Sashimi 2.1.2.3.2

            I’d characterise Robertson as a central controller and not a supporter of devolving real influence to the membership. His modus operandi is to use others to do his work and to play his card close to his chest about his true plans. That is a typical central controller.

            I’d see Nanaia as a traditional leader who listens extensively and then make her own decisions.

            I agree Robertson does not fit easily into a right/left. That is why he does not get support from the membership. He may be quite genuinely left but his disposition is to hide it.

        • Anne 2.1.2.4

          Me too ms @2.1.2

          An excellent duo- Little and Mahuta.

      • Eralc 2.1.3

        Mahuta as deputy to Robertson maybe?

    • Treetop 2.2

      Caucus vote is 40%. Will be interesting to see what Mahuta’s caucus vote is? (I think she will beat the other contenders re the caucus component).

  3. Treetop 3

    Just heard the confirmation on Radio Live.

    • aspasia 3.1

      My comment below when Nanaia stood for deputy still stands! Once again I’m grateful to have a candidate to vote for (rather than trying to decide who is the least bad of an indifferent bunch). Right now it is irrelevant whether ignorant trolls know what Nanaia has done. This is the Party ie the MEMBERS voting for someone we know and trust to lead a party we can recognise as a Labour Party. I am not Maori but I am glad in my heart to see the Maori seats come back to Labour…and in this case it has not been the noisy cocks but the productive hen who has achieved this outcome! Kia kaha wahine toa!

      13 December 2011 at 1:30 am
      Kia ora Nanaia. As a long time party activist I hope to see you and David as our new leaders. Substance and competence are what we really need. I can’t believe the caucus can be so blind as to rely on the media’s appetite for novelty as the main mechanism to attract support for Labour. We all know how fickle the commentariat’s support and attention span can be. Thank you for giving hard-working party members a better alternative–let’s hope enough of your colleagues can also see it this way. Kia kaha!

  4. Atiawa 4

    Fantastic. Jacinda for deputy.

    • JanM 4.1

      Jacinda is good, but her time will come

      • Halcyon 4.1.1

        True Jan. She still has to mature. But she is one of the most promising potential leaders. Labour needs a mongrel leader to sort out the internal politics before she becomes leader.

        • Atiawa 4.1.1.1

          My point was tinged with sarcasm . All the talk around quota’s and being representative I had never heard a female leader & deputy floated as a possibility.
          How would that sit with the electorate?

  5. Jim 5

    Its great to see Nanaia Mahuta putting her name forward. When listening to her speak at the prospective leaders presentation in Wellington two years ago I was very impressed. She has the experience and mana to do a great job as opposition leader. Remember the Maori caucus is a lot larger this time, and the Maori membership base is also large. I think Nanaia will have wide appeal in the party.

    • SHG 5.1

      Experience and mana? What has she ever accomplished?

      • Tracey 5.1.1

        mind you, you are still trying to work out why hager needs a legal fund a week aftr every other nob who ran that diversion.

      • Lanthanide 5.1.2

        +1

        Please, someone, tell me what she’s done?

        • SHG 5.1.2.1

          Well, there was the way she managed to vote both for AND against the foreshore and seabed bill. That was a backflip of pretty epic proportions.

          Other than that, she stands out as having done… um…

          *tumbleweed*

          • JanM 5.1.2.1.1

            She had Hobson’s choice, really, didn’t she, apart from walking out with Tariana – I don’t call that a backflip – it must have really hurt.

        • karol 5.1.2.2

          She had two or three portfolios in the Clark government.

          • rhinocrates 5.1.2.2.1

            I hear that she has a very good reputation at electorate level, away from the cameras for working and engaging. Some things are real even if they aren’t on TV.

            Something the beltway show ponies have forgotten.

            • Colonial Viper 5.1.2.2.1.1

              She’s never pulled a segment with Paul Henry, so she can’t be any good.

            • karol 5.1.2.2.1.2

              She must be the senior member of the Labour Māori caucus, since the demise of Horomaia. She speaks regularly on Maori TV. So she must take some credit for the strong Māori vote for Labour this election.

            • boldsirbrian 5.1.2.2.1.3

              She does. She is VERY good.

          • Tracey 5.1.2.2.2

            Minister of Customs, Minister of Local Government, Minister of Youth Development, Associate Minister for the Environment and Associate Minister of Tourism

            • Phil 5.1.2.2.2.1

              …and then opposition spokesperson for Maori Social Development, Spokesperson for Energy and Associate Portfolio Spokesperson for Law and Order.

              With all due respect to Ms Mahuta, for someone that has been in parliament for eightteen years, that’s a very average and unspectacular ministerial and shadow-cabinet resume.

              • Clemgeopin

                She can not appoint herself to cabinet positions, can she? See the circumstances/MPs of the times when Labour was in power.

                • Phil

                  No, but she could have demonstrated enough skill and competency to rise above the ranks and perform well in one of the ‘banner’ portfolios, either as minister or shadow. After 18 years in parliament, that she has not done so should at least give pause for thought.

                  Recent examples…

                  Key was (briefly) Shadow Finance before taking on the leadership
                  Clark; Min Health
                  Shipley; Min Social Welfare and Min Health

                  • Clemgeopin

                    You do realise it is not as simple as you make it to be because the PM that appoints the ministers takes a lot of factors into consideration, including political advantage, expectations from other contenders etc. You seem to be bringing up an unimportant marginal or non issue to suit your own agenda or bias. I have no issue with Mahuta’s ability, integrity, experience, wisdom or calibre. Sure, the leadership contest will be a learning experience for her, as will be for any aspiring leader in any political party. let us not put her down just because of whatever prejudices we may have. I am keen to see and hear the contestants in the next few weeks and see how they perform and how they improve in that short time.

        • Tracey 5.1.2.3

          what does your question mean?

  6. Karen 6

    I have a lot of respect for Nanaia. She has had more parliamentary experience than any of the other applicants.

    I wonder if she decided to run after hearing Shearer this morning decrying the need for a Maori or a woman as deputy?

    • leftie 6.1

      @Karen.

      David Shearer is an embarrassment, his mouth has gone rogue and continues to undermine the party. He should follow his own advice and leave.

      • greywarshark 6.1.1

        @ lrftie 6.1
        Shearer is possibly very irritated. Could it be that he had this plan to be Prime Minister for a term and then get a job in the United Nations, following in Helen’s footsteps and possibly with her help and support to get the position. Sweet if it worked out. Why oh why does everything not work for me, he thinks. I’ll vent to the media about these scungy thankless types in Labour here.

        For too many pollies nowadays, getting into government is just a stage in their career, a stepladder to better and bigger things. It used to be a great accolade and a high peak in itself that one would aspire to in one’s life. But the world is your oyster now, eat it before it becomes extinct.

