Casual harassment

Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, April 28th, 2015 - 89 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, john key, Minister for International Embarrassment, sexism - Tags: , ,

Key’s line on harassing a waitress is that he’s the most “casual” PM ever. He was just joking around. It was all a bit of fun. He was misinterpreted.

These are the lines of every sexist harassing jerk ever.

These are the lines of male power, in which the female’s point of view (a young woman reduced to tears) is not even acknowledged, let alone taken seriously.

It is shocking how many people uncritically accept and repeat Key’s “explanation”. Have we become so casual about harassment?

89 comments on “Casual harassment ”

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  1. One Anonymous Bloke 1
    28 April 2015 at 9:22 am

    “We” haven’t.

    The National Party has deliberately fostered a string of hate-based narratives against entire sections of society. This is the fruit.

  2. s y d 2
    28 April 2015 at 9:44 am

    “butt of benteh”

  3. s y d 3
    28 April 2015 at 9:54 am

    For some insight into Tauranag media owners victim blaming and Nat party propaganda read on (if you dare)….

    http://sunlive.co.nz/blogs/8176-pinning-tale-on-johnkey.html

    • Rosemary McDonald 3.1
      28 April 2015 at 10:15 am

      Oh…my…goodness….me….

      “It reeks to me of some minion troublemaker, who has discovered she wields a bit of power and attention after riding along with a bit of horse play.

      We do, however, appear to have the odd squealing waitress who is quite capable of speaking out to hordes of media but apparently didn’t tell her boss, or stop John and Bronagh from getting a bit cheeky.

      It will be a sad day if the PC nannies drive us back to the dark humourless days of previous administrations, when the feminist gay nazi brigade tried to dictate every aspect of our lives, including the length of our shower times.”

      He got this right….so to speak….

      “Merciless mocking. We are seen as the Deliverance of the South Pacific, only without the squealing pigs.”

      What….a….wanker….

      • Tracey 3.1.1
        28 April 2015 at 11:58 am

        And stlll some blame feminism for not having ” succeeded”… HOW does feminism “succeed” when the media give over so much time and space to the kind of disrespetful, self obsessed ranting shown above… cue Hosking, Henry, Key, add to the list and please, also list the number of feminists given the same kind of exposure on our tv, radio and papers daily. TIA

    • freedom 3.2
      28 April 2015 at 10:40 am

      “Andrew Little was just about frothing at the mouth,”
      talk about making it up as you go along. [eye roll emoticon]

      no wonder they need extra sewage works

  4. Penny Bright 4
    28 April 2015 at 11:06 am

    If ‘casual’ alleged sexual harrassment / male assaults female, is just ‘horsing around’ – what is inappropriate touching of children?

    Where are the boundaries?

    Where is the ‘moral compass’ / ‘highest ethical standards’ LEADERSHIP?

    Just asking…

    Penny Bright

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      28 April 2015 at 3:40 pm

      Where is the ‘moral compass’ / ‘highest ethical standards’ LEADERSHIP?

      Those are just rules that get in the way of innovative people that want to succeed don’t you know?

      /sarc

    • Murray Rawshark 4.2
      28 April 2015 at 7:32 pm

      Assaulting adults – horsing around.
      Assaulting children – ponying around.

      Heaps of Kiwis seem to be co-dependent, putting up with anything FJK does.

  5. Clemgeopin 5
    28 April 2015 at 11:16 am

    Bob Jones, the pompous money bag has an article today in the Herald minimising Key’s despicable and serious offense!

    Please take a look and consider telling the old goat what you think about his view.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11439407

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 5.1
      28 April 2015 at 11:23 am

      Imagine working as a nurse in a resthome looking after Bob Jones and John Key!

      • Tracey 5.1.1
        28 April 2015 at 11:59 am

        Imagine being the nurses looking after Bob Jones or John Key in their exclusive apartments

        FIFY

        • rhinocrates 5.1.1.1
          28 April 2015 at 12:44 pm

          Imagine them being in a position of physical dependence…

          • Tiger Mountain 5.1.1.1.1
            28 April 2015 at 2:18 pm

            well there are cases of “I used to be somebody” types getting some ‘karma’ in assisted living situations, but those like the PM and Bob Jones that deserve at least fantasies from the downtrodden in that respect will likely have enough dosh for total private care

          • Hami Shearlie 5.1.1.1.2
            28 April 2015 at 3:29 pm

            AHHHH!!! One can only dream, Rhinocrates!!

