Clusterfuck

Written By: - Date published: 6:31 pm, July 7th, 2020 - 210 comments
Categories: national, same old national, the praiseworthy and the pitiful - Tags: ,

The golden rule is never call an inquiry if you don’t know what the result will be.  Which suggests that Chris Hipkins may have had more than an inkling that National was involved in the leaking of sensitive material to the media concerning returning kiwis who had been diagnosed with Covid.

Late this afternoon it has exploded in spectacular fashion.  Hamish Walker, he of the Indian, Pakistani and Korean slur has fessed up and said he had provided the information to the media.

Then Michelle Boag,  she of 18 previous Covid viruses fame, admitted that she was the one who had acquired the information and had fed it to Walker.

From Derek Cheng at the Herald:

National MP Hamish Walker has been stripped of his Opposition portfolios after admitting he passed confidential private details of Covid-19 patients to the media.

He has apologised in a statement today, and didn’t make a reference about whether he intended to remain as the Clutha-Southland candidate in September.

A privacy breach of 18 active Covid cases was revealed by the Weekend Herald, which the Government called serious and possibly criminal.

National leader Todd Muller said tonight that Walker had made an “error of judgment”.

He has stripped Walker of his shadow portfolios pending the outcome of an inquiry for the Government headed by Michael Heron QC, which was launched yesterday.

Boag has also done a mea culpa.

Boag said it was a “massive error of judgment on my part” and apologised.

“The information was made available to me in my position as then Acting CEO of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, although it was sent to my private email address.

“This was a massive error of judgment on my part and I apologise to my colleagues at ARHT whom I have let down badly.

“I very much regret my actions and did not anticipate that Hamish would choose to send it on to some media outlets but I am grateful that the media involved have chosen not to publish the 18 names that were contained within it.”

Boag said she has resigned her position as acting chief executive of ARHT because of her actions.

This will go down like a cup of cold sick with the electorate.  The contrast between Jacinda’s principled way of doing politics and National’s tawdry use of private information for political gain is jarring.  And a vote changer.

Congratulations to the media for not releasing the information.  Shame on National.

210 comments on “Clusterfuck ”

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  1. observer 1
    7 July 2020 at 6:37 pm

    "Congratulations to the media for not releasing the information"

    A point that has been largely overlooked. In tabloid UK or USA, they would be knocking on the patient's door and getting footage of tears.

    Love how Boag dumps on Walker there: "I did not anticipate that Hamish would choose to send it on to some media outlets". (= I regret handing the murderer my gun, I never thought he would use it).

    • Incognito 1.1
      7 July 2020 at 6:41 pm

      Plausible deniability.

    • dv 1.2
      7 July 2020 at 6:42 pm

      Didn't expect him to use it, SO WHY did she send it to Marshall.

      Weird

    • froggleblocks 1.3
      7 July 2020 at 6:52 pm

      Well Hamish has to be quite a few sandwiches short of a picnic to think this was a good thing to do after he already got told off by Muller.

      He should have taken Boag's information and gone to Muller with it so they could determine how best to use it – Muller just putting out a press release saying he has it but wouldn't release it could have looked bad for the government, for example.

      • Draco T Bastard 1.3.1
        7 July 2020 at 7:28 pm

        He should have taken Boag's information and gone to Muller with it so they could determine how best to use it

        No. He should have gone straight to the police. Boag handing it over to him was a crime. Considering that it turned up in her personal email account I suspect that her getting it was also a crime.

        Muller just putting out a press release saying he has it but wouldn't release it could have looked bad for the government, for example.

        Wouldn't have looked bad for the government at all. Muller having it and not going to the police with such a blatant crime makes National look bad for their abuse of power.

    • Matthew Whitehead 1.4
      7 July 2020 at 8:52 pm

      Yep. Genuine gold star for all media personnel who had access and did the right thing. They are the real MVPs of this story, although Chris Hipkins has also definitely shown why he's warming that ministerial seat right now.

  2. UncookedSelachimorpha 2
    7 July 2020 at 6:38 pm

    But it's their moral duty to win the election! Go Morality!!

    Seriously – thank god this lot aren’t in charge of the country. Gummint in waiting – well, keep waiting a lot longer I hope.

  3. riffer 3
    7 July 2020 at 6:41 pm

    I should be staggered at this.

    I'm not. I guess Mr Muller ain't looking forward to the next poll.

  4. Patricia Bremner 4
    7 July 2020 at 6:41 pm

    We always knew she was part of the National "Dirty Ops", but this certainly confirms our suspicions. It also confirms they had a plan to make the Government look sloppy.

    The government should track every incident back to its source. This "outing" may be to avoid further scrutiny. I don't trust them.

    The media were better behaved here, by not taking advantage.

    • Just Is 4.1
      7 July 2020 at 6:54 pm

      Yes Patricia, those two are the sacrificial lambs to try and stop any further harm to the brand and find the rest of the support team members.

      This will now plague their election campaign, right up till polling day I hope.

    • I Feel Love 4.2
      7 July 2020 at 8:00 pm

      Spot on, Boag quote "I think I've saved the QC a lot of work", Hipkins says the inquiry will continue. Boag, Walker, Hooton & Muller must be shitting themselves.

    • Gabby 4.3
      7 July 2020 at 10:14 pm

      I know, why did they cave so quickly?

  5. Treetop 5
    7 July 2020 at 6:45 pm

    What did Boag think she was going to gain by sending names of Covid-19 cases to Walker?

    Boag needs to take FULL responsibility for her meddling.

  6. Just Is 6
    7 July 2020 at 6:47 pm

    Just one word for it

    SHAMBOLIC

  7. Chris 7
    7 July 2020 at 6:47 pm

    Would be the icing on the cake if Hooton were involved. It's right up his alley.

  8. observer 8
    7 July 2020 at 6:48 pm

    Muller was happy with Bishop and Woodhouse using leaks (or claims) earlier, so this is really on him. Walker's just taken it a step further, and in effect his defence is that he thought it was what he was being asked to do.

    "I did this to expose the Government’s shortcomings so they would be rectified. It was never intended that the personal details would be made public, and they have not been, either by me or the persons I forwarded them to.”

    I love how he re-defines "not made public" as "sent to the media who fortunately have higher ethics than me."

  9. Christopher Randal 9
    7 July 2020 at 6:50 pm

    MAGA Muller has learnt a lot from his idol

  10. Matiri 10
    7 July 2020 at 6:51 pm

    Wonder if Michelle Boag has a holiday home in Queenstown?

