Coleman’s disgracefully cowardly display

Written By: - Date published: 8:38 am, November 15th, 2013 - 151 comments
Categories: referendum, same old national - Tags:

National’s, weird, favourite line at the moment is to say ‘we’re going to ignore the asset sales referendum and the opposition are hypocrites because they ignored the smacking referendum’. Russel Norman finally had had enough yesterday, and asked Jonathan Coleman just who had been PM when the referendum happened. Coleman’s answer was textbook cowardliness.

Dr Russel Norman: Can the Minister tell us who the Prime Minister was in 2009 when the so-called smacking referendum happened, and who was the Prime Minister, the leader of the Government, who made a decision to take no action as a result of that referendum?

Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: We all know the answer to that question. But the other thing we do know is that the economic suicide bombers of the Green Party would, if they got the chance, be bursting into the Cabinet room—

Dr Russel Norman: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister did not attempt to answer the question. Then, he started a diatribe about the Green Party. It has nothing to do with the Green Party.

….

Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: We all know the answer to that question, but we also know that if the Green Party got hold of the Treasury benches, the Green Party members would be going out and printing billions of dollars to try to buy these assets back. I challenge them to deny it.

…. (8 minutes of points of order as Coleman desperately tries to get out of saying it was Key)

Hon David Parker: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Who was the Prime Minister at the time of the citizens initiated referendum in respect of the smacking issue, and who was the Prime Minister and who was in Government when that referendum was ignored?

Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I do not have that information with me, but if you would like to submit the question in writing, the Minister will get back to you.

The answer, of course, is that John Key was the Prime Minister who ignored that referendum, even after his MPs collected the signatures, and he was the one who brokered the deal so that National voted for the law in the first place. Now that they’re cuddling up with Colin Craig’s Crazies, National’s desperate to forget that… but they kind of brought it back up themselves, eh?

Bit of a backfire there from National – trying to blame the opposition for National’s own actions in government. And the inept, cowardly, Jonathan Coleman just made it worse for them.

151 comments on “Coleman’s disgracefully cowardly display ”

  1. fender 1

    It was appalling to watch and that pathetic speaker Carter just made it even more farcical.

    • Tom Gould 1.1

      Coleman lied, plain and simple. But lying comes so easy to Tories, maybe we should cut him some slack? Arch-Tory Carter, in the Chair, probably didn’t pick it up as lying either, for the same reason. It’s just how fascist regimes roll, folks.

      • Naturesong 1.1.1

        Lets not get ahead of ourselves.
        Fascism is not here yet.

        As far as I can tell, there are two pieces missing; overwhelming and unthinking nationalism or the intertwining of religion and government are signs of facist regimes. Though religion is not necessary, there does need to be a force that unifies and binds the people into a single entity to the extent that any “other” becomes a natural enemy of not only the state, but the dominant communities within it..

        1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism — Not here yet
        2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights — Check
        – “There have been twelve pieces of legislation in recent years that have been identified as inconsistent with the rights and freedoms protected in the New Zealand Bill of Rights, and on a number of occasions urgency has been used in Parliament to limit or bypass select committee scrutiny,” – Mr Moore, Law Society New Zealand
        3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause — Check
        – Unions, Unemployed, Maori, Green Party members
        4. Supremacy of the Military — Check
        – GCSB, Governer General, Increased Police Powers
        5. Rampant Sexism — Check
        – Rape Culture, Overwhelming predominance of men in cabinet
        6. Controlled or Compliant Mass Media — Check
        – Fairfax, APN, Mediaworks
        7. Obsession with National Security — Check
        – GCSB, TICS
        8. Religion and Government are Intertwined — Potential
        – Colin Craig? Charter schools?
        9. Corporate Power is Protected — Check
        – Chorus, Sky City, TCCP
        10. Labour Power is Suppressed — Check
        – Employment Relations Amendment Bill
        11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts — Check
        12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment — Check
        13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption — Check
        – Hobbit, Sky City, Tiwai
        14. Fraudulent Elections or Supression of Democratic Process — Check
        – ECAN, Disempowerment of Local bodies

        We’re almost there folks.
        Thankfully we’re an Island nation. A war against a neighbouring country, perhaps one with which we had historical grievances, would be just the ticket.

        • Wayne 1.1.1.1

          I know the Left would love to characterize the Nats as Fascists. All I can say is try and seriously campaign on that theme and see how far you get.

          As I have said before, I am waiting for the flood of international condemnation that must surely come that NZ is being run by a fascist government.

          • karol 1.1.1.1.1

            Yet, Wayne, you have no condemnation for right wing MPs calling the Greens “Taleban” and “suicide bombers” etc?

            • Tracey 1.1.1.1.1.1

              +1

              Wayne like others choose to skip over this point to make supposedly droll commentary about facism… anything but public condemnation their “team”. Better to laugh at anonymous commentators than condemn elected representatives.

              • gobsmacked

                Exactly, Tracey.

