Beware, creepy men of the right: Rawshark returns (briefly)

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 pm, September 14th, 2016 - 82 comments
Categories: Dirty Politics, local body elections, scoundrels - Tags: , , , ,

An old handle flickered back into life briefly this afternoon:

Rawshark – presuming the account is still held and operated by the hacker who exposed the dodgy shenanigans between the WhaleOil blog, corporate lobbyists and senior National Party politicians – started with a screenshot from the previous run, in which Cameron Slater and Jordan Williams allegedly discuss how to get damaging anti-wharfie stories into the media at the time of the POAL lockout.

whaledump-screenshot-1

But something appears to have changed his or her mind.

So a bit more information has been released. (Highlighting added by me)

whaledump-screenshot-2

If this is ringing a bell, it should, and not just because it’s no surprise that Jordan Williams has an … odd perspective on women:

It also sounds a lot like the way Luigi Wewege used sex to pressure Bevan Chuang to reveal details of her relationship with Auckland Mayor Len Brown.

Bevan Chuang told the New Zealand Herald she entered an intimate relationship with Luigi Wewege, a member of Mr Palino’s failed campaign team, who wanted her to expose the mayor’s infidelity when he found out about the affair.

“Luigi started pursuing non-stop about how I should tell on Len,” Ms Chuang said. “I was asked to record phone calls because that’s when Len would say all the dirty stuff.”

She says Mr Wewege wanted to publish the allegations on the Whale Oil blogsite, run by Cameron Slater, to ruin Mr Brown’s reputation before the election but she refused to swear an affidavit and produce text messages to corroborate her story.

It’s a bit hard to avoid the conclusion that rightwing men are so lacking a moral compass that they happily exploit sexual intimacy to manipulate women to gain political ammunition.

If women were doing the same thing to men they’d be denounced as cuckolding honeytrap Jezebels from every direction. That’s the patriarchal double standard for you.

So here’s my question, rightwing dudes: you love demanding that other people denounce extremism in their culture or party or religion. Are you going to denounce Jordan Williams and Luigi Wewege, and any other man who’s “taken one for the team” to manufacture a political scandal?  Or are you happy for us to assume that all rightwing men are sleazy creeps?

~

A quick note: I’m sure commenters will be quick to point out that leftwing men can also be abusive creeps, but show me (a) where a leftwing dude has used sex to gain political ammunition and (b) the bizarro universe in which I didn’t condemn that as scummy, too; otherwise sod off with your derailing tactics.

~

And a final thought, on a related topic: Rawshark’s brief return sent a very powerful message to the Dirty Politics crew. I’m still here. I’m still watching. And there’s a lot I didn’t reveal, so don’t make me want to come back.

Good on ya, mate.

82 comments on “Beware, creepy men of the right: Rawshark returns (briefly) ”

  1. Anne 1

    I’m still here. I’m still watching. And there’s a lot I didn’t reveal, so don’t make me want to come back.

    Good on ya, mate.

    +1000

  2. CnrJoe 2

    Áwèşômņêśş

  3. Cinny 3

    Ewwww… ‘take one for the team’ – like he would have turned her down if not for possible information, yeah right !
    He seems rather sure of himself, rates himself, lolololz talking himself up to look like a hot shot to whale blubber, what a joke, seriously? LMFAO !!! Muppet as

    WB Rawshark, been thinking about you while watching Mr Robot <3

  4. Chuck 4

    [Stephanie: I refer you to the penultimate paragraph: show me (a) where a leftwing dude has used sex to gain political ammunition and (b) the bizarro universe in which I didn’t condemn that as scummy, too; otherwise sod off with your derailing tactics.

    And don’t use other people’s traumatic experiences as a “gotcha” to score cheap political points. It’s gross, it’s pathetic, and it’s not welcome on my posts.]

    • In Vino 4.2

      Typical of Chuck’s contributions – well deleted, Stephanie. Given his past writings, I suspect he will have to Google ‘penultimate’. You are dead right about the patriarchal double standard.

    • Chuck 4.3

      I refer you again to what your wrote…

      “It’s a bit hard to avoid the conclusion that rightwing men are so lacking a moral compass that they happily exploit sexual intimacy to manipulate women to gain political ammunition.”

