Barclay debacle recap

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, June 21st, 2017 - 73 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, bill english, Dirty Politics, making shit up, Media, national, national/act government, same old national, spin, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: , ,

Yesterday Newsroom published a series of articles from an outstanding, in-depth investigation into the allegations that Clutha Southland National MP Todd Barclay illegally recorded one of his staff and constituents during an ongoing conflict, and then subsequently lied about it.

The first article featured a 30 minute interview with the former electorate staffer Glenys Dickson, giving a run down of the history of the case over the last two years.

Some of the issues covered in the investigation,

  • the bullying of staff
  • the secret and probably illegal recording of Dickson including when she was with constituents
  • the resignation of multiple staffers or National Party members from that branch
  • the subsequent threats made to Dickson and others, including family members
  • the payout of Dickson, with an unusually large sum, paid from the Prime Ministers fund, and including a gag clause to prevent Dickson from going public
  • a police investigation into the recording allegation, that Barclay refused to be involved with and that was eventually dropped

Timeline is here.

Over the course of the day, the Prime Minister Bill English and Todd Barclay told various conflicting stories about who said what to whom, and both ended up looking like liars. Initially Barclay directly contradicted English’s story, inferring that English had lied, and then at the end of the day completely reversed this. It’s also looked more and more likely that the PM has been involved in a cover up, and that Barclay has now been thrown under a bus. It’s also possible that the National Party hierarchy has been involved in an illegal attempt to obstruct justice (here, Andrew Geddis compares National to a gang by way of example). Somewhere in amongst all that John Key’s historic involvement came out too.

In the afternoon Newsroom also published that the National Party was investigating the selection process for Clutha Southland, amongst allegations of improper votes and delegate stacking.

Questions have been raised about why the investigation was dropped. The police released their own statement during the afternoon. It now appears that members of the National Party in Southland are calling for the police to re-open the case.

At the end of the day Barclay did a brief stand up press conference where he read a prepared statement that left journalists stunned. In this statement he reversed his earlier position but refused to take any questions.

That’s not even the whole of it. At this stage someone needs to do one of those graphics thingies showing all the strands of the story. Things moved rapidly yesterday, I’m sure more will unfold today.

It’s worth keeping an eye on Newsroom’s website and twitter account.

There’s background and good questions raised by Micky here, here and here.

Natwatch’s round up of media coverage and English’s involvement here.

Update (lunchtime Weds) – 

Police are taking another look at the taping allegations

English is looking at Barclay’s resigning, announcement at 2pm.

The Privacy Commissioner is considering the matter having received a complaint.

Allegations have been made that Barclay made up complaints against Dickson.

Update 2 (1.25pm) – Barclay has stepped down as candidate at this election and will leave parliament at the end of the term.

RNZ live updates.

https://twitter.com/ArrestJK/status/877100229207613441

 

73 comments on “Barclay debacle recap ”

  1. Ross 1

    Andrew Little could of course remind voters that any Labour MP whose behaviour resembled Barclay’s would be sacked fairly quickly. Little could also state that any Labour MP found to have stuffed up in the way that Barclay has would be paying compensation out of their own pocket.

    • lprent 1.1

      Don’t be foolish. Neither Little nor English could do much in this circumstance.

      Barclay can’t be “sacked”. As far as I can see he is just a first term backbench MP elected by his electorate. He has no positions to be sacked from.

      He already has been selected, so I guess that a reselection would be possible (albeit subject to considerable legal issues).

      Realistically Barclay would have to resign or (presumably) there would have to be some agitation from the Clutha-Southland National party members to do the moral and ethical thing. Something that I haven’t generally noticed them doing.

      National voters on the other hand have been known to do nasty things when National puts up pissant clearly inadequate candidates – look at the Northland by-election.

      Alternatively the police could do their job and charge him. If the conviction is sufficient, then the house can expel him.

      • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1

        Alternatively the police could do their job and charge him. If the conviction is sufficient, then the house can expel him.

        I believe that all of the charges that may be brought against him carry a two year sentence or more. If found guilty of any one of them then he’s automatically out and can never run again.

        Probably why National has, apparently, done so much to cover this up.

      • dukeofurl 1.1.2

        Cant be sacked ?

        Well thats what effectively happened to a long line of national MPs. Gilmore, Sabin, Wong, Claudette Hauiti, Richard Worth. I understand but have no proof the party pays them to go.

