“Anyone who is innocent has nothing to fear”
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- Date published:
9:34 am, November 17th, 2011 - 19 comments
Categories: brand key, john key, Media -
Tags: search and surveillance, teapot tape
Pop quiz, who said “Anyone who is innocent has nothing to fear”? Answer, just about every politician ever who was arguing for an increase in state powers, especially powers of surveillance. On this particular occasion it was John Key defending the powers of a newly created “customs center” to monitor and preserve comprehensive details on air passengers.
Those words might just come back to haunt Key. His government has been busily ramping up Search and Surveillance powers and recently rammed through the Video Camera Surveillance Bill to boot. “Anyone who is innocent has nothing to fear” is very much the subtext. Brian Rudman in The Herald considers the recent teapot tape fiasco in this context. He pulls no punches:
Key plays risky game over taping
… Trotting off to the police on Monday full of injured innocence about a nasty cameraman recording his open invitation, “secret” meeting with Epsom Act candidate John Banks is all very well. But isn’t this the same John Key who shoved through retrospective legislation last month legalising widespread covert and unlawful videotaping by police.
… The tapes recorded police spying on a diverse range of suspects, capturing images ranging from the alleged Urewera revolutionaries through to, according to Mana Party leader Hone Harawira, speaking in Parliament, “a very high-profile politician caught during surveillance of a woman as part of a P investigation …”
Mr Key’s rushed legislation, overthrowing a Supreme Court ruling, met with universal outrage from civil rights experts. Dr Rodney Harrison, QC, counsel for one of the Urewera defendants, attacked the initial bill as “validating illegal conduct deliberately engaged in by the police”.
It was “contrary to fundamental constitutional principle and a serious violation of individual human rights”. Canterbury law professor Philip Joseph said it undermined the basic principle that no one was above the law. The move was “constitutionally objectionable”. Auckland QC Grant Illingworth said the Government was taking away the fundamental right of citizens not to be monitored in their private lives. Like other experts, he attacked its retrospective nature.
All of these increased (and retrospective) powers were just fine with Key. Now we get to the teapot connection:
For Mr Key to now get all sanctimonious about his right to privacy is, what’s that word … ah yes, hypocritical. As for calling in the police, after the surveillance tape legislation disgrace, it reads like a case of you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.
I’m no lawyer, but it’s surely pushing the limits of credulity to call the stunt that Mr Key and Mr Banks got up to last Friday a private meeting. They courted each other courtesy of newspapers, radio and television for weeks beforehand. The whole world was signalled of the very public venue, where the first date would take place.
The whole point of the meeting was to exploit the media to the full, to ensure the message was delivered loud and clear to Epsom voters that the Prime Minister was calling on National Party supporters in Epsom to rort the MMP voting system in the hope that Mr Banks, the NACTional candidate, would win and drag in by stealth his unelectable leader, Don Brash. …
And the sting in the tail:
In putting ethical behaviour on the agenda, the National leader has also drawn attention to the deliberate gaming of the MMP system that this stunt was all about. Mr Key has already declared he wants to replace MMP with SM, the disguised version of the old discarded First Past the Post voting system. By exploiting a loophole in the MMP rules with his Act allies, he’s not just trying to get himself an extra vote or two in the House, he’s also discrediting the voting system he wants replaced.
A clever political move. But hardly a smart one for a man preaching ethics to the rest of us.
Powerful stuff from Rudman. Key is very much hoist by his own petard. He’s all for increases in surveillance. He’s recorded at a public meeting to which he invited the media. Now he doesn’t want the tape released. He’s acting a lot like a man who has something to fear, don’t you think?