            • Rodel 5.1.1.1.2.1
              28 April 2015 at 5:24 pm

              Sir Bob has always used the word nonsense about something he hasn’t fully grasped. He could perhaps apply it to his personal insight into women’s thoughts and feelings.

              • les …
                28 April 2015 at 8:38 pm

                ‘Sir’ Bob…accepted a knighthood after years of railing on about ‘token knights’.RJI …hardly mentions that anymore.

    • freedom 5.2
      28 April 2015 at 11:29 am

      Duckie nails it
      “The waitress is not 7, nor the Prime Minister’s daughter! What IS nonsense is the media making this about left vs right rather than right vs wrong.”

      • McFlock 5.2.1
        28 April 2015 at 1:21 pm

        lol
        A woman I know was arguing it was a complete beat-up on key (she has some wonderful merits though, to make up for her abysmal judge of politicians). So we were having a fine old argument, but the king hit was the fact that she’s an early childhood educator. I asked here whether her preschoolers have learnt to not pull each others’ hair if the pullee doesn’t them want to…

        that ended the debate. No concession of defeat (she’s as bad as me when it comes to that 😉 ), but she didn’t have a leg to stand on when she expects better behaviour from her charges than she does from the PM, lol

        • idlegus 5.2.1.1
          28 April 2015 at 1:55 pm

          isn’t it nice when you see that film lift from their eyes, its like they start to really think about it, & realise there’s something not quite right about it.

          • McFlock 5.2.1.1.1
            28 April 2015 at 4:51 pm

            lol
            Trouble is we both enjoy arguments for the sake of the mental exercise, so it’s difficult to tell what her true opinions are :winky face:

            And yes, I’m reduced to typing out emoticons in pig-script because the current set are too tiny and not contrasty enough for me to see clearly. Let alone not animated :smiley face:

      • Anne 5.2.2
        28 April 2015 at 7:43 pm

        Talking of right versus wrong… when the subject of JK’s indiscretion came up today an aquaintance said to me “what it tells me is that he has cheated on his wife”. That may or may not be the case, but I can understand why she might think it.

        • felix 5.2.2.1
          28 April 2015 at 8:04 pm

          Interesting. How does that work?

          • Anne 5.2.2.1.1
            28 April 2015 at 8:20 pm

            If he’s happy to ‘play’ with a young woman’s hair in the presence of his wife, then what is he prepared to do on odd occasions when she’s not present? I presume that is what she was suggesting.

    • vto 5.3
      28 April 2015 at 12:04 pm

      That’s what you expect from a criminal convicted for assault.

      I think his brains have fallen out of his head

    • Julz 5.4
      28 April 2015 at 12:35 pm

      When will the Herald ever start taking sexual harassment seriously – or any matter to do with women?

      • Tracey 5.4.1
        28 April 2015 at 12:47 pm

        When Labour is back in Power… That’s when they last gave a shit about Democracy and the last time they cared about politician’s resigning was Cunliffe over an 11 year old letter. Hope that clears it up for you.

        • idlegus 5.4.1.1
          28 April 2015 at 1:58 pm

          don’t forget cunliffe got raked over the coals for wearing a f*cking scarf, god forbid.

    • les 5.5
      28 April 2015 at 1:33 pm

      I’d like to hear Jones’ background story as to his 7.y.o daughter whos hair he playfully pulls.Wasn’t her mother originally his Cambodian maid?No surprises he supports Keys power play.

      • Clemgeopin 5.5.1
        28 April 2015 at 3:18 pm

        This is what as a comment under that comment:

        “You are getting nutty in your old age, Bob! You speak about tugging the pony tail of your seven year old daughter. The tugged victim in the cafe was not seven nor Key’s daughter as far as we know, though we know she is twenty six and a waitress, who was subjected to this humiliation repeatedly by the powerful perpetrator on several occasions and even after being asked to stop! Pictures and videos have also emerged of Key’s propensity towards touching the hair of girls who are not his kids but strangers on the streets. Your article is minimising the scandal.”

      • Tracey 5.5.2
        28 April 2015 at 3:58 pm

        and she is your seven year old daughter. She presumably knows you. Bob, did you fondle her hair, or caress it?

        IF Bob thinks a waitress is the same as his 7 year old daughter then we are in far bigger trouble than I could have imagined. Children are not property and neither are waitresses.

        He’s putting me in mind of that other old duffer, Prince Phillip, one of NZ’s 20 greatest living New Zulinders, according to our “Leader”.

    • Robert Atack 5.6
      28 April 2015 at 5:58 pm

      Didn’t Bob have a problem with a couple of people in authority once?
      Speeding ticket or something?