                A huge difference between ordinary people ranting on the internet (we all do that), and the language that is deliberately used by Ministers of the Crown.

                I’m quite certain, given his own record in public life, that Wayne views the government’s terms of abuse with considerable distaste.

                I’m less certain that he is prepared to say so.

          • gobsmacked 1.1.1.1.2

            But the Greens are “Taliban” and “suicide bombers”, yes?

          • fender 1.1.1.1.3

            In cahoots with other fascist regimes….that condemnation may be some way off..

          • Tracey 1.1.1.1.4

            Selective reading Wayne?

            I dont think the Nats are facists anymore than I think that Dunne and Coleman’s characterisation of Green MPs as terrorists is right. I condemn both. You however ignored that obvious point, presumably deliberately? Facism only came up because of the lack of condemnation of Coleman and Dunne.

            Will you write here that you condemn Coleman for using epithets like “economic suicide bombers” and Dunne for comparing some green MPs to the Taliban?

          • Naturesong 1.1.1.1.5

            Wayne, I’ll concede that a couple of the points are tenuous, and one is a continuation of policies pushed by both parties (Urewera Raids, Tough on Crime stuff that just locks more people up instead of addressing the causes etc ).

            We’re obviously not there yet, however, I think even you will have to admit that we are moving very clearly in that direction.

          • framu 1.1.1.1.6

            way to miss that point wayne

            do you hear that sound like a plane overhead?

          • geoff 1.1.1.1.7

            You’re not fascists, you’re just greedy, stupid and selfish.

          • BrucetheMoose 1.1.1.1.8

            Not Fascist yet? Just have a closer look at how they are conducting themselves in Canterbury/Christchurch. It is a microcosm of how they would like it all to be.
            Ignoring normal democratic procedures and the gradual systematic undermining of businesses and property rights, ultimately leading to confiscations, all done under the guise of a crisis – check

      • Murray Olsen 1.1.2

        Carter does sort of seem stupid enough to not know the answer, to be fair.

    • David H 1.2

      When you think he can’t get any worse..

  2. Lanthanide 2

    Coleman can’t say “we all know the answer” and then say “he doesn’t have the information [on] him”.

    Speaker should have held him up for contempt of parliament right there and demanded he speak the name or leave the house.

    • Tracey 2.1

      He couldnt with Lockwood in the chair but he can with the “farmer” in the seat.

      However it may be because he is too busy to do his Mp and Speaker job because “David currently farms sheep and beef properties on Banks Peninsula and at Cheviot in North Canterbury.”

      being an MP and Speaker must just be his hobby.

  3. Tracey 3

    So Dunne likens the Greens to the Taliban and now this ” economic suicide bombers of the Green Party” from Coleman.

    This is ok is it? Is it ok to call the PM a nazi now?

    No editorials slamming the scaremongering of the rght by comparing the Green MPs to terrorists?

    Someone needs to ask Coleman if he considers the Greens former proposal of quantitative easing to be like a suicide bomber… if he says yes, does he consider David Cameron and Barrack Obama to also be like suicide bombers for their quantitative easing policies.

    • fender 3.1

      “Is it ok to call the PM a nazi now?”

      That’s what these idiots want, it would be a better idea for the opposition to show that they are the more mature MP’s.

      • Tracey 3.1.1

        I agree fender, was more highlighting the hypocrisy and the lack of chris, BM, Hooten, Wayne, infused railing about the right resorting to shameless comparisons because they must be desperate. And always while Brand Key is out of the country

    • Enough is Enough 3.2

      I am not sure whether you should be holding out the UK as an example of where quantative easing has been a raging success.

      Cameron, since he came to power has taken the UK backwards to the point where the Kingdom is on its knees.

      The US as well. For its quantative easing, all we have is a Wall Street flush with cash and soaring stock prices, and a growing impoverished underclass.

      Lets not ask that question aye.

      • Tracey 3.2.1

        I am not suggesting it has been a raging success I am pointing out the hypocrisy of calling the greens terrorists for espousing it while the PM sticks his tongue down the back of Cameron and Obama’s trousers even though they too are “economic suicide bombers”

        The public would not go much beyond the shallow end IF the media would actually print

        “Today Johnathan Coleman called Russel Norman a suicide bomber for advancing the same economic solution as implemented by David Cameron and Obama.”

  4. karol 4

    greens are terrorist?!!! Who is the nasty party again? And when are the MSM going to call the Key government on it’s shameless spin, distortions and diversions?

  5. Naturesong 5

    The speakers performance is particularly shameful:

    http://inthehouse.co.nz/node/22021

    Dr Norman’s supplementary starts at 4.41.

    • North 5.1

      Farcical ! Someone should have pushed it to the point of being ordered out by that joke of a speaker thus more widely publicising the farce of it. Like a dimwitted banana republic caraciture wearing the meanest cloak of parliamentary ethics.

  6. ghostwhowalksnz 6

    Expect this to be the ‘face palm’ of the week when the usual Beltway pundits write up their comments ?