  11. Ovid 11
    7 July 2020 at 6:51 pm

    Turns out the real shambles was the National Party all along.

    • georgecom 11.1
      7 July 2020 at 7:42 pm

      yup. A shabby little MP for Southland (as well as a shabby little ex president) and a shambles of a caucus. Muller was pontificating how his party would be more competent than Labour running the post Covid situation. Lol. Really Todd? Your shabby shambles running the country

  12. In Vino 12
    7 July 2020 at 6:52 pm

    I always had this nasty feeling that Muller would be manoeuvred out, and it would be Nikki Kaye as leader in a head-on with Jacinda… aping Labour's manoeuvre last election.

    A conspiracy theory, I know, and, of course, I may be wrong…

    But I foresee the possible casting off or resignation of Muller, and the emergence of a shining, new Nikki Kaye, whose dazzling, newfound oratory and leadership will be mightily magnified by the compliant media.

    (I just wanted to be first to suggest it in case it actually happens.)

    • Anne 12.1
      7 July 2020 at 6:56 pm

      Yeah… its a better conspiracy theory than mine on the DR post which was:

      It was going to left lying around at a – coincidentally – strategic place.

    • Muttonbird 12.2
      7 July 2020 at 7:07 pm

      Ardern would destroy Kaye head-to-head.

      • Incognito 12.2.1
        7 July 2020 at 7:08 pm

        With kindness?

        • In Vino 12.2.1.1
          7 July 2020 at 7:19 pm

          Nats remember Kaye beating Ardern in a certain electorate, and someone silencing her with, "Zip it, Sweetie."

          I think Jacinda was keeping her powder dry at the time, and I agree that she would now win.

          But don't expect a fair contest.

          • newsense 12.2.1.1.1
            7 July 2020 at 7:27 pm

            When the speaker is protecting you whatever 'we don't have a measure for child poverty *hysterical laughter*' flippantness wins the debate.

            Do you think it was really this Hamish? Seems like a quick scapegoat for those higher up.

      • UncookedSelachimorpha 12.2.2
        7 July 2020 at 7:11 pm

        Kaye would probably have a better chance than Muller, though.

    • Leighton 12.3
      8 July 2020 at 7:34 am

      Not saying you're right, but the sabotage theory would at least explain why Kaye has uncharacteristically been behaving like a lobotomised chimp since becoming deputy leader. In the past I have regarded her reasonably highly amongst the National caucus but have asked "What's Wrong With Her?" more than once over the last six weeks.

  13. mickysavage 13
    7 July 2020 at 6:54 pm

    Now Heron QC can summons Boag and Walker to give evidence and tell them to bring their laptops. This is a potential can of worms for National.

    • weka 13.1
      7 July 2020 at 7:06 pm

      do you know where the information came from originally? I'm trying to make sense of Walker's statement that he didn't break the law. How is this not a straight out breach of the Privacy Act?

      • SPC 13.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 7:14 pm

        Walker is claiming its pretty legal because it was not a password protected spreadsheet – given how he got it how would he know – who told him, those who gave the info to Boag …

        Boag is claiming she had work right to the info, yet it came to her via a private email.

        • weka 13.1.1.1
          7 July 2020 at 7:21 pm

          from memory, you can't release private information if it can be reasonably expected that the person who the information is about wouldn't want it released. It's possible that Walker will argue he didn't believe the info he had was covered by the Act eg because he's not a govt official?, but the password stuff is a nonsense

          • maggieinnz 13.1.1.1.1
            7 July 2020 at 7:45 pm

            Agreed Weka. Even if Boag had a work-based right to the info she still would have been bound by confidentiality in her contract.

            • McFlock 13.1.1.1.1.1
              7 July 2020 at 9:09 pm

              I was wondering why she talked about private email, but it might make it more difficult to charge in a criminal sense. The Queenstown bouncer who leaked security footage of the England cricketer was done for "dishonestly obtaining property by accessing a computer system".

              If it just turned up in her own email account, she wasn't [ahem] being dishonest in how she got it.

              • maggieinnz …
                7 July 2020 at 11:08 pm

                It will be interesting to see how that unfolds. Yes, the private email thing is odd and I'm wondering if by having the info sent to her private email instead of work email then it would be a different legal process to get evidence of wrong-doing (as in, her private email can only be investigated once criminal proceedings are underway and only after a search warrant is issued – maybe).

                I don't think she has any grounds to claim she wasn't being dodgy AF considering she already had legitimate rights of access via her role. It was passing it on that gets her in trouble. I'm wondering what else she's hiding…

                • McFlock …
                  8 July 2020 at 12:58 am

                  I don't think she cares about dodgy AF, just being better at sailing close to the "pretty legal" line than Joyce was.

                  • maggieinnz …
                    8 July 2020 at 12:06 pm

                    Yep. The legality thing is tricky in this situation given the protections politicians seem to have. Ethically the situation is black and white.

                    I was thinking about it last night/this morning and agree that her main concern would be to avoid charges which would screw up her post-politics career choices.

                • Kiwijoker …
                  8 July 2020 at 7:55 am

                  This thing has a long,long tail. Of all the natzi mps why did the toad send the information to a junior back bencher.? Why not send it to the louse? Who sent it to the Toad?

                  the natzi apparatus in Clutha needs to be investigated and subjected to rigorous IQ testing to explain why they have inflicted a series of amoral clods on the country.

                  Deep State, 5G anyone?

            • Frida 13.1.1.1.1.2
              8 July 2020 at 5:51 am

              I don't buy that there was a work-related reason for her to receive the info. I don't see why the CEO of a Helicopter Trust needs access to a list of Covid patients. There's no discernible reason for that so either further digging needs to be done to ascertain who gave MB the information and why and if it is legitimate, questions need to be asked by the Privacy Commissioner as to how secure NZers health information really is.

              • maggieinnz …
                8 July 2020 at 11:59 am

                Yeah, you could be right, Frida. I simply meant that as CEO she probably didn't have to hack the system (or get anyone else to) in order to get at the info. In this way, it offers her plausible deniability but I agree that it probably wasn't info she would normally require to do her job.

      • Matthew Whitehead 13.1.2
        7 July 2020 at 8:58 pm

        Boag is certainly the proximate source if not the original source, and claims to have had access to it in her role as CEO of the rescue helicopter trust.

