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Banks’ story coming apart; Key too weak to act

Written By: - Date published: 7:49 am, September 14th, 2012 - 61 comments
Categories: john banks, john key - Tags:

John Banks is trying to blame the Police for the fact that the transcript of his 3-hour interview with detectives over his campaign donations was held back from the OIA release of the Police file. Another lie. It was Banks’ choice for the transcript to be withheld. So much for “nothing to fear, nothing to hide”. And, now, his press sec’s dropped him further in it.

Banks’ story has always depended on the absurd defence that he signed his donations return without reading it so he didn’t know it was a pack of lies, and that’s somehow OK – despite the fact that the act of signing a statutory document is the act of confirming that it is true and correct.

Haivng already lied to the meida saying “Mr Banks is not responsible for what the police have released”, his press secretary blew a massive hole in his defence, saying: “John Banks did read the document”. Whoops.

Of course, she’s started to try to back-track now, instead saying that Banks’ campaign treasury had only “gone over” the declaration with him (which still sounds a lot like reading – guided, informed reading even).

But the truth is out.

Banks knew full well that his donation form was incorrectly listing donations from SkyCity, Dotcom, and very probably all his other big donors as anonymous when he knew who had given him the money.

Key, of course, is being shown to be a complete paper tiger by all this. Any Prime Minister should have sacked any minister in this situation long ago. But Key can’t. He is weak. Banks is in charge, not Key.

61 comments on “Banks’ story coming apart; Key too weak to act ”

  1. Nick 1

    I’ve written to John Key about this issue. Perhaps others who feel strongly should do the same.

    • Grace 1.1

      I’ve written to Shonkey Johnkey about Porky Bennett being dismissed for her privacy breach, the same way her WINZ staff who did the same were fired. I asked questions, germane, relevant and to the point. None were answered.

      Also about Parata’s shameful privacy breach to find the private citizens who had written to her regarding class sizes were teachers, and replying to their Boards. I asked how Nick Smith could be fired for a letter (though he needed to go lol) yet she could breach people’s privacy and suffer no consequence. Again, more questions. None were answered.

      I got a ‘Thank you for your views.’ style of reply.

      He’ll tell YOU to fuck off and all, I’m afraid. They aren’t interested in what we have to say.

      • To be perfectly fair, what makes you think John Key is going to specifically answer YOUR email when he probably receives 100’s everyday.
        Jesus man, I don’t answer every email I receive otherwise I’d have no time for anything else

        • Tiger Mountain 1.1.1.1

          Sad, sad, sad Contrarian. Even Apple’s Steve Jobs deigned to personally answer the odd email/text sent to him. ShonKey’s highly managed style is the political version of the rubgy league friendly face fend. Do not engage, do not have genuine dialogue, control is all.

          • TheContrarian 1.1.1.1.1

            So John Key is beholden to send YOU a personal email in response because Steve jobs answered “the odd email/text sent to him.”?

            Hubris much? 

            • Te Reo Putake 1.1.1.1.1.1

              Comprehension fail, TC. Tiger Mountain has given an example of a way busier and more powerful person than Key who did make the effort to reply to emails.
               
              The point TM was making and you failed to understand is that it’s not time constraints that stop Key replying, it’s a deliberate strategy to not engage with the people who try to engage with him. That, and repeated lying to a complacent media.

              • Of course it is. John key took one look at your email and said “Oh no! Delete!”

                Like I said, hubris much?

                I am going to send an email to Hone Harawira right now in fact and damn it, I better receive a reply from the man himself!  

                • Grace

                  You sound angry at me for writing to my PM to express my views.

                  It’s not hubris to expect a reply – a thoughtful, reasoned reply. It’s called courtesy.

                  Though you are right – he won’t engage with people who have something to say, or point out flaws in his house of cards.

                  • “You sound angry at me for writing to my PM to express my views.”

                    Not angry at all, why would I be angry?

                    There are quite possibly 100’s of people writing letters and sending emails to ministers and it is hubris to demand a reply, personally, as if you are the only one who demands a response.  

                    • Grace

                      Your tone sounds as if I am filled with my own self-importance to expect a reply.

                      I have written to MPs for many, many years and have received a reply to each and every letter I have ever written.