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- Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in DubaiClimate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...1 day ago
- New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meetingDefence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...1 day ago
- Study shows need to remove distractions in classThe Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...1 day ago
- Minister sets expectations of CommissionerToday I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...2 days ago
- New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETSNew Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...2 days ago
- PISA results show urgent need to teach the basicsWith 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids. The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...3 days ago
- Collins leaves for Pacific defence meetingDefence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...4 days ago
- Working for Families gets cost of living boostPutting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...4 days ago
- Post-Cabinet press conferenceMost weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...4 days ago
- Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrappedThe Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...5 days ago
- NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in GazaNew Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...1 week ago
- Condolences on passing of Henry KissingerForeign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...1 week ago
- Backing our kids to learn the basicsEvery child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...1 week ago
- US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through tradeI would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber. I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...1 week ago
- Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, AucklandGood morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States. This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...1 week ago
- India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic PriorityGood morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...1 week ago
- Coalition Government unveils 100-day planPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...1 week ago
- New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade AgreementA significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...2 weeks ago
- Taken together, the NDIS review and the royal commission recommendations could transform disability ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Di Winkler, Adjunct Associate Professor, La Trobe University Shutterstock A home – in the physical and emotional sense – is foundational to living an ordinary life with a feeling of inclusion. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants with the highest ...2 hours ago - Fire ants are on the march. Here’s what happens when they stingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darren Roberts, Conjoint Associate Professor in clinical pharmacology and toxicology, St Vincent’s Healthcare Clinical Campus, UNSW Sydney Veronika Kunitsyna/Shutterstock Red imported fire ants are a particularly nasty type of ant because they are aggressive, and inflict painful stings that may ...2 hours ago
- Watch: Luxon on Hawke's Bay cyclone recovery: 'We don't want to turn all that upside ...
Christopher Luxon says the new government is going to continue everything that the previous one put into place to help with the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle. ...2 hours ago - Waka Kotahi to use its English name first after pressure from governmentWaka Kotahi will begin referring to itself using its English name first after pressure from parties in the coalition government. ...2 hours ago
- Watch – Christopher Luxon visits Hawke's Bay to see cyclone recovery progressLive - Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been in Wairoa this morning to gauge progress of the town's recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle. Watch a media conference with him here. ...3 hours ago
- Yes, landlords gain from the repeal of interest deductibility rules – but it was a flawed law from...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Pavlovich, Senior lecturer in the School of Accounting and Commercial Law, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington The new coalition government has announced a suite of tax reforms, including reintroducing the ability for property investors to deduct the interest ...3 hours ago
- The Amalgamated Workers Union Calls On The Government To Give Fair Pay Agreements A Fair Go
“The new government has a clear choice to make before Christmas. Do they live up to their stated intention of governing for all New Zealanders, or do they dash the hopes of tens of thousands of kiwi workers by unilaterally abolishing Fair Pay ...5 hours ago - What does El Niño do to the weather in your state?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kimberley Reid, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Sciences, Monash University titoOnz, Shutterstock You’ve probably heard El Niño brings hot and dry weather to the eastern states, but what about the rest of Australia? Are we all in for a scorcher ...5 hours ago
- Australia’s first mobile cooling hub is ready for searing heat this summer – and people who are ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Currie, Professor of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock Heatwaves are a major public health hazard. Socially disadvantaged people are especially exposed to extreme heat and other impacts of climate change. Many people experiencing homelessness – more than 120,000 ...5 hours ago
- Free Speech Union Releases Briefing To Incoming Government, Outlining Key Areas Of Policy To Protect...The Free Speech Union has sent 14 Cabinet Ministers a comprehensive Briefing to the Incoming Government, outlining five key areas of policy that the Government must address in order to protect and expand Kiwis’ speech rights. We look forward to ...5 hours ago