        ACT expelled Donna Huata from their caucus when she refused to cooperate with police ( plus they used the then waka jumping law to have her removed from parliament)

        • Ovid 1.1.2.1

          MPs can’t be sacked. Ministers can lose their portfolios, but Barclay is just a backbencher. Aaron Gilmore, Mike Sabin, Pansy Wong, Caludette Hauiti and Richard Worth all resigned from Parliament. They probably all had a lot of pressure to do so, but they had to pull the trigger themselves.

          In terms of party expulsion, there’s a fairly broad rule in National’s constitution that says:

          “The Board or any Regional Conference or Electorate or Branch Committee may cancel or suspend the membership of the Party of any person whose actions, in their opinion, prejudice the interests of the Party.” (Section 12(a))

          But that won’t expel him from Parliament.

      • weka 1.1.3

        Presumably they could expel him from the party. But I’m guessing National’s main priority right now is maintaining their numbers in parliament, hence English’s willingness to bold face lie yesterday.

      • Ross 1.1.4

        Little couldnt do much? I recall Taito Philip Field was expelled from Labour after the Ingram report was released. The point I was making was that Little could make it very clear that any Labour MP who behaved like Barclay would have no future with Labour. Then Little could compare that response with English’s.

        • McFlock 1.1.4.1

          all the while sucking oxygen away from the nice little fire Barclay’s covered himself in.

          Shock horror, Labour’s playing politics with pservices employment matters!
          Shock horror, Little’s so desperate for attention he’s trying to make it about himself!
          Shock horror, Little did nothing when [insert beat-up here], the hypocrite!
          etc, etc, etc.

          Best to just sit back and watch it burn. Then in august go “wasn’t that a big fire”.

        • lprent 1.1.4.2

          The point is that it is all about due process. In this case neither Little nor English can sack an MP. They are employed by parliament. Even a political party can’t do it. For instance you are incorrect in your example.

          While he’d been booted out of his ministerial posts back in 2005 (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taito_Phillip_Field#Conflict_of_interest_allegations) that was as far as a parliamentary party leader like (in this case) Helen Clark could actually go. As a first time MP Todd Barclay doesn’t have any leader set positions.

          However as a back bench MP, neither couldn’t be ‘sacked’ by a parliamentary party leader because they didn’t give any positions to him. He can’t be expelled from caucus by a parliamentary party leader – ditto – that is a decision made jointly by caucus. He can’t be expelled from the party by a parliamentary leader. In Labour that is a decision made by the NZ council.

          And no political party leader can sack a MP from Parliament. That is a decision made either by Parliament as a whole under very strict legislated rules or by the voters.

          So: in your example…

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taito_Phillip_Field#Independent

          He was expelled from the Parliamentary Labour caucus. He resigned from the Labour party (these are two different bodies). Neither decision would have been made by the Helen Clark

          On 14 February 2007, Field was formally expelled from the Parliamentary Labour Party. This was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Margaret Wilson. To forestall moves to expel him from the Labour Party, Field resigned on 16 February 2007, returning to Parliament as an independent, but promising to support the Government’s legislative programme;[10]

          Basically you appear to be profoundly ignorant about politics. Perhaps you should learn something about it before making daft ill-informed and quite stupid assertions.

    • Cinny 1.2

      Just like Alpha offered to do re the Hagamans, he’s already walking the talk, Alpha has integrity, that’s proven. Alpha need not get involved, better things for him to do, the media has it well covered.

      The outgoing government seems to prefer secret payouts and coverups instead.

    • Hmmmmm,… fair enough , I’d go along with that. And guaranteed , no matter what political party is in , there will always be some character that tries it on.

      The NZ public deserves better.

      And not only because we put in them in a position to SERVE US , – but because we also bloody well pay their wages.

  2. Cinny 2

    Listening to Gower who says it is important to note that Barclay said he agree’s with the outgoing PMs statement, which effectively means that it is an admission he recorded his staff. Therefore with an admission police should be able to prosecute if they want to.

    Gower is going for gold on this will put up a link when it is available

    Good work on the recap Weka

  3. bwaghorn 3

    barclay has agreed with the police statement made by english , so in effect barclay has admitted taping his staff, its up to the police to get off their arse and do their job

  4. Keith 4

    I wonder why all the surprise now.