        This is slightly dubious: while she may be an authorized recipient, she was probably not a rightfully authorized recipient and should never have leaked it further: it's hard to see why she would need personal information in that capacity, and her disclosure was certainly not related to her job and has in fact proven she is unfit for positions of public trust, like running a charity.

        All she needed to do was tell Walker it was accessible and to report it to the authorities. Would have made himself look much more effective and perhaps even justify that he was "treating the issue seriously" with more credulous commentators, but clearly National is in such disarray not only can the backbench not perform basic hits, they're not smart enough to have someone the trust to instruct them properly on what to do.

        Walker could try to claim his leak was a statement in his capacity as an MP to the media and thus covered by Parliamentary Privilege, but intuitively (ie. IANAL!) that seems like a big stretch. Looking forward to hearing from actual lawyers on this once enough info is clear for them to weigh in.

        • weka 13.1.2.1
          7 July 2020 at 9:03 pm

          I was meaning original as in it came from the MoH, rather than say a hotel? (I didn't follow the story the other day).

          I really hope they go after both of them. Whatever 'error of judgement' they've got going on in their heads, this shit needs to be dealt with really publicly so that everyone knows where the boundaries are again.

          • Matthew Whitehead 13.1.2.1.1
            7 July 2020 at 9:12 pm

            There's massive calls from even centrists wanting Walker's and Boag's heads. I'm not sure this is survivable for them in their current roles, although there's the possibility that Muller's position is so weak he can't force Walker to resign, which is really not a good thing for either of them, to be quite honest: Walker is then left dead walking, rather than moved on to a cushy aligned private sector position for "doing the right thing by his party." I'd be shocked if Boag's board aren't calling an emergency meeting about how to censure her.

            And yeah, the primary source of the info isn't very clear yet, but knowing that Boag is the one who accessed it and through which org should make tracing it a lot easier, so we will probably know tomorrow, or at least Soon™.

        • mickysavage 13.1.2.2
          7 July 2020 at 9:10 pm

          Her wording is interesting. She says:

          “The information was made available to me in my position as then Acting CEO of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, although it was sent to my private email address.”

          So the next question is who sent it to her? Was it someone from within the organisation, presumably? And why to her private email address?

          • Matthew Whitehead 13.1.2.2.1
            7 July 2020 at 9:14 pm

            Yep. Implies it's a case of: "oh, it will be easier to deal with what Boag needs by just giving her inappropriate access to too much data, but we can't do that officially, so we'll use our private addresses to provide her access to an unsecured data dump."

            That would be enough of a story that they could have run with that, but Walker got racist, and then got defensive about being racist, and flubbed it majorly.

            • Muttonbird 13.1.2.2.1.1
              7 July 2020 at 9:22 pm

              Also, the statement from Walker made certain his sending of this information to the media was to back up his story that foreigners were going to invade Queenstown.

              In all respects it seems like information to order. The Nats needed it and Boag provided through her RW contacts in the MoH.

              • Matthew Whitehead …
                7 July 2020 at 9:43 pm

                They don't even need to be right-wing contacts. They can just be credulous public servants, or she could have a manager who's a personal friend that isn't even political. If you have a semi-credible need for information that isn't going to end up in media hands, the public sector tends to trip over itself to give it to you.

                • Muttonbird …
                  7 July 2020 at 9:51 pm

                  Indeed. The Nats know this and they've been trying to use it for 12 years now.

                  The finer points are crucial here. IS there a massive problem with the RW politicisation in the public service, or do has been old Nat dinosaurs still have unwarranted access to government info whenever they feel like it?

                  • Matthew Whitehead …
                    7 July 2020 at 10:13 pm

                    I doubt it's politicization, to be honest. It's more likely an issue of us not making official information accessible to the public, and making personal information WAY TOO accessible for people who don't need it without reasonable audit practices. The assumption for each of those needs to be reversed- even allied NGOs need to show good reason they need access to data before they get it. It's a wider culture issue that is worsened by Labour's institutional distrust of open information.

                    If all public servants regularly have to think about what sort of information is and should be accessible, they won't be routinely handing it out to dinosaurs like Boag when it contains unnecessary personal details, even if they are running an allied NGO.

          • gsays 13.1.2.2.2
            7 July 2020 at 9:59 pm

            Boag's wording has a weaselness to it, in that she seems to be using the chopper trust as a shield or distraction.

            Nothing concrete, but these political operators use words and langauge very shrewdly.

            Heh, look at me, telling that to a lawyer.

            Even Mullers utterances on this, so far, don't put him in the clear. Despite what Wayne reckons down thread.

          • maggieinnz 13.1.2.2.3
            7 July 2020 at 11:22 pm

            "And why to her private email address?"

            What if she sent it to herself?

            She could claim she was doing some legitimate work from home so sent the docs to her private email thus being able to claim an 'oops' moment rather than intentionally stealing data. (actually, this is what McFlock suggested here)

          • Kiwijoker 13.1.2.2.4
            8 July 2020 at 10:02 am

            I maybe off base but if someone knicks my tv, gives it to someone else who then uses it, is the receiver not guilty of a crime?

          • RJL 13.1.2.2.5
            8 July 2020 at 1:58 pm

            Reasonable chance that she sent it to herself.

            Seems very likely that ARHT has access to this sort of information as a provider of ambulance-like services. So that pilots know where to go.

            It's also unsurprising that Boag, as acting CEO has sufficient internal IT privileges with ARHT to access that information, even though she wouldn't normally need it on a day to day basis. It also wouldn't be especially surprising for someone else in the company to email that info to her, if she asked. Needing data on "places we could need to fly to" sounds pretty legit. for the CEO.

            After all, if you can't trust the CEO with company confidential info. who can you trust?

  14. woodart 14
    7 July 2020 at 6:55 pm

    this should be the end of boag being reactivated as tv mouthpiece on political programmes.

    • Marcus Morris 14.1
      7 July 2020 at 11:17 pm

      Certainly hope so. She has got away with spouting her bias for years on "The Panel". In recent times I have tuned in to the Concert programme while she at the microphone.

  15. bwaghorn 15
    7 July 2020 at 6:59 pm

    Calling christ t come in christ t

    What's your take????🤣🤣🤣😁

  16. observer 16
    7 July 2020 at 7:00 pm

    Tomorrow morning Muller has his weekly media rounds, all the usual radio & TV. He might want to have a sudden laryngitis, overnight. "Nikki, you're up …".

  17. UncookedSelachimorpha 17
    7 July 2020 at 7:07 pm

    And Muller had the gall to use the leak to criticise the government – while it was his own band of muppets doing the despicable and utterly immoral deeds!