- Interislander ferry upgrade: Finance Minister warns of cost blowoutFinance Minister Nicola Willis says she has already met twice with KiwiRail bosses over a "major cost blowout" in the project to replace the Interislander ferries. ...6 hours ago
- National Trying To Rewrite History By Removing App Tax Website And Press ReleaseThe Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the National Party to front up to consumers who will face 15% higher prices for some services from the likes of Uber, Airbnb and food delivery apps after their app tax U-turn rather than trying to erase all ...7 hours ago
- Netballers may have a new pay deal, but the sport remains in a precarious positionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Fujak, Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University While 2023 was a watershed year for Australian women’s sport due to the Matildas’ stirring run at the Women’s World Cup, netball is going through its worst period ever. Netball Australia and the ...7 hours ago
- Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau’s Platitudes Ring HollowResponding to news that Wellington City Councillors have voted down a proposal to reduce business rates in the capital, Taxpayers’ Union Policy Adviser, James Ross, said: “When Mayor Tory Whanau comes out with a line like ‘I couldn’t in good ...7 hours ago
- Te Pūkenga to be replaced with 8-10 institutions – ministerThe new tertiary education minister says Te Pūkenga will be replaced with eight to 10 individual institutions, and hopes legislation will be in place within eight months. ...8 hours ago
- Commission Presents Urgent Human Rights ‘must-do’ ListTe Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission has today launched a short film calling for the public and government to champion and protect human rights ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “Seventy-five years on, ...8 hours ago
- A Cowardly, Anti-Palestinian Parliamentary MotionThe parliamentary motion passed today , a full two months after Israel’s slaughter of Palestinian civilians began, says: "Express grave concern at the ongoing violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories, unequivocally condemn ...9 hours ago
- Political editors panel: Māori make voices heard as Parliament resumesMorning Report - RNZ and 1News deputy political editors Craig McCulloch and Maiki Sherman dissect a fractious week in the halls of power. ...9 hours ago
- Listen: The real cost of the smoking excise tax
To replace $700 million a year of revenues lost from a foreign buyers tax, the new coalition government is dumping the previous government’s smokefree 2025 goal. This relaxing of policies will keep more people smoking for longer, costing thousands of lives per year and at least $10 billion is extra ...9 hours ago - Is the London OE still worth it?London has always been a hard place to live, but in 2023, it’s almost impossible. Charlotte Doyle, a New Zealander currently living in London, explores why we keep heading there. “You’re dreaming,” the letting agent tells me impatiently over the phone. “A one-bedroom for £1,500 per month is a needle ...9 hours ago
- GCSB Minister Judith Collins condemns Russian cyber attacksNew Zealand is joining other nations, including Britain, in condemning Russian government malicious cyber-attacks. ...9 hours ago
- GCSB Minister Judith Collins condemns Russian cyber attacksNew Zealand is joining other nations, including Britain, in condemning Russian government malicious cyber-attacks. ...9 hours ago
- Ryan Bridge to host Three’s new 7pm showWith The Project wrapping up last week (you can read Duncan Greive’s excellent reflections on that here), Warner Bros Discovery has announced broadcaster Ryan Bridge will host a brand new current affairs show for Three. The currently unnamed show will focus on live news and interviews and is a return ...9 hours ago
- We thought we’d find 200 species living in our house and yard. We were very wrongSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew H. Holden, Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland Dot-underwing moth (_Eudocima materna_) found in the researchers’ yard. Matthew Holden, CC BY-NC We are biodiversity researchers – an ecologist, a mathematician and a taxonomist – who were locked ...10 hours ago
- What’s the difference between ‘reasonable and necessary’ and ‘foundational’ supports? Here...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Bennett, Disability Program Director, Grattan Institute The long-awaited NDIS review has looked far beyond the National Disability Insurance Scheme, taking a bird’s eye view of disability services in Australia. Critical to the future of the NDIS are services for people with ...10 hours ago
- Harnessing the oceans to ‘bury’ carbon has huge potential – and risk – so NZ needs to move w...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca J McLeod, Senior Research Fellow in Marine Ecology, University of Otago Climate change might not be high on its immediate agenda, but New Zealand’s new government does have one potentially significant and innovative policy. Recognising the marine environment’s ability to remove ...10 hours ago
- Councils are opening the door to tiny houses as a quick, affordable and green solutionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hing-Wah Chau, Course Chair in Building Design & Senior Lecturer in Built Environment, Victoria University Soaring rents and home prices, increasing mortgage stress, record immigration and a growing population are fuelling a housing crisis and increasing homelessness. In the face of this ...10 hours ago
- I’m an expert in diplomatic gift giving. Here are my 5 top tips for the best Christmas present exc...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Happé, Graduate researcher in art history and material culture studies, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock As we get closer to Christmas, your family will probably have some kind of gathering. You will reunite with people who you might not ...10 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Covid data leaker was largely unknown in conspiracy circlesTe Whatu Ora IT worker Barry Young had a “relatively muted” digital presence prior to his arrest last week over a massive Covid data breach, Stuff reports. Young has since become something of a cause celebre among vacccine sceptics, appearing on online shows hosted by local conspiracy theorist Liz Gunn and ...10 hours ago