    Barclay is a pin up boy for the type of personality that is king in National. He appears to have few if any morals having been a lobbyist for big tobacco barely out of his teens knowing the huge harm tobacco causes, and with his very likely criminal surveillance of staff, now rumored to be CCTV, he establishes himself as unethical and even paranoid.

    But sadly the only reason he stands out in the National Party is his age, not his reprehensible behavior, which the more they go on is par for the course.

    This guy clearly liked what he saw in the John Key leadship style and to me that simply makes him a chip off the old block watching the old masters in action, not an enfant terrible.

    Will those who vote National care, I doubt it, because they’re like personalities.

    • Tamati Tautuhi 4.1

      He obviously saw what he liked in John Key’s leadership style, and was just following through on what he had observed in the Prime Ministers Office.

      Todd hasn’t actually had much real world experience, which can only be gained through age and experience ?

  5. Ad 5

    It’s definitely fun, but I don’t think this will shift National in the polls so much as 1%, or change who is elected in Clutha-Southland.

    • It says plenty about voters’ current expectations of their rulers that said rulers being caught out lying to cover up a crime can reasonably be considered unlikely to affect their poll rankings.

    • ScottGN 5.2

      I disagree with that Ad. When all the dust settles it’s the human element which has the capacity to damage the PM the most I reckon, the utterly squalid way that English stood by and let the National Party machine bully and intimidate a woman who’d been his electorate secretary for 17 years.

      • Ad 5.2.1

        Will it change your vote?

        • ScottGN 5.2.1.1

          I’m not a national voter so no, it’s not going to change my party vote. If I was national voter it might be enough to change my vote or at the very least discourage me from bothering to vote at all, which as we know from the last US election is just as effective.
          I’m registered to vote in Clutha-Southland by the way and might well change my electorate vote if I felt it was going to bloody the nose of the local, insufferable national party grandees.

      • You_Fool 5.2.2

        The problem is the average voter will just assign this to politicians acting like politicians, and fail to assign the particular party to the politician, which if people did more often would show a clear trend to which side of the political line have issues with being truthful and human

    • Rae 5.3

      You only have to tolerate 5-10 minutes of Mark Richardson on the AM show to understand how National supporters can twist and turn this in their minds, and excuse it all, even if broken laws are involved. If he is anything to go by, the stupid runs deep and wide among Nat supporters.

    • McFlock 5.4

      Pre-Northland, I would have agreed with you.

      And didn’t I read somewhere that his highly experienced former electorate secretary is now working with a nearby NZ1 MP? 👿

  6. Penny Bright 6

    Seems that Todd Barclay, National MP for Clutha/Southland is quite a liar!

    How is this acceptable behaviour for an MP?

    Seen this?

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/06/20/35010/allegations-barclay-invented-complaints

    “Further details of Barclay’s behaviour can now be revealed, which could lead to a defamation case against the young MP.

    After the allegations broke in the media, Barclay has repeatedly dodged questions, citing confidentiality around employment disputes.

    But earlier this year the NZ Heraldpublished a story based on the redacted version of the police investigation file into whether Barclay had breached a section of the Crimes Act around “use of interception devices”.

    In a statement provided to the media organisation, Barclay said there had been complaints about the staff member (Dickson), who had been reprimanded.

    “I had received complaints about the conduct of a staff member from members of the public and I referred the matter to Parliamentary Services.

    “As the legal employer of support staff, they acted as they deemed appropriate and embarked on a disciplinary process.”

    But in a letter from the Parliamentary Service to Dickson, seen by Newsroom, general manager David Stevenson said no complaints existed.

    “…Parliamentary Service has neither received any complaint about you nor has it carried out any employment investigation or taken any disciplinary action against you (Dickson).”

    Dickson told Newsroom that Barclay’s comments were misleading, defamatory, and “totally dishonest”.

    After reading Barclay’s statement, she had followed up with the Parliamentary Service as she was unaware of any problems.

    “Well I’ve actually contacted Parliamentary Services and the manager of Parliamentary Services has got nothing on record because I didn’t know about any complaints, so I thought I needed to follow up on that.

    There are no complaints, and there is no disciplinary action taken at all.”

    It was infuriating to hear that Barclay had issued such a dishonest statement in public, she said.

    “I’m very angry, very upset, and to use somebody and discredit them for your own promotion is not something that I admire at all.”

    Dickson also said she was upset with Barclay repeatedly saying he could not comment on the matter of the recording because it was an employment issue.

    “I think it’s rubbish, it’s not an employment issue, and it’s really just trying to cover up what really went on.”