                      This is the first time I’ve received a ‘thank you, fuck off’. In over 20 years of written correspondence.

                      I felt moved to mention it, because it’s the first time it’s ever happened. That’s all.

                      I still do not believe it’s hubris to expect a reasoned reply from a Minister of the Crown when writing to them. What else are their staff for? Do you have figures for your ‘quite possibly 100s’ because in my experience, very few people take the time to physically write to their MPs or PM, despite the fact that it’s free to do so.

                    • What kind of response did you expect?

                      I said ‘quite possibly 100’s’ and that would count as emails. No, I cannot give you hard evidence sorry but i used to work for a party in government many years ago and was good friends (am still good friends) with a ministers media/communications manager and huge volume of correspondence came through. Just because it was in the form of email as opposed to hard copy doesn’t change that fact. Too many to answer in a personal fashion, one or two maybe, but not all. 

                    • McFlock

                      edit:
                      argh, I did a reply, but should have known that any thread with you in it would go forever and just be a derail. Trool.

                    • Ministers have staffs who can handle enquiries on their behalf if necessary. At the very least Grace deserved one of these replies in John Key’s name. I’ve gotten detailed letters going over policy points when I’ve sent single-paragraph enquiries to Labour MPs as to why they supported particular policies, even very important and busy MPs. I don’t see why you think the PM should be any different.

              • shorts

                not sure anyone would want a steve jobs styled reply from our PM given his penchant for the word idiot et al

                Saying that emails or preferably old skool letters to those who willing hurt our people is a tool of the people and should be used to show ones displeasure

            • Shane Gallagher 1.1.1.1.1.2

              The PM has a huge staff who do a lot of this work – or are supposed to. You forget who serves whom in a democracy. We are supposed to be served by our politicians – not the other way around. If someone goes to the trouble of asking reasonable questions then they have the right as a citizen of this country and an equal to the PM to be answered.

              But it would appear that you would much prefer to live in a totalitarian state where the leaders can treat their subjects with contempt. That is fine. Good luck in your new country. I would prefer to stay here and teach these guys some manners.

              • Awesome, I look forward to this new country where the elected officials do nothing but reply to letters.

                “But it would appear that you would much prefer to live in a totalitarian state where the leaders can treat their subjects with contempt.”

                Don’t be fucking stupid, not expecting the PM to personally answer every single letter =/=  totalitarianism

                • crashcart

                  I love it when People selectively quote. He quite clearly stated that the PM “has a huge staff to do this”. Now I don’t know if it is huge but its a long bloody shot from personal response expected. When you write to the offices of an MP you expect a well reasoned response to the issues you raise. If it is simple enough for a staffer to reply to then they can. If it is beyond them then they should be forwarding it to the minister who should then respond. They get paid a shit load more than the average person who would raise these concerns. I don’t think it is too much to expect them to put in a couple of hours to answer the more unique ones.

                  • How do you know they don’t answer the more unique ones? Grace got an answer and she didn’t like it – tough. You can’t please everyone.

                    “I don’t think it is too much to expect them to put in a couple of hours to answer the more unique ones.”

                    And perhaps that wasn’t Graces and someone else got the lengthy reply instead.

                    • crashcart

                      So you are happy that you miss quoted the person you were replying to to build a straw man argument, good.

                      As to how do I know they were the more unique ones. Because she didn’t get a response to the questions at all. She got a generic thanks go away response as opposed to anything directly relating to questions. If her questions were simple ones that had been seen a hundred times it is even worse that a staffer didn’t take the time to give the same reply they have given a hundred times. They would surely have a form letter to answer them if there was any form of efficency. That you couldn’t complain about. you might not like it but you got answers. The fact there were no answers say either:

                      a) No one read it and she got a standard letter they send back to every one,
                      b)Someone read it and didn’t think she was worth answering properly.
                      c)Someone read it and couldn’t answer so forwarded it on to the PM who then instructed a worthless response be given.

                      Neither option is acceptable. Hell as stated lower down even if it had been an answer saying we will look into this and get back to you there woul be no real reason to complain.

                    • I look forward to this utopia where people get exactly the response they want from every piece of correspondence.

