Cameron Slater: So who pays who?

Written By: - Date published: 4:19 pm, December 12th, 2013 - 203 comments
Categories: accountability, blogs, dpf, john key, national, Parliament, parliamentary spending, Politics, public services, rumour, scoundrels - Tags: ,

Over at blubbering boys blog this morning, ‘authored’ by Cameron Slater.

The Parliamentary Press Gallery had its end of year party last night. Basically it was a trough-fest for corporate lobbyists…with them out numbering journalists by a substantial amount.

This was the scene that confronted staff and MPs arriving this morning.

The image is here* for those of you who don’t want to amble over to the site. However what was more interesting was Claire Trevett tweeting this

 

Which is of course why you don’t piss off journos talking about their party life.

So she states that the image that turned up on Whaleoil today was probably taken by Jason Ede this morning. Moreover by the sounds of it, he’d have to have deliberately taken the image to put on Whaleoil because I can’t conceive of a reason for the John Key’s long term comms person to go and take an image of the residue of a party at 7:30am in the morning.

But more importantly, at The Standard we’ve had some of our more knowledgeable beltway authors and commentators speculating about Jason Ede writing for Whaleoil and Kiwiblog blogs for a long time. Both in posts and comments back to 2010. The rumour was that Jason Ede was responsible for some of the political dirt posts that turned up on those sites, either directly or indirectly. In fact he is rumoured to be the National Party smear unit.

For instance in 2010 Zetetic said..

3News viewers were left wondering if Duncan Garner is still pissed after the long weekend tonight. Using material that has clearly come from Jason Ede in Key’s office Murray McCully, Garner played the message-bearer for National’s continuing attacks on Labour’s gay MPs.

Looks like the National parties dirty BIG secret has just broken out into the open like a lanced smallpox cyst. If you want an arsehole blogger, look no further than John Key’s office.

Mind you Cameron Slater does need all the help he can get because he really isn’t the most competent person I’m aware of. I wonder how much he “demands” from the taxpayer to run that shithole of a site?

 

* Please please could Jason Ede get legally wound up about copyright. I really would like to do some discovery on his phone and browser history. Not to mention on the Whaleoil blog. I’m sure that given a good forensic look through some computer logs we’d be able to find out more about the relationship that these two have.

203 comments on “Cameron Slater: So who pays who? ”

  1. TheContrarian 1

    So what? JK’s photographer sent images to a blog…meanwhile Cunliffe writes over at TDB while several posters here hold positions in parliament (or actively running for seats).

    [lprent: Who is currently running for a seat and who is currently holding a position in parliament?

    You are banned until you provide credible proof for either of these allegations. In other words, it will be permanent.

    See the policy about making claims against our authors. It is something that I don’t even bother responding to these days. There have been allegations, mostly from deriving from Cameron Slater for that period of time. To date no-one has ever bothered to listen to what I have said on the topic.

    So these days I simply ban the idiots who make them here. ]

    • karol 1.1

      Cunliffe writes under his own name – no comparison with feeding stuff to Oil and not acknowledging where it came from.

      • lprent 1.1.1

        The suspicion has been all the way back to 2007 when this site (and Whaleoil) started that Ede was actually directly writing content for his blogs, and not under his own name.

        • Balanced View 1.1.1.1

          So it’s ok for this site to post a suspicion, but not ok to comment with one?

          [lprent: Read the policy. Provide proof that this site has ulterior and unstated reasons for running the site or hget banned. It is pretty simple. There are plenty of other sites to post that on to. But I’m tired of seeing it.

          If you continue this line on this post then I will ban you for diversion trolling. ]

          • infused 1.1.1.1.1

            That’s how it rolls here.

            • framu 1.1.1.1.1.1

              not quite, contrarian is making a supposition about something pretty mundane – people using the internet, and trying to equate it to yet another supposition and it would seem eyewitness accounts, in a long string of suppositions and other occurances, (there is history on this topic remember – and blubbs admits he gets paid) that certain political parties are paying a certain 3rd party to run their dirty war

              please tell me you guys understand the difference between the two things?

              to follow you particular complaint you have to do two things 1) not understand the difference and 2) utterly ignore the known relationship between the nats and blubbs

              its not even a “nice try” its just plain weak

          • Frank Macskasy 1.1.1.1.2

            I’d say it was more than a “suspicion”, Anonymous-Person-posting-as-Balanced-View.

            Ede has outed himself. End of.

            Now he pays the consequences. (Not that right wingers are big on taking responsibility for consequences. That’s something that has become abundantly clear over the last five years.)

            • Balanced View 1.1.1.1.2.1

              I was referring to political party staffers writing posts for blogs under a pseudonym. Ede hasn’t admitted doing that, neither has Cameron Slater.
              Yet 1prent is happy to allow these accusations, but will ban anyone that tries to do the same to left winged parties.
              A bit hypocritical don’t you think?

              [lprent: Since you clearly really really want to make your suspicions known about connections between staffers and this site, then I suggest that you do it on other sites. That seems like the appropriate place to do so. Just as this is the appropriate place to air suspicions about Whale’s site.

              In the meantime you’re also trying to say how we should run our site which is also intensely irritating.

              You can comment here when and if you have some proof that we have ulterior motives outside of those in the about. ]

              • Arfamo

                There’s a conflict between your saying that Cameron Slater hasn’t admitted political party staffer Mr Ede writes for WO under a pseudonym above, and lprent saying at 1.1.1, yesterday:

                The suspicion has been all the way back to 2007 when this site (and Whaleoil) started that Ede was actually directly writing content for his blogs, and not under his own name..

                How do you propose to resolve this conundrum, beyond claiming “hypocrisy”, in a balanced sort of view?

              • Ede has admitted to supplying for Slater. That’s the issue here, BV.. Anything else is a distraction – a round circle of finger pointing.

                But really, how credible is Ede’s excuse,

                “It was a silly, spur of the moment thing to do, and I consulted no-one.”

                And the most important question though is, what else had Ede fed to Slater?

                Considering that Ede is paid by you and me, I think there’s a valid public interest here.