        • Clemgeopin 6.1.1.1

          The place to vent his perceived or real grievance was in the caucus, not in the public to the MSM print and TV media. He definitely did a massive amount of harm to the party by his stupid move.

    • Mike 6.2

      ***I wonder if she decided to run after hearing Shearer this morning decrying the need for a Maori or a woman as deputy?***

      I think his point is more that a person should be picked for their record & abilities rather than categories on their birth certificate.

      • leftie 6.2.1

        @Mike.
        Media hogger David Shearer’s mouth has been running amok on a number of things lately further undermining the party, in my opinion.
        I stand by my original comment.

      • Colonial Viper 6.2.2

        Ahhhh nicely picked up.

      • blue leopard 6.2.3

        You attempt to explain Shearer’s point, Mike, yet both you and Shearer appear to miss the important reasoning behind any concerted efforts toward having a ‘balanced representation’ of gender/race/culture.

        Such ‘balancing up acts’ were originally formulated with the express intent to counteract the effects of bias in our culture. That is, the bias that would tend to immediately assume someone who was a white man was best for the job and would also involve a built-in tendency to overlook others who might actually be better for the given role.

        • karol 6.2.3.1

          Yes. I think there is research that shows men are way more confident about putting their hands up for promotion than women with similar, or even better, credentials and experience.

          See for instance Shearer – first term in parliament puts his name forward for leader. Andrew Little – 2nd term, but never been in government.

          Mahuta is way more qualified than both of them.

          • Chooky Shark Smile 6.2.3.1.1

            +100 karol

            • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 6.2.3.1.1.1

              Nanaia is solid. I would put my family, my house and my country in her hands to look after, and I know they will be cared for and come through well.

          • Tracey 6.2.3.1.2

            yup…

          • Saarbo 6.2.3.1.3

            “Yes. I think there is research that shows men are way more confident about putting their hands up for promotion than women with similar, or even better, credentials and experience.”

            @carol
            I remember hearing this article on RNZ about 12 months ago or so, I think it was on a Kim Hill show. Men felt comfortable applying for a position with only a fraction of the credentials needed while women would only feel confident to apply when they felt they had 100% of the credentials required…or something to that effect. Proof here.

      • Clemgeopin 6.2.4

        So, what is wrong with the record and abilities of Nanaia Mahuta? Very good, in fact. Another excellent quality in her is that she does not go blathering out of place on national or Maori TV undermining Labour or its leaders.

      • greywarshark 6.2.5

        @ Mike
        You are so bogged down in last century argument about the little woman being grateful for getting a bit of recognition from the males, and a bit of a leg-up if she was lucky.

    • Anne 6.3

      Very good point Karen. She isn’t the descendant of warrior chiefs for nothing.

      I bet she fumed all morning and decided… that’s it, I’m going to stand. We’ll see who really has the stripes and who hasn’t.

      • SHG 6.3.1

        Very good point Karen. She isn’t the descendant of warrior chiefs for nothing.

        Very good point Anne, I agree that if it wasn’t for who she’s descended from it’s unlikely she’d be in Parliament.

        • Saarbo 6.3.1.1

          @SHG
          Nanaia is voted in democratically.

          • SHG 6.3.1.1.1

            Getting elected in the Maori electorate of Hauraki-Waikato when you’re a Tainui Maori Labour candidate named Mahuta who lives in Ngaruawahia is about as much of an achievement as a white Irish Catholic male named Kennedy winning something in Massachusetts.

        • greywarshark 6.3.1.2

          SHG
          What a champion sneerer and smog creator you are.

  7. I think she’s as good as the others. Labour doesn’t need a Maori or woman as deputy. She’s worth it on merit alone.

  8. Jenny Kirk 8

    YES ! Good on Nanaia for putting her name forward. This gives all of those on the left
    a straight-forward run, and it will allow the caucus to see the depth of feeling from the members about how they view the neo-libs and their policies.

  9. Tracey 9

    i have been impressed by her statements in leadership races before.they were considfered, passionate and seemed to speak to core values around education and health.

    it must be soul destroying being a LP mp who is not embroiled in this mess… but am guessing everyone is having to choose sides now.

  10. shorts 10

    decent… good luck to her

  11. Cancerman 11

    Finally Labour comes up with a potential leader that will be a legitimate threat to Key and National.

    • The Lone Haranguer 11.1

      For the past year, you guys were saying that David Cunilffe was the legitimate threat to Key and National.

      Still, Little as leader, Mahuta as deputy and Cunliffe at three would be a good call by Labour.

    • Rodel 11.2

      C-m-yawn yet again

  12. Finally! Someone who speaks of Labour’s real constituency which those pasty-faced, complacent careerists have betrayed over and over again. Hopefully she will inspire. Hoots hates her because she’s a “stupid Maori” (or was it “dumb Maori”? I forget which) so that’s a point in her favour already.

    • Chooky Shark Smile 12.1

      and finally a woman!…and a strong woman with mana!….who will appeal to both the 50% + voting electorate of women and Maori

      …lets hope she becomes the new Leader of the Labour Party and will be able to pull all the Left Parties to work cooperatively together and win the next Election!

      (…now wait for all the right wing naysayers to come out of the woodwork!…and perfidious spinners like Hooton!)

  13. J Mex 13

    I would suggest that wider (non-political) NZ would struggle to know who Nanaia Mahuta is. She has been nearly silent for the last 3-4 years.

    Seems like a profile building exercise (‘look what it did for Shane’), and a late minute ‘nothing to lose’ bid*, and probably a serious run at the Deputy position

    *If it were more well co-ordinated, Cunliffe wouldn’t have thrown his support behind Little, as (AFAIK) Nanaia was a strong Cunliffe supporter

  14. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 14

    Three more and that’ll be every MP in the caucus standing for leader.

    • Clemgeopin 14.1

      Why do you persist in being an idiot and wasting time and bandwidth?
      Don’t answer. Not worth reading you anyway.

  15. les 15

    Does anyone really think she has widespread voter appeal?Can she beat Key?I guess Mallard will throw his hat in the ring next,just because…he can.

    • weka 15.1

      She doesn’t have to beat get. Getting sick of the politics as bloodbath meme. Time to do it differently.

      • Lanthanide 15.1.1

        How is she going to be PM if she doesn’t beat Key at the election? Bizarre.

        • wekarawshark 15.1.1.1

          It’s not about Key, and this whole framing of Key as invincible and Labour needing someone who can take him down is a narrative that suits the right at this time. Of course whoever is leader needs to be a competent debater, able to think on their feet, reasonably hardy. But where Labour is losing is on its own ground, not in relationship to Key. If Labour sorts out the internal shit I think a whole bunch of other things will become clear, including how to form good relationships with voters so that the voters feel engaged and listened to and start to look at Labour again as viable.