  7. One Anonymous Bloke 7

    Barclay looks more arrogant and stupid by the hour, which of course is what made him perfect National Party material in the first place.

    The real damage isn’t to this shabby little crim’s career and reputation, though. English has revealed himself as a thoroughly unsavoury individual. Again, perfect National Party leader material.

    Others in the party must be aware of just what he is. Could they not prevent his election to the leader’s spot, or do they envy his low character?

    • garibaldi 7.1

      Good points OAB.
      However imo “others in the party” are just the same. They are all aware of what they are. Self aggrandising arseholes to the bitter end.

    • Skinny 7.2

      Barclay is just a boy, low fruit. English has been caught out telling porkies by back filling for him, this is the real crime.

      Meanwhile big fish like Joyce are doing the real tricky moves and seemingly getting away with it untouched.

      Thankfully there are still watch dog groups keeping the acid on National’s lead snake oil merchant;

      https://www.change.org/p/nz-prime-minister-bill-english-transport-minister-simon-bridges-must-resign/u/20597501

      • garibaldi 7.2.1

        Well, there you go. Nick Smith has just been on RNZ and confirmed what I said at7.1 !!

        • dukeofurl 7.2.1.1

          Thats the NIck Smith who was convicted by two judges of interfering with witnesses in a court case !

          never did him any harm which I could never understand. Thats the real reason Barclay is standing firm

  8. gsays 8

    What I don’t understand is why the outgoing premiere (cheers cinny) has tolerated Barclays lies and obfuscation for so long.
    Then yesterday, implying he had FORGOTTEN what he stated in a police statement about 18 months prior.

    What does he know that forces him into this sticky situation?
    Who is he covering for? Sir dear leader?

    Hmm.. jumbo bags of popcorn.

    • Good points,…

      ‘ What does he know that forces him into this sticky situation?
      Who is he covering for? Sir dear leader? ‘

      Hmmmm… the time-frame seems about right,… so,… what did we have,… Pike River , Operation Burnham , a few other assorted scandals with an ex minister of police ,and yes , as revealed over the last few days ,… the newbie from the South ,…

      Oh , and then there’s the Panama Papers, the furore over spying for Obama on China and other South Pacific neighbors… hmmmm…

      Nope, I reckon it was just good old butt covering and concealing things at all costs to push through as much of his globalist agenda as possible before we all had a gutsful of him and kicked English out.

      Wee lad must have learnt his lesson last time he was PM , then…

  9. left_forward 9

    I wonder why Barclay did this in the first place – what motivated him to record Dickson’s conversations?

      • left_forward 9.1.1

        Thanks Andre, that’s the article that caused me to think about this – for some reason he came up with a complaint against her, but it is impossible to work out why he went to all the trouble to install a CCTV system to monitor her – was he jealous of her? Was she a potential rival?

        • Andre 9.1.1.1

          You mean what caused the relationship to go downhill to begin with? Could be as simple as them both just not meshing from from the start, rather than one single incident turning things bad. Then tiny irritants turn into molehills then into mountains.

        • Carolyn_nth 9.1.1.2

          It’s here in Melanie Reid’s first article this week. Basically, Barclay was not doing his job. Dickson probably conveyed her dissatisfaction to Barclay:

          English knows most of those involved in the current skirmish.
          He enjoyed a strong working relationship with Glenys Dickson who was his Electorate Agent for 17 years.

          Dickson would often stand in for English at local events when he was busy with his duties as Minister of Finance. She was sometimes jokingly referred to as “the local MP”.

          English also enjoyed a good relationship with his electorate chair, Stuart Davie. Davie quit following Barclay’s denial of the taping at the Gore AGM.

          Dickson, who has spoken for the first time since she resigned in February last year, told Newsroom that working with Barclay became problematic not long after he was elected at the end of 2014.

          “He shouted at me and other staff and blamed us for things that weren’t our fault. But it was mainly the way he dealt with other people, especially older constituents that upset me. He just didn’t seem to have time for them.”

          She says if Barclay cancelled engagements or was late to scheduled events he blamed it on things that didn’t ring true.

          “He would say, ‘oh Google isn’t working or I had a flat tyre’.”

          Dickson says the final straw for her came in November 2015. Barclay was supposed to attend the prizegiving ceremony at the Telford Agricultural institute in Balclutha but cancelled at the last minute.