- Home Brew back with first album in over a decade and slot at LanewayAfter an 11 year hiatus, legendary Aotearoa hip-hop group Home Brew are back today with their first new album in over a decade, Run it Back, and will continue that reunion at Laneway Festival in February. Breaking their indefinite hiatus, Run it Back comes off the back off the 2023 ...10 hours ago
- MPs settle into new roles as parliament cranks back into actionThere may be less than a fortnight left in the political year, but politicians seem determined to make the final days count, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Question time is ...11 hours ago
- Literacy, numeracy tests as NCEA requirement 'detrimental' to learnersA leading education researcher warns new high-stakes NCEA literacy and maths tests could do more harm than good. ...12 hours ago
- Labour's Damien O'Connor goes against party policy in calling Israel's actions in Gaz...Labour's leader says O'Connor is "incredibly passionate" about the issue but party policy is that relevant international bodies will determine whether Israel's actions are lawful. ...13 hours ago
- Farewell, live updates: Why we’re shifting our approach to daily newsThe Spinoff’s live updates editor reflects on three-and-a-half years in the role, and looks forward to what’s next. Today marks the final day of live updates on The Spinoff. It’s a big day for me given I have been editing the live updates since mid-2020, but it’s also a big ...13 hours ago
- Chris Hipkins opens up on what went wrong at the 2023 electionOn a quiet morning before the first parliamentary question time of the new term, Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon took a moment to analyse and reflect on their election campaigns. When Chris Hipkins was sworn in as prime minister on January 21, 2023, he had a feeling of optimism and ...13 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 8 December
The post Daily crossword, Friday 8 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...13 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 8 DecemberLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 8 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...13 hours ago
- The ‘troubled-teen’ industry and conflicts of interest in Family CourtOpinion: Courts are halls of justice, but they are also well-financed institutional purchasers of goods and services, outsourcing much of their work to private consultants and contractors, including lawyers, advocates, psychologists, social workers, and drug counsellors who earn their living from court contracts. Though there is nothing inherently wrong ...13 hours ago
- Politicians won’t close ‘dire, dismal and awful’ gaps in climate dealAnalysis: The United Nations’ COP28 climate negotiations have begun their final phase with only five days or so left to agree a wide range of measures designed to accelerate nations’ climate responses in coming years. While the draft text prepared by government officials over the past week has some ...13 hours ago
- Hipkins: ‘We were swimming upstream the whole way through the year’Labour winning required a lot of things to go right, and Chris Hipkins says they didn't The post Hipkins: ‘We were swimming upstream the whole way through the year’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...13 hours ago
- McGoverne returns in search of the FernLiv McGoverne has just returned from an enjoyable season playing rugby in England, but playing there in a Black Ferns jersey, on the sport’s biggest stage, remains the ultimate goal. McGoverne, 26, played the 2022-23 campaign for Exeter Chiefs in the Premier 15s competition. Coached by former England half-back ...13 hours ago
- This week’s bestselling NZ booksFICTION 1 The Girl from London by Olivia Spooner (Hachette, $37.99) An ideal Xmas present for the commercial fiction reader who would relish a wartime story of a shipboard romance. 2 The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $35) An ideal Xmas present for the ...13 hours ago
- Wayne Brown: ‘Govt has underfunded road renewals in Auckland for years’After most of a billion dollars and six years’ work, the Puhoi to Warkworth section of State Highway 1 has been warmly received by long-distance motorists no longer slowed down by small town traffic lights. Where once cars would back bumper to bumper on a Sunday evening, now the ...13 hours ago
- School’s back in session at ParliamentThe first regular sitting day of the new Parliament took place on Thursday and the country got a peek at what Question Time will look like over the next three years. The sitting started with a rare moment of cross-party unity, when the Government adopted Labour MP Phil Twyford’s ...13 hours ago
- City deals can drive Auckland to international levelsThe generational infrastructure deficit has a massive impact on cities The post City deals can drive Auckland to international levels appeared first on Newsroom. ...13 hours ago
- COP28’s chaotic talkfest on climate changeIt could be the most consequential international climate change conference yet, but it’s being held in the United Arab Emirates, one of the world’s major oil producers and led by one of the country’s top oil bosses. Newsroom journalist Rod Oram is attending COP28 and joins The Detail from ...13 hours ago
- Helping the Pacific financially is a great start – but Australia must act on the root cause of the...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Fiji was flooded by a severe cyclone in 2016. ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock The federal government has announced an extra A$150 million for climate finance – including $100 million for the Pacific to help protect its ...18 hours ago
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- Grattan on Friday: winners and losers in end-of-year report card on Albanese ministersSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It’s not just kids who get report cards (PDFs these days) as school breaks up. So do government ministers, when parliament rises at year’s end. Judgments about how members of the team have performed, ...19 hours ago