          The other part of all that is plainly at this time Labour don’t have anyone who can beat Key at his game (and no-one on the horizon either). So change the game.

        • Shrubbery 15.1.1.2

          Nanaia doesn’t have to defeat Key in debates, or brutally destroy his credibility or anything like that. All she really has to do is show a much better way for New Zealand.

    • Clemgeopin 15.2

      You will be surprised. She will shine with her inner qualities, wisdom and unselfish character, more than the external slime-ball smiley Wiley looks of some leaders in some parties, especially National, ACT, UF and the Cons. Don’t you worry about that! She will turn out to be a well respected leader among the World leaders too, I bet. Don’t under estimate her just because….

  16. Rosie 16

    Interesting. I had been thinking about Nanaia Mahuta and wondering where she was at these days. What I have seen of her, mainly on panels and interviews on Maori TV, I’ve liked. Need to find out more about her of course.

    Putting her name forward brings a refreshing new energy to this contest and something for this new Labour Party member to think about, after the despair of the news of David Cunliffe withdrawing.

  17. simon 17

    Can anyone let me know what either Little or Mahuta have achieved in their parliamentary careers.

    • karol 17.1

      Nanaia had some portfolios in the Clark government – youth development, customs, associate for environment & local government. She has been spokesperson, especially for Maori Affairs while in opposition. She put up a private members bill to give Iwi more say in RMA decisions – it was defeated by Key’s government at the first reading.

      Little has never been in government. He has taken Key’s government to task/held them to account over employment law and ACC.

    • Scott1 17.3

      Having achieved something in parliament is a red herring.

      That sort is strategy would have you picking a politician’s politician every time – and Labour is in the process of getting thrashed by someone who had achieved basically nothing before he was prime minister…

      I think the key factor is simply whether they have the personal characteristics that will make them successful in the leadership role even if those might be a little different from the things that made others successful in getting credit for bills in parliament.

    • Tracey 17.4

      did keys singular lack of achievement in parliament stop him being groomed and trained for the leadership

    • Chooky Shark Smile 17.5

      @ simon…see Tracey’s list at 26 and 27

    • JAMESMAXTON 17.6

      What did John Key achieve before he became Prime Minister.

      • Jim 17.6.1

        Foreign Exchange Committee of the New York Federal Reserve Bank
        Global head of foreign exchange – London
        Head of Asian foreign exchange – Singapore
        Auckland-based Bankers Trust
        Foreign exchange dealer at Elders Finance in Wellington
        Lane Walker Rudkin – Project Manager
        McCulloch Menzies – Auditor

  18. boldsirbrian 18

    I have seen Nanaia at several public meetings.
    She is smart, personable, articulate, and very experienced.
    Unexpected but my instant reaction is that she is a very worthy candidate.

  19. music4menz 19

    She is one of the few Labours MPs (like other Maori MPs) who delivered a sizeable Party vote for Labour- something that NONE of the other candidates for the leader’s job did. Little was abysmal both in terms of electorate and party vote. It would be an insult to Nanaia to have to play 2nd fiddle to someone like Little who is such as failure at both electorate and party vote level. I look forward to the leadership outcome with expectation!

  20. Zaz 20

    Wohooo made my day.
    Thanks Nanaia. Girlpower to you.

    • Dialey 20.1

      My thoughts exactly. If Labour want to do something different, here’s your opportunity and what a one for the history books – first Maori PM and a woman to boot – now that’s what I call aspirational

  21. feijoa 21

    I liked what Nanaia had to say on the election ad – you know, the one where they did up the house. She spoke eloquently and spoke to core values. I remember being impressed at the time, but I can’t find the ad now
    Bit of a concern is I believe she has a young family – after seeing the crap David C had to put up with this election, she is going to need to be tough to weather any of that if she becomes leader

    • karol 21.1

      The video is here.

      I remember also particularly liking Mahuta’s bit in the video.

    • b waghorn 21.2

      The right would have to be a lot more carful attacking a Maori woman IMO.

      • Paul 21.2.1

        Sadly I think the media would attack anyone who threatened their owners.
        They’d just do it a different way.

      • Colonial Rawshark 21.2.2

        They’d just assign Bennett and Perata on to it. Problem solved.

      • Chooky Shark Smile 21.2.3

        @b waghorn..”The right would have to be a lot more careful attacking a Maori woman IMO”….YUP!

    • Lanthanide 21.3

      You mean her segment starting at 5:20, where she doesn’t mention any policy or platform of Labour’s at all?

      Her’s was by far the weakest out of all of them.

      • Clemgeopin 21.3.1

        I don’t believe she was the producer or director of the ad.

        • Lanthanide 21.3.1.1

          Surely everyone in the caucus agreed on the general direction of the promo itself, and then each person would have had some level of control over the piece they were given to do.

          Regardless of whose fault it was, her’s was still the weakest part.

          • Clemgeopin 21.3.1.1.1

            So what? Why are you being anti Mahuta in your comments today?

            • Lanthanide 21.3.1.1.1.1

              So I was trying to find out if that is the same thing that feijoa was talking about, or if they were talking about something different.

              Then I added my opinion that it was the weakest part of the whole video.

      • karol 21.3.2

        She actually came across as someone well into engaging with, and interested in, the community, and wasn’t stilted and seemingly parachuted in to the (semblance of a) community environment to outline a bit of policy.

  22. Dorothy 22

    Yes made my day too,
    Nanaia has dignity, intelligence , experience and mana and I know who I’ll vote for now.

    • boldsirbrian 22.1

      @ Dorothy (22)

      Nanaia has dignity, intelligence , experience and mana and I know who I’ll vote for now

      Dignity was the word I was searching for before. I’ve already mentioned the experience and intelligence. She certainly has mana.

      I also know who I will vote for. My wife also. She was like the cat with the cream when she heard the news.

  23. b waghorn 23

    Would Nz be the first colonised country to elect a first nation person if she got the top job.

  24. Paul 24

    Mahuta most likely of all the candidates to attract the disengaged non-voters.

    • Chooky Shark Smile 24.1

      @ Paul …agreed!….so she will be inclusive of Mana/int and the Greens and Winnie NZF ( as long as they behave themselves)

      …I can see a great leader in the making here!

      …and dignified and integrity are the words

      • Tracey 24.1.1

        oh but what about middle nz, what about all those ordinary kiwi blokes who cant imagine having a beer with her, oh wo, wo, wo.j

        • Rosie 24.1.1.1

          Lolz Tracey.

          Oh god, the voter’s beer test. What a bunch of boofheads we are.