    Probably not, as that is only reserved for Labour or Greens faux pas

  7. Macro 7

    Greens are called “Economic Terrorists” By National! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.. The clowns on the treasury benches at the moment wouldn’t know an economy if they fell over it. And they are trashing ours as fast as they can with their mismanagement.

  8. Appleboy 8

    My god. I’ve seen everything now. These guys are beyond contempt. What utter tossers. It’s like they no longer care what people see – there’s just no attempt to hide their true nature any more.

    • Red Rosa 8.1

      +1

      Until recently, many of us had not been exposed to Parliament TV and the appalling mix of arrogance and ignorance displayed by National Party MP’s.

      Russel Norman’s calm and measured questions contrast with the puerile and evasive responses of Ministers, time and time again.

      The Labour Party campaign slogan, ‘Fairness and Decency’ is right on the money.

  9. gobsmacked 9

    Agree with all the above. I listened to the whole performance live, and it brought Parliament into contempt. The Speaker was not even pretending to do his job.

    Ultimately, though, this disgraceful episode (and it was worse than usual but hardly new, it happens every week now) will disappear without trace. The general public won’t even know about it. That is the core issue for the opposition.

    Bullies and cowards do whatever they can get away with. Yesterday opposition MPs made a good attempt at stopping them, but – and it’s a crucial “but” – they played by the rules. The rules of “points of order” leading to “speaker’s ruling”. They got nowhere, Coleman got off.

    Frankly, the opposition have got to get into their heads that the old rules don’t apply. Lockwood Smith made a fair fist of it, but David Carter never will. Just spluttering “outrage!” is the epitome of bubble-talk, the insiders complaining about life inside the bubble. It achieves nothing.

    So what can they do? Change the game. You can PREDICT what National Ministers will do from Key to Coleman to Bridges to the rest. So be prepared.

    Countless possibilities, if you want to be bold (but do they?). e.g. Ask the same question over and over again, forget other supplementaries, just keep going until it becomes a NEWS story (seriously, study Media 101 … repetition = news.). Quote Hansard (list all the insults ministers use, get the Speaker to rule that they’re OK – because he’s a lapdog, he will – then immediately use all of them in a question. And so on, and so on.

    Ask questions that work …

    e.g. NOT

    Hon David Parker: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Who was the Prime Minister at the time of the citizens initiated referendum in respect of the smacking issue, and who was the Prime Minister and who was in Government when that referendum was ignored?

    BUT

    “Who … (deliberate pause) …was … (pause) … Prime Minister … (pause) … in 2009?”

    Then STOP. 5 years we’ve been begging them to ask short sharp, questions. Still begging!

    Let’s be clear: Carter, Coleman, Key – we all know totally bloody obnoxious. But the vast majority of voters don’t know, because they don’t hear them. So to make them hear, get these bastards on the news. To get them on the news, make a scene.

    Sorry to rant on, but I despise bullies, and it’s frustrating to see them thrive. They must be stoped. New tactics, new energy please.

    • Naturesong 9.1

      Hon Dr Russel Norman: “Who … (deliberate pause) …was … (pause) … Prime Minister … (pause) … in 2009?”
      Speaker: “Point of Order Hon Gerry Brownlee”
      Hon Gerry Brownlee “The question does not speak to the principle question “Can he rule out the partial sale of Air New Zealand proceeding prior to 30 November 2013″, nor does the Minister of Finance have ministerial responsibility for the selection of the Prime Minister”
      Speaker: “Hon Dr Norman, please direct your supplementary to the subject at hand”

      Coleman broached the subject of the previous referendum, which is why the speaker correctly allowed it. The speaker should have forced the Coleman to answer, and when he didn’t, should have named him for contempt.

      I agree on the shorter questions, also not inserting schoolboy insults into questions which some of the Labour MP’s are prone to do.
      Dr Norman is normally pretty good with his questions, but when the speaker is just there to egg on his mates, it’s an uphill battle

      • Colonial Viper 9.1.1

        Yes. But as gobsmacked pointed out – its not going to happen with this Speaker.

        Frankly, the opposition have got to get into their heads that the old rules don’t apply. Lockwood Smith made a fair fist of it, but David Carter never will. Just spluttering “outrage!” is the epitome of bubble-talk, the insiders complaining about life inside the bubble. It achieves nothing.

        +1

      • gobsmacked 9.1.2

        Naturesong, none of that matters.

        You see, the idea is to get the question into the media. Not to be approved by the Speaker.

        If question is ruled out of order, repeat it. And again. And again. Worst that can happen? The questioner gets thrown out, and then he makes the news. For (in the public’s eyes, which is ALL that matters) asking a simple question while a Minister played the dick.

        Naturesong, you have explained the insider’s rules. The rules the opposition are losing by. Forget them.

        • Naturesong 9.1.2.1

          Fair point – don’t worry about the speakers rulings, get the public to rule on it instead.