          He was the guest of honour but had stayed in Queenstown where the previous evening he had been attending a function and according to people who were present, the MP was in good spirits.

          Later, Barclay reportedly told people he had been in hospital and had a medical certificate.

        • left_forward 9.1.1.3

          Thanks Andre and Carolyn.

  10. Carolyn_nth 10

    let’s not forget, at the centre of this debacle, is a woman (Glenys Dickson), who was subjected to workplace abuse and harassment by Barclay. And then she had her reputation smeared. And English and Key were supporters and enablers of this abuse.

    • Runs in the ‘ family’ then. Much like Paula Bennett abused two beneficiary’s publicly by releasing private details.

      Disgusting bunch of cretins, really.

    • The New Student 10.2

      That’s right +1 Carolyn

      There’s a very human face behind all of this. Goes beyond Left vs. Right and who votes for who

  11. ianmac 11

    Remember the bit where Barclay was to be the guest of honour at some Agricultural Presentation event in Southland but failed to turn up at short notice. He said that he was unable to attend as he had been in hospital and had a doctor’s certificate to back it.
    However others said that he was in Queenstown that night “socialising.” No certificate was sighted by anyone. Barclay has a history of not turning up with a variety of excuses maybe including the dog ate his homework, except he is an MP not a kid.

    • dukeofurl 11.1

      He does make plenty of appearances at that flash Golf resort and at Queenstown rooftop bars.

      • WILD KATIPO 11.1.1

        Hmmmm…echoes of the ‘ Aaron ‘ complex…. these young Nats, really have to watch their intake , it seems…

        • Draco T Bastard 11.1.1.1

          The ‘Aaron Complex’ is normal for the types of people who run for National. They really do think that they’re all special snowflakes and better than everyone else.

  12. mauī 12

    Watching Sarah Dowie standing behind Barclay yesterday at questions from the media. She looked in a really bad state. She must know her political career is on the line too being the MP from the neighbouring electorate. The stink doesn’t have far to travel. And having to support Toddy all day not know what shit he was going to say next.

  13. Dorothy Bulling 13

    He can be scked in effect by the National Party cancelling his membership. He would then not be able to carry on being an electorate MP. This has been done before, most notably John A Lee. But would billyboy have the guts to do that? Barclay is not being very clever over this and I suspect his ambition to be an MP is dead in the water. Those who were sent packing that some have named were all list MPs and could be sent out easily.

  14. Anthony Rimell 14

    Radio New Zealand interview with Andrew Little this morning is worth listening to. So much in it.

    Firstly, no one from any part of the National party would speak to RNZ today. The list of people contacted and not talking left me with the impression that the only person left might of been the Clutha office cleaner.
    Second, Andrew was forthright, firm and clear: the leader that Bill English is not currently being.

    As an aside, Whaleoil was strangely silent on the issue yesterday. Not like him at all to ignore corruption allegations… 🙊

    • Carolyn_nth 14.1

      I’ve seen a comment on twitter this morning that WO was backing Todd and white anting English.

    • Adrian Thornton 14.2

      re; RNZ Little this morning.
      I thought Little made a mistake by saying he didn’t think English should step down, Little could have said something like…I can’t really comment on what Bill English should do, however in light of his previous statements on this matter to the media and the public, he will have to follow his own conscience…or something like that.

      Not aggressive, or negative, but leaving the question of Bill’s integrity hanging firmly in Bill’s court.

      One thing Little really has has going for him, is I don’t think anyone has ever questioned his honesty, or integrity, so it is completely legitimate for him to take the moral high ground on this one.

    • Gabby 14.3

      It was heartening that he avoided the sneaky invitation by Spinner to get all holier-than-thou. Laughing off a baited question works way better than blustering.

  15. roy cartland 15

    It could all be a dead cat strategy: the Southland candidate selection that Barclay won was fraught. And the candidate that stood against Barclay is Simon Flood, an ex Merryl-Lynch JK type.

    Certainly not beyond the NP to do this kind of thing.

    • Gabby 15.1

      That idea would look less Lusky if Wee Toddy hasn’t been cancelling engagements or pissing off elderly constituents.

  16. Ad 16

    Police have re-opened the file.
    It’s coming…..

  17. Reality 17

    That Bill English turned his back on his long-time electorate secretary and did not defend her reputation was disgusting. Something is definitely missing in his character.