          Sometimes I wonder if we haven’t moved on from this (The official NZ anthem sung by Funny Business back in the day)

      • lurgee 24.1.2

        “so she will be inclusive of Mana/int and the Greens and Winnie NZF ( as long as they behave themselves)”

        What are you basing this on?

  25. SHG 25

    This is truly a game changer.

    • Chooky Shark Smile 25.1

      yup! ….My teenage son says she looks like a Maori Helen Clark…..so she has to be a WINNER !

      ..even he is impressed!…and she most definitely looks like someone you could have a beer with…or a wine …or a whiskey

  26. Tracey 26

    ” my electorate, they have been: the formation of the first standalone Maori language high school, Nga Taiatea, the resolution of the Waikato River Claim, the increased emphasis on youth transitioning from school to further training or employment, the rollout of Family Start initiatives supporting young and vulnerable families and the emergence of Teen Parent Units to help young mums. I have also seen the initial launch of Te Hurihanga and the establishment of the Rangatahi courts [marae-based courts for young Maori offenders]. I have supported campaigns such as CanTeen, Relay for Life, Breastfeeding Awareness Week and Diabetes Awareness Week.

    “… want to help young people be the best they can be. This means creating greater opportunities for them in terms of education, affordable and quality healthcare services and safe, violence-free homes. I want them to be able to believe the future is in their hands. I’m also passionate about being a great mum and helping communities become better places to live. I want to see Maori move beyond treaty grievances and settlements and really focus on shaping our great country. …”

    “.. For the energy portfolio, I would like to see our country move from its reliance on fossil fuels towards renewable energy generation and bio-diesel production to improve our country’s options for electricity and transport. We also need to continue to work towards a more efficient use of electricity and I support campaigns to do this. The best thing we can do to support a happy and healthy future is to ensure we have warm and energy-efficient homes. It’s good for our kids, good for the environment and, most importantly, good for family wellbeing.

    For the law and order portfolio, my objective is quite simple: to stop the tide of young Maori going to prison and following a life of crime, and feeling they need to belong to gangs to get ahead. This means doing all we can to improve choices for young people while they’re still in the education system.

    We need to offer them more support as they take on new education, training and employment opportunities. I am beginning to warm to the notion that young people should be directed towards military training if they display problematic behaviour. Young people who lack direction can often be steered on to the right track through this experience.
    .”

    • boldsirbrian 26.1

      @ Tracey (26)

      What caught my eye here was the specific mention of the Te Hurihanga scheme for Young offenders. This was a standout achievement of the last Labour Government, stopped immediately by National when they came to power.

      There have been many pet projects in justice, ranging from military style camps; get tough on crime etc etc. The difference with Te Hurihanga, is that the scheme actually worked, and gave every indication that it would work in the long term. (It was a wrap around scheme that required the support of the youth, together with whanau, and supporting employers)

      Yes it was costly compared to schemes that do not work, but if anybody is seriously interested in keeping kids out of prison, this one has to be revived as soon as possible. That appears to be 2017 at the earliest.

      The project probably would never have happened if it had not been for the combination of three powerful forces: A judge (and I’m ashamed to say I cannot recall her name off hand); The Labour Party, and Tainui. Nanaia was of course an integral part of two of those three forces.

      A brilliant concept, that should not be forgotten. The building now languishes, being used a little by CYPS. (I guess it would be embarrassing to leave the relatively new building empty)

      The scheme in a Hamilton suburb was controversial, with opponents spreading misinformation and calling it a “borstal” (It wasn’t). To counter the rednecks, who booted us out of a public meeting for saying that we supported the project, we set up a thriving “Te Hurihanga Neighbourhood Support Group” It was a brilliant piece of successful local action ~grin~

      I’ve always been a little surprised that Labour never trumpeted their achievement. Or have used that success in subsequent election campaigns. There are so few good news stories in justice.

      Mr. Botany (B.)

  27. Tracey 27

    2009 Current parliamentary roles

    Member, Local Government and Environment Committee

    Spokesperson, Environment

    Spokesperson, Tourism

    Associate Spokesperson, Maori Affairs

    1997 – 2008 Former parliamentary roles: 

    5 Nov 07 – 19 Nov 08 Associate Minister Tourism

    5 Nov 07 – 19 Nov 08 Minister of Local Government

    19 Oct 05 – 19 Nov 08 Associate Minister for the Environment

    19 Oct 05 – 19 Nov 08 Minister of Youth Affairs

    19 Oct 05 – 19 Nov 08 Minster of Customs

    19 Oct 05 – 05 Nov 07 Associate Member for Local Government

    28 Jul 04 – 11 Aug 05 Member, Maori Affairs select committee

    27 Aug 02 – 16 Aug 05 Member, Local Govt & Environment select committee

    27 Aug 02 – 16 Aug 05 Member, Health select committee

    15 Aug 02 – 19 Oct 05 Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Local Government

    15 Aug 02 – 19 Oct 05 Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Education

    8 Feb 00 – 18 Jun 02 Member, Education and Science select committee

    21 Dec 99 – 18 Jun 02 Member, Justice and Electoral select committee

    20 Mar 97 – 19 Oct 99  Member, Electoral Law select committee

    12 Mar 97 – 19 Oct 99 *Member, Regulations Review select committee

  28. Chooky Shark Smile 28

    +100 thanks Tracey…that is a very very impressive list of achievements for Nanaia Mahuta!.

    ..it should be made into a POST

    ….and i would like to see an interview with her …maybe a Q @A

    imo she is certainly the stand out candidate for Leader of the Labour Party

    • Rosie 28.1

      Agree on the +100 to Tracey and agree that it would be good to see Nanaia doing a Q&A on TS, following on from Andrew Little’s. To be fair it would be good to see Grant Robertson and David Parker doing the same.

      • Chooky Shark Smile 28.1.1

        yes you are very fair Rosie to include the other two ….looks like I will be staying in the Labour Party to vote after all…smirk

      • greywarshark 28.1.2

        What is fair at this stage of the fight? Scarborough Fair has Fair Trade tea, Fair Trade stands for something. Fair and Labour are neighbours eyeing each other across a fence. Maybe they’ll come to a working agreement which will stand for something.

        • Chooky Shark Smile 28.1.2.1

          @ greywarshark …fairness is a sliding scale and in the eye of the beholder …..personally i feel it would be “fair” to dump the “other two” in a bag out at sea…but i bow to Rosie’s higher standards of “fairness”…she truly is a good and fair person

  29. Yes Nanaia you’ve made my day too!

    I’d been having a horrible day listening to Shearer spilling his bile. He really revealed what a truly nasty piece he is. I’ve always known that his ‘back story’ (UN administrator) did not stack up with his academic papers advocating hiring mercenaries to sort international issues.