          For that to happen Labour would have to be extremely disciplined and excruciatingly civil.
          I don’t have that much faith to be honest, all it takes is Clayton Cosgrove or Trevor Mallard to open their mouth and its all over

          • gobsmacked 9.1.2.1.1

            Yes, it needs to be done smart, and I agree 100% that Mallard could snatch defeat from victory.

            There are “Mallards” on the gov’t benches, like Simon Bridges. Target him with the questions, his mouth will deliver for the opposition.

        • gobsmacked 9.1.2.2

          (just seen your edit)

          OK, fair comment on Labour MPs. They have far more supps than Norman, and don’t use them well. Very frustrating.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 9.1.2.3

          It should be a new question itself:

          Does Dr Coleman stand by his previous statements regarding the Prime Minister disregarding the results of the ‘anti smacking’ referendum.

          Add another foot to the rope !

        • Hanswurst 9.1.2.4

          The problem would be the media spinning it as Labour MPs asking vexatious questions to which the answers are already known and thus bringing parliament into disrepute. It would be bullshit spin, but it would probably work. A bunch of opinion pieces by Watkins and Armstrong later, in which they basically say “National ministers avoid questions, Labour MPs run around playing silly games; both should grow up and address the serious issues,” and it would all be forgotten, chalked up to another round of parliamentary circus. That would represent a win for National, assuming the rest of the overage continues as it has for the last seven years.

    • kenny 9.2

      Agreed.

      It’s time the opposition got serious about this. Cause a scene, get thrown out of the house.

      The only upside to this governments behaviour is that they are acting like a 3rd term one. Keep saying this and people will start to think it.

      Third term behaviour!

      • Crunchtime 9.2.1

        Yep agree this is a great tactic: behave well, but continue to ask questions until they are either answered or the speaker reveals his own contempt for the house by throwing the questioner out.

    • Anne 9.3

      +1 gobsmacked. Some of us have been begging short, sharp questions and equally brief campaign messages and leaflets for the past 40 years? They have lost the art if listening.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.4

      Ultimately, though, this disgraceful episode (and it was worse than usual but hardly new, it happens every week now) will disappear without trace. The general public won’t even know about it.

      And that is the core of the corruption in NZ.

      • TheContrarian 9.4.1

        Parliament TV is live every day and is on YouTube always. It won’t disappear and the public has full access.

        • Draco T Bastard 9.4.1.1

          How many people even know that Question Time exists, that’s it’s on TV and available on the net?

          My own feeling on the matter is that the majority of people don’t know. These people will watch the news on TV1 or 3 and never hear anything about it.

          • TheContrarian 9.4.1.1.1

            Quite often the news will have clips from parliament but that isn’t really the point. Parliament TV is available to everyone, is on YouTube, archived for all and parliament is open for anyone to attend in person. What’s the problem? Hardly ‘corruption’.

            • Macro 9.4.1.1.1.1

              That is not the point that Draco was making – He contends (and I agree) that the ‘corruption’ exists because these sorts of abuses of power go unreported to the general public by the mainstream media – which is the sole source from which the majority of the population take their “news”.
              The fact that video clips are available to all is neither here nor there because for the majority they are unaware of their existence.

              • TheContrarian

                How was this an abuse of power?

                Seems to me it is a ham-fisted attempt to avoid answering a question – a frequent occurrence that both sides of the house are guilty of.

                • Hanswurst

                  It is an abuse of power because Coleman knows that the speaker (who wields the power in this case) will continue to insist that what Mr. Coleman is waving around is not, in fact, a leg of ham, but a bona fide fist.

                • McFlock

                  So basically Colman pled incompetence (not knowing who the pm was four years ago) in order to incompetently (“ham-fisted”) try to avoid admitting that the government’s latest lie (that Labour ignored the s59 referendum) was also incompetent (patently and demonstrably untrue on the very face of it).

                  Nah, I reckon you’d have difficulty finding an example of that from labgrnmana.

                  Whether they are truly that incompetent, or just obviously feigning it to avoid accountability (and that would be an intentional abuse of power no matter who does it, because it’s subverting procedures that were specifically designed to ensure an accountable government), I don’t care. This nact government needs to go.

                  • photonz

                    So you’ve gone all anal and pedantic on a minor point, drawing attention to the much bigger issue that Labour pushed through the anti smacking law when poll after poll showed 80-90% of the population were against it.

                    Keep digging. Dig dig dig.

                    • McFlock

                      Was “anal” your word for the day?

                      John Key was the Prime Minister who ignored that referendum, even after his MPs collected the signatures, and he was the one who brokered the deal so that National voted for the law in the first place.

                      John Key […]brokered the deal so that National voted for the law
                      Pretending that Labour “pushed it through” is just more photoshopping of history by an habitual liar.

    • Kath 9.5

      Agree +

  10. captain hook 10

    coleman is a thicko.
    no amount of academic credentials can disguise it.
    and a bully to boot.
    that is why he is in the National Party!

  11. captain hook 11

    coleman is a thicko.
    no amount of academic credentials can disguise it.
    and a bully to boot.
    that is why he is in the National Party!