            • Frosty 1.1.1.1.2.2

              No RW responsibility? Aaron Gilmore resigned, John Banks is pulling the pin. These guys have more media scrutiny (usually through Campbell Live) whilst the Left Wing get a free ride.
              Ol Len was caught with his dick in the help, busted getting perks. He’ll stay, no shame.

  2. Bruce 2

    meh – that was boring.

  3. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 3

    This is disgusting.

    Will Lprent confirm that no-one who writes for the Standard is in a comms team for a political party funded by the taxpayer?

    That’ll let the Standard occupy the moral high ground.

    [lprent: Read the policy. Provide me some proof of your allegation. Banned until you do, ie probably permanently. I got sick of answering that particular claim and variants of it 6 years ago. For 6 years there has never been a proof. There have just been dirty tricks allegations from fools like Bill English through to deliberately lying idiots like Cameron.

    But it looks like that is where he gets his help from John Key’s office directly. I guess that is why he has always suspected us eh?

    Anyway I’m tired of it. I reward people making it with losing their rights to write here. ]

    • framu 3.1

      if youve got evidence that labour has someone operating covertly to supply the standard with dirt and innuendo on their opponents – then out with it

      fucks sake – its pretty damn clear what the issue here is – its the secrecy coupled with the organised smear campaigns. Its the using a proxy to wage your dirty tactics war. There is a yawning gulf of difference between that and people using the web to communicate openly

      its pathetic that the responses straight out of the blocks are this.

      • lprent 3.1.1

        Sometimes I wish that they did. It’d make it easier to pass back the information when the parliamentary wing was screwing up by the numbers.

    • Rogue Trooper 3.2

      You are Right, they never clean up after their Party.

      • the pigman 3.2.1

        They don’t even need to clean up, because like Slater says, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant”.

        Come to think of it, that misapprehension probably explains his greasy locks and generally wretched appearance.

    • Rogue Trooper 3.3

      a request for clemency for GF (they are interesting, if nothing else). 😀 (one can only try, call it a Christmas offering).

  4. CnrJoe 4

    I live for moments like these
    How can I help wind Ede up?

  5. karol 5

    It seems Mr Ede didn’t like the “media” supporting parliament cleaners or criticising people smoking in the Beehive grounds.

    The photos appeared on the Whale Oil website, run by Cameron Slater. He used the photos to attack the media as ”sanctimonious hypocrites”.

    They had ”gone into bat for the parliamentary cleaners to be paid more, calling MPs and staff messy” and had criticised smokers for lighting up in the parliamentary precinct, Slater said.

    According to Gower’s tweets. Ede is one of said smokers.

    Jason Ede smokes there all the time, pretty sure he doesn’t takes his cigarette butts back up to John Key’s Office?

    Such a petty retaliation via WO!

    • framu 5.1

      “The photos appeared on the Whale Oil website, run by Cameron Slater. He used the photos to attack the media as ”sanctimonious hypocrites”.”

      – “how dare they! – thats my bloody job!” said slater

      • McFlock 5.1.1

        If slater’s “attacking the media” as a collective group and not using the word “we”, doesn’t that mean that he’s not part of the media and therefore is not a journalist?

    • Murray Olsen 5.2

      Is Blubber Boy WhaleSpew proposing that the cleaners be paid more? Or is it just those, like his foul self, who smear crap all over the place, that should be paid more?

  6. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 6

    …so have we got an issue with a undue influence in the judiciary here?

    That the court ruling slammed Slater’s site – and in a way that sets a precedent for all blogsites – as ‘not a news medium’ starts to look like ire at Whaleoil showing National up in a bad light over the ‘Brown affair’…following on so quickly after that debacle.

    • lprent 6.1

      Especially since the National people around John Palino’s campaign were so active in feeding information to Cameron in that instance. It all starts to look like Cameron really isn’t much of a “journalist” (not that I thought he was) so much as a conduit for feeding dirty linen about other people into the blogs.

      I guess that if you don’t have any political morals, then you talk to Cameron. It does seem to be a bit extreme that John Key’s staff do it. I wonder who ordered that? 😈

      • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 6.1.1

        After reading “The Hollowmen” – Nicky Hagar I was left with the impression that it wasn’t National running Act – it was more Act-types running National and therefore this latest event isn’t really surprising at all [to me]…those Act-types are extremists.

        [That ruling didn’t need to be done in a way that set a precedent for all blogsites…however I guess that is a separate issue from this thread….]

  7. rod 7

    and we are the least corrupt country in the world, Yeah right

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 7.1

      @ Rod

      …that’s the trouble with comparative terms like ‘least’…kinda deceptive when you look at the state of some of the countries we seem to like to follow like star struck fanatics….

  8. andy (the other one) 8

    Oh the irony, Cameron Slater is a ‘Repeater’.

    Bwahahahaha!

    • Dumrse 8.1

      And this blogg is chokka full of cut and paste experts. Big difference eh?

      • Arfamo 8.1.1

        The number of things that go straight over your head is amazing. I wish one of them was a sack. It’d probably improve your perception.

      • North 8.1.2

        Sad DumbArse.

      • @ Dumbrse,

        Most the “cut and paste” relates to publishing apalling economic statistic generated by this hopeless excuse for a government, Dumbrse. High unemployment; growing inequality; collapsing manufacturing sector; corporate welfarism; rising child poverty; falling National MP’s IQs; that sort of stuff.

        We’re happy to serve. 🙂

        F****n ecstatic actually.

  9. Arfamo 9

    Lol. Gawd. I just had a rare quick look at WO. He’s frothing.

    • lprent 9.1

      So I see. It appears that he thinks it is all a conspiracy against him by the NZ Herald. He is picking his links up and walking away from the baadddd reporters.

      Bbwahhhh!

      My rapidly growing great nephew is starting to display more maturity…. Be interesting to see what he does when he leaves playcentre

  10. chris73 10

    Wow what a non-event

    • Arfamo 10.1

      Exactly. Someone tell Cam.

    • andy (the other one) 10.2

      Is that you Jason?

    • Colonial Viper 10.3

      Then go put some cricket on mate, the rest of us here find slow motion car crashes quite exciting.

      • chris73 10.3.1

        I suppose its better (from the lefts point of view) of having to defend Goff and MFAT (WI 62/1)

        • andy (the other one) 10.3.1.1

          Quick Jason, Must be time for Paula Bennett to announce another crack down on the Bene’s.