    Mr Shearer you went too far today. Who’d like to join a mission to have him expelled? He stepped well beyond the rules today, has brought the Party into disrepute and must go before the Council.

    I believe Cosgrove has done the same today too.

    Am now starting to pull together the evidence and documentation for a formal complaint.

    The ABCers have started their purge and its time to stop them in their tracks.

    • Halcyon 29.1

      You are correct Ben. But Shearer and Cosgrove are only puppets, You need to seek behind the veil and find the core of the boil. Until the boil is removed you will gain nothing. Expel Shearer and Cosgrove and others will be hoodwinked to take their place,

    • Clemgeopin 29.2

      [“Mr Shearer you went too far today. Who’d like to join a mission to have him expelled? He stepped well beyond the rules today, has brought the Party into disrepute.
      I believe Cosgrove has done the same today too”]

      Do you have links for those two please. I haven’t seen them today.

      • lprent 29.2.1

        They did. I read the stuff on facebook and a couple of blogs, but never had time to dig out some definitive links.

        Busy busy day.

    • lprent 29.3

      Do that – after the leadership is completed. I have a wee backlog myself. You should have seen my first trashed post on it today….

      • Colonial Rawshark 29.3.1

        Yeah I’m in. I think I can get a few local members onboard too. After the leadership stuff is settled.

    • wekarawshark 29.4

      DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

      383) Forms of discipline available within the Constitution shall be censure, prohibition from seeking or holding any office, prohibition from seeking or holding candidacy, suspension of membership and expulsion from the Party. Any of these disciplinary measures may be imposed, as appropriate, for specified periods of time, according to the New Zealand Council’s resolution. Any communication whether verbal or in writing or otherwise made by any member or committee or organisation of the Party to another member or committee or organisation of the Party pursuant to or arising out of action taken under Rules 384 or 385 of this Constitution shall be privileged.

      384) The New Zealand Council shall be the only body to determine disciplinary action against any Party member by its own motion or upon application by any constituent body of the Party.

      385) Upon the application of any Branch or any Labour Electorate Committee or any other constituent body of the Party or by its own motion, the New Zealand Council may, for reasons determined sufficient by it, expel any person from membership of the Party or apply other forms of discipline. Such person shall be notified of the reasons and be given opportunity to state his or her case before the New Zealand Council.

      386) In all cases, principles of natural justice shall apply. There shall be a right of appeal to a body constituted for the occasion by the New Zealand Council, consisting of three (3) members of the Party. There shall be one (1) further, subsequent and final right of appeal to the New Zealand Council. The ruling of the New Zealand Council shall be binding on all parties.

      387) Disciplinary action shall be applied for and ruled upon on the grounds of:

      a. Contravention of the Principles, Rules and policies of the Party as contained in the current
      Constitution and policy documents of the Party;

      and/or b. For bringing the Party into disrepute;

      and/or c. For standing as a candidate in opposition to, or publicly campaigning against, an official Labour Parliamentary candidate or candidates or a Local Body candidate or candidates selected pursuant to the allocation of campaign rights under Rules 105 to 112. Any such person standing as a Parliamentary candidate shall, from the closing of candidate nominations, have their membership of the Party automatically suspended or be not permitted to join the Party for a period of two (2) years unless the New Zealand Council specifically makes a different decision in that case. Any such person standing as a local body candidate shall have the suspension or the ban on joining the Party as set out applied by resolution of New Zealand Council.

      https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/nzlabour/pages/1487/attachments/original/1412164169/September_2014_Constitution.pdf?1412164169

  30. Craig Glen Eden 30

    Nania is a great person she is humble, she has Mana she is a great listener and she is passionate about Labour’s values. Most of all I believe she is trust worthy. Nania could actually be just what Labour needs. Thanks for standing Nania. 🙂

  31. Cave Johnson 31

    All I see is added confirmation that caucus is heavily fragmented.
    I can’t see how any leader can hope to thrive in this environment.

    • Clemgeopin 31.1

      That is actually a little silly to say on your part.
      Are you suggesting that the caucus should be united in supporting one person as leader of the party without input from the party members and without giving an opportunity for MPs to seek the position of leadership? Then why have a democratic exciting election?
      Are you suggesting that we too, like National, have a cabal of faceless invisible, some external powerful interests hoist a leader for the party?
      We are not in Guatemala or Timbuktu or North Korea even, are we!

  32. vto 32

    Nanaia has always impressed in many ways imo. She seems to do a lot for her people and for the downtrodden – good for her (it is people like her who deserve the title of “honourable” and not the shitheads like Collins and Banks and Worth …. sheesh).

    But I don’t understand her jumping into the ring. It must clearly be part of some wider internal political game in order to achieve some other outcome ……

    (just as long as they get their shit together real fast so those 10,000 houses per year can be built, electricity price gouging can be brought under control, our waterways can stopped from becoming too toxic to swim in or drink from, on it goes ….. so htfu (that’s “hurry the f*%k up”))

  33. RedLogix 33

    Given the reaction on this thread – does anyone want to reflect on Cunliffe’s selection of Nania as his deputy running mate back in the first primary?

    • Lanthanide 33.1

      I’m slightly surprised by the positive comments here, because I don’t recall anything like this number of them back in 2011.

      Also regardless of her merit in being leader or deputy, Cunliffe’s decision to run a double-ticket was a big mistep, because none of the other candidates did. And as much as people here are praising her achievements, I don’t think her caucus colleagues think all that much of her, and as we can see from Shearer’s and other’s comments today, they may have perceived her being the token Maori woman deputy, rather than having actually earned or deserved it.

      • RedLogix 33.1.1

        My reading is this; that really capable and fundamentally decent people like Cunliffe always underestimate just how much jealousy and hostility they induce people around them.

        Look at the calibre of the ABC clique who have taken him down – small people all of them. Perhaps the only exception I would make is Phil Goff who seems to have wisely kept his mouth shut throughout the entire debacle.

        I personally thought asking Nania to run with him in 2011 was an inspired, prescient choice. Yet this too was turned by the hands of his enemies into a weapon to use against him.

        • Colonial Rawshark 33.1.1.1

          With a political system and culture like this on “our” side, we’re royally screwed.

          • RedLogix 33.1.1.1.1

            And that’s how you can draw a straight line between Roger Douglas and Trevor Mallard.

            Not so much via the ideology park – but direct through the swamp of betrayal and hubris.

        • les 33.1.1.2

          Cunnliffe had his chance and blew it.Said he had Keys measure and stood like a possum in the headlights when asked about CGT.Not as clever as his ego thinks he is.Big flop,and hugely unpopular with the general public.