- If humans disappeared, what would happen to our dogs?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bradley Smith, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Shutterstock For many of us, dogs are our best friends. But have you wondered what would happen to your dog if we suddenly disappeared? Can domestic dogs make do without people? ...1 day ago
- Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith refuses to express confidence in Chief Human Rights Commissioner Pau...He's refusing to express confidence in Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt, and while he won't abolish the commission like ACT wants, changes will be made. ...1 day ago
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- COP28: Turning the tap off slowly – why Australia’s decision to end overseas fossil fuel finance...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Downie, Associate Professor, Australian National University Shutterstock Until recently, financing fossil fuel projects has been relatively easy. But that is slowly changing. At the COP28 climate negotiations yesterday, Australia announced it will sign the Glasgow Statement and will ...1 day ago
- ‘That’s as far as it will go’: Luxon on Act’s Treaty principles billThe prime minister has appeared to suggest that Act’s Treaty principles bill will not be allowed to proceed beyond the select committee stage. Supporting such legislation to select committee is promised in the Act-National coalition agreement, which implies the bill won’t go any further, but Luxon has not said it ...1 day ago
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- Rural Crime Rates Continue To Rise, Federated Farmers Survey FindsSentencing judges need to stop going lightly on those convicted of illegal hunting and the killing or stealing of livestock, Federated Farmers rural policing spokesperson Richard McIntyre says. And to keep pressure on the Government to ensure rural areas ...1 day ago
- NZ Government Must Follow Through To Secure A CeasefireThe following quote can be attributed to Lisa Woods, Campaigns Director at Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand. This statement is in response to the news that the New Zealand Government has passed a motion indicating the government’s support ...1 day ago
- Opposition calls for stronger ceasefire motion rejectedThe motion by deputy prime minister Winston Peters to call for “urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire” in Gaza has passed in parliament, after the majority of amendments suggested by the opposition were rejected. Labour leader Chris Hipkins said New Zealand should be calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire ...1 day ago
- Gaza ceasefire debate: Opposition pleas for stronger statement largely rejectedPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has continued with National's approach in calling for "steps towards" a ceasefire, saying that must be in place before a ceasefire can begin. ...1 day ago
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- MPs debate ceasefire motion following pro-Israel protest at parliamentDuring the first question time of the new parliament, MPs have debated a motion proposed by deputy prime minister Winston Peters for all parties involved in the conflict in Gaza to “take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire”. Members have spoken passionately about the conflict, with Labour MP Damien O’Connor ...1 day ago
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- The Jingle Bellethon Telethon is chaotic Christmas comedy at its bestThree reviews of this year’s Basement Theatre Christmas Show. It pains me to say it but I’m a veteran of the annual Basement Theatre Christmas show at this point. In the decade that I’ve been a regular of the theatre, I’ve seen Kura Forrester do a tour-de-force 10-minute monologue that ...1 day ago
- Nobody reads T&C’s – but the High Court’s Ruby Princess decision shows consumer law may pr...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James D Metzger, Senior Lecturer in Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney How many times have you booked travel – like a cruise or a tour – and simply clicked that you’ve read and agreed to the terms and conditions for your trip ...1 day ago
- Watch: Gaza ceasefire motion debated, Luxon and Hipkins to face off in first question timeThe first question time of the new parliament is under way. Deputy prime minister Winston Peters has called on parties involved in the Gaza conflict to take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire. Greens co-leader Marama Davidson is currently seeking amendments to the motion. ...1 day ago
- Watch: Parliament's first Question Time and Gaza ceasefire motionThe new Parliament's first Question Time today is coming after a motion from the Foreign Minister calling for urgent steps towards a ceasefire in Gaza. ...1 day ago
- Creative bureacracy is possible. Here are 3 things cities do to foster innovative local governmentSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pauline McGuirk, Senior Professor of Urban Geography, University of Wollongong metamorworks/Shutterstock Heavyweight international players from the OECD to Bloomberg Philanthropies and the United Nations have in recent years prescribed “innovation” as a solution for the many challenges city governments face. ...1 day ago
- NZ Jews Against Occupation Welcomes The News That Foreign Minister Will Urge Parliament To Call A Ce...As the death and injury tolls mount in Gaza, this is the least that can be done to save lives and begin a peace and reconciliation process. O ver a month ago, UNICEF was already calling Gaza “ a graveyard for children, ” and now warns in the strongest ...1 day ago
- Pro-Israel protest organised by Brian Tamaki underway outside ParliamentAt a rally in the grounds of Parliament, Bishop Brian Tamaki said "we have to stand on the right side of history and standing with Israel is right". ...1 day ago
- Pro-Israel protest organised by Brian Tamaki outside ParliamentAt a rally in the grounds of Parliament attended by about 400 people, Bishop Brian Tamaki has asked for Foreign Minister Winston Peters not to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. ...1 day ago
one ought to have a good memory when he has told a lie
But there has been so many!