      Have a think about it…I won’t comment on anymore of your posts, as its clear you are only after comments that support your theory.

      • It took you less than 15 minutes to leave another comment after this one. 🙄

        You’ve offered no substantive response except drag up a five-year-old scandal to try to derail this conversation. You look like a fool. Try better in future.

    • Dun dun dun dun….. Im thinkin big hungry Great White sharks think bloated , fat and blubber rich blue-bloods taste even better,…Id swim for it if I were you , matey!

  5. One Anonymous Bloke 5

    Can this evidence of Mr. Williams’ character be used in court? I do hope so 😈

    • Anne 5.1

      Someone will need to make sure Colin Craig’s lawyers get to see this ‘evidence’.

      • Chuck (The goat fucker) 5.1.1

        So Anne you support Colin Craig and his abuse of power and unwanted behavior towards Rachel?

        Or is it that getting Williams, makes it o.k. to overlook Craig’s behavior?

        For Craig to win this case, throws Rachel MacGregor under the bus with her testimony.

        [lprent: So Chuck – when did you last fuck that lovely goat? The nice friendly one that makes you horny to just look at him…

        I’d suggest that you don’t use that particular strategy here again – especially against an author on their post. I don’t like it, and I’m inclined to use it as an excuse to remove my personal restraints as a moderator and become more like the vindictive bastard that I so long to be – and with sysop powers. ]

        • Muttonbird 5.1.1.1

          The problem here, Chuck, is that both Craig and Williams are rightwing men and therefore both lack a moral compass.

          If only it were possible for both to lose…

          Anyway at 9:01 you promised not to comment again yet here you are at 9:12. Perhaps that’s another thing rightwing men have problems with – keeping promises.

          • lprent 5.1.1.1.1

            If only it were possible for both to lose…

            Ummm. I think that something like a defamation case between them would probably do the job.

            That is a civil case. Hard to get suppression orders on those.

            Then all kinds of arsehole behaviours could be exposed…..

            Williams vs Craig. The case where both of them look like complete poorly sanitised douchebags

          • Anno1701 5.1.1.1.2

            “Anyway at 9:01 you promised not to comment again yet here you are at 9:12. Perhaps that’s another thing rightwing men have problems with –”

            premature enunciation !

    • the pigman 5.2

      The problem for Craig is that for an “honest opinion” defence to succeed (and I hope it does, because frankly) against Williams’ defamation claim, he needs to be aware of all facts on which he based his opinion at the time he expressed/published that opinion.

      So while Williams keeping all of the MacGregor/Craig correspondence in his safe then running to the Conservative board with it when MacGregor wasn’t looking (and expressly against assurances he gave MacGregor) sure looks like the inept VRWC/Dirty Politics machine operating to ratfuck Craig, I’m not sure he was aware of those facts at the time he claimed that’s what Williams was doing.

      Either way, Williams is a disgraced, discredited, sleazy and inept wannabe right wing black ops man… at least we won’t be hearing him on Mora’s the Panel alongside Boag and Franks anytime soon… (actually, I am probably speaking to soon on that…)

      • He could probably base his opinion on the fact it had apparently been Jordan Williams’ standard modus operandi for years …

        • the pigman 5.2.1.1

          Although I agree, even that is a matter of opinion, whereas honest opinion should be based on objectively provable facts (and pointing to a bunch of whaledump correspondence of him being scummy probably doesn’t get you there).

          • Stephanie Rodgers 5.2.1.1.1

            The defence against charges of defamation is “honest opinion”. Not “honest opinion based on 37 affidavits from neutral witnesses and 18 pieces of documentation notarised by Justices of the Peace.”

            • lprent 5.2.1.1.1.1

              There are several defences apart from honest opinion.

              The obvious one is to show that the facts as stated are substantially correct (ie “Truth”). We aren’t going to see that one appear until the defence starts its case. However bearing in mind what is alleged is the defamation, what has already appeared in the plaintiff‘s case and the way that some of this material got exposed – I’d expect that there is a decent case to be made on substantive truth grounds. And that is before we look at some of the older material from rawshark.

              Various types of privilege. I can’t see that appearing highly in this case, unless they relate to matters that involve the general meetings of the Conservative Board.