  18. Carolyn_nth 18

    Richard Harman on Politik, reports using alleged comments from anonymous Nat insiders. Harman reports on factional disputes within Clutha-Southland Nats, that have got very bitter and convoluted. Harman also claims an involvement of NZ First:

    Barclay was 24 when he replaced English in the Clutha-Southland seat, and even some of his supporters wonder whether he was mature enough to become an MP.

    He faced an entrenched and much older office staff who had been used to filling in for English who only visited the electorate infrequently because he was Finance Minister and Deputy Leader.

    Relations between Barclay and the staff soon broke down.

    And in April last year Glenys Dickson, the staff member at the centre of the row resigned.

    Ever since Barclay has been the subject of a long-running campaign against him from Dickson and her supporters in the electorate.

    One former electorate chair, Lloyd Anderson, a Gore real estate agent, described the dissidents as the “evil six”.

    Allegations and counter-allegations flowed through the year, so the National Party sent the chair of the NZ Racing Board and a member of its board, Glenda Hughes, to investigate what was going on.

    She apparently inflamed things and seems to have ended up joining the criticism of Barclay.

    However it has agreed to have former Minister, Kate Wilkinson, run a low-key investigation into claims about delegate stacking at the selection meeting last year.

    Officials said that claims that selection meetings had been stacked with ineligible delegates were frequently made because the National Party has a very loose system of appointing delegates to its selection meetings.

    They thought it unlikely that even if some delegates were ruled ineligible in Clutha-Southland that it would have any effect on the overall vote count.

    That’s what Wilkinson is trying to sort out.

    There have also been allegations that NZ First has been involved in the machinations within the electorate, including a persistent claim that Dickson, was working with NZ First MP Ria Bond.

  19. web developer 19

    I don’t think the Party will have much trouble getting rid of him. See Payne v New Zealand National Party 2008.

  20. weka 20

    Barry Soper‏ @barrysoper

    Secret taping in Barclays Gore office wasn’t a simple dictaphone, I’ve been told CCTV cameras surreptitiously laid in by a security firm.


    Graeme Edgeler‏ @GraemeEdgeler 1h1 hour ago

    Graeme Edgeler Retweeted Barry Soper

    Secret video is legal. Only secret audio can break the interception provisions in the crimes act

    https://twitter.com/GraemeEdgeler/status/877279799537836032

    • David Mac 20.1

      I think audio would of been recorded. Todd was interested in what his staff were saying not doing.

      The Nats can’t run with the ever popular strategy ‘ Oh she is just a hard-core leftie being a hard-core leftie’ as she and Bill worked together efficiently and happily for years….Bill saying he knows nothing of what was going on down there….. the nation is thinking ‘that’s a fib isn’t it Bill?’

      At last an issue that has gone beyond the Beehive buzz and into public bars, squash courts and daycare drop off areas….”Looks like some National spoiled brat in Southland has left Bill English with his pants round his ankles.”

      The am show had their largest poll turn out ever. 55% of people said “Yes, I care.”

  21. Cinny 21

    Well, well, well, police investigation could be reopened, ongoing discussion about Barclays resignation and an announcement by the outgoing PM at 2pm.

    Best that English is back in Parliament to answer Q3 today.
    ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his answers during Oral Question No. 2 yesterday?

    Meanwhile Barclay avoided a public event last night and didn’t turn up to select committee this morning.

  22. Sacha 22

    He’ll be set up with a cushy job in the party’s business network, like Jason Ede was. Now run along, Toddy.

  23. weka 24

    Post updated, including with Barclay stepping down as candidate for the election and leaving parliament at the end of the term.

  24. Penny Bright 25

    http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/93908848/backbench-mps-stand-by-barclay-ministers-less-solid

    “Embattled MP Todd Barclay to stand down at September election”

    • Red 25.1

      Well that’s that then, back to rugby and sailing, msm attempt to be Washington post is over , collective leftie mass hysteria and hypocrisy done and dusted

      • Robert Guyton 25.1.1

        Yes, Red. ‘cept, Bill English. Then it’ll be done and dusted.

        • weka 25.1.1.1

          Oh and the bit about the National Party having obstructed justice. Plus the police investigation and the Privacy Commisdooner one. But after that, sure it will be back to the rugby.

  25. Red 26

    I don’t know about that Darren Hughes affair died down quite quickly, which I suggest was a lot more serious, still to this day we don’t have the real story albeit a lot of labour MPs know what went on

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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
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