                      Basically your comments amount to:

                      “I don’t know how many fucking letters they got nor that content of them but for fucks sake it is totally unacceptable that this particular letter didn’t get the response the author intended so fuck you John Key”

                      Like i said below, I sent correspondence to Hone Harawira a little over an hour ago and he better fucking answer my questions. You’d agree that he better answer them, eh? Or else i imagine you’ll be horrified.

              • Polish Pride

                “The PM has a huge staff who do a lot of this work – or are supposed to. You forget who serves whom in a democracy. We are supposed to be served by our politicians – not the other way around”

                Correct in theory but it has not been that way in practice for a very long time (if in fact it ever was). You are unfortunately deluding yourself if you think that this is how the system works. We do not have democracy. We ‘Representative Democracy’ and at best this only gives the illusion of democracy to the voting public. It is a sham.
                You vote on the policies that the political parties want to put forward and thats all you have to choose from. Under our present system political parties can and do go against the will of the people and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. Yeah sure you can vote them out in 3 years time but then the next party can do exactly the same thing.
                It is because you get this vote once every 3 years on policies that have largely been predetermined that may or may not be implenmented, that many still believe that the illusion is democracy.
                It’s not.

                Worse still is that most on here think that ‘If only the Left were in power, then the problems would get fixed’. They won’t. The left have been in power many times. Did the big ticket items get fixed? Do we no longer have war, was there no poverty before National got in, If you believe in climate change, was that fixed? If the Left were in would the economy magically recover? The same holds true on all of these arguements for the Right also. Take out ‘Left’ and insert ‘Right’ and the same holds true for all examples.
                Unfortunately the problems are systemic. All we do under this system with the illusion of democracy is shift a couple of degrees to the right and then a couple back to the left at a guess on average every 6 or so years. The Left vs Right paradigm is unfortunately part of the system and because the problems that stop us fixing the real problems we face as a society are systemic… They will never get fixed.
                It is not that they can’t be fixed. They can. But you can’t expect to continue doing the same things and expect vastly different results.
                They are only fixable under a new system. One that is a real democracy, a true democracy. A direct democracy. But this will never happen whilst people continue to vote and partake in the current system.
                While people continue to do this political parties and politicians with their own agendas can make the arguement that the system works and is supported by the people.
                The problems as a result will contnue to remain unresolved

            • Plastic Tolstoy 1.1.1.1.1.3

              “So John Key is beholden to send YOU a personal email in response because Steve jobs answered “the odd email/text sent to him.”?”

              As John Key’s employer I would fully expect him to reply, what employer wouldn’t?

        • Grace 1.1.1.2

          Actually, it was a written letter. And whether it was an email or not, as our Ministers, they are bound to answer their correspondence, I would have thought. Part of us electing them?

          I receive a ‘letter’ back. It said ‘thank you, now go away.’ Pretty much.

          So yes, they ought to answer people’s mail.

          Grace

          • Lanthanide 1.1.1.2.1

            Sounds like you got a reply. I don’t know that you can really complain about the content of it.

            • Grace 1.1.1.2.1.1

              Oh please. See my other comment further down – it was a brushoff and not one question I asked was answered.

              • Lanthanide

                Yeah, but what sort of answers would you have gotten to the questions anyway? Anodyne pre-fabricated responses that completely ignore the thrust of the actual question and not actually told you anything you wanted to know?

                What’s better, to get a simple “we don’t care about you” response or some mealy-mouthed waffle that doesn’t mean anything that amounts to the same?

          • TheContrarian 1.1.1.2.2

            A couple years back I wrote a letter to Jeanette Fitzsimmons and received the same ‘thank you, now go away.’  style response.

            Bitch.  

          • David H 1.1.1.2.3

            I wrote to Shearer, Cunliffe Lockwood Smith, Tariana Turia and others and only Tariana replied, and it was written by her. I would imagine due to what was said.

            • TheContrarian 1.1.1.2.3.1

              Excellent, I look forward to Crashcart, Grace and TRP so express the same horror at this as they are leveling at Key for not properly answering Grace’s letter

              • Yes, they should at least briefly address your points. I don’t expect them to answer every single query, but even a “We can’t answer this question due to [privacy act/state secrets/forthcoming public announcement/etc…]” is expected for a question, and it’s wrong if their staff don’t at least give you a reason for your brush-off, regardless of who does it.