              Consents – unlikely.

              “Honest opinion” usually isn’t that good a defence. However in this case, and bearing in mind the way that Jordan Williams was exposed in Dirty Politics the previous year plus the subsequent rawshark dumps – I’d say that honest opinion has a reasonably good shot.

              But I personally wouldn’t have trusted Jordan Williams with any documents unless I wanted him to leak them to his mates for political gain. It has been my opinion for many years, since well before “Dirty Politics”, and based on public instances of his behaviour, that he simply isn’t trustworthy when it comes to sneaking around with information.

              In my view, he appears to have self-control problems with ‘hot’ information. It appears to me that rather than being concerned about the ethics of releasing information he is privy to, he is far more concerned with making sure that he isn’t caught holding the hot potato when it goes public. Usually in the past that has been to Kiwiblog and/or Whaleoil.

              So far in the reporting of this case, I haven’t had to revise that judgement.

              There is a pretty readable summary of the NZ defamation law here.

            • the pigman 5.2.1.1.1.2

              Sorry SR, I know you’re the author and all, but as I have already said, and as lprent has repeated in a kind of roundabout way (and I believe he may have had some recent direct contact with this area of the law), the barriers to entry on an honest opinion defence are high. You can’t just fling any shit around and say “well, its what I think, so there”.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 5.2.2

        Oh well. Williams will win his $1 in damages I suppose 😈

        • the pigman 5.2.2.1

          Agreed – damages likely to be minimal and definitely worth the price of admission.

          It’s startling, really, that two wealthy righties haven’t managed to settle something with no economic value, that paints both of them in such unsympathetic light.

          They have merely enriched their lawyers and dragged MacGregor through the mud. It’s almost as if both of them might get a vague kick out of doing so?

          • Anne 5.2.2.1.1

            They have merely enriched their lawyers and dragged MacGregor through the mud.

            Oh the irony….

          • left for dead 5.2.2.1.2

            They have merely enriched their lawyers and dragged MacGregor through the mud. It’s almost as if both of them might get a vague kick out of doing so?

            To true,,,,,, then I here Ms MacGregor say ” I just wont them too stop suing each other” so I can date and find a husband.
            They are all fools, and wasting our time and money….Three weeks of court time. Someone make a TV series and put the rest of the sheepes to sleep.

      • Chris 5.2.3

        I think Williams counted on Craig not wanting this stuff exposed and paying up from his deep pockets. Then when Craig didn’t Williams found himself having to follow through. Which also would’ve suited Williams because he’s a major player wannabe and everyone knows that to be a major player you need a defamation case or two under your belt. And as far as dealing to Craig goes, there are plenty of ways Williams could’ve released the dirt, confidentiality agreement or not.

      • Philj 5.2.4

        Jordan Williams not on Jim Mora’s panel any more. Why not? Standards. Really? Mind you, David Farrar hasn’t been on the Panel recently, or I’ve not heard him. I’m yet to decide whether The Panel is a weak joke session or a feather duster analysis.

    • Chris 5.3

      Yeah, but Craig had better watch out because Williams has got some pretty heavy hitters on his team. Nobody can take what this lot have to say too lightly:

      “Williams says he was telling the truth about the alleged harassment and has called a long list of witnesses for his case, including MacGregor, MacGregor’s advocate Ruth Money, former Conservative board members Christine Rankin and John Stringer, PR professional Carrick Graham, and some of Williams’ law colleagues.”

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/84281588/colin-craig-to-defend-defamation-case

      All he needs now is to get “Cam” up there and he’ll be simply unbeatable.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 5.3.1

        Dude, my only interest in this is the schadenfreude.

        Jordan Williams is dishonest and corrupt, a vile manipulative man with a negative rating on the ethics scale, and so is Colin Craig. Williams embodies National Party values better than Craig.

        As Bill once put it, “fight, you bastards, fight!”

        • Chris 5.3.1.1

          And surely the comedy, too? Carrick Graham, Rankin, Williams’ mates, Ruth SST Money of all people? And isn’t Hooton supposed to be giving a cameo performance? You couldn’t get a better cast.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 5.3.1.1.1

            Tories hurting one another wouldn’t have that much comedic value even if they kept their hatreds to themselves. It’s not like they’re original or imaginative.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 5.3.1.1.2

            I lied: schadenfreude isn’t my only concern. When trash (like Jordan Williams and Colin Craig) fight, the relevance of the outcome is proportional to how much it actually damages right wing political and business interests.