          Need better distraction today.

          • chris73 10.3.1.1.1

            Well theres Len Brown doing his best to hinder the EY report, the MFAT leakage doesn’t look good for Labour and I’m pretty sure that the people running this site can check my ISP address to find out what part of the country I’m commenting on

            But indeed crow about a photographer sending pics to a blog because thats big news

            (WI 67/2)

            • gobsmacked 10.3.1.1.1.1

              Chris73

              Either – the Prime Minister’s senior communications adviser works for WhaleOil, without Key’s knowledge and/or permission …

              Or – he works for WhaleOil, with Key’s knowledge and/or permission …

              So it’s either Jason Ede to resign, or John Key to confess.

              Which?

              • Rogue Trooper

                Death by elimination

              • chris73

                Or he doesn’t work for Whaleoil at all

                • gobsmacked

                  No, he works for the National Party, which is the same thing.

                  If he’s done nothing wrong why has he now apologised?

                  • chris73

                    I’ve sent things to Whaleoil, do I work for him? (By the way the answer is no)

                    • gobsmacked

                      I don’t know, do you head the Prime Minister’s propaganda team?

                      That’s Ede’s job. As in paid, as in Beehive.

                    • Arfamo

                      I’ve sent things to Whaleoil, do I work for him? (By the way the answer is no)

                      Well actually if he uses anything you sent him, the answer is yes, but you just don’t get paid for it.

                    • chris73

                      Its not work because I do it for shits and giggles

                      (WI 103/3)

                    • Arfamo

                      Well obviously you do it for shits. He runs that site for shits. And if it requires any kind of effort, that’s work. Didn’t you do science?

                    • Rogue Trooper

                      interesting movements, hope you wipe thoroughly.

                    • lprent

                      Bearing in mind what Cameron has said about being paid by the people providing him information. The question would be more if he is working for you?

                    • Ron

                      They say if you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas.
                      Hope the itching is not too bad

                    • Rogue Trooper

                      I Love this Ron. Absolutely, you are analysis for the nation. 😛

                • Or he doesn’t work for Whaleoil at all

                  He doesn’t have to.

                  Simply passing information regarding his workplace to a third party (Slater) on work-time (paid by the taxpayer), using his employer’s computer and internet connection (owned by the taxpayer), raises a few questions of inappropriate behaviour.

                  And the Big Questions;

                  1. What else has Ede passed on to Slater?

                  2.What involvement did Ede have in the Pullar/ACC leaks to Slater? Was Ede the source?

                  3. Did his employers know?

                  4. What permission did he have and from whom?

                  5. What is Key’s view on this connection between Ede and Slater? Did Key know? If not, does this constitute a serious security threat in the Prime Minister’s Department?

                  6. What, if anything, has Ede or the National Party/government received in return?

                  Just off the top of my head….

                  • Arfamo

                    You know Frank I really don’t think most people take any notice of this – it’s a sideshow of interest to a few bloggers and journos, and even then only for the moment, until something more important like the queen tripping over a corgi comes along.

              • leftriteleft

                I’m sure that Key won’t remember.
                Suffering from to much CS.
                What a moment

            • Rogue Trooper 10.3.1.1.1.2

              only at stumps chris, play on.

            • Frank Macskasy 10.3.1.1.1.3

              @ Chris. Pathetic.

              If you want to deflect, you can do better than that. Try ‘andy (the other one)’s’ suggestion.

              Again, happy to help. (It’s Friday.)

        • Arfamo 10.3.1.2

          Imagine how gutted the Nats are? They pay Rebstock a fortune and the best she can come out with is allegations and confirmation the Minister of Foreign Affairs is a numpty. Something everyone else already knew anyway.

        • Paul 10.3.1.3

          You guys should love Goff – a true pioneering neoliberal from the 80s
          He’s really one of yours.

          • chris73 10.3.1.3.1

            To be fair he is one of the best Labour has (does tell a few too many porkies though) and hes right about T.P.P

            But hes on Labours side so you gotta do what you gotta do

            • Rogue Trooper 10.3.1.3.1.1

              those ’73 Toranas used to fall over too; power to wheel-base ratio; too narrow.

            • Paul 10.3.1.3.1.2

              People born in 73 had values formed in the neoliberal 80s. I feel sorry for you

              • chris73

                Is that specifically 73 or do any other years count as well?

                • Paul

                  Tough not to have grown up in a time and place where you would have seen benefits of placing society above the individual.
                  You have lived in the TINA years and sadly been propagandised so well that you believe the acronym.
                  Your faith in neoliberalism is fascinating and at the same time depressing.

                  • chris73

                    Didn’t answer my question

                    • idlegus

                      i was born in 73, i believe in socialist principles. just talking to another 73’er, from my home town hamilton (he’s still there), i said ‘man i miss the 70s/80s’, & he said “yeah it was all breakdancing and second hand stores, now it’s all cafe’s and begging, sux.”…

                • leftriteleft

                  Do you have a speculation on 1947. I’m really interested in that reply.

                • 1973 was a good year for me. It’s when I started down the road to over-coming my rightwing tendencies…

    • North 10.4

      A non-event you say Piss ? Then you 73 on it already ???

      Oh, I see………

  11. mickysavage 11

    Funny how all the wing nuts turn up and start frothing and diverting. Makes you wonder if deep in the Beehive the instructions are going out.

    And I wish it was true about TS authors being funded. If it is where do I collect my cheque?

  12. Rogue Trooper 12

    exploding whales leave disgusting messes. 😀

  13. Thomas 13

    Urh. Is there any evidence of money changing hands? or are you just making up that smear?

    [lprent: Perhaps you should look at the last link in the post and you might figure out it is a reasonable supposition that Cameron gets paid to run campaigns.

    http://www.thepaepae.com/as-playful-as-he-is-psychotic/

    Here is Cameron admitting he takes money for dirty campaigns.
    http://www.thepaepae.com/wp-uploads/2012/11/demanding-money-to-run-PR-lines-media3.mp3

    As the PaePae post says…

    By Cameron’s fevered reasoning, he clearly feels there’s nothing wrong with him pumping undeclared paid ‘advertorial’ and PR propaganda through his partisan sphincter to his blog’s witless, er, half-wit, no, unwitting audience.