“Honesty is the best policy”, so they say. More missing policies from NACT.
Thank you, NACTs, for the legacy of lies.
Alzhiemers then would be the next best lie
“Anyone who is innocent has nothing to fear”?
I think he is innocent of a criminal act to which he was referring. He is guily of idle gossip about silly old politicians named Winston and Don.
As I have said in many places now this is a distraction to the real issues that matter. I watched One News last night and Goff wasn’t shown once. One week before arguably the most important election in modern history and the PM in waiting can not get air time. The media really needs to get some perspective.
While Europe melts and Key personally benefits financially through his “blind trusts” by borrowing on behalf of New Zealand to fund his own tax cut (follow that?) we have a tabloid media playing games about a meaningless tape.
For fucks sake release it so we cab get on with the election campaign. New Zealand can not afford to waste more time on this.
And Labour’s really good six point jobs policy came out yesterday too. No mention on either news channel last night nor tonight. And tonight Duncan Garner delivers his poll and says Phil Goff has become invisible. Is he blind as well as dumb?
Close Up- still no mention of Labour’s jobs policy -even by Mark Sainsbury.an ex- political journalist who should be better informed and what’s more he was interviewing a Dr. Bovine from the NZ Institute about jobs for young people!
They mentioned the wonderful work the mayor of Oterohanga is doing and how the students are supported from school through training and into employment. Bovine says this is what is needed everywhere. Sainsbury then says that Labour and the Nats hadn’t done much and Bovine says the Green’s technology jobs are good but the young need to be trained. Unbelievable! Labour’s jobs policy for the young school leavers who could become disengaged centres on these very needs!
In fact Phil Goff visited Oterohunga earlier this year and I am sure this has informed Labour’s intelligent jobs policy- which Tv1 and Tv3 have ignored and now many New Zealanders will be uninformed to .
Will be ringing Close Up tomorrow and suggesting they rename themselves Closed Up. Closed Up ears, eyes and mind when it comes to Labour, who as far as I can see are the only party who have comprehensive and detailed policies for every area of Government. They are so on the ball it is not funny.Well done Labour. Now to get every New Zealander to realise this.
I keep hearing – [I don’t think such speculation is wise thanks — r0b]
so much speculation twirling around ay r0b? thanks for your wisdom i think
Cheers conorjoe.
ok can’t resist, here’s the tailor made graphic
http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/11/nationals-election-hoardings-13.html
John Key is caught in the web of his own lies.
Imagine if we could carry on like Key in our normal everyday lives?
How do you tell when John Key is lying; ———————————-?
“How do you tell when John Key is lying; _____________________?”
1) When he runs to the police to have the Herald on Sunday and TV 3 gagged.
2) When he will not answer teapot media conversation questions.
3) When he uses a lame excuse that the teapot conversation was private and he knew the media could eavesdrop.
4) When he tries to put the teapot interview in the same league as News of the World covert tapes and the damage which they may/do cause.
Key’s scenario on a comment being published (a name without consent in March 2007) by the media and this resulting in a suicide happened in June 2007 because of the Sunday Herald. The reporter who was on TV 3 talking to Banks last night was the reporter who ran the March 2007 story.
For Key to expect special treatment is a farce and he really needs to step up to the plate.
“How do you tell when John Key is lying; ———————————-?”
When he shows concern for another human being
when he makes an economic prediction
when he describes a past event
when he says “actually”
when he claims to be “relaxed” about something
when he quotes somebody
when he speaks in parliament
when he breathes
His mouth is moving.
How do you tell when Key is lying? When sound comes out of his mouth.
The truth will set us free.