        • Lanthanide 1.1.1.3

          I emailed Stephen Joyce with some suggestions when he was the tertiary education minister. I got a reply from his secretary within a couple of days saying that my email would be answered when the time was available. I got a reply about 3-4 months later.

        • Enough is Enough 1.1.1.4

          It is John Key’s job to respond to query’s from the electorate.

          If he can’t fulfil that simple function he should resign

        • Mary 1.1.1.5

          “To be perfectly fair, what makes you think John Key is going to specifically answer YOUR email when he probably receives 100′s everyday.”

          You can ignore emails because you’re allowed to. Key and Bennett and other government people aren’t. It’s called the OIA. Ask a question and it has to be answered. If it’s not, complain. Provided we ask our questions in the right way government and politicians can’t just tell people to fuck off. Of course they always try to but it’s up us not to let them. Government’s arrogance towards the people who dare to use proper and legal avenues designed to keep our politicians honest are driven by arrogant attitudes like yours.

          • TheContrarian 1.1.1.5.1

            Sending a letter is not the equivalent of an OIA, guy.

            How arrogant of me to suggest that having a ‘waaaa’ because you didn’t receive the response to wanted. i think it is arrogant to someone suggest that your correspondence must take precedent over all others.

            I sent an email to Hone Harawira over an hour ago that was calm, thoughtful and asked a pertinent  question. I have yet to receive any response. I’ll keep you posted.

            • crashcart 1.1.1.5.1.1

              I’ll give you your dues man. You have totally managed to turn a post about Banks and Key being worthless in regards to setting a higher standard of his ministers into a debate about who should answer emials. Do you have an opinion at all on the primary point of the post or are you simply her to derail a thread?

              • Te Reo Putake

                It’s the latter, Crashcart. TheConservative gave the game away in a reply above:
                 
                ” … i used to work for a party in government many years ago and was good friends (am still good friends) with a ministers media/communications manager…”

                • he he he. 

                  Too easy…

                  Oh yeah and my opinion on the topic at hand was Banks should be fucking dropped.

                  • Te Reo Putake

                    T 🙄

                  • bbfloyd

                    Ah.. little cont is at it again…..No no… don’t run away little fawn…. Oh… you completed your “cycle”……never mind, I’m sure you will give me many more easy targets in the futore……. Hope this “cycle” was satisfying…..

                    With a wrist action like that, you should put yourself up for national party selection next time around……

                    John Banks is a lying’ twisted individual not fit to represent the rodent population of Epsom(the rats & mice, not the humans)….. And johnny sparkles is a craven coward hiding behind a wall of Uriah Heep impersonators who depend on political patronage for their careers…..

                    What sort of halfwit lets himself become beholden to lowlife like John Banks……Only lower life… that’s who…..

            • Mary 1.1.1.5.1.2

              “Sending a letter is not the equivalent of an OIA”

              If the letter goes to government and asks a question then it is, and the complaint above was about Key not answering questions.

              Hone doesn’t have to respond to you because he’s not in government, and given your lack of understanding about probably most things he’s likely not to, and quite rightly so I’d say.

              Not only that, I’m pretty sure that after reading your letter he’d think to himself “what stupid WMF” and again he’d be quite right to do so.

              Best of luck.

              • See here: http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/global-publications/o/official-information-your-right-to-know and here: http://www.howtolaw.co.nz/make-an-official-information-request-xidp392288.html

                In particular:

                If the information you want is personal information about you, your request is governed by the PRIVACY ACT 1993 rather than the OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982. In practice, this distinction is unimportant when you make your request, because you don’t have to refer to any particular Act. But the distinction becomes important if your request is refused. If your request is for personal information your means of challenging a refusal is to complain to the Privacy Commissioner (see How to complain to the Privacy Commissioner. If your request was for other information, you complain to the Ombudsmen (see below, “What can I do if my request is refused?”).

                Emphasis mine.