  12. Seti 12

    Yeah, National have been using the wrong referendum to highlight the hypocrisy. It was the MP Reduction Referendum that the Clark government ignored.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 12.1

      And before that National ignored the result of the referendum on Fire Service reorganization.

      But of course they paid a price, as national will over asset sales, which must be one of the fastest in getting to the voters

    • Naturesong 12.2

      Yup, however, the MP reduction referendum was eventually drawn in 2006 as a private members bill (New Zealand First MP Barbara Stewart) and Labour did allow to to pass to select comittee.
      edit – scratch that – no labour “aye” votes in first reading

      The select comittees recomended that the bill not be passed and was particularly brutal on the substance of the change.

      The bill failed at the second reading 112 to 9.
      National voted against it lock step.
      They are quite a disciplined lot when it comes to voting.

  13. photonz 13

    The anti smacking bill was introduced in 2007 by Labour Greens against overwhelming public opposition, and now they’re trying to blame National for it.

    That’s truely wacky, not to mention dishonest. The scary thing is people with such warped thinking want to run the country,

    In recent polls only 11% of people think it’s made any difference at all.

    The vast majority of people think it has no effect and ignore it.

    • gobsmacked 13.1

      @photonz

      You’re very confused. Labour/Greens aren’t “trying to blame National for it”. Read again. Think.

      Key-word: Referendum.

      • Tracey 13.1.1

        He’s not confused, he is being deliberately deceitful. He has been pushing government policy for a
        few days on this site. This topic is one he could have addressed the facts, he chose not to.

        I wish srylands would post, he and this guy could have a love-in.

        • fender 13.1.1.1

          There was someone with a different name going on about the dirty infected people to be found on public transport recently, so I suspect srylands is still lurking about…

    • Naturesong 13.2

      The purpose of the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill was to close a loophole which allowed some parents to beat the tar out of their kids and get away with it.

      Arguments in Comittee
      Sue Bradford (Green): I would like to take a brief call to make a direct response to Mr Copeland. Of course, as far as I know, there has never been a conviction or a prosecution of someone once lightly smacking a child. That is simply because we have the defence of reasonable force under section 59 of the Crimes Act, which is for the purpose of correction. It is this section this bill seeks to repeal. The problem is that at the moment we have cases where people who severely beat their children escape conviction in court under section 59 of the Crimes Act. The whole point is that this bill is not an anti-smacking bill; it is an anti-beating bill. Under section 194 of the Crimes Act an assault on children under 14 is against the law. The situation in this country is that we have this defence of reasonable force, which allows people to get away with quite seriously assaulting their children. Thank you.

      The bill passed the first reading and went to select comittee, where it was debated at length.
      Amendments were made at the request of the National party
      Remember when the Governement of the day did actually seek consensus because they took their duty of governing for ALL New Zealanders seriously?

      You will notice that in the 3rd reading every single national MP voted for the bill

      • Tracey 13.2.1

        The debate was flawed. Once it got called anti-smacking the facts became secondary.

        Prior to this law a parent charged with beating their child with a metal pipe could, and did, claim that they believed they were using reasonable force for the purpose of discipline. The focus was not on what a reasonable parent would think about the beating, but what the beater thought about the beating they were administering. Juries, applying this law would find that if a parent thought it was reasonable for discipline then that belief was all that mattered. That was patently stupid.

        It seems the right arent just drven by the need to own stuff, they need to own their children too.

        • Naturesong 13.2.1.1

          At the time I opposed this bill.

          My view was they the problem was that the judiciary was not applying the test of “reasonableness” correctly.

          After select comittee, the “reasonable” was still contained within the bill.

          I feared that after having this wierd public argument, that didn’t seem to have anything really to do with the actual legislation, we would still have a law with the same loophole, just moved sideways.

          Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007

          Parental control
          (1) Every parent of a child and every person in the place of a parent of the child is justified in using force if the force used is reasonable in the circumstances and is for the purpose of—
          (a) preventing or minimising harm to the child or another person; or
          (b) preventing the child from engaging or continuing to engage in conduct that amounts to a criminal offence; or
          (c) preventing the child from engaging or continuing to engage in offensive or disruptive behaviour; or
          (d) performing the normal daily tasks that are incidental to good care and parenting.

          Thankfully, subsequent to the amendment passing, the judiciary seems to have pulled its head in, and finding that beating your child with a jug cord is not reasonable, even if you believe that you are “performing the normal daily tasks that are incidental to good care and parenting”

    • Tracey 13.3

      and yet thousands of parents havent been snatched from their homes in sweeps by police because they paddled their kids bums as we were promised by those who wanted the right to defend the beating of their children with the subjective notion of “if *I* believed it was reasonable discipline” it is ok.

      I note you have no comment or quote or statistic to address the PM’s lie and Coleman’s idiocy.

      here are the facts: PM claimed that the Labour Government ignored the referendum on s59a. A lie, it was HIS government that ignored it. Could have stopped the legislation, could have repealled even if it had been passed by the Labour government.