  6. Charles 6
    28 April 2015 at 11:53 am

    “…Till then please remember this weekend, those who fell in defence of our freedoms and what they were standing up for.

    It sure as hell wasn’t for some of the complete nonsense we’ve seen this week…”

    http://sunlive.co.nz/blogs/8176-pinning-tale-on-johnkey.html

    I totally agree, Brian, um, Roger, I mean, Peter!

    Everytime I walk to the dairy and then see a newspaper telling me something happened, I always think to myself, “I didn’t walk all the way here to find out people did something once, and now this!!”.

    This PC nonsense has to stop. Motorcycle-riding nude gay-nazi-feminist zombies must be stopped from eating all the pies, and doing the everything else. I died for it in the army, now we have muslims. Soon the RSA will close and Tauranga will become a backwater for people with no money and cheap deckchairs, saving whales on the beach and eating jelly fish eggs. Who will stop them from rampaging like godzilla lizards? Do we really want that?!

  7. Pasupial 7
    28 April 2015 at 12:11 pm

    Prast demonstrates once more that the cruelest thing you can do to Key is to simply transcribe his nonsense verbatim. Stripped of his facile glibness that masquerades as casualness, the words read like the babbling of un cretino:

    Gower asks “when you accept that you got it wrong, do you accept that you misused your power?” Key replies “No because I didn’t intend to do that.” Gower suggests that “the context really is about power. You’re the Prime Minister. She’s someone working in her job.” Key responds “Yes I understand that’s some people’s argument. There’s a counter argument… for that and I think yeah look by nature I’m a pretty casual person, and I do kid around and have a bit of fun, and I think one of the things that look you know that, look the majority of staff there have enjoyed is the fact that……the opposite, rather than the power sort of thing and me being a bit stuck up I’ve been mucking around and having a bit of fun, now you know ok look in the end I got that wrong and I have to accept that.”

    Is the Prime Minister to be judged by his intentions? Or by what he actually said and did? Is he saying “Because I didn’t mean it, it doesn’t matter.”? Is that the way the law works?…

    In the final analysis, there is no ‘counter-argument’ to consent. No means no. No amount of context, kidding or casual banter can ever transform “No! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!” to “Yes! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!” She said “No”. And still, he touched her. Two bottles of wine won’t cut it. He should have listened to the woman if not his wife and stopped. Too late now, Mr Key.

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/04/28/a-great-white-shark/

    • Tracey 7.1
      28 April 2015 at 12:13 pm

      Even more hilarious when people realise Pete George is not a satirist in his “opinion” piece after it…

      • rawshark-yeshe 7.1.1
        28 April 2015 at 1:22 pm

        @tracey couldn’t find it .. do u have a separate link for the unknowing non-satirist ?

        • Tracey 7.1.1.1
          28 April 2015 at 1:29 pm

          go to scoop and read the key transcript press release

          • rawshark-yeshe 7.1.1.1.1
            28 April 2015 at 1:49 pm

            thx Tracey … methinks PG has a dictionary with missing words .. ie irony, satire, self-awareness … his writing is quite tragic.

            • Tracey 7.1.1.1.1.1
              28 April 2015 at 4:00 pm

              the most important hing is that he as self proclaimed that having weighed up everything, Key has done the right thing.

  8. ianmac 8
    28 April 2015 at 12:24 pm

    One question today:
    “Hon ANNETTE KING to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “There’s always a risk with third-term Governments that they get arrogant. There’s always a risk that they veer off into a space they haven’t been, and start surprising their supporters”?”
    Someone must answer on his behalf. Bill English perhaps?

    • Tracey 8.1
      28 April 2015 at 12:26 pm

      The answer to Jan Logie’s will be fascinating…

      • ianmac 8.1.1
        28 April 2015 at 1:10 pm

        Yep. Nearly missed that one Tracey. Will the Minister claim a different hat?
        “JAN LOGIE to the Minister for Women: Does she consider it her job to advocate for all New Zealand women?”

  9. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 9
    28 April 2015 at 1:21 pm

    The problem the left has is that everyone else automatically discounts everything it says because of all the frenzied screaming. Middle New Zealand understands that what the PM did was wrong. They also know that the comparisons to Rolf Harris and Jimmy Savile are hysterical and inherently dishonest. You guys end up looking like the bad guys.

    • Tracey 9.1
      28 April 2015 at 1:23 pm

      them and us aye gormless… you see straight through that strategy though, right?

    • Charles 9.2
      28 April 2015 at 1:31 pm

      You win the internet. I bow to your ability to create an endless loop of informal “phallusies”.