      • stargazer 33.1.2

        “Cunliffe’s decision to run a double-ticket was a big mistep, because none of the other candidates did.”

        shearer ran a double ticket with grant robertson as his deputy. the four of them did the roadshow that year, even though the membership did not have a vote at that stage & all four had speaking slots at the meetings.

        • Lanthanide 33.1.2.1

          No, here’s what wikipedia says:
          “David Cunliffe, David Shearer and David Parker stood for the leadership, and Nanaia Mahuta and Grant Robertson contested the deputy position. Cunliffe and Mahuta ran as a ticket. During the campaign Parker pulled out of the race and endorsed Shearer. Shearer and Robertson won the votes for their respective positions. ” and also: “Shearer did not indicate a preferred deputy.”

          David Cunliffe explicitely ran alongside Nanaia Mahuta, and announced his candidacy in that fashion.

          David Shearer was independent of Robertson; Robertson later endorsed Shearer, but it’s not the same as what Cunliffe did.

  34. Jan 34

    Sent a formal complaint to Gen. Sec, about Shearer using “bringing Labour Party into disrepute” section of constitution. Threw in every position in Party I have ever held, nearly forgot Women’s Council, as credentials for making complaint, but every member should do the same email, might start to clean up caucus. Had a go at hypocricy of telling all us plebs to behave ourselves from President then having Shearer blow the lot. Come on everyone – strength in numbers ! Had acknowledgement back from Tim to say complaint would be referred to constitution committee.

  35. Yeah Red, I am looking forward to this primary even more than if Cunliffe had been still standing.
    Nanaia has more backbone than the whole of the ABC and their media puppets.
    I can’t wait to see Robertson of the “oh dear Cunni said he was ashamed to be a man”, the miserable balancer of budgets, and the former union bureaucrat who is frightened of taxing parasites, stand up to a Maori leader with the Mana of her people, who fought the land grabbing settlers and refused to fight an imperialist war, as she puts them all to shame.
    This will be a milestone of workers democracy that will show up the fake democracy of the general election.

  36. RRM 36

    And then there were four.

    FOUR forgettable journeymen, standing in a row.

    One fell off and bumped his head.

    Mum called the voters, and the voters said:

    Meh. :-/

  37. Delia 37

    So tired of the old boy club in Labour and the pathetic fighting. I will watch Nanaia closely during the campaign, but if I am honest I am sold.

  38. greywarshark 38

    Bites of info on Nanaia.
    Official Labour bio -Nanaia Mahuta
    MP for Hauraki-Waikato
    Spokesperson for Maori Affairs
    Spokesperson for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
    Spokesperson for Climate Change
    Associate Spokesperson for Innovation, Research and Development

    Since becoming an MP, Nanaia has been committed to youth development, advancing Maori success through education and training opportunities, Iwi development, care for kaumatua, support for Maori women and sustainable ways to care for the environment and create jobs.
    About Nanaia
    As a serving Member of Parliament Nanaia held a range of spokesperson roles, served on a number of Select Committees and in the last term of the Fifth Labour Government had the privilege of being a Minister.
    She is currently the spokesperson for Maori Affairs and Treaty Settlements, and is the Senior Maori Vice-President of the Labour Party.
    Nanaia’s other roles include:

    Trustee of Te Whakaruruhau Maori Women’s Refuge
    Trustee of the Waikato College for Research and Development
    Co-Chair of the Waikato-Tainui Governance and Representation Review
    Parent on the Te Kaahu Kohanga Reo Committee
    Patron of the Rahui Pokeka Waka Ama club.
    ********************************************************

    Her own education path: attended the local Rakaumangamanga School and Diosecan School in Hamilton and graduated with her BA and then MA (Hons) in Social Anthropology at Auckland University.
    Further background – http://www.naumaiplace.com/site/ngati-manu/home/page/642/nanaia-mahuta-labour-mp/
    ********************************************************

    In her own words to Her magazine 2011/2012?
    http://www.herbusinessmagazine.com/Power+Profile/Nanaia+Mahuta.html

    What have been the highlights of your career so far?
    In my electorate, they have been: the formation of the first standalone Maori language high school, Nga Taiatea, the resolution of the Waikato River Claim, the increased emphasis on youth transitioning from school to further training or employment, the rollout of Family Start initiatives supporting young and vulnerable families and the emergence of Teen Parent Units to help young mums. I have also seen the initial launch of Te Hurihanga and the establishment of the Rangatahi courts [marae-based courts for young Maori offenders]. I have supported campaigns such as CanTeen, Relay for Life, Breastfeeding Awareness Week and Diabetes Awareness Week.

    She explained her involvement in the foreshore debate. She has also stated that she wants to see reducing dependence on fossil fuels and considered that moving to bio-diesel production and furthering renewable energy would be a sensible step.

    • Cave Johnson 38.1

      Does anyone know what her work history is prior to entering parliament?

      • Colonial Rawshark 38.1.1

        I think that she has been representing her iwi since she was born. (I know, slightly tongue in cheek, but also the truth).

        • Cave Johnson 38.1.1.1

          So Nanaia does not appear to have ever held down a non-political day job that she is prepared to document on her bio? If anyone can fill in the gaps I would be keen to hear it.

  39. Red delusion 39

    OMG are you guys serious Mahuta, please tell me this an early April fools, I know the left are delusional and live in an alternative reality but come on……… She has zip, 0 sweet FA, the parrot is dead chance of wining a general election that is the point isn’t it in regard to who you should vote for

  40. Clemgeopin 40

    Unfair and stupid comment. Those are the type put down comments some people said about Helen Clark too when she took over the party leadership. Once Mahuta gets known, gets heard and seen more often on the media, people may begin to warm to her like they did to Helen and Key. Don’t assume anything yet based on your own perception, ignorance and bias.