    So long as Cameron agrees with the propaganda message, that’s Cameron’s integrity in action.

    Given that admission and that the communications guru inside John Key’s office has clearly passed (at least) a photo to him for a post, it is perfectly legitimate to ask who and how much Cameron “demands” for this service. ]

    • Rogue Trooper 13.1

      even without such an ‘exchange’, a conflict (well, not for him) of interests appears.

    • chris73 13.2

      Evidence? Are you serious? We don’t need evidence (unless you’re criticizing anyone on the left in which case you better have links to back your assertions up)

      • andy (the other one) 13.2.1

        @Chris73

        Where is your number thingy?

        0xDEADD00D

      • Paul 13.2.2

        Your loyalty to the cause breaks new bounds.
        Unquestioning devoted and obsequious,
        Your masters should reward you for your devotion.

        • chris73 13.2.2.1

          Oh well when you’re being paid as much as I am by my Act overlords to go onto blogs and do what my masters bid its not such a bad thing you know

          • gobsmacked 13.2.2.1.1

            Just to clear this up, Chris …

            When David Cunliffe is Prime Minister (or Russel or Metiria if you prefer), will you, as a taxpayer, be happy to have your taxes going to political operators, working in your government, whose job is to attack Cunliffe’s opponents? Will you also be happy for this to be kept a secret from you? Will you be happy for Labour (or Greens etc) to lie to you about this?

            • chris73 13.2.2.1.1.1

              Well first off you have to prove thats whats happening in this case, which nobody has done yet

              • Paul

                That’s not an answer.

              • gobsmacked

                What would you like to be proved?

                Ede is real. His job is real. His confession is real. The blog is real. The taxes are real.

                Google if you want. But you don’t want.

              • lprent

                Ede has apologised already for passing the photo to Whaleoil

                http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/9509926/PMs-adviser-takes-photos-for-WhaleOil

                So I guess that takes care of the means.

                The question is if this is one of Cameron’s ongoing “demand” situations where he gets paid for running dirty tricks campaigns. The second question is if it is, then how long has this relationship between John Keys office and Cameron been going on?

                The third question on everyone’s lips from here on out is going to be to ask Ede and Slater if they are working together for every one of Slater’s dirty campaigns.

                • Anne

                  how long has this relationship between John Keys office and Cameron been going on?

                  Since 2009 at the least? See my link @ 15

                  • Lanthanide

                    Not sure how Key having a drink with someone is evidence that his office works with them regularly, or indeed, ever.

                    • alwyn

                      Of course it is.
                      Now do you want the evidence that Cunliffe is selling out the Labour party by flying off on overseas trips with key while he passes over all the dirt.
                      It must be true. I’ve got a photo of them talking together.

                • karol

                  There’s also this quote in that article:

                  When asked by Fairfax Media in October about Ede’s relationship with Whale Oil, the spokeswoman said Ede was a senior adviser in the National leader’s office. He provided communication advice and support to the prime minister and to National Party MPs, including in the area of social media and other media.

                  “Jason works a lot in the area of social media and that includes getting out National’s message to a range of bloggers and other social media sites,” she said.

                  Who is the quote from, and who are the other bloggers? DPF?

                  • chris73

                    “It was a silly, spur of the moment thing to do, and I consulted no-one.”

                    – Consulted no-one, so unless anyone has any proof to say otherwise this is…nothing

                    • gobsmacked

                      and I consulted no-one

                      “Did you steal the money, Jimmy?”

                      “No I never, and nor did my mate Danny who definitely wasn’t with me.”

                      When people deny what they weren’t asked, only a fool believes.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      Doesn’t matter if he consulted anyone or not. Who said he has to ‘consult someone’ every time he pushed lines to right wing bloggers? It’s his job.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Why would National be silly enough to work directly with the blogs? According to some, no one reads those things.

                    • framu

                      if he consulted no-one – dont you think it odd he just up and decided to go and hide in some bushes first thing in the morning?

                      you really are stretching here chris – its actually a little funny watching you and other working so hard to avoid the actual issue.

                      The head of the PMs propaganda team, hides in bush first thing in the morning, goes running to whale oil, denies any kind of organsied effort by anyone involved

                      “look over there – unicorns!”

                    • karol

                      “Consulted with no one”

                      Hahahaha

                      You clearly don’t get how plausible deniability works. All it requires is for Ede to have the (as publicly stated) brief to pass on some info to selected “bloggers”, and maybe a nod/wink/ or explicit general instruction as to the type of stuff to be sent to the bloggers. Then Ede doesn’t need to “consult” on each bit secretly passed on to said bloggers.

                    • “It was a silly, spur of the moment thing to do, and I consulted no-one.”

                      I can see that ending up on a Tui billboard! 😀

                    • Tigger

                      By offering up the consultation denial he’s laid bare that, normally, he would consult higher ups when passing on information.

                      So what did Key know about past dirt that Sleede passed on?

                • Rogue Trooper

                  THIS is a very informative linking of the players Lyn

              • miked999

                And secondly, Cunliffe would have to become Prime Minister, so clearly we’re still very much in the realms of hypothetical situations, if not far-fetched fantasy.

      • North 13.2.3

        Gettin’ angry there Piss……..slow darling, slow. Pinch your inner wrist really really hard. Count to 10………Aw OK 7 then.

    • andy (the other one) 13.3

      @Thomas

      Is that you under a different pseudonym again Jason?

      OI am going to add a number string like chris73 upthread, cause its gangsta.

      0xD15EA5E

    • Thomas 13.4

      Thanks lprent. That definitely answers my question.

  14. Sanctuary 14

    Bit harsh on the use of the old ban stick there, just sayin’.

    • lprent 14.1

      On that particular topic I usually am. I’ve spent a large chunk of the last 6 years pointing out that no-one has ever managed to show that we’re an instrument of the Labour party, that our authors aren’t undisclosed MP’s, etc etc. Since the people making those types of claims never seem to listen to my responses, I don’t listen to them either.