    Todd Muller said the breach was "quite staggering, it talks to a government that's slipping off the side of a cliff, in terms of managing this issue, the border, the informaton pertaining to it".

    "If they can't manage personal information, bluntly, they can't manage the border and they can't manage the country."

    From the National Party's perspective, Muller said it was "unacceptable" and they would see where it ended up.

    "Is it a deliberate leak or is it accidental? It doesn't really matter at a level … it's loose, it's shabby and it's a reminder these guys can't manage important things well," he said.

    "These guys need to step aside and let a competent government take over."

    • McFlock 17.1
      7 July 2020 at 7:15 pm

      Things that didn't age well #57 🙂

    • observer 17.2
      7 July 2020 at 7:20 pm

      I had forgotten that (things move fast!).

      It's an extraordinary statement. He's not smart enough for some devious Game of Thrones chess move, so I'm sure he didn't know about Walker when he said that.

      It's almost embarrassing how lonely he is in that caucus. His MPs don't respect or fear a caretaker, why would they?

      • weka 17.2.1
        7 July 2020 at 7:24 pm

        would have thought not getting such a thrashing at the election might have been a motivation to at least pretend.

        • Draco T Bastard 17.2.1.1
          7 July 2020 at 7:39 pm

          I doubt he's got the capability to pretend that well.

        • observer 17.2.1.2
          7 July 2020 at 7:40 pm

          That should be the case, but as we saw (to some extent) with Labour in opposition, when things are going badly then individual MPs will look after themselves.

          It's noticeable how many of the problems are coming from MPs with safe seats (Penk, Walker, even Bridges, more subtly) or high list placings. So Hamish loses his Indian/Korean colleagues, down the list? Won't worry him much.

    • Wayne 17.3
      7 July 2020 at 8:32 pm

      Uncooked,

      All of that clearly indicates Todd Muller was completely unaware of how the information was leaked. He was obviously unaware of the involvement of either Walker or Boag.

      • observer 17.3.1
        7 July 2020 at 8:45 pm

        I agree with you, Wayne.

        That an MP would act without talking to the leader's office is surprising. That he would do it after already being publicly reprimanded for his earlier press statement is simply incredible.

      • Matthew Whitehead 17.3.2
        7 July 2020 at 9:00 pm

        Which isn't really particularly good. Combine that with the fact that Walker has not yet resigned and it gives the impression that he has no control over his caucus. If he can't require a resignation for this, what use is he, even as a patsy leader?

      • UncookedSelachimorpha 17.3.3
        7 July 2020 at 11:37 pm

        True, he was having a shot without knowing his facts.

      • McFlock 17.3.4
        7 July 2020 at 11:50 pm

        oh, true.

        God, there are so many levels of fucktitude in this. And there's still the question of whether someone followed protocols when generating and distributing the document to authorised people, and at what stage(s) that all went awry.

  18. McFlock 18
    7 July 2020 at 7:07 pm

    Any organisation that employs Boag in the future will do so in the full knowledge that it be sacrificed by her for a cheap headline for the nats.

    Seriously, a wilful breach like this could cancel contracts and decline data requests, even destroy an organisation. I cannot overstate how much of a… transgression this is in the culture of the health sector. It's like walking into a Greenpeace meeting eating a whalemeat sandwich.

    • I Feel Love 18.1
      7 July 2020 at 7:40 pm

      Yep McFlock, Westpac Rescue will be livid and may have something to say about this. Boag could still be lying as it went to her private email…

      • McFlock 18.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 7:48 pm

        Nah, I suspect the doc was generated by the ministry and they knew exactly the small group that was in the recipient list. Hell, it might only have been sent to ARHT (they might run a westpac-branded chopper, but she was in the auckland trust) for their specific needs.

        Possibly the easiest leak inquiry ever.

  19. Brian Tregaskin 19
    7 July 2020 at 7:07 pm

    This is the precise point in time that National has lost any chance of wining the Election

    • Incognito 19.1
      7 July 2020 at 7:12 pm

      As long as they take out the Epsom Anomaly.

      • Just Is 19.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 7:26 pm

        There is a potential Northland seat Anomaly that could quite easily occur to offset Epsom.

        It's happened before, it could, if need be, happen again

        [Fixed your user name]

      • georgecom 19.1.2
        7 July 2020 at 7:47 pm

        yup, a few % points down and as things, I believe, currently stand Paora Goldsmith will have to win his seat to get back, and then watch him try to rip Seymour to shreds. I must remember to buy some pop corn for that. Seymour would be crapping himself, actually having to campaign for a seat rather than be gifted one.

    • Just Is 19.2
      7 July 2020 at 7:20 pm

      I'm inclined to agree with you.

      In they're endeavor to defame the Govt they've just squandered what little was left of their credibility.

      A complete contrast in behavior to the Labour Party

    • Muttonbird 19.3
      7 July 2020 at 7:56 pm

      No, that was when they made Simon the leader. All downhill from there.

  20. Byd0nz 20
    7 July 2020 at 7:07 pm

    to Chris T. Human error eh!

    • I Feel Love 20.1
      7 July 2020 at 7:41 pm

      heh, I agreed with him too, he also used that defence pretty early on, interesting.

    • Chris T 20.2
      7 July 2020 at 10:57 pm

      I said I couldn't see any politidal gain from it being political, so most likely was human error.

      It obviously wasnt but there seems no political gain.

      But if it gives you the jollies thinking you win something, I was wrong.

      Congratulations.

      • Muttonbird 20.2.1
        7 July 2020 at 11:11 pm

        Problem is your whole values system is based on shifting sands and corruption.

  21. Katipo 21
    7 July 2020 at 7:08 pm

    I wonder if …

    (a) it was obvious from the private email or

    (b) she decided later

    that she was sent the list because of her role as the Acting CEO of Auckland Rescue Trust?

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 21.1
      7 July 2020 at 7:13 pm

      Given the national interest, I am sure Boag will be forthcoming with full details of the private email. Seeing how she is wanting to put right a wrong and all.

    • Matiri 21.2
      7 July 2020 at 7:13 pm

      or maybe she had access to the MoH system in her capacity as Acting CEO of Auckland Rescue Trust, did a bit of snooping around and forwarded the list to her private email.