  10. weka 10
    28 April 2015 at 1:22 pm

    “Have we become so casual about harassment?”

    Unfortunately Bailey’s story seems common to me. The big difference is that it’s the PM, but are we really going to believe that no PM in NZ has ever abused their power in this kind of way? I think what we have become casual about is not the harassment (we’ve long been casual about that), it’s the acceptance of JK as the lad who can do what he wants. That’s more scarey to me, because at least with sexual harassment we have decades of progressive work and legislation and policy that is changing society for the better. The acceptance of Smile and Wave’s behaviour is insidious and not something that we are addressing as a society.

    • Tracey 10.1
      28 April 2015 at 1:27 pm

      ive tried to think of ones who would publicly disgrace themselves and their office. clark and shipley in person were warm and friendly in manner. this nonsense that Key has become more accessible to the people is another lie. he has lowered the standing of the office pure and simple. he is boris yeltsinesque in his cringeworthiness.

      • weka 10.1.1
        28 April 2015 at 1:34 pm

        I think it’s safe to say that NZ hasn’t had a PM like Key before (at least not in my 50 years). It’s the shift away from democracy to plutocracy. It doesn’t matter if Key is an arse, he has powerful friends and mentors and the people he really works for will look after him. We should be very very concerned (but then we should have been already).

        • Tracey 10.1.1.1
          28 April 2015 at 4:01 pm

          We are getting the best insight into Key , ever. He sees the position as that of a kind of celebrity… or the Queen, not a real job, just expensive window dressing.

  11. felix 11
    28 April 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Matthew Hooton pretty well nailed the harassment and power issues on nine to noon this morning.

    Points out that Key’s nonsense about how everyone there was always up to lots of hi-jinks and japes is a bit like the Queen saying the whole world smells of paint.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201752162/politics-with-matthew-hooton-and-mike-williams

    • tc 11.1
      28 April 2015 at 2:09 pm

      Key’s on thin ice here and he knows it, you can tell in his responses especially the one Oliver uses in his Last week Tonight piece.

      Bailey’s statement indicates she was not comfortable, made that known and JK persisted.

      Watch the MSM lackeys and DP machine go hard to cloud this one over on behalf of their beloved cult leader.

      The fact it takes other media around the world to slam home the serious nature of it speaks volumes for how owned and under the govt’s thumb the MSM is in NZ.

    • Tracey 11.2
      28 April 2015 at 4:01 pm

      Did he screech at any point?

      • felix 11.2.1
        28 April 2015 at 5:04 pm

        No screech today. I think after last week’s outburst he might have had another little sit-down chat about how he’s feeling about the job 😉

        • Rodel 11.2.1.1
          7 May 2015 at 7:48 pm

          Nah. Matthew’s just pissed that JK doesn’t see him as relevant. Take little notice.

  12. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 12
    28 April 2015 at 2:49 pm

    The fact it takes other media around the world to slam home the serious nature of it speaks volumes for how owned and under the govt’s thumb the MSM is in NZ.

    Yeah. There’s hardly been any criticism of Key in New Zealand.

    • tc 12.1
      28 April 2015 at 3:05 pm

      Not where it hurts his popularity you don’t (TVNZ, TV3, radio rant land and of course Herald) but of course you’re aware of that being a RWNJ with a monty python fixation.

      what criticism he does get is normally them following other leads so as not to look so obviously biased which is what’s happened with this issue.

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 12.1.1
        28 April 2015 at 3:18 pm

        There has been plenty of criticism. Just none going as far as y’all’d like. But that would require the mainstream media to be comparing Key to Jimmy Savile. And saying we are no longer living in a democracy.

        And they’re not going to do that because, on the whole, they’re sane.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 12.1.1.1
          28 April 2015 at 3:54 pm

          Just so long as the court takes his crime seriously, who cares what his sycophants in the media claim to believe?

          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 12.1.1.1.1
            28 April 2015 at 3:58 pm

            Yeah. The crime of light hair-pulling.

            • Tracey 12.1.1.1.1.1
              28 April 2015 at 4:04 pm

              and there you have it…

              someone who chooses to completely miss the point cos of their self interest served by Mr Key staying.

              leading a fool to the link but you can;t make him think
              http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM327382.html

              • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                28 April 2015 at 4:31 pm

                What’s my self interest of having Key stay?

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  28 April 2015 at 4:41 pm

                  Strictly speaking there wasn’t any to begin with: the National Party destroys wealth as much as it destroys human rights and the rule of law.

                  However, the hubristic self-affirmation you crave distorts your perceptions. Best you lie down.