                This is to say, all requests of a ministry, department, SOE, DHB, university, or any other crown entity governed by the OIA must be answered in a manner compliant with the OIA, and inadequate responses can be taken to the Office of the Ombudsman even if the name “Official Information Act” is never mentioned. Note that information held by a ministry is different to information held by a minister in their capacity as an MP, and not subject to the OIA, and as such some questions to a minister or to the Prime Minister will not be covered under the OIA- those they can refuse to answer without repurcussion, legally speaking, although it’s bad practice not to at least give you a good reason why they are not answering.

                As Hone has no associated ministry he’s actually under no legal obligation to answer requests, as MPs are specifically excluded from the OIA. However, it is also a significant part of an MP’s job to handle enquiries, so anything reasonable should be answered.

        • Tiresias 1.1.1.6

          Unlike you the Prime Minister has a number of staff paid at the public expense to read all communications to him, reply to them with varying degrees of blandness according to their self-perceived ability to represent the PM’s expressed views on the subject matter and refer to him any they decide warrants his personal attention according to his instructions to them on the point.

    • Jim Nald 1.2

      If Nick as well as Grace have written to John Key on this issue, and in addition to any letters that others have written or will write, how about the following as a suggestion?

      Write an open letter to John Key, circulate and/or post it on an appropriate website for others to add their names and also indicate that after a week, that open letter from a large group of people throughout the country will be sent to him.

      Perhaps, whether as part of or instead of that, a website like http://avaaz.org/en/ can be used to convey the message from the wider public.

      I would be happy to add my name to such a collective way of communicating with John Key 🙂

    • Dr Terry 1.3

      Key is not “weak”in the usual sense, he has a character and/or personality disorder which permits him to stand by Banks whatever.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.4

      Don’t write, make it an OIA instead. You’ll have to phrase it in some sort of legalese associated with laws and rules of the house but he’d have to answer and the answer would be public.

  2. captain hook 2

    the national party has adopted dishonesty as a policy.
    haven’t they?

  3. ianmac 3

    It would be interesting to know who decided on the cup of tea for Banks and Key. Joyce perhaps? Imagine the retrospective examination of that decision. Consider all that has gone wrong since then -but of course Key/Joyce will blame it all on the Labour Party.

    • crashcart 3.1

      Yea aparently the police report, Banks lying about giving permition to release his statement and the media questions since are all a politically motivated beat up acording to JK. Thank goodness National have a clean slate when it comes to political beat ups.

    • Chris 3.2

      john banks is keys man-date.

  4. mike 4

    “Police chief media adviser Grant Ogilvie said police sought permission from those interviewed before releasing statements. “The disclosures that were made were based on consent of those asked. That includes Mr Banks.”

    Mr Banks said it was the police who decided keep his statement under wraps.”

    O what a wicked web…The man is just swimming around in a pool of sh*t.

    “Prime Minister John Key said yesterday he would stand by Mr Banks and blamed the Labour Party for a “politically motivated attack”. He said Mr Banks had not broken the law.

    Labour deputy leader Grant Robertson said the Prime Minister was wrong and police found Mr Banks did break the law but could not be prosecuted because of a six-month time limit.”

    John Key is running out of lines. The ‘that criticism is politically motivated’ one is really starting to get old. Is the Labour party hoping to score a political blow here? Of course they are, but that doesn’t invalidate their complaint.

    This govt is eager to hunt down benes trying to game the system, but when one of their own gets caught with their pants down doing exactly that the spin comes flying.

  5. Chris 5

    John Key is a lonely voice in the wilderness. banks has been judged “not guilty”Nobody believes that probably even wizzkey, but he has to support his man-date!Just fyi somebody on Cue suggested that banks always looks like he has lost his care-giver.Well,I thought it was funny.