      • Matthew Whitehead 21.2.1
        7 July 2020 at 9:03 pm

        It could also legitimately be that the info is poorly secured, but if so, that's even less of an excuse for how Walker acted: it's much easier to just score points by embarassing the government by showing you have access to information you shouldn't, and being able to say you reported it as you take it to the media.

    • Draco T Bastard 21.3
      7 July 2020 at 7:42 pm

      I doubt that she'd be sent it as part of her role as Acting CEO of Auckland Rescue Trust. Its not something that she would need to know in that role.

    • Chris T 21.4
      7 July 2020 at 11:03 pm

      And I am still wondering if it had simple password only access configuration on the file.

  22. Brian Tregaskin 22
    7 July 2020 at 7:11 pm

    "I did this to expose the Government’s shortcomings so they would be rectified. It was never intended that the personal details would be made public, and they have not been, either by me or the persons I forwarded them to.”

    More to come out of this –someone (possible MOH insider) logged into a system and did an export to csv or excel or even a copy and paste screen scrape. Remember the data has to be stored somewhere and logged into to get it the first place. I don’t think she got the data for the excel sheet herself.

    Even a bank could not stop an employee with a login and authorised access to that system stealing customer account details. The one hack you can not prevent is from your own employees.

    • McFlock 22.1
      7 July 2020 at 7:24 pm

      A number of good reasons come to mind to have such a list generated. I doubt it was maliciously generated – but that leaves "cockup" or even "not actually a data breach until it turned up in Boag's personal email account".

  23. Treetop 23
    7 July 2020 at 7:14 pm

    Will Boag show on the Nation or Q & A?

    Not on the panel an interview.

    Total humiliation and she makes a mockery of her past statements of similar incidents concerning others.

    All she can do is apologise, unfortunately her behaviour was off the scale.

  24. logie97 24
    7 July 2020 at 7:22 pm

    Boag was on the RNZ Panel this afternoon.

    It seemed that some of her comments were unusually muddled. Even before the show in the section "I have been thinking…"

    She started with "I've been thinking about the Pandemic and immediately opined about Global warming. And then she later talked about the Yeti in the Rocky Mountains – Perhaps she was aware of the bomb that was about to explode and expose her – she was actually late arriving for the show – was she trying to get her ducks in a line as she was entering the RNZ studio?

    One hopes that Wallace Chapman will announce why Boag will not be invited onto his show again.

    • Peter 24.1
      7 July 2020 at 7:50 pm

      I have written to RNZ saying a person with that level of integrity should not be on any of their forums. I encourage everyone to do the same.

    • ScottGN 24.2
      7 July 2020 at 8:06 pm

      Hopefully this means I’ll never have to listen to the old trout on the radio again.

    • Lenore 24.3
      7 July 2020 at 8:28 pm

      Wow really? Definitely should be off the panel list and about time, she is such a smug tosser. I hope the true blue Nats won't keep to their trumpian loyalty and really see this for the dirty politics that it is. To use vulnerable people for their own ends. And to think how Mullethead was going on in the weekend about it and probably going to do a major backtrack and still try and find a way to undermine the govt. This was more than a bloody 'error of judgement'. I think Hipkins handled it quite well and makes sense that they had an idea who it could be to launch the investigation and backed the rats into a corner so they had to fess up. How do we stop Boag from getting other high positions? Surely this has legal implications beyond her just being able to resign and get away with it?

    • Ed 24.4
      7 July 2020 at 8:41 pm

      Ironically, she was talking about adversarial politics on the Panel.

      At around 4.10 p.m.

      Given what happened an hour and a half later, quite interesting to hear her opine on the matter.

      In hopefully her last ever platform on national radio.

  25. infused 25
    7 July 2020 at 7:23 pm

    Most National voters we're already going to vote ACT. I think this cements that.

    I said a few months ago ACT were going to poll close, if not over 5%

  26. Anne 26
    7 July 2020 at 7:27 pm

    Sounds like her mind was on other matters. 😉

  27. UncookedSelachimorpha 27
    7 July 2020 at 7:37 pm

    Just took an indulgent glance at kiwiblog (yuk!yuk!yuk!) – only do at times like this, next time will hopefully be the night National get flogged in the election.

    The angle there is "bad judgement, really bad judgement, bad bad judgement"

    No awareness of the lack of morality or that these dirty tactics are the wrong way to operate.

  28. Ken 28
    7 July 2020 at 7:47 pm

    Dirty rotten nasty National, laid bare for all to see – and just before an election too.

    Boag and Walker both know that personal medical records are confidential – whether it's written on them or not.

    This kind of dirty politics goes right back to Bennett leaking social welfare info to get at people who criticised her.

    Hopefully, this will wake up a few more people to the fact that national is not fit to be in charge of our personal private information.

    The Nats' desperation has finally got the better of them.

  29. mike appleboy 29
    7 July 2020 at 7:50 pm

    I'd love to see Hipkins put Woodhouse under the blow torch for the fake report of a homeless person getting 2 weeks in isolation for free. That was a made up story and he did it to create noise – pure dirty politics. The fact is a thorough review found no such thing happened and those lying right wingers should be publicly shamed for their lies.

    That would nicely follow this little story.

  30. observer 30
    7 July 2020 at 7:57 pm

    Now that I've read Muller's full statement, it really looks weak:

    https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2007/S00080/todd-muller-statement-on-hamish-walker.htm

    "Error of judgement" is when an MP says something silly like Russell and Coffey did a while back. Whoops, gaffe, sorry.

    This is vastly worse. Muller doesn't want to comment further … that is absurd. He has no choice. If he tries the old "what about … the real issue is" evasion then he's toast.

    His big line on Clark was "I would have sacked him long before". Todd the leader, tough guy, man with standards. Let's see tomorrow.

  31. ScottGN 31
    7 July 2020 at 8:00 pm

    Muller’s response so far has been utterly inadequate. If he persists with this ‘I’m disappointed but I’ll wait for the results of the official inquiry’ bullshit he’s going to get crucified.

    • Muttonbird 31.1
      7 July 2020 at 8:12 pm

      Muller just doesn't seem interested in the job at all. Why the fuck did he roll Bridges?

      • ScottGN 31.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 8:26 pm

        Cos he was conned into thinking he was going to get a coronation by the Nat operatives who just wanted him to staunch the blood loss at the election. And that includes Hooten.

      • Ken 31.1.2
        7 July 2020 at 8:32 pm

        Because the nats panicked when it looked like eighteen of them were going to drop off the list.

        They should have let Simon carry the can for the election and started afresh after September – now they've trashed Nikki Kaye's career as well.