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    Hi,From an incredibly rainy day in Los Angeles, I just wanted to check in. I guess this is the day Trump may or may not end up in cuffs? I’m attempting a somewhat slower, less frenzied week. I’ve had Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new record on non-stop, and it’s been a ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – What evidence is there for the hockey stick?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Carry right on up there, Corporal Espiner
    RNZ has been shining their torch into corners where lobbyists lurk and asking such questions as: Do we like the look of this?and Is this as democratic as it could be?These are most certainly questions worth asking, and every bit as valid as, say:Are we shortchanged democratically by the way ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • This smells
    RNZ has continued its look at the role of lobbyists by taking a closer look at the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Andrew Kirton. He used to work for liquor companies, opposing (among other things) a container refund scheme which would have required them to take responsibility for their own ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Major issues on the table in Mahuta’s  talks in Beijing with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has left for Beijing for the first ministerial visit to China since 2019. Mahuta is  to  meet China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang  where she  might have to call on all the  diplomatic skills  at  her  command. Almost certainly she  will  face  questions  on what  role ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago
  • Inside TOP's Teal Card and political strategy
    TL;DR: The Opportunities Party’s Leader Raf Manji is hopeful the party’s new Teal Card, a type of Gold card for under 30s, will be popular with students, and not just in his Ilam electorate where students make up more than a quarter of the voters and where Manji is confident ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Make Your Empties Go Another Round.
    When I was a kid New Zealand was actually pretty green. We didn’t really have plastic. The fruit and veges came in a cardboard box, the meat was wrapped in paper, milk came in a glass bottle, and even rubbish sacks were made of paper. Today if you sit down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how similar Vladimir Putin is to George W. Bush
    Looking back through the names of our Police Ministers down the years, the job has either been done by once or future party Bigfoots – Syd Holland, Richard Prebble, Juduth Collins, Chris Hipkins – or by far lesser lights like Keith Allen, Frank Gill, Ben Couch, Allen McCready, Clem Simich, ...
    3 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  Te Pāti Māori’s uncompromising threat to the status quo
    Chris Trotter writes – The Crown is a fickle friend. Any political movement deemed to be colourful but inconsequential is generally permitted to go about its business unmolested. The Crown’s media, RNZ and TVNZ, may even “celebrate” its existence (presumably as proof of Democracy’s broad-minded acceptance of diversity). ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Shining a bright light on lobbyists in politics
    Four out of the five people who have held the top role of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff since 2017 have been lobbyists. That’s a fact that should worry anyone who believes vested interests shouldn’t have a place at the centre of decision making. Chris Hipkins’ newly appointed Chief of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Auckland Council Draft Budget – an unnecessary backwards step
    Feedback on Auckland Council’s draft 2023/24 budget closes on March 28th. You can read the consultation document here, and provide feedback here. Auckland Council is currently consulting on what is one of its most important ever Annual Plans – the ‘budget’ of what it will spend money on between July ...
    3 days ago
  • Talking’ Posey Parker Blues
    by Molten Moira from Motueka If you want to be a woman let me tell you what to do Get a piece of paper and a biro tooWrite down your new identification And boom! You’re now a woman of this nationSpelled W O M A Na real trans woman that isAs opposed ...
    RedlineBy Admin
    4 days ago
  • More Māori words make it into the OED, and polytech boss (with rules on words like “students”) ...
    Buzz from the Beehive   New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti is hosting the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers for three days from today, welcoming Education Ministers and senior officials from 18 Pacific Island countries and territories, and from Australia. Here’s hoping they have brought translators with them – or ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Social intercourse with haters and Nazis: an etiquette guide
    Let’s say you’ve come all the way from His Majesty’s United Kingdom to share with the folk of Australia and New Zealand your antipathy towards certain other human beings. And let’s say you call yourself a women’s rights activist.And let’s say 99 out of 100 people who listen to you ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • The Greens, Labour, and coalition enforcement
    James Shaw gave the Green party's annual "state of the planet" address over the weekend, in which he expressed frustration with Labour for not doing enough on climate change. His solution is to elect more Green MPs, so they have more power within any government arrangement, and can hold Labour ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • This sounds familiar…
    RNZ this morning has the first story another investigative series by Guyon Espiner, this time into political lobbying. The first story focuses on lobbying by government agencies, specifically transpower, Pharmac, and assorted universities, and how they use lobbyists to manipulate public opinion and gather intelligence on the Ministers who oversee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Letter to the NZ Herald: NCEA pseudoscience – “Mauri is present in all matter”
    Nick Matzke writes –   Dear NZ Herald, I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. I teach evolutionary biology, but I also have long experience in science education and (especially) political attempts to insert pseudoscience into science curricula in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • So what would be the point of a Green vote again?
    James Shaw has again said the Greens would be better ‘in the tent’ with Labour than out, despite Labour’s policy bonfire last week torching much of what the Government was doing to reduce emissions. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Green Party has never been more popular than in some ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Gas stoves pose health risks. Are gas furnaces and other appliances safe to use?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah Wesseler Poor air quality is a long-standing problem in Los Angeles, where the first major outbreak of smog during World War II was so intense that some residents thought the city had been attacked by chemical weapons. Cars were eventually discovered ...
    4 days ago
  • Genetic Heritage and Co Governance
    Yesterday I was reading an excellent newsletter from David Slack, and I started writing a comment “Sounds like some excellent genetic heritage…” and then I stopped.There was something about the phrase genetic heritage that stopped me in tracks. Is that a phrase I want to be saying? It’s kind of ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Radical Uncertainty
    Brian Easton writes – Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s Middle East strategy, 20 years after the Iraq War
    This week marks the twentieth anniversary of the Iraq War. While it strongly opposed the US-led invasion, New Zealand’s then Labour-led government led by Prime Minister Helen Clark did deploy military engineers to try to help rebuild Iraq in mid-2003. With violence soaring, their 12-month deployment ended without being renewed ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    4 days ago
  • The motorways are finished
    After seventy years, Auckland’s motorway network is finally finished. In July 1953 the first section of motorway in Auckland was opened between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway and Mt Wellington Highway. The final stage opens to traffic this week with the completion of the motorway part of the Northern Corridor Improvements project. Aucklanders ...
    4 days ago
  • Kicking National’s tyres
    National’s appointment of Todd McClay as Agriculture spokesperson clearly signals that the party is in trouble with the farming vote. McClay was not an obvious choice, but he does have a record as a political scrapper. The party needs that because sources say it has been shedding farming votes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • As long as there is cricket, the world is somehow okay.
    Rays of white light come flooding into my lounge, into my face from over the top of my neighbour’s hedge. I have to look away as the window of the conservatory is awash in light, as if you were driving towards the sun after a rain shower and suddenly blinded. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • So much of what was there remains
    The columnists in Private Eye take pen names, so I have not the least idea who any of them are. But I greatly appreciate their expert insight, especially MD, who writes the medical column, offering informed and often damning critique of the UK health system and the politicians who keep ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Mar 12, 2023 thru Sat, Mar 18, 2023. Story of the Week Guest post: What 13,500 citations reveal about the IPCC’s climate science report   IPCC WG1 AR6 SPM Report Cover - Changing ...
    6 days ago
  • Financial capability services are being bucked up, but Stuart Nash shouldn’t have to see if they c...
    Buzz from the Beehive  The building of financial capability was brought into our considerations when Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced she had dipped into the government’s coffers for $3 million for “providers” to help people and families access community-based Building Financial Capability services. That wording suggests some ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Things that make you go Hmmmm.
    Do you ever come across something that makes you go Hmmmm?You mean like the song?No, I wasn’t thinking of the song, but I am now - thanks for that. I was thinking of things you read or hear that make you stop and go Hmmmm.Yeah, I know what you mean, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • The hoon for the week that was to March 19
    By the end of the week, the dramas over Stuart Nash overshadowed Hipkins’ policy bonfire. File photo: Lynn GrieveasonTLDR: This week’s news in geopolitics and the political economy covered on The Kākā included:PM Chris Hipkins’ announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but ...
    The KakaBy Peter Bale
    6 days ago
  • Saving Stuart Nash: Explaining Chris Hipkins' unexpected political calculation
    When word went out that Prime Minister Chris Hipkins would be making an announcement about Stuart Nash on the tiles at parliament at 2:45pm yesterday, the assumption was that it was over. That we had reached tipping point for Nash’s time as minister. But by 3pm - when, coincidentally, the ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    7 days ago
  • Radical Uncertainty
    Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go on to attack physics by citing Newton.So ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • Jump onto the weekly hoon on Riverside at 5pm
    Photo by Walker Fenton on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week again when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kaka for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on Riverside (we’ve moved from Zoom) for our chat about the week’s news with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Dream of Florian Neame: Accepted
    In a nice bit of news, my 2550-word deindustrial science-fiction piece, The Dream of Florian Neame, has been accepted for publication at New Maps Magazine (https://www.new-maps.com/). I have published there before, of course, with Of Tin and Tintagel coming out last year. While I still await the ...
    1 week ago
  • Snakes and leaders
    And so this is Friday, and what have we learned?It was a week with all the usual luggage: minister brags and then he quits, Hollywood red carpet is full of twits. And all the while, hanging over the trivial stuff: existential dread, and portents of doom.Depending on who you read ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • This station is Karanga-a-Hape, Chur!
    When I changed the name of this newsletter from The Daily Read to Nick’s Kōrero I was a bit worried whether people would know what Kōrero meant or not. I added a definition when I announced the change and kind of assumed people who weren’t familiar with it would get ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Greens don’t shy from promoting a candidate’s queerness but are quiet about govt announcement on...
    There was a time when a political party’s publicity people would counsel against promoting a candidate as queer. No matter which of two dictionary meanings the voting public might choose to apply – the old meaning of odd, strange, weird, or aberrant, or the more recent meaning of gay, homosexual ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to March 17
    Photo by Joakim Honkasalo on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for the next hour, including:PM Chris Hipkins announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but which blew up ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Slow consenting could create $16b climate liability by 2050
    Even though concern over the climate change threat is becoming more mainstream, our governments continue to opt out of the difficult decisions at the expense of time, and cost for future generations. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTLDR: Now we have a climate liability number to measure the potential failure of the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • THOMAS CRANMER: Challenging progressivism in New Zealand’s culture wars
    Thomas Cranmer writes  Like it or not, the culture wars have entered New Zealand politics and look set to broaden and intensify. The culture wars are often viewed as an exclusively American phenomenon, but the reality is that they are becoming increasingly prominent in countries around the world, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • Gordon Campbell on firing Stuart Nash, plus a music playlist
    Here’s an analogy for the Stuart Nash saga. If people are to be forgiven for their sins, Catholic dogma requires two factors to be present. There has to be a sincere act of confession about what has been done, but also a sincere act of contrition, which signals a painful ...
    1 week ago