      If anyone makes an assertion in any kind of framing (ie like Gormless framing it a a question) and they’ll have to wait for the next amnesty before they can comment here again. If it is a newbie then I might warn them. But these two both know the policy about this. They’ve had ample bans to read it before. If I’m not mistaken, both have had bans for exactly the same thing before. So I regard it as being a voluntary banning. They literally asked for it.

      Of course they always have the opportunity to provide proof of their allegations…. 😈

      • Rogue Trooper 14.1.1

        maybe they could take out an Ad

      • infused 14.1.2

        “Of course they always have the opportunity to provide proof of their allegations…. ”

        Well they don’t actually, since you insta ban them.

        • Pascal's bookie 14.1.2.1

          Well they do actually, when they make the claim.

        • lprent 14.1.2.2

          Duh. We’re not exactly the only blog around. I’m sure that they can find an outlet for any proof of their accusations if they ever discover some. There never is any. Because we don’t do the types of things that we get accused of.

          It is a self-martyrdom offense in the policy because it is a direct accusation that the site and its authors have ulterior motives for running the site that are not listed in the about. So I treat it as being a deliberate attack on the site and one that is designed to divert discussion. Which is why we usually get it in the first few comments of a post that is causing damage to to their heros.

          They should take responsibility for their deliberate actions, don’t you think?

        • Frank Macskasy 14.1.2.3

          @ Infused,

          Wouldn’t it be a cool idea if we could invent a means of communicating by telephonic lines, sending messages as bytes. We could call it, Electronic Mail. Or… ” Ee-Mail ” for short! Then banned people could ” Ee-Mail ” Lprent with their evidence; abject apology; and a nice cake. Or pic of a cake.

  15. Anne 15

    Remember this photograph from the 2009 Mt. Albert by-election? Cameron and John look pretty matey to me.

    John Key and Cameron Slater discuss latest gossip

    Can anyone blow up photo?

  16. chris73 16

    “Mind you Cameron Slater does need all the help he can get because he really isn’t the most competent person I’m aware of.”

    – So why is his blog more popular then this blog and Bombers blog combined…and probably doubled

    • Arfamo 16.1

      I think it’s the car crash phenomenon. People know it’s going to be horrible but they just have to look.

      • chris73 16.1.1

        and look and look and look and look, over and over and over and over, agian and again and again and again

        Snobbery aside Cameron Slater has, though his blog, gained more media coverage then all the authors of this blog combined (probably) which in of itself means little but what it does mean is hes out there putting out his point of view, influencing more people while having a great time doing it

        Thats impressive

        • Paul 16.1.1.1

          Really?
          You clearly have very different ideas on what is impressive to most people.
          I am not impressed by people who try to influence others through hate speech.
          You do.

          • chris73 16.1.1.1.1

            In your opinion its hate speech (one could argue that calling him blubbering boy as a reference to his weight and depression is hate speech or at the very least bullying)

            I’m impressed by the influence hes managed to create through a blog, how many political blogs are there? Heaps and how many bloggers make regular appearances in other media…not so many but he does

            The jealousy from other blogs is so think its almost palpable

            • Rogue Trooper 16.1.1.1.1.1

              compare and contrast the regular reference to political blogs in the MSM, by Bryce Edwards, for example; QoT is probably referenced more than WOBH 😉

            • Paul 16.1.1.1.1.2

              He has influence because of who he knows.
              Daddy’s boy.

        • andy (the other one) 16.1.1.2

          Is it Slaters Blog or Mr Eade and Mr Lusk pulling the strings?

          Only chris73 (ahem, Jason) knows.

          As for most popular, link bait is all that gets him hits.

          Where is your numbery thingy?

          0xB16B00B5

        • Rogue Trooper 16.1.1.3

          Helen Kelly, an identified TS author is way more well-known than CS, nationally and internationally.(on the political stage, not in the political Garbage, man).

        • North 16.1.1.4

          “Snobbery aside……” you say Piss……..then you start sort of congratulating Old SlaterPorn.

          Piss…..isn’t that “snobbery” mention, which you revealingly put aside, nought but hardout Freudian ? Like you know he’s repugnant and toxic and it embarrasses a part of you but……”Jesus I got no choice…….. I just gotta be the apologist !”

          Why ? “Oh for the selfish causes of the Prime Mournister of course”.

          • Rogue Trooper 16.1.1.4.1

            ‘Splitting’ (pathological) and ‘Projective Identification’ (immature)…just for starters.

            “slip slidin’ away, slip slidin’ away, you know the nearer the destination the more the Right slip away…”

        • North 16.1.1.5

          You never check the moral compass do you Piss ?

          Like, if it achieves the desired right wing result, or looks like it might that’s what’s important. And however disgraceful it is, sanely or not you see a well executed move and you are frenzy. The Crosby Textor Imperative ?

          Poor man Piss.

        • framu 16.1.1.6

          i see youve moved away from your previous failed line of distraction and settled with – “but hes soooooooooooo popular” – keep going, im interested to see where you run out of steam

          you do know that how popular you are has no bearing on whether your running a proxy dirty war or not?

    • Lanthanide 16.2

      Lynn’s repeated theory is because Whale Oil deliberately posts youtube and other ‘popular’ content to draw international clicks from search results.

      Obviously The Standard has standards about what is posted.

      • chris73 16.2.1

        and while that snobbery is all well and good Cameron Slater is the one being interviewed and influencing people

        • Arfamo 16.2.1.1

          Actually he’s not really in the news that much. His was the first blog of its type I ever came across but I found him so appallingly crass, crude and nasty I stopped reading it. He just seems such a sleazeball.

        • karol 16.2.1.2

          “snobbery” …. bwhahahahah!

          That’s a new way to describe a dislike of hate speech and Slater’s gutter politics and “dirty, disgusting and despicable” smear campaigns. Is “PC” as a criticism going out of favour?

        • emergency mike 16.2.1.3

          That’s not how you spell ‘standards’.

        • Pascal's bookie 16.2.1.4

          “Cameron Slater is the one being interviewed”

          fair call, he is in the media a lot, explaining himself.

        • North 16.2.1.5

          There you go Piss …….acknowledging the “snobbery” as a natural response to the bankruptcy of the ugly standards over at SlaterPorn. On top of your confession by way of Freudian slip that you share the common natural response.