        • ScottGN 31.1.2.1
          7 July 2020 at 8:41 pm

          They’re going to be fortunate if it is only 18 the way things are going. This is some serious overreach.

        • In Vino 31.1.2.2
          7 July 2020 at 10:59 pm

          Or may Nikki not now stage a leadership challenge, and arise a late-anointed, new and pure leader (just as Jacinda did), to be Joan of Arc for the National Party (as Jacinda was for Labour) ?

          Yes, I know that Andrew Little resigned for Jacinda to take over, but Muller could easily do the same, the way things are going for him..

    • ianmac 31.2
      7 July 2020 at 8:17 pm

      Yes Scott because Walker has confessed already. Therefore it is not necessary to wait (until it is all forgotten.) for the Inquiry result. Ha!

  32. ScottGN 32
    7 July 2020 at 8:04 pm

    Can’t wait til Chippie gets on a roll with this!

    • Muttonbird 32.1
      7 July 2020 at 8:11 pm

      He's good. Remember day one in parliament this term when Simon and Jami-Lee fucked him over on the numbers in parliament voting for speaker?

      Chippie will have his revenge in spades…

  33. Ed 33
    7 July 2020 at 8:21 pm

    Words fail me.

    So I’ll leave it to Dr Siouxsie Wiles

    “It’s horrendous that personal patient information was able to be leaked like this. But Michelle Boag’s conduct is utterly despicable. It’s heartbreaking trusted powerful people are working so hard to undermine what New Zealand has achieved. They are putting us in great danger.”

    • ScottGN 33.1
      7 July 2020 at 8:29 pm

      This should be the banner headline for the nation tomorrow. It won’t be but it really should be.

      • Ed 33.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 8:32 pm

        Agreed.

        These words in particular…….

        “It’s heartbreaking trusted powerful people are working so hard to undermine what New Zealand has achieved. They are putting us in great danger.”

        Team of 4,999,998.

    • mauī 33.2
      7 July 2020 at 9:40 pm

      Ed, thank you.

  34. Ed 34
    7 July 2020 at 8:31 pm

    Looks like Nikki Kaye is fronting the breakfast T.V. shows tomorrow.

    6.55 a.m. on TVNZ.

    7.10 a.m. on TV3.

    Wonder why Todd is not fronting?

  35. gsays 35
    7 July 2020 at 8:32 pm

    This current brouhaha speaks to poor leadership.

    As much Bridges/Bennett as Muller/Kaye.

    Just recently Muller turned Bridges down as Foreign Affairs spokesperson. Bridges responds by lunching with the visiting European Union delegate.

    Bridges gets handed Foreign Affairs.

    Woodhouse creates a story about an interloper slipping into the quarantine.

    Woodhouse sits on a story about possible Covid contact to maximise the politics of it.

    All on Mullers watch.

    I vainly thought the re-emergence of Woodhouse (Outhouse) and his toilet seat antics would prompt some leadership alas, no.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-national/muller-mum-toilet-seat-photo

    Contrast all this with the leadership and behaviour from two of the parties on the other side of the house.

  36. Nzsage 36
    7 July 2020 at 8:44 pm

    Who would have thought you could overdose on schadenfreude and yet here I am.

  37. Ad 37
    7 July 2020 at 8:49 pm

    Takes 3% off National and gifts it back to Labour. Helps stem the 9% reversal.

    2 months to go, excellent timing.

    I'm sure we could get at least a pre-trial hearing for Boag and Walker in that time.

    Hope they get Judge Morris.

  38. Heather Tanguay 38
    7 July 2020 at 8:50 pm

    So this is shambolic, Toad Muller. This is a disgusting peice of work, looks like a whole new Dirty Politics book. Chris Hopkins did a good job, he is not going to let this go and neither he should, it is despicable. Toad's response was weak, trying to play it all down. Judith will be more confident than ever.

    • Chris T 38.1
      7 July 2020 at 11:06 pm

      Is there really a need to call politicians names?

      Unless you are about 12 of course

      • Incognito 38.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 11:13 pm

        I agree, Chris Hopkins is just lame.

        • greywarshark 38.1.1.1
          8 July 2020 at 9:30 am

          Chris T there is a great need to make up pointed or ironic names about politicians. It is the only brightener in the usually grey task of looking at those running the country supposedly. So, for those staunch types who sometimes get tired, with ennui, a little humour and fun-poking is delivered and deserved by pollies et Al and lightens the load. Which errant pollies should find placed on them, like Sisyphus.

  39. idle dog 39
    7 July 2020 at 8:54 pm

    Presumably Todt Mullet is being undermined from within. Is Boag a tool for Key and his annointed one?

    Listening to CEO (CEO!) of Small Business Voice on Morning Report yesterday (soft-ball Nat electioneering) I was surprised at the shallowness of thinking and mindless repetition of slogans that passes for neo-liberal thinking these days. They've had it their way for so long they've forgotten how to think! Unfortunately Todt Mullet is the cream on the top of that sour bottle.

    Next-gen Nats (gNats) are going to be purely oligarchical with all the attendant wealth and media assets. The election after this one needs to be fought now I think. What a delicious irony that Labour could campaign on immigration and border control, migrant visas and defending the NZ worker! Small and not so small business will have to think quick…innovation and entrepreneurship anyone? lol

  40. George 40
    7 July 2020 at 9:09 pm

    Begs a few questions..many in the comments above.

    But…the information these two had and claim they were "sent" which they also claim to know the source of… down to the details of whether there was or was not password protection on that source sounds extremely dodgy to me. To have absolute knowledge of that with enough conviction to feel confident that they could put it into the public arena like this implies they knew it and saw it at the source then simply arranged for it to be sent to Michelle etc. Otherwise it was just heresay. They could potentially have been shown other people's personal health records as well which is really disturbing. The whole story stinks…I used to work in health this has the stench of people covering their butts now they think they could be in trouble with the law and get caught.

  41. greywarshark 41
    7 July 2020 at 9:11 pm

    Love the pic – it's been around for a while but you'll never get a more attractive pic of her so go on using it till the day she's very old and…purple?

  42. Ben 42
    7 July 2020 at 9:11 pm

    I believe the reason Boag had the list was for National party assets to contact Covid patients and ask them about failings in their quarantine

  43. Climaction 43
    7 July 2020 at 9:30 pm

    What absolute pieces of shit.

    • Muttonbird 43.1
      7 July 2020 at 9:32 pm

      That RW people would say this means the Nats are looking at the worst defeat ever.