            Williams’ employer has backed him in court. I hope her doors are closing faster than his are. That’s for nothing. Now do something.

  6. newsense 6

    Will Armando Ianucco be suing real life for stealing his satirical ideas?

  7. Rodel 7

    After Williams and Slater, Donald Trump doesn’t look that bad.

    But if Williams is suing Craig for defamation why do we have to hear all about Colin’s massages, magic hands and being sung to sleep between imaginary legs .

    Surely if he said or wrote something wrong which harmed William’s reputation that’s what the issue is. I mean right wing christian pervs are intriguing albeit not uncommon but Mr Craig’s penchants and proclivities are side issues.

    Be great if the judge/ jury decided that Mr. William’s honourable reputation was unsullied and he could get on with his union work.

    I hope Mr Craig returns to the political scene renewed and re-inviagorated.

    • ianmac 7.1

      Something weird about the whole set up. Must be an ulterior motive. Surely Williams is not concerned about his reputation given the rather unpleasant dabblings he has been involved with and the dark companions he works with.

      • mickysavage 7.1.1

        I get the feeling there are two huge egos unwilling to compromise and preferring to spend large amounts of money on lawyers rather than backing down.

        Perfect people to be MPs …

    • lprent 7.2

      Surely if he said or wrote something wrong which harmed William’s reputation that’s what the issue is

      Ah no. The reputation is of absolutely no interest in winning a defamation case. Perhaps you should read something about actual NZ defamation law rather than making yourself look like a fool who is totally ignorant about parts of the legal system.

      http://www.defamationupdate.co.nz/guide-to-defamation-law

      If Jordan Williams manages to win the case, then reputation MAY become part of the remedy ordered by the judge and/or jury.

  8. Rosie 8

    Did I imagine it? I am not following the Williams Vs Craig case. Got too much tat to deal with IRL unfortunately. But, two days ago while watching the 6 pm news did I hear Williams say something in court a long the lines of “women need to be respected…..”?

    Then there was a moment of confusion when I remembered back to those disgusting, offensive and in Slater’s case, violent remarks about women’s body parts, that there is a mention of, in the above post (and which has sickened me and stayed with me since I first heard it). Then I thought, you f*cking two faced hypocritical smug toe rag.

    So, if you made a brief appearance this arvo Rawshark, you have gladdened my heart. It’s reminds us that there is a watcher. And that watcher has a mega phone.

    Much respect.

  9. stunned mullet 9

    🙄

  10. Macro 10

    Gezz I hope Jordan’s mum doesn’t get to read that email……
    Any hope he had of her leaving her darling boy a penny or two will be out the window!

    • Muttonbird 10.1

      Dragging his mother into this now. What an awful little oink.

      • Macro 10.1.1

        Craig and Williams deserve each other. It has been wonderful popcorn entertainment, and free to all!

        • Anne 10.1.1.1

          I agree Macro but lets not forget the real victim here. I refer to the young MacGregor woman. First she has to put up with Craig’s fawning (to put it nicely) then she is used and manipulated by the Williams creep. I hope she gets lots of support after this is all over because I think she is going to need it.

          • Macro 10.1.1.1.1

            Yes! what you say is very true Anne. These two creeps have a lot to answer. If any damages are to be paid (and I think both should pay) it should be awarded to her.

            • Rodel 10.1.1.1.1.1

              Macro..Brilliant .If I were judge that would be my wish.
              But wait there’s probably more.

              • save nz

                Nope the women should be told to attend some sort of counselling so she can recognise manipulative creeps and users. The money should be awarded to womens refuge.

                Craig and Williams have to attend court mandated counselling sessions on misogyny and sexual harassment.

          • lprent 10.1.1.1.2

            Agreed.

            So far from what I have glimpsed in the news, she appears to simply have made awful choices in bosses and who she confides in.

            However so far I don’t think that we have heard the defence yet? Just questions that the defence has been raising with plaintiff’s witnesses. So I’m going to be fascinated with what the defence puts up.