          Now…….that wasn’t that bad was it ?

          Next ……..some aversion therapy I think.

          Sentenced to 3 months, 24/7, on SlaterPorn !

          [lprent: You can’t sentence squat here. He generally tries not to step over moderation bounds. But I never rule out that anyone can suddenly decide to run against the electric fences for a quick fry up. ]

        • framu 16.2.1.6

          so a guy who famously photoshopped a 14 year olds face onto gay porn influences you?

          wow!

      • lprent 16.2.2

        Yeah we get something like 93% of our total page views from NZ. Aussie is next and then it is a tossup between the UK and the US. Our singleton and double page views are from all over the world, but most come through google

    • BM 16.3

      I do like the video’s he posts at night.
      Some of them can be quite entertaining.

      Cameron can be a bit of a fuckwit though with his over the top American Dad persona, he should dial it back a bit.

      • Arfamo 16.3.1

        Yeah, I don’t think he can though. I think he’s fundamentally an orc and nothing will change that.

        • BM 16.3.1.1

          I have noticed that.

          It’s like “Fuck, Man why are you making things so hard for yourself, think about what you’re doing, You’re a middle aged Man you should have grasped how things work by now”.

          If anything I find it quite frustrating, here’s a guy that’s worked really hard and is right there on the cusp of being quite successful but he keeps fucking things up because of his ego and what looks like acute paranoia

          • Arfamo 16.3.1.1.1

            I think it might actually be acute permanent adolescence.

            • Arfamo 16.3.1.1.1.1

              Whatever, I’ve lost interest in him already. Last thing I want to do is increase traffic to his site. I’ll just pick it up again next time he’s in Court. The dog needs a walk anyway. She’s a better use of my time than discussing Slater.

          • framu 16.3.1.1.2

            your a mystery to me BM – i disagree with much of what you say but then you go and cause me to re-evaluate every now and then

            🙂

            i mean that as a compliment – not a dig. I actually like that people who are probably polar opposites can so readily agree every now and then.

            Keeps it interesting and unpredictable

      • felix 16.3.2

        “I do like the video’s he posts at night.
        Some of them can be quite entertaining.”

        Yeah that’s all I ever go there for. Like most of his visitors I imagine.

    • lprent 16.4

      Because he posts a pile of videos and images on his site. That means he picks up google search traffic. The odd times we’ve had something going viral internationally we can easily get between 5 and 20x our usual page views on a post.

      The question should be how many NZ page views and visitors does he get.

      None of the other major NZ political sites like kiwiblog, this blog and the daily blog are that interested in merely getting page views from offshore. Cameron appears to be useless at working, so he is interested in advertising income to pay for himself.

      • chris73 16.4.1

        You keep telling yourself that

        • lprent 16.4.1.1

          Yeah, like I’m shallow enough to be interested just getting page views? Just at present it looks to me like his site puts up maybe half to twos thirds of the sites posts on non-political topics and most of those are just junk off the youtube.

          Lyn was filming a group of female bloggers coming through the country teaching exactly these kinds of techniques to make a blogsite pay. I’ll dig out the video.

          Basically when you climb a million page views over a few months with basically no interesting local content, then I’d ask whose course he’d been on.

        • North 16.4.1.2

          Piss…….you’re a rotten snob. Go away !

    • appleboy 16.5

      More popular? Reality TV is popular, but it’s shit. Watching pornography is ‘popular’ too. Doesn’t make it quality.

      • karol 16.5.1

        I’m also intrigued that those who support the smearing of beneficiaries and other low income people, are accusing others of “snobbery” for being anti- sleazy smears.

  17. MJ 17

    So- the obnoxious right is Collins, Whaleoil and Key’s office?

    They want to have cameras on all our lives, but they don’t like full transparency on their dealings.

    Vote ’em out. Get a decent NZ back. Out with the obnoxious crony capitalists! Not derision, but proven facts.

  18. Lanthanide 18

    Pretty sure the title should be “so who pays whom”.

    • felix 18.1

      And AC/DC’s “Who Made Who”?

    • lprent 18.2

      Yeah I thought about that. Then I thought that it could be an organisation like the National party, which while being an entity, isn’t exactly a individual. Took me a coffee break to write the post, and could have taken me far longer to figure out the crazy language syntax without a compiler. So I played safe with the language and saved myself some time.

      • Lanthanide 18.2.1

        Haha! I’ve googled the rules for “whom” probably half a dozen times and still don’t remember it and don’t really fully understand it.

        English would be much easier with a compiler.

  19. Tracey 19

    Slater is generalky in the msn only when suing or being sued or outting salacious sex stories. Is that really “impressive” and “success”.

    I still believe he has elements of narcissism.

    If he were genuinely about shedding light in darkness he would not have so much focus on the left.

    hagar picks a cause… corngate… spying… lying about campaign partners.

    when the right smear campbell and hagar they forget corngate and clark

  20. captain hook 20

    who did what to whom is the rule and what slater does is crap on the whole world because he is just another anal retentive with issues about giving and recieving.
    what slater has done is show the rest of the world what a slimy little creep he is.

  21. tinfoilhat 21

    This site seems to be a bit fixated with salter and his blog.

    • That’s ok, Tinfoilhat …

      Slater repays the favour every so often.

    • lprent 21.2

      Not really. We tend to write posts on whatever is around. In this case we’ve had the news about the Blomfield case decision from September 22nd being reported last week. This has implications for blogs.

      This week Jason Ede from the Prime Minister office feeding Whaleoil this week. This leads to the question about taxpayers money being expended on a politically partizan blogger.

      Before that a month or so ago, we had the John Palino’s National-backed campaign leaking information to Whaleoil and that connection becoming public.

      We really can’t help it if Whaleoil keeps screwing up and providing us material to discuss…

      • Rogue Trooper 21.2.1

        just to reiterate, Permission to grant GF a pass; They are interesting, and these are easy traps to fall into.

    • aluminium wafer headgear 21.3

      we need more sites like this commenting on Slater and National. it is a welcome relief to read articles like this, the comments are gold too.

    • chris73 21.4

      Well I’m guessing they’re hoping to get their pages view up by tail-gating on Whaleoils popularity…

      • Rogue Trooper 21.4.1

        Ha Ha! 😛 (couldn’t even download his site last , late, evening, no problems with TS, Lyn has customized it faster, spy all you want).