  6. mike ray 6

    you need a stratagem to take on a corrupt mainstream media who are little more than nationals propaganda arm . and labours leader needs to grow some balls keys a straw man created by the media , he is no speaker that’s for sure . its welfare for the rich under this government . they are corporatist not capitalists corporatist .MR KEY AND HIS MEN ARE CORPORATE SOCIALISTS THEY BE LEAVE IN WELFARE FOR THE RICH , BAIL OUTS FOR THE RICH , THEY WANT TO PRIVATIZE THE PROFITS AND SOCIALIZE THE LOSSES SO YOU AND I PAY . THAT’S WHAT THEY ARE ALL ABOUT . HOW DO THEY PROVIDE WELFARE FOR THE 1%TERS WELFARE VIA TAX CUTS THAT NEVER CREATED ONE JOB , ASSET SALES THAT DO NOT COMPENSATE THE WORKING POOR WHOSE TAX MONEY HELPED BUILD THOSE ASSETS AND THOSE WHO CAN NOT AFFORD TO BYE THE ASSETS WILL NOT BE COMPENSATED IN ANYWAY EVEN THOUGH THEY OWN THEM . THAT’S WHY ITS THEFT THE CITIZENS AS A WHOLE OF NZ SHOULD BE TAKING THE GOVERNMENT TO COURT TO STOP THESE ASSETS FROM BEING STOLEN .food for thought .

    [lprent: In mty opinion messages that require SHOUTing usually can’t stand on their own merits… They are just noise and noise begets more noise. Use it with caution because I will reduce the volume one way or another – as you can see. Now people can read your yelling if they want to. They just have to do it with a magnifier ]

  7. Dv 7

    mile
    lpent wont like all those block capitals.

    [lprent: prophetic… ]

  8. Treetop 8

    Banks cannot have what he said to the police released incase he is caught out. All it would take is for information to be matched up (what you told the police differs to what you have said publicly or in the house).

    I am interested to know if Marshall is able to inform the police minister if Marshall knows that Banks has given at least two versions/answers?

    Can the opposition ask for an inquiry to match up statements made by Banks to the police and what Banks has said publicly or in the house?

  9. Tiresias 9

    Item heading in the Guardian today: “Politics takes away your integrity. People lie to get what they want”. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/sep/14/vicky-pryce-chris-huhne-split

    Quelle surprise.

    Key’s defence is that Banks didn’t break the law. Apart from that being questionable, the most that can be said is that he didn’t break the letter of the law. I believe it’s way beyond any reasonable doubt that he knowingly broke the spirit and intent of the law. Anyone with an ounce of integrity in Banks’ position would resign and a Prime Minister with the slightest hint of a belief not only that integrity should exist in his Ministers but should be seen to exist, would have Banks’ balls in a vice and be tightening the jaws until he agrees to resign.

    Fortunately I’m sure I’m far from being alone in judging a politician not by what they say but by what they do. Or don’t do. Although in the case of both Banks and Key the whole squalid episode is no more than a another utterly predictable demonstration of a total lack of integrity in two increasingly undistinguished political careers.

    • RedLogix 9.1

      The point here is simple.

      Shearer must stand up in Parliament and demand from Key whether or not it is now acceptable for his Ministers to be caught in a criminal act, and then to lie in order to cover it up.

      If Key accepts that Banks has lied then Shearer must get Key to confirm that lying is now acceptable from any and all of his Ministers.

      If Key denies that Banks lied then Key has lied to the House. And the matter should be taken to the Speaker.

      This is the kind of thing that is the JOB of the Leader of the Opposition. Failure is complicity.

  10. xtasy 10

    Today’s Q+A program left a fair few viewers and followers a bit confused and “flabberghasted”. I do not always watch that program, but at times it is worth having a look into it, as it does easily beat the Steven Joyce “The Nation” program on the other channel of Freeview.

    So today I was stung again, with some astonishing observations. I remember well the BSE crisis in Europe quite some years ago, and I had thought the “disease” had more or less been dealt to, UNTIL I saw that program today.

    Now is it a new “selective memory syndrome”, a “partially marginalised brain function disorder”, or is it the good old fashioned “blinker me for convenience” condition? It may have been genuine despite of these hypothetical diagnosis attempts, but how can one otherwise explain the fact, that a PM sees no need to read a widely publicised, convincing and revealing police report on one of his ministers?

    How can a PM of a smallish, supposedly so “clean and green”, “100 per cent pure”, I suppose also “BSE free” country like NZ Aoteaoroa fall into a behavioural condition, where he dares to say, it is not really relevant whether someone tells the truth or not, it is all his choice, who he may have, or may not have, some inclination to have “faith in” (or no lack thereof in)?. He simply stated: “I accept the minister at his word”.