      Fact: A Bill is not a Law and has no standing for enforcement.

      Only 11% think it made any difference. Cool, and how many said it had destroyed their ability to parent? None?
      .

      .

      • framu 13.3.1

        also the idea that good parents should never have the police question them and treat them with suspicion was pretty laughable

        so the cops want to get your side of the story because someone accused you of breaking the law – boo fucking hoo. Some people dont even get that option

    • lprent 13.4

      Didn’t National vote against the private members bill after the referendum in 2009? Ummm…

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_citizens-initiated_referendum,_2009#John_Boscawen.27s_private_member.27s_bill

      John Boscawen’s private member’s bill[edit]
      By coincidence, Government coalition and ACT MP John Boscawen had a private member’s bill legalising smacking drawn from the ballot less than a week after the referendum. Prime Minister John Key said his National Party would vote it down, with the Labour Party and Green Party also opposed making it likely to be lost after the first reading of the bill.[21] In September 2010 the Bill was in fact defeated 115–5 on its first reading in Parliament.

      The main reason was that the “smacking” referendum and Boscawen’s bill were both written by cretins who couldn’t frame a statement that expressed their intent without looking like angry reactionary fuckwits, and so wrote statements that were essentially meaningless and unable to be made into legislation.

      From vague memory most National MPs also voted for the Bradfords anti-smacking legislation because it was pretty good legislation, especially after it made it out of select committee

      But keep rewriting history, and I’ll keep pointing out exactly how silly you are..

      New category of fool – “Cretinous like Craig…”

      • Tracey 13.4.1

        STOP posting facts.

        • lprent 13.4.1.1

          I can’t help it.

          I don’t have the time that some people have to develop these kinds of ideas. I just use google, check against my memory, and do a quick cross through reasonably trusted sources. Doesn’t take nearly as much time as some of the fools seem to spend on writing complete mythological crap.

          Facts seem to be easier to find than developing a whole conspiracy theory from scratch and a few myths. Of course it could just be my science, production/operations management, and programming background getting in the way of a good fairy tale. But I’d have to ask why adults spend so much time on childs tales..

        • Rodel 13.4.1.2

          s59 is ‘anti-hitting’ not ‘anti-smacking.’

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 13.5

      Good to see Photonz is keeping up the usual standard of comprehension fail.

    • framu 13.6

      how could they introduce the bill against overwhelming opposition?

      the bill has to first be made public before the public can react

      fucks sake – you make some shockers in the logic fail dept

      so…
      back to the actual point of who ignored the ref RESULT

      Who … (deliberate pause) …was … (pause) … Prime Minister … (pause) … in 2009?”

    • miravox 13.7

      The bill wasn’t introduced by Labour and/or the Greens. It was a private members bill.

      It required wording negotiated by John Key to get it over the line…

      Anyway, one of the few decent things Key has done, and he got a lot of praise for it at the time. Strange to try and disown it now.

  14. Rhinocrates 14

    This was a win for Russel Norman – he got both Coleman and Carter to publicly make fools of themselves.

    There’s a line attributed to Lyndon Johnson by Hunter S Thompson (HST hinting that he made it up himself): “I don’t care if he fucks pigs – I want to see him deny it!”

  15. Appleboy 15

    I swear if ‘the public’ ever saw a compilation of clips in the house of Key at his worst they’d see that ‘nice mr Key’ in a light enough to change their perception for good. He , and his ilk, are a completely different beast in the house – ugly, arrogant, lying, deceptive, boorish…just plain..National!

    How about a 3 min collage with the bi line “Ever have the feeling you’ve been had?”

    • Naturesong 15.1

      Here’s the thing though.

      People actively want to vote for bullies, if they believe that person is working in their best interests.
      And there is also a small section that doesn’t even worry about whether the person is acting in their best interests, they vote for that guy, “’cause he gets things done!”

      And there’s folks who vote with whoever their peer group votes for because thinking is too hard, conforming to the group norm is safe, and is rewarding emotionally. I call these ones “nodding dogs” – Seen loads of these types in middle management in corporates I’ve worked for.

    • Rumour Willis 15.2

      I want to see a montage of John Key slurping like a trout sucking shit off a riverbed every time he finishes a sentence. It would go on for a couple of hours. I’m not even exaggerating. He does it so often. My skin crawls every time he does it.

      I’d love to see David Cunliffe just do a deliberate, pointed, 5-second slurp after every question in the house. When asked to stop, he can just point out that it seems to be working well for the Prime Minister. Just troll Key until he either looks stupid or stops slurping. Either way, we win.

  16. Richard Down South 16

    The Greens are economic terrorists?

    Ill just put this here http://www.nationaldebtclocks.org/debtclock/newzealand

  17. photonz 17

    This is funny. We’ve got lefties getting all anally retentive with minor and largely irrelevant points, making themselves look to the public like they’re trying to blame the anti-smacking bill on National.

    When all they are doing is –

    1/ Reminding the public that the Greens Labour bill went ahead despite overwhelming democratic opposition.