                  • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                    28 April 2015 at 4:48 pm

                    I doubt my life would change much under a Labour government.

            • vto 12.1.1.1.1.2
              28 April 2015 at 4:06 pm

              No. Assault. Harassment. Bullying. Did you not read the waitress story?

            • One Anonymous Bloke 12.1.1.1.1.3
              28 April 2015 at 4:26 pm

              You’d endure it would you, The Lickspittle formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell?

        • Tracey 12.1.1.2
          28 April 2015 at 4:02 pm

          the person perpetuating the Saville meme, is you In almost every post you made today, conveniently overlooking those voices of the labour movement that admonished the only person on here to make the comparison.

          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 12.1.1.2.1
            28 April 2015 at 4:31 pm

            I accept it’s a crime. Just not a very big one.

            • McFlock 12.1.1.2.1.1
              28 April 2015 at 4:44 pm

              Such a shame that our prime minister couldn’t keep himself from committing it. Repeatedly. So rather than just common assault, it also counts as harassment. Maybe even criminal harassment, given that “safety, in relation to any person, includes that person’s mental well-being”.

              I wonder if McCready has gotten that far in his legal dictionary yet? 🙂

  13. Psycho Milt 13
    28 April 2015 at 4:24 pm

    Have we become so casual about harassment?

    I don’t think we’ve “become” so casual about harrassment. Corporate suits have always been waitress-molesters and -humiliators, and have always dismissed it as just a bit of good-natured banter. At least now they’re not pinching bums so much as they used to – pulling pony tails could almost be regarded as progress in that respect.

    • Maui 13.1
      28 April 2015 at 5:35 pm

      Yeah and remember we’re dealing with an ex-Foreign exchange dealer here who can earn obscene amounts. This may be stereotypical (and I’m sure a lot are nice people), but they can be arrogant, get what they want when they want it types, etc. I remember visting the trading room once and they all had ultra-slim space-age chairs that looked like they cost thousands each.

  14. CnrJoe 14
    28 April 2015 at 8:22 pm

    Anyone care for word from one of David Brents antipodean doppelgangers groupies from out east? Keyreepyness is strong in this one.

    Editorial
    Third-term blues made worse when PM caught acting the goat
    Tuesday, April 28, 2015
    by John Jones

    Will it be a slightly chastened John Key who returns to New Zealand following wide publicity, including in international media, of the incident where he repeatedly pulled a waitress’s ponytail?

    While essentially trivial, it showed Key as something of a clown who is becoming more and more of a polarising figure. The incident also illustrates how Key and National face a third term that is increasingly challenging.

    While many of his supporters were mystified, most — including National’s women MPs — will see it as a minor lapse of judgement that has been blown up out of all proportion by a media looking to create news. Key has apologised they say, let’s move on.

    While he is not at the same level as the late Sir Robert Muldoon, Key has seen a core group develop that is extremely opposed to him and eager to focus on any perceived faults.

    They have tried to magnify the incident into one of bullying and sexual harassment, which is something of a stretch. This can be expected for any third term Prime Minister though; it showed itself in Helen Clark’s last three years in power. People have a habit of falling out of love with politicians.

    This embarrassing incident for Key should not have been allowed to overshadow the more significant duty of representing the country at the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, or the following effort to secure a free trade deal with the wealthy Gulf states.

    The past few weeks have not been good for the National-led Government, starting with the loss of the Northland seat and continuing on with issues like the Auckland housing crisis and a plea from the Reserve Bank for the Government to support its efforts to quell demand.

    One of the main thrusts of the Government must be to show that it has not developed any expectation of a right to govern and become arrogant.

    To do that it needs its charismatic leader to set the tone. Key has to retain his popular (with a majority) blokey image while avoiding any future slips in taste.

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  15. rhinocrates 15
    28 April 2015 at 11:06 pm

    Quote Blinglish, with a straight face:

    “and observed, almost always, the highest standards of appropriate behaviour”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11439938

    “Almost always”? Except when he doesn’t. Oh Bill, I’m going to pee myself.

  16. Drowsy M. Kram 16
    29 April 2015 at 10:43 pm

    “Leave Mr. Key alone”; “Stop trying to discredit John Key” – sycophants all, lining up to have their hair pulled, or perhaps proffering a partner or daughter. Yet another example of the PM’s standards and ‘values’ (Cup of tea, anyone?) Maybe he remains so popular because his behaviour lets supporters feel good about themselves. John made a public apology as hollow as it was expedient, but he does deserve credit for that.

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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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    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

  • 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
    18 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
    21 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
    22 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
    24 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

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

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