  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Christopher John Dellabarca of Wellington, Dr Katie Jane Elkin of Wellington, Caroline Mary Hickman of Napier, Ngaroma Tahana of Rotorua, Tania Rose Williams Blyth of Hamilton and Nicola Jan Wills of Wellington as District Court Judges.  Chris Dellabarca Mr Dellabarca commenced his ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • New project set to supercharge ocean economy in Nelson Tasman
    A new Government-backed project will help ocean-related businesses in the Nelson Tasman region to accelerate their growth and boost jobs. “The Nelson Tasman region is home to more than 400 blue economy businesses, accounting for more than 30 percent of New Zealand’s economic activity in fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • National’s education policy: where’s the funding?
    After three years of COVID-19 disruptions schools are finally settling down and National want to throw that all in the air with major disruption to learning and underinvestment.  “National’s education policy lacks the very thing teachers, parents and students need after a tough couple of years, certainty and stability,” Education ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Free programme to help older entrepreneurs and inventors
    People aged over 50 with innovative business ideas will now be able to receive support to advance their ideas to the next stage of development, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen said today. “Seniors have some great entrepreneurial ideas, and this programme will give them the support to take that next ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government target increased to keep powering up the Māori economy
    A cross government target for relevant government procurement contracts for goods and services to be awarded to Māori businesses annually will increase to 8%, after the initial 5% target was exceeded. The progressive procurement policy was introduced in 2020 to increase supplier diversity, starting with Māori businesses, for the estimated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Continued progress on reducing poverty in challenging times
    77,000 fewer children living in low income households on the after-housing-costs primary measure since Labour took office Eight of the nine child poverty measures have seen a statistically significant reduction since 2018. All nine have reduced 28,700 fewer children experiencing material hardship since 2018 Measures taken by the Government during ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech at Fiji Investment and Trade Business Forum
    Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tēnā koutou katoa, ni sa bula vinaka saka, namaste. Deputy Prime Minister, a very warm welcome to Aotearoa. I trust you have been enjoying your time here and thank you for joining us here today. To all delegates who have travelled to be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government investments boost and diversify local economies in lower South Island
    $2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government future-proofs EV charging
    Transport Minister Michael Wood has today launched the first national EV (electric vehicle) charging strategy, Charging Our Future, which includes plans to provide EV charging stations in almost every town in New Zealand. “Our vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to have world-class EV charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • World-leading family harm prevention campaign supports young NZers
    Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • First Chief Clinical Advisor welcomed into Coroners Court
    Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Next steps for affected properties post Cyclone and floods
    The Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New appointment to Māori Land Court bench
    E te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government focus on jobs sees record number of New Zealanders move from Benefits into work
    113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Vertical farming partnership has upward momentum
    The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote Address
    E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patients
    The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Second Poseidon aircraft on home soil
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and Syria
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Community voice to help shape immigration policy
    Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today.  “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for Taranaki
    Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of Police
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government confirms vital roading reconnections
    Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
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    4 days ago
  • Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in Aotearoa
    Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone Gabrielle
    A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
    Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability services
    The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and member
    Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...
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    1 week ago
  • Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announced
    Fifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today.  The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High Court
    High Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ still well placed to meet global challenges
    The economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Western Ring Route Complete
    Aucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...
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    1 week ago
  • Briefings to Incoming Ministers
    This section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient Fiji
    Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recovery
    The Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Next steps developing clean energy for NZ
    The Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Statement from the Prime Minister on Stuart Nash
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