    2/ Reminding 90% of the public of how pissed off they were with the Greens/Labour anti smacking law.

    3/ Making the left look dishonest as they look like they’re trying to shift the blame.

    4/ Reminding the public that opposition the the asset sales is significantly less than opposition to the anti-smacking bill.

    Keep it up.

    And when you’re finished, you could always shoot yourself in the other foot to have a matching pair.

    • Tracey 17.1

      Ah I see, you are from the “repeat a mistruth over and over until people believe it’s the truth” school.

      Would it really hurt you so much to admit Key deliberately misled parliament ( the public you claim to champion) or lied by suggesting labour ignored the referendum results in 2009 when the Nats had the government benches?

      You are the one making yourself look stupid.

      I dont “blame” labour for the repeal of s59a of the Crimes Act, I applaud it It’s Key lying to mislead the public that he was somehow anti the change is deceitful…

      • photonz 17.1.1

        You just proved my point.

        You’re getting anal about who said what in Parliament, but all that’s happening is everyone is getting reminded that Labour and Greens passed a highly unpopular law against the wishes of the vast majority of the population – it didn’t take a referendum to know that.

        • gobsmacked 17.1.1.1

          Why did National vote for the law, first in opposition, and then in government?

          • photonz 17.1.1.1.1

            The Bill was going to be passed anyway.

            So National took a pragmatic approach and did a political deal, and got the bill watered down in return for support.

            The Greens and Labour were driving the bill, and that’s what people remember.

            Trying to shift the blame to the National who were in opposition at the time simply looks dishonest.

            • gobsmacked 17.1.1.1.1.1

              And since 2008?

              “Government coalition and ACT MP John Boscawen had a private member’s bill legalising smacking drawn from the ballot less than a week after the referendum. Prime Minister John Key said his National Party would vote it down.”

            • Naturesong 17.1.1.1.1.2

              No. What is dishonest is National trying to blame the previous governement for something they voted for.

            • Tracey 17.1.1.1.1.3

              what blame? Key is the one pretending he wasnt the PM who passed the Law? If he isnt happy with how he voted why hasnt he brought in a Bill to repeal it? He’s had 4 years?

              And yea yea, you would vote labour again and have before and would again but…. not unless they are like National now or the Labour govt of 1984.

            • framu 17.1.1.1.1.4

              “Trying to shift the blame to the National who were in opposition at the time simply looks dishonest.”

              they werent in opposition – they were the govt at the time – why the fuck do you keep avoiding that rather undebateable fact?

              you keep saying shit that just isnt true

              you better be getting paid – otherwise your firmly marking yourself as a sub level moron

              • photonz

                “they werent in opposition – they were the govt at the time – why the fuck do you keep avoiding that rather undebateable fact?”:

                The bill was passed against overwhelming public opposition in 2007.

                DUH!!!

                • Crunchtime

                  The bill? Irrelevant. This is about REFERENDUMS. DUH!!!

                  The smacking referendum was in 2009.

                  You’re just as cowardly and disgraceful as Coleman.

                • ghostwhowalksnz

                  The entire National caucus voted for it !
                  remember

        • Naturesong 17.1.1.2

          Not really.

          What is getting repeated is the recognition that John Key and his ministers continue to lie, in parliament and to the public.

          For a group that keeps banging on about individual responsibility, their members don’t seem to have any.

          National Party Lies and Hypocrisy

          National Party Lies and Hypocrisy

          National Party Lies and Hypocrisy

          etc …

        • Tracey 17.1.1.3

          “everyone”? You really do need to get over yourself.

        • framu 17.1.1.4

          how could labour and greens pass a law when they werent even the fucking govt!

          fucks sake – the greens have never been in govt!

          fuck off shill

          • photonz 17.1.1.4.1

            framu says “how could labour and greens pass a law when they werent even the fucking govt! fucks sake – the greens have never been in govt!

            fuck off shill”

            Hilarious – abuse from someone because they think Labour wasn’t in power in 2007.

            • Te Reo Putake 17.1.1.4.1.1

              Nope, the abuse is because you’re too thick or too arrogant to admit that the repeal was passed with the support of National as well. It wasn’t a Greens bill or a Labour bill or even a National bill, it was a private members bill. But it enjoyed overwhelming support in Parliament with only a dozen or so MP’s voting to continue child beating.

              • ropata

                photonz = Colin Craig??

                National is trying to cosy up to the Conservative (party of one), so photonz can’t admit that Key is full of shit

        • Crunchtime 17.1.1.5

          It’s not who said what, it’s not about what Labour/Green did, it’s about what National (under Key) did: National were in govt in 2009 and had a majority (via coalition) – they could have upheld the result of the referendum, but instead they ignored it.

        • Puddleglum 17.1.1.6

          Getting ‘anal’ about that small matter of the truth and of the Prime Minister seemingly lying?

          Do you have no regard for the truth?

          Is winning all that matters to you?