  11. RedLogix 11

    Life is generally too short to waste paying attention to affairs like this, so I’ll constrain myself to commenting on the only upside I can think of: no-one will feel obliged to take either of these men seriously ever again.

  12. Richard Rawshark 12

    Rawshark seems to dislike Slatter, a lot.., wonders if slatter burned someone and they are just getting there own back..

    The only peoples, who take ..fuckwits like these with any seriousness or even go to their websites, well they are fucked anyways, probably very angry [men]. As in I need to go somewhere and make out i’m big tough and don’t give a shit. Sadly they are usually the opposite in real life when challenged face to face.

    In other words, these days, Slatter and anyone associated with him are just clowns.. to be treated as such.

    IMHO

    [Stephanie: Edited commentary on penis size. It’s unnecessary, it buys into harmful tropes about masculinity and sexuality, and it’s exactly the kind of toxic shit Slater and Williams throw around. Not on my post.]

    • save nz 12.1

      Richard Rawshark –

      “The only peoples, who take ..fuckwits like these with any seriousness or even go to their websites, well they are fucked anyways, probably very angry [men]. As in I need to go somewhere and make out i’m big tough and don’t give a shit. ”

      You mean like John Key and Judith Collins, friends and txters with Slater?

    • reason 12.2

      “Rawshark seems to dislike Slatter, a lot.., wonders if slatter burned someone and they are just getting there own back..”

      Well there is this ………………

      “In January 2014, WhaleOil was hacked some time after he posted a blog post with the headline “Feral dies in Greymouth, did world a favour.” Three other children in this family had already been killed in accidents and the post provoked a ‘furious public reaction’. ” …..

      Key rang up to commiserate and side with slater,….. the bereaved mother was apparently a”a bitch” who had embarrassed key over another one of her sons and his false promises regarding the pike river mine disaster/killings …

      Cameron Slater acting like a super creep, slagging off the dead and adding to the grief of a mother seems to have been the motivation for Rawshark …

  13. Patrick Cummoskey 13

    +100 Steph! Like you I support Craig 100%! Go Colin!

    [Stephanie: Blatant trolling. Don’t do it again.]

  14. Paul 14

    6 questions.

    1. Is it worth observing the link between ex ACT MP Stephen Franks and Williams?
    2. Is Franks the portal for Williams’ connections in business and politics?
    3. Who is Franks friend on RNZ that ensures regular visits on the Panel?
    4. Will the media now ignore the press statements of Williams creation the Taxpayers Union?
    5. Who paid Williams to discredit Craig?
    6. Why did the extreme right want to get rid of Craig?

    • Jenny Kirk 14.1

      “Why did the extreme right want to get rid of Craig?”
      Paul – my theory is so he would not be any sort of “threat” to whoever is going to stand in the Nat-held seat of East Coast Bays in future (replacing McCully). I think that’s a bit OTT, but cannot think of any other reason.

      Whatever – the defamation case has produced some of the funniest news items we’ve seen for quite a while – notwithstanding the fact that these two guys have demolished a woman (Rachel McG) whose personal life shouldn’t be subject to so much publicity just to justify two sleazy egos.

    • Puckish Rogue 14.2

      6. Why did the extreme right want to get rid of Craig?

      – Because hes nuttier then a fruitcake?

      • Patrick Cummoskey 14.2.1

        How dare you write such defamation about Mr Craig! Colin Craig is an honourable man who loves his wife and would never cheat on her. Colin Craig never sexually harassed that woman! The affair was consensual! MacGregor will be proven to be a liar in court if she hasn’t already!!!

        – Patrick Cummoskey.

        [Stephanie: Cannot tell if sarcastic or sincere, but in either case: don’t attack Rachel MacGregor and don’t make statements about sexual harassment you can’t back up.]

      • Nelson Muntz 14.2.2

        The Left are blind to the obvious.

    • Bearded Git 14.3

      @Paul good questions. I think Key wants Craig out of the way so there is no possibility of 3-4% of the vote being wasted at the next election.

      For the same (Election 2017) reason Key is now sucking up to the MP over the Kermadecs and has left Nick Smith and any semblance of pro-green policy swinging in the wind (Chris Trotter explains this today in style). Key is positioning for a 4th term.