  22. Ratty 22

    The wheels on the bus go ‘bump bump bump’

  23. unsol 23

    Anyone who knows anything about politics knows that there is a lot of nudge nudge wink wink going on behind the scenes on all sides of the political spectrum, a lot more than mere cup of teas, but this kind of behaviour & Cameron’s efforts to try & establish a claim of hypocrisy against the MSM just wreaks of desperation & gutter politics…literally as Ede was actually crouching down & photographing rubbish. Such silliness. Plus there is the irony – in his post on this Cameron refers to the media as a separate entity yet in his defamation suit isn’t he claiming he is one of them?

    Anyhoo. This post does raise some very fair questions re Ede vs Slater & the Nat’s involvement as a whole. If Labour was in government then yes, some suspicions or claims like those mentioned from the commentators at the beginning would warrant concern, or at the very least further investigation. But they are not. National is and even if we all know that Cameron is Judith’s ‘Trevor’, John Key would without a doubt know that this kind of rubbish is going on. Which makes him complicit & just as dodgy. Which where MPs are concerned is expected, but didn’t he campaign on being a little different? Not an institutionalised polly?

    So I wonder whether he is man or mouse – I think probably latter; as a centre-right voter I of course prefer his policies, but his spinelessness is starting to annoy me & I have had a gutsful of this kind of rubbish. I accept it was how things used to always be done (in one form or another seeing as we didn’t have blogs 30 years ago!), but these days I think we have the right to expect & demand more from our MPs. JK clearly doesn’t have as much control as what he would like us to think & without question there is just as much, if not more, division in the Nat’s camp as there is in Labour’s.

    I hate think how smutty the election campaign is going to get. If these past couple of months are anything to go by it will be about anything BUT the policies.

    And I have to say that DC is looking awfully mature in contrast to Collins et al.

  24. ghostrider888 24

    Excellent: See, they are underestimating the growing sophistication of the electorate, not in the least through social media, a great deal of this awareness being demonstrated in blogs; personally, I have begun interacting wider recently (not without caution), yet, the more windows you open the more light you let in supercedes “sunlight is the blah blah”, I mean, an ecological metaphor from the Right, “Yeah Right NZPURE” . Great stuff comes in from feeds, as Arfamo suggested, staggering.

  25. ghostwhowalksnz 25

    So its our turn to play

    #HeyJason

  26. SPC 26

    Nice expose in the mainstream media of how someone in the PM’s office uses the whale oil blog to support the government. Or is that harpooning the hypocrisy of the “independent” blog?

    Clearly the government does not want to increase the MW and is opposed to the living wage campaign as well.

    So to undermine support for the parliamentary and Beehive cleaners getting a higher wage, someone who works there offers photos of the mess made there by mainstream media.

    The message to them is clear be seen as supporting opposition campaigns such as this, by giving them media coverage and the government will play dirty. It shows that there is little real regret over the spying on journalists, and that this is probably still occurring.

    It’s just the same as that person who had his electronics taken off him at Auckland airport after attending an anti state surveillance meeting in the UK, it is to send a message that the state/government regards being held accountable to the people as a threat to them as they would rather be entrenched in power.

    Jason Ede’s claim to be acting “independently” through the “independent” blog is true only up to a point. He is on the tit of the powerful one, one clearing in bed with the global financial system and related security apparatus.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/9509926/PMs-adviser-takes-photos-for-WhaleOil

    • Rogue Trooper 26.1

      Yes! those electronic items being ‘flagged’ for Customs; wotteva! Grateful to see that reported on.

  27. captain hook 27

    the thing about loathsome articles like slater is that they are really trying to compensate for the things that they would like to do themsleves but are too chickenshit to do.

  28. BEATINGTHEBOKS 28

    No one really cares about a few journos having a piss up. So what. People enjoy themselves at christmas. Far as I’m concerned if no one made a dickhead of themselves no harm done. Let the cleaners earn their living wage and shut the fuck up. Just saying , merry christmas bean counters. Have some fun, forget about the bill for a few days, you’re not going to live forever. Not really making a political statement here cept to have a drink with someone different to you at this time of year and see what happens ( please dont hit them ).

  29. captain hook 29

    old blubberguts was bleating to his pals at radio sport over the weekend about having his psychopathology examined.
    Next year someone will really go after him and never forget that time wounds all heels.

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    Hipkins says when considering tax settings and the size of government, the big question mark is over what happens with the balance between the size of the working-age population and the growing number of Kiwis over the age of 65. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Your invite to Webworm Chat (a bit like Reddit)

    Hi,One of the things I love the most about Webworm is, well, you. The community that’s gathered around this lil’ newsletter isn’t something I ever expected when I started writing it four years ago — now the comments section is one of my favourite places on the internet. The comments ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Seymour’s Treaty bill making Nats nervous

    A delay in reappointing a top civil servant may indicate a growing nervousness within the National Party about the potential consequences of David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill. Dave Samuels is waiting for reappointment as the Chief Executive of Te Puni Kokiri, but POLITIK understands that what should have been a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36

    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 1, 2024 thru Sat, September 7, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is about how peopele are not born stupid but can be fooled ...
    4 days ago
  • Time for a Change

    You act as thoughYou are a blind manWho's crying, crying 'boutAll the virgins that are dyingIn your habitual dreams, you knowSeems you need more sleepBut like a parrot in a flaming treeI know it's pretty hard to seeI'm beginning to wonderIf it's time for a changeSong: Phil JuddThe next line ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Six.