    Wonder, wonder, wonder, so we have this happening here, I ask, is NZ a truly BSE free zone? Makes governing very easy like this. Had a “black out last night?” “Noo, I accept MY own word”.

    http://www.emedicinehealth.com/mad_cow_disease_and_variant_creutzfeldt-jakob/article_em.htm

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    Roundup is back! We skipped last week’s Friday post due to a shortage of person-power – did you notice? Lots going on out there… Our header image this week shows a green street that just happens to be Queen St, by @chamfy from Twitter. This week (and last) in ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    10 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Keen-Minshull visit
    After threatening Prime Minister Chris Hipkins of consequences if he dared to bar her entry, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull has been given her visa, regardless. This will enable her to hold rallies in Auckland and Wellington this weekend, and spread her messages of hostility against an already marginalised trans community. Neo-Nazis may, ...
    10 hours ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS’ Political Roundup:  NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nucl...
    * Bryce Edwards writes – The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The deal was struck by the Albanese Labor Government as ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Wayne Brown's #Auxit moment
    Boomers voted him in, but Brown’s Trumpish moments might spook Aucklanders worried about what a change to National nationally might mean. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has become our version of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, except without any of the insatiable appetite for media appearances. He ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nuclear submarines
    The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The deal was struck by the Albanese Labor Government as part of its Aukus pact with the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    11 hours ago
  • Posie Parker vs Transgender Rights.
    Recently you might have heard of a person called Posie Parker and her visit to Aotearoa. Perhaps you’re not quite sure what it’s all about. So let’s start with who this person is, why their visit is controversial, and what on earth a TERF is.Posie Parker is the super villain ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    13 hours ago
  • Select Committee told slow down; you’re moving too fast
    The chair of Parliament’s Select Committee looking at the Government’s resource management legislation wants the bills sent back for more public consultation. The proposal would effectively kill any chance of the bills making it into law before the election. Green MP, Eugenie Sage, stressing that she was speaking as ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    15 hours ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #12 2023
    Open access notables  The United States experienced some historical low temperature records during the just-concluded winter. It's a reminder that climate and weather are quite noisy; with regard to our warming climate,, as with a road ascending a mountain range we may steadily change our conditions but with lots of ...
    1 day ago
  • What becomes of the broken hearted? Nanny State will step in to comfort them
    Buzz from the Beehive The Nanny State has scored some wins (or claimed them) in the past day or two but it faltered when it came to protecting Kiwi citizens from being savaged by one woman armed with a sharp tongue. The wins are recorded by triumphant ministers on the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Acceptance, decency, road food.
    Sometimes you see your friends making the case so well on social media you think: just copy and share.On acceptance and decency, from Michèle A’CourtA notable thing about anti-trans people is they way they talk about transgender women and men as though they are strangers “over there” when in fact ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Climate Change: More Labour sabotage
    Not that long ago, things were looking pretty good for climate change policy in Aotearoa. We finally had an ETS, and while it was full of pork and subsidies, it was delivering high and ever-rising carbon prices, sending a clear message to polluters to clean up or shut down. And ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Is bundling restricting electricity competition?
    Comparing (and switching) electricity providers has become easier, but bundling power up with broadband and/or gas makes it more challenging. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The Kākā TL;DR: The new Consumer Advocacy Council set up as a result of the Labour Government’s Electricity Price Review in 2019 has called on either ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Westland Milk puts heat on competitors as global dairy demand  remains softer for longer
    Hokitika-based Westland Milk Products  has  put the heat on dairy giant Fonterra with  a $120m profit turnaround in 2022, driven by record sales. Westland paid its suppliers a 10c premium above the forecast Fonterra price per kilo, contributing $535m to the West Coast and Canterbury economies. The dairy ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    1 day ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS’ Political Roundup:  The Beehive’s revolving door and corporate mateship
    * Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a two-year cooling off period between ministers leaving public ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Bryce Edwards: The Beehive’s revolving door and corporate mateship
    New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a two-year cooling off period between ministers leaving public office and becoming lobbyists and ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago
  • A miracle pill for our transport ills