      Just take that silly runt, Seymour, with you.

      • George 43.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 10:09 pm

        Seymour and his new NRA affiliates? I wonder how the libertarian matrons of Remuera are reconciling that?

  44. Treetop 44
    7 July 2020 at 9:37 pm

    Is there a name on the list which Boag and Walker want to single out?

  45. Brian Tregaskin 45
    7 July 2020 at 9:44 pm

    What we all suspect -there is a 'tainted' employee in MOH or a MOH Contractor somewhere out there causing all the damage and they need to be found quickly. Bet you NZSIS have probably been called in to assist.

  46. Tiger Mountain 46
    7 July 2020 at 9:51 pm

    It has been apparent since 2017 that there are National snouts galore in the Public Sector who actively undermine the Govt.

    It is way past time to expose and deal to some of them. National’s dirty tricks squad seems to have just got bigger and more slippery since our glorious ex leader Mr Key scarpered.

    I don’t buy the “honourable media” angle-this toxic stink bomb of a leak was quite likely to have revealed some of their precious sources-the journalists were trying to prevent blow back!

    • I Feel Love 46.1
      7 July 2020 at 10:20 pm

      Yep, has DP writ all over it, Tova didn't get this scoop! Be very interesting what comes out of the woodwork next few days, media got burnt last time, have they learnt anything? Trusting Boag, ffs!

  47. ianmac 47
    7 July 2020 at 9:53 pm

    What rotten people are in that lot. Dirty Tricks back in 2012.

    Claire Curran today said,

    The worst of it was in 2012, when she was sent photos from the National Party's Mainland Region conference, one showing fellow Dunedin-based MP, National's Michael Woodhouse, posed with a blue toilet seat with her face emblazoned on it.

    The seat was reportedly used as a trophy for a debating competition."I was so shocked when I saw it. I have never been able to speak of it publicly because I felt embarrassed. I still feel quite traumatised by it," she told The Spinoff.

    "They were literally encouraging people to piss on me."

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12345480&ref=recommendedv1

  48. RedLogix 48
    7 July 2020 at 9:56 pm

    Gone by tomorrow lunchtime … angry

  49. observer 49
    7 July 2020 at 9:58 pm

    Prediction (dig it up later and mock!):

    Muller tonight is doing the phones. Judging by RW social media (limited sample) he'll be under pressure to "show leadership". A lot of Nat voters want Walker gone.

    Tomorrow he will disown Walker. Best outcome for Nats is for Walker to announce tomorrow that he's quitting Parliament (pressure behind scenes, we know how it works).

    If Walker refuses to go, then Muller has to get caucus to expel him. ASAP.

    If Walker is still in Nat caucus next week, then Muller's leadership is fatally wounded.

    My guess is Walker will be gone (i.e. not standing for National) by end of week.

    • anker 49.1
      7 July 2020 at 10:48 pm

      Observer, you are right, but what if Todd can't expel Walker or pressure him to step down cause he was aware of the leak……… If Walker walks he could become another Jami lee tell all. Muller is in a lot of trouble over this. It looked so weak that Walker has lost his shadow port folio of forestry and land info. Yes a really really serious consequence. NOT

      • George 49.1.1
        8 July 2020 at 7:09 am

        Walker might walk..but will Boag boogie off? She's been a zealous stalwart of National forever. Since the information "came to/through" her…then she passed it on to him he was technically a messenger. Is Michelle going to resign from national is my question?

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 49.2
      7 July 2020 at 11:49 pm

      Cauterise the wound will be National's strategy from here.

    • Graeme 49.3
      8 July 2020 at 7:27 am

      The electorate executive tried to get rid of him in March, he's got up a few noses just like his predecessor. And just as likely to trip over himself as his predecessor.

      This has been coming for a while.

  50. Ron Wilson 50
    7 July 2020 at 10:04 pm

    What Boag doesn't say it's whether she had also resigned as a Trustee of the Auckland Helicopter Trust. She was only acting CEO which she had now relinquished but she must also resign as a Trustee

    • George 50.1
      7 July 2020 at 10:44 pm

      I feel very sorry for the Auckland Helicopter Rescue Trust right now. I bet they have a few regrets.

      • anker 50.1.1
        7 July 2020 at 10:49 pm

        I feel sorry for the helicopter trust. On the other hand what were they thinking appointing Boag.

        • In Vino 50.1.1.1
          7 July 2020 at 11:14 pm

          You mean the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crowd, the marketing division of the profit-gouging Westpac bank??

          Give me a break – masquerading as do-gooders, they con dumb individuals into donating to their Westpac marketing budget!

  51. anker 51
    7 July 2020 at 10:48 pm

    Observer, you are right, but what if Todd can't expel Walker or pressure him to step down cause he was aware of the leak……… If Walker walks he could become another Jami lee tell all. Muller is in a lot of trouble over this. It looked so weak that Walker has lost his shadow port folio of forestry and land info. Yes a really really serious consequence. NOT

  52. Muttonbird 52
    7 July 2020 at 10:54 pm

    God I hate Boag.

    • In Vino 52.1
      7 July 2020 at 11:16 pm

      Why? She has just given the Left a great boost, unless it is all part of a catastrophic plan.

  53. Weasel 53
    7 July 2020 at 11:35 pm

    This from Pattrick Smellie on Businessdesk:

    Parliamentary records show Boag and Walker have had dealings in the promotion of legislation on behalf of at least one client of Boag's.

    In August last year, NZ First MP Tracey Martin accused Walker in Parliament of sponsoring a private members' bill promoted by Boag to enable foster parents and guardians to enrol children in their care in KiwiSaver schemes – a bill that NZ First supported.

    Boag gained notoriety when she organised the unauthorised videotaping of parts of the 'winebox' inquiry into tax avoidance when working for Fay, Richwhite, the merchant bank at the centre of the inquiry.

    That incident led to questions about her suitability for the presidency of the National Party, which she won in 2001, going on to work with then leader Bill English to what was a historic defeat.

    She was involved also in the so-called Saudi sheep deal, a project that saw a New Zealand-style sheep farm established in the Saudi Arabian desert as part of an effort by then Foreign Minister and long-time Boag confidant Murray McCully to seal a trade deal in the Middle East.

    Boag remains an executive adviser to the New Zealand Middle East Business Council. She told BusinessDesk she wouldn't be resigning any other roles.