    The “double shocks” in post Cold War international affairs. The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the global geostrategic context. In particular, the end of the nuclear “balance of terror” between the USA and USSR, coupled with the relaxation … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Buried deep

    Here's a bike on Manchester St, Feilding. I took this photo on Friday night after a very nice dinner at the very nice Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, on Manchester Street.I thought to myself, Manchester Street? Bicycle? This could be the very spot.To recap from an earlier edition: on a February night ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

    If you’re going somewhere, do you maybe take a bit of an interest in the place? Read up a bit on the history, current events, places to see - that sort of thing? Presumably, if you’re taking a trip somewhere, it’s for a reason. But what if you’re going somewhere ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Home again

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    7 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    7 days ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    7 days ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    1 week ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live at 5pm

    Photo by Jenny Bess on UnsplashCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with special guests:5.00 pm - 5.10 pm - Bernard and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • A missed opportunity

    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

    Synopsis:Nicola Willis is seeking a new Treasury Boss after Dr Caralee McLiesh’s tenure ends this month. She didn’t listen to McLiesh. Will she listen to the new one?And why is Atlas Network’s Taxpayers Union chiming in?Please consider subscribing or supporting my work. Thanks, Tui.About CaraleeAt the beginning of July, Newsroom ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

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    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    1 week ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 week ago

  • New Bill to crack down on youth vaping

    The coalition Government has introduced legislation to tackle youth vaping, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) is aimed at preventing youth vaping.  “While vaping has contributed to a significant fall in our smoking rates, the rise in youth vaping ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed

    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have welcomed interest in the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review by the Ministry for Regulation is looking at how to speed up the process to get farmers and growers access to the safe, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government is moving at pace to ensure lotteries for charitable purposes are allowed to operate online permanently. Charities fundraising online, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and local hospices will continue to do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups

    Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say. Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it

    The path to faster cancer treatment, an increase in immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments and quick assessment and treatments when you are sick has been laid out today. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has revealed details of how the ambitious health targets the Government has set will be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Targeted supports to accelerate reading

    The coalition Government is delivering targeted and structured literacy supports to accelerate learning for struggling readers. From Term 1 2025, $33 million of funding for Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support will be reprioritised to interventions which align with structured approaches to teaching. “Structured literacy will change the way children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology

    With two months until the national apology to survivors of abuse in care, expressions of interest have opened for survivors wanting to attend. “The Prime Minister will deliver a national apology on Tuesday 12 November in Parliament. It will be a very significant day for survivors, their families, whānau and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final

    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini kē - My success is not mine alone but is the from the strength of the many. Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young speakers are an inspiration for all New Zealanders to learn more about the depth and beauty conveyed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Driving structured literacy in schools

    The coalition Government is driving confidence in reading and writing in the first years of schooling. “From the first time children step into the classroom, we’re equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy. “From 1 October, schools and kura with Years 0-3 will receive ...
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    1 day ago
  • Labour’s misleading information is disappointing

    Labour’s misinformation about firearms law is dangerous and disappointing, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.   “Labour and Ginny Andersen have repeatedly said over the past few days that the previous Labour Government completely banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the Coalition Government is planning to ‘reintroduce’ them.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine

    The Government is taking immediate action on a number of steps around New Zealand’s response to mpox, including improving access to vaccine availability so people who need it can do so more easily, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. “Mpox is obviously a ...
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    1 day ago
  • Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill

    Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says Cabinet has agreed to the next steps for the Treaty Principles Bill. “The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for Parliament, rather than the courts, to define the principles of the Treaty, including establishing that every person is equal before the law,” says Mr Seymour. “Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government unlocking potential of AI

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced a programme to drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) uptake among New Zealand businesses. “The AI Activator will unlock the potential of AI for New Zealand businesses through a range of support, including access to AI research experts, technical assistance, AI tools and resources, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government releases Wairoa flood review findings

    The independent rapid review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has been released, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “We welcome the review’s findings and recommendations to strengthen Wairoa's resilience against future events,” Ms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Promoting faster payment times for government

    The Government is sending a clear message to central government agencies that they must prioritise paying invoices in a timely manner, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. Data released today promotes transparency by publishing the payment times of each central government agency. This data will be published quarterly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Acknowledgement to Kīngi Tuheitia speech

    E te māngai o te Whare Pāremata, kua riro māku te whakaputa i te waka ki waho moana. E te Pirimia tēnā koe.Mr Speaker, it is my privilege to take this adjournment kōrero forward.  Prime Minister – thank you for your leadership. Taupiri te maunga Waikato te awa Te Wherowhero ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Interim fix to GST adjustment rules to support businesses

    Inland Revenue can begin processing GST returns for businesses affected by a historic legislative drafting error, Revenue Minister Simon Watts says. “Inland Revenue has become aware of a legislative drafting error in the GST adjustment rules after changes were made in 2023 which were meant to simplify the process. This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Strong uptake for cervical screening self-test

    More than 80 per cent of New Zealand women being tested have opted for a world-leading self-test for cervical screening since it became available a year ago. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti and Associate Minister Casey Costello, in her responsibility for Women’s Health, say it’s fantastic to have such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document sets ambitious direction

    Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document, which sets out how the Ministry will carry out its work and deliver on its purpose. “I have set up the Ministry for Regulation with three tasks. One, to cut existing red tape with sector reviews. Two, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Māori Education Advisory Group established

    The Education Minister has established a Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group made up of experienced practitioners to help improve outcomes for Māori learners. “This group will provide independent advice on all matters related to Māori education in both English medium and Māori medium settings. It will focus on the most impactful ways we can lift ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government welcomes findings of NZ Superannuation Fund review

    The Government has welcomed the findings of the recent statutory review into the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis says. The 5-yearly review, conducted on behalf of Treasury and tabled in Parliament today, found the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • First of five new Hercules aircraft takes flight

    Defence Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the first of five new C-130J-30 Hercules to arrive in New Zealand at a ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base Auckland, Whenuapai. “This is an historic day for our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and our nation. The new Hercules fleet ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Have your say on suicide prevention

    Today, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, a time to reflect on New Zealand’s confronting suicide statistics, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “Every death by suicide is a tragedy – a tragedy that affects far too many of our families and communities in New Zealand. We must do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Action to grow the rural health workforce

    Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost

    Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians

    Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris.  “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
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    6 days ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
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    6 days ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
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    7 days ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...
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  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

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    1 week ago
  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

    As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...
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    1 week ago
  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

    Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations.   “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...
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    1 week ago
  • More choice and competition in building products

    A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...
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    1 week ago
  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

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    1 week ago
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Korea and New Zealand are likeminded democracies and natural partners in the Indo Pacific. As such, we have decided to advance discussions on elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive ...
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    1 week ago
  • International tourism continuing to bounce back

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    1 week ago

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