    This is a guest post by accessibility and sustainable transport advocate Tim Adriaansen It originally appeared here.   A friend calls you and asks for your help. They tell you that while out and about nearby, they slipped over and landed arms-first. Now their wrist is swollen, hurting like ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • The Surprising Power of Floating Wind Turbines
    Floating offshore wind turbines offer incredible opportunities to capture powerful winds far out at sea. By unlocking this wind energy potential, they could be a key weapon in our arsenal in the fight against climate change. But how developed are these climate fighting clean energy giants? And why do I ...
    2 days ago
  • The next Maori challenge
    Over the past two or three weeks, a procession of Maori iwi and hapu in a series of little-noticed appearances before two Select Committees have been asking for more say for Maori over resource management decisions along the co-governance lines of Three Waters. Their submissions and appearances run counter ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Secret “war-crime” warrants by International Criminal Court is mischief-making
    The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue war crimes arrest warrants for the Russian President and the Russia Children Ombudsman may have been welcomed by the ideologically committed but otherwise seems to have been greeted with widespread cynicism (see Situation in Ukraine: ICC judges issue arrest warrants ...
    2 days ago
  • How to answer Drunk Uncle Kevin's Climate Crisis reckons
    Let’s say you’re clasping your drink at a wedding, or a 40th, or a King’s Birthday Weekend family reunion and Drunk Uncle Kevin has just got going.He’s in an expansive frame of mind because we’re finally rid of that silly girl. But he wants to ask an honest question about ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • National’s Luxon may be glum about his poll ratings but has he found a winner in promising to rai...
    National Party leader Christopher Luxon may  be feeling glum about his poll ratings, but  he could be tapping  into  a rich political vein in  describing the current state of education as “alarming”. Luxon said educational achievement has been declining,  with a recent NCEA pilot exposing just how far it has ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: More Labour foot-dragging
    Yesterday the IPCC released the final part of its Sixth Assessment Report, warning us that we have very little time left in which to act to prevent catastrophic climate change, but pointing out that it is a problem that we can solve, with existing technology, and that anything we do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Te Pāti Māori Are Revolutionaries – Not Reformists.
    Way Beyond Reform: Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have no more interest in remaining permanent members of “New Zealand’s” House of Representatives than did Lenin and Trotsky in remaining permanent members of Tsar Nicolas II’s “democratically-elected” Duma. Like the Bolsheviks, Te Pāti Māori is a party of revolutionaries – not reformists.THE CROWN ...
    2 days ago
  • When does history become “ancient”, on Tinetti’s watch as Minister of Education – and what o...
    Buzz from the Beehive Auckland was wiped off the map, when Education Minister Jan Tinetti delivered her speech of welcome as host of the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers “here in Tāmaki Makaurau”. But – fair to say – a reference was made later in the speech to a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Climate Catastrophe, but first rugby.
    Morning mate, how you going?Well, I was watching the news last night and they announced this scientific report on Climate Change. But before they got to it they had a story about the new All Blacks coach.Sounds like important news. It’s a bit of a worry really.Yeah, they were talking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • What the US and European bank rescues mean for us
    Always a bailout: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Government would fully guarantee all savers in all smaller US banks if needed. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: No wonder an entire generation of investors are used to ‘buying the dip’ and ‘holding on for dear life’. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Who will drain Wellington’s lobbying swamp?
    Wealthy vested interests have an oversized influence on political decisions in New Zealand. Partly that’s due to their use of corporate lobbyists. Fortunately, the influence lobbyists can have on decisions made by politicians is currently under scrutiny in Guyon Espiner’s in-depth series published by RNZ. Two of Espiner’s research exposés ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • It’s Raining Congestion
    Yesterday afternoon it rained and traffic around the region ground to a halt, once again highlighting why it is so important that our city gets on with improving the alternatives to driving. For additional irony, this happened on the same day the IPCC synthesis report landed, putting the focus on ...
    2 days ago
  • Checking The Left: The Dreadful Logic Of Fascism.
    The Beginning: Anti-Co-Governance agitator, Julian Batchelor, addresses the Dargaville stop of his travelling roadshow across New Zealand . Fascism almost always starts small. Sadly, it doesn’t always stay that way. Especially when the Left helps it to grow.THERE IS A DREADFUL LOGIC to the growth of fascism. To begin with, it ...
    3 days ago
  • Good Friends and Terrible Food
    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 ...
    4 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 ...
    5 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
    7 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

  • 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
    6 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
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