      • mosa 14.3.1

        Another victim run down by the John Key Coachlines bus. But its only Nick Smith this time. It was overdue.

  15. mary_a 15

    Great. Bring it on. Go Rawshark :-)))))))

  16. save nz 16

    Absolutely shocking.

    Go Rawshark!

    Go Colin Craig. Don’t agree with his politics but good on him for standing up for himself with the RWNJ bullies!

    As for Williams, his misogyny is truly creepy.

    • Puckish Rogue 16.1

      You don’t agree with his politics but you do agree with his view and treatment of women?

      • save nz 16.1.1

        I think the Williams examples of some sort of manipulative political honey trap sex a lot creepier than Craig.

        “she’s no doubt want to root me tomorrow”
        “take one for the team”

        Really disgusting. Much worse than what Craig’s accused of.

        And I’m not sure I believe the MSM portrayal of Craig as it seems that those who might take votes of National seem to be smeared and incapacitated in some way…

        Just noticing…

        But sexism needs to be cleaned up in NZ. The rugby/stripper scandal, the PM and the ponytail, Colin Craig, Jordan Williams, Len Brown, Louise Nicholas, the roast busters, Tony Veich, Cunliffe made fun of for actually wanting to do something about family violence.

        Considering many people seem to think NZ is not sexist, it is clear it is institutionally NZ is very sexist. Which is terrible as a lot of NZ men are actually the opposite of being sexist but maybe they are out numbered.

        • Puckish Rogue 16.1.1.1

          The thing is you seem to be championing a man who, if nothing else, is creepy towards women simply because it might score a hit on Williams

          You really don’t see the issue there?

          • save nz 16.1.1.1.1

            Forgot to add to my recent NZ Misogyny list, the rich lister who punched a female police officer got community service.

            Punching women is ok in NZ (sarc), so he is appealing it apparently as does not even think it warrants a criminal sentence.

          • save nz 16.1.1.1.2

            I’m not championing Craig. But think there is more to it than that.

            • Puckish Rogue 16.1.1.1.2.1

              I beg to differ:

              “Go Colin Craig. Don’t agree with his politics but good on him for standing up for himself with the RWNJ bullies!”

              that sounds like you’re championing him quite a bit, just because you think Williams is a creep doesn’t mean the Colin Craig isn’t a creep, they could (probably are) both be creeps

              • save nz

                Yep, the could possibly both be creeps. But the jury’s out on Craig until he’s convicted of harassment. Just find the timing weird that she outed him days before the election. I mean the women must have known by publicly doing it the way she did she would be curtains for her career, so was she made or manipulated or asked to do it that way?? Just speculating that the whole thing does not make any sense.

                With the right wing manipulation of the Len Brown affair I’m not willing to think it’s all some sort of co incidence.

                • Puckish Rogue

                  Well no, hes being sued by Jordan Williams because Craig defamed Williams (at least that’s what Williams is saying) so not harrassment

                  Now unless you’re very good, close friends with someone then saying you slept well because you dreamed you were sleeping between their legs is creepy

                • Many answers to your questions are in the post above.

                  Election times are incredibly stressful for political staffers. It doesn’t surprise me at all that she resigned then.

                  And as The Standard isn’t a court of law, I think people are quite able to draw conclusions about Craig being a creepy sexual harasser with control issues, based on his own public behaviour since then.

  17. [Stephanie: It is not necessary to make personal comments about other people’s fuckability. This post is about manipulation and exploitation of sexual relationships for political ends.]

  18. Infused 18

    Yawn.

    Bring this up again. Works so well for the left.

    [Stephanie: Make a constructive, on-topic comment or go away.]

    • Infused 18.1

      You’re just being manipulated by some random. The account didn’t spring back to life. Take a step back and look at what’s going on here.

      Something’s about to come out, or someone is distracting from something. Either way, you are all taking the bait.

      • It’s the same account Rawshark released information through previously, was verified by Nicky Hager as being his source, and hasn’t tweeted since September 2014. “Sprang back to life” seems a pretty apt description to me.

        Do you have any actual evidence that it wasn’t Rawshark, or that the evidence was falsified, beyond your unearned sense of superiority? If not, stop trolling.

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    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

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