    • Lettuce 53.1
      8 July 2020 at 12:41 am

      "She (Boag) told BusinessDesk she wouldn't be resigning any other roles."

      That's what Shipley said after she lost the Mainzeal insolvency case. Reality caught up with her very quickly after that as I recall.

    • FAB mouse 53.2
      8 July 2020 at 8:43 am

      The links with Murray McCully maybe continuing.

      "The board members are Hone Harawira, Honourable Murray McCully, Maru Nihoniho, Michelle Boag and our Managing Director Jevan Goulter."

      https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1809/S00389/maori-carbon-foundation-hosted-by-minister-jones.htm

      But the website is "… just renovating, and we will be right back soon."

      https://www.maoricarbonfoundation.com/

      I'm intregued at the mix on the board.

    • Ad 53.3
      8 July 2020 at 8:48 am

      If Boag is charged, there is just a chance that her pastry-encrusted wriggling baked maggot pie of political manipulation would be sliced open steaming and served right back at her, on a plate, in court evidence.

      And that would be a thing to behold.

      • greywarshark 53.3.1
        8 July 2020 at 9:58 am

        Such a feast for the eyes Ad that you are offering this morning, hot and strong.

    • greywarshark 53.4
      8 July 2020 at 10:04 am

      Weasel you are better than Felicity Ferret of historic note. That is so interesting. A well-tossed salad with piquant dressing. An interesting dish.

  54. RedBaronCV 54
    7 July 2020 at 11:54 pm

    In the past I have done a post on the Helicopter Rescue Trust covering governance etc (they were wanting money from the Auckland City council. ) and I don't think we need to feel sorry for them. I'd link it but my search function doesn't work for this site

    I'm actually shocked that they are on the list for so much health data. They would need it for those they transport but I don't see any reason why they need or should have access to the wider health system.

    And why did anyone in that chain think it was okay to view and distribute private health data.

  55. RRM 55
    8 July 2020 at 8:29 am

    Hamish Walker leaks a govt document to the media –

    GONE by lunchtime.

    Compare:

    Meka Whaitiri assaults her staff –

    Jacinda mumbles something about absolutely not her expectations.

    This is a prime opportunity for Muller to show the country, that electing a leader with balls is an option in September.

    • Ad 55.1
      8 July 2020 at 8:36 am

      Best of luck with that.

    • observer 55.2
      8 July 2020 at 8:41 am

      "I am proud to lead a fantastic team. And they are shits, so I show leadership by getting rid of them."

      You might want to consider the slight flaw in your logic, RRM.

  56. Kiwijoker 56
    8 July 2020 at 8:33 am

    Ben Thomas forced to eat a rat on TV1 this morning.

  57. observer 57
    8 July 2020 at 8:37 am

    So Muller did what he needed to do in the morning interviews. Walker will be gone (after due process and all that).

    That will kill one problem for National (IF Walker goes quietly) but won't kill the other two: the influence of Boag and her good friends in caucus, and the use of the leaks to attack the government. There's no way Woodhouse can pop up next week and say "I have a source that says …". That little pipeline of "scandals" is discredited now.

    • Muttonbird 57.1
      8 July 2020 at 9:04 am

      The government still have to find that National Party source in the public service.

      If that person isn't found and charged it will continue to undermine Kiwis confidence in their democracy.

  58. Ad 58
    8 July 2020 at 8:52 am

    Hipkins is looking like the right guy for the job.

    He will keep tapping National's wound to keep it open and bleeding right through to the election.

    Dr Clarke would not have had the guile to maximise the political damage to National.

  59. Judy Ann Blakey 59
    8 July 2020 at 3:59 pm

    Who sent Michelle Boag this information to her private email? And why?

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    2 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
    The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • NZDF is still hostile to oversight
    Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Winding Back The Hands Of History’s Clock.
    Holding On To The Present: The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Sweet Moderation? What Christopher Luxon Could Learn From The Germans.
    Stuck In The Middle With You: As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • A clear warning
    The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Poll results and Waitangi Tribunal report go unmentioned on the Beehive website – where racing tru...
    Buzz  from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example.  This shows National down ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Listening To The Traffic.
    It Takes A Train To Cry: Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Comity Be Damned! The State’s Legislative Arm Is Flexing Its Constitutional Muscles.
    Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Ending The Quest.
    Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Will political polarisation intensify to the point where ‘normal’ government becomes impossible,...
    Chris Trotter writes –  New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, April 30
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:30am on Tuesday, May 30:Scoop: NZ 'close to the tipping point' of measles epidemic, health experts warn NZ Herald Benjamin PlummerHealth: 'Absurd and totally unacceptable': Man has to wait a year for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Worst poll result for a new Government in MMP history
    Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Pinning down climate change's role in extreme weather
    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Serving at Seymour's pleasure.
    Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Webworm LA Pop-Up
    Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • “Feel good” school is out
    Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • 6 Months in, surely our Report Card is “Ignored all warnings: recommend dismissal ASAP”?
    Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy. Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    3 days ago

  • Bread, and how it gets buttered
    Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Justice for Gaza?
    The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
    Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Reti
    span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
    Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
    Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
    You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Of the Goodness of Tolkien’s Eru
    April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Pastor Who Abused People, Blames People
    Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • Vic Uni shows how under threat free speech is
    The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Winston remembers Gettysburg.
    Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • 25
    She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8.  The universe was ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Is Antarctica gaining land ice?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Policing protests.
    Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago

  • Open letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith
    Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: FastTrackWatch – The Case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Luxon gets out his butcher’s knife – briefly
    Peter Dunne writes –  The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • More tax for less
    Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Real News vs Fake News.
    We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Another way to roll
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Cutting the Public Service
    It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago

  • Luxon’s demoted ministers might take comfort from the British politician who bounced back after th...
    Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious:  we live in a troubled ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • This is how I roll over
    1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • The Waitangi Tribunal is not “a roving Commission”…
    …it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition   NOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes –  The High Court ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same? Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Three Strikes saw lower reoffending
    David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Luxon’s ruthless show of strength is perfect for our angry era
    Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 'Lacks attention to detail and is creating double-standards.'
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • One Night Only!
    Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • What did Melissa Lee do?
    It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #17 2024
    Open access notables Ice acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment: In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Maori Party (with “disgust”) draws attention to Chhour’s race after the High Court rules on Wa...
    Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Who’s Going Up The Media Mountain?
    Mr Bombastic: Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago

  • “That's how I roll”
    It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • “Comity” versus the rule of law
    In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say.  “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government saves access to medicines
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.    “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
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