          John Key – the architect of the wording of the act – was the one who tried to ‘remind’ New Zealanders about the s59 repeal – not ‘the left’. John Key was the one who tried to ‘remind’ New Zealanders that Labour ignored the referendum; despite National being government at the time.

          All the commenters here are doing is correcting John Key’s ‘memory’.

          Or do you think it more sensible to let Key’s ‘reminiscences’ become the official version of history?

          Perhaps the commenters here are actually ‘reminding’ people of the truth.

          Not such a foolish thing, I would have thought.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 17.2

      Gosh, that view from Planet Photonz totes showed us, eh.

      I guess that means you won’t be voting Labour then, Photonz.

      Which means they must be doing something right.

      • photonz 17.2.1

        I could vote for Labour again if they got their act together. I’ve voted for them more than I’ve ever voted right, so I’m probably in the middle.

        The problem with Labour is they come up with poorly thought out reactionary ideas at the last minute like the power plan – then looked totally dumbfounded when it was pointed out that their power plan crushed not only dividends and capital growth – but also their main arguments for keeping the assets.

        • gobsmacked 17.2.1.1

          Several questions to you upthread, please respond.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 17.2.1.2

          How to demonstrate in one short comment that you’re a fool, a liar, and a turncoat.

          • Colonial Viper 17.2.1.2.1

            The last time photonz voted for Labour, Roger Douglas and David Caygill were the in-crowd.

            • photonz 17.2.1.2.1.1

              Helen Clark.

              Knuckelhead says “you’re a fool, a liar, and a turncoat.”

              Better a “turncoats” making an intelligent decision than mindlessly switching off your brain and cultishly following the same crowd whether they deserve your support or not.

              That’s mindless. You may as well just lodge your election votes in now, for the rest of your life.

              • Crunchtime

                Better a “turncoats” making an intelligent decision than mindlessly switching off your brain and cultishly following the same crowd whether they deserve your support or not.”

                Very astute comment. If only you followed your own advice.

                • photonz

                  I’ll happily vote Labour if they can get their act together.

                  Right now they’re pushing a referendum that says

                  “Do you think NZ should retain our assets so we can destroy both their value and income with the Labour Greens power plan?”

                  • ropata

                    oh, you want Labour to get together with ACT… you really *are* an astroturfer

                  • Crunchtime

                    Are you talking about the power companies now?

                    I’d happily see their “value and income destroyed” in order to give the NZ public reasonable power prices.

                    After all, that’s what they are for: supplying power to the New Zealanders who own them.

                    Not for providing value and dividends to shareholders.

                    Ever since the electricity industry was broken up and “reformed” into a corporate model we have faced power prices rising faster than inflation. The exact opposite of what was promised.

                    It was a stupid idea in the first place, and it’s nice to see Labour taking us back in the direction of real efficiency – not just profitability.

        • Paul 17.2.1.3

          Haha.
          Given your views it’s impossible you voted for a party left of Genghis Khan.

          • McFlock 17.2.1.3.1

            Photoshop reckons they once voted for Helen Clark.
            Either they’re touching up history again, or they couldn’t get the hang of MMP the first time around.

        • Tracey 17.2.1.4

          Labour has …”reactionary ideas”

          adjective
          adjective: reactionary

          1.
          opposing political or social progress or reform.
          “reactionary attitudes toward women’s rights”
          synonyms: right-wing, conservative, rightist, ultra-conservative; More
          blimpish, diehard;
          traditionalist, conventional, traditional, old-fashioned, unprogressive;
          Birchite
          “government policy became increasingly reactionary”
          antonyms: radical, progressive

          noun
          noun: reactionary; plural noun: reactionaries

          1.
          a reactionary person.
          “he was later to become an extreme reactionary”
          synonyms: right-winger, conservative, rightist, diehard, Colonel Blimp;

          He was posting for about a week before he trotted out that chestnut.

    • Paul 17.3

      Yes a you tube compilation of Key at his worst would be great.

    • framu 17.4

      back to the actual point of who ignored the ref RESULT

      Who … (deliberate pause) …was … (pause) … Prime Minister … (pause) … in 2009?”

      • Paul 17.4.1

        You’ll need to speak slower than that if folk like Bridges and Coleman are to understand you.

      • photonz 17.4.2

        Which has virtually no relevance to the public compared to who was driving the bill.

        Only to anal pedantic people on the extreme left.

        • karol 17.4.2.1

          photonz –
          the ….. topic …. is …..referendums.

          How slowly does it have to be said before you understand?

          It is related to the asset sales referendum.

          Or do you just keep wanting to change the subject?

        • rhinocrates 17.4.2.2

          What is it with photoshop’s obsession with anal sex? Ringers are supposed to suppress any sign of personality, but their obsessions are leaking out.

  18. photonz 18

    karol – if you pull your blinkers in tightly enough, you’ll be able to keep the subject about an irrelevant point.

    Then you won’t have to look at the big picture at all.

    Like Labour and Greens pushed through the anti smacking bill against overwhelming democratic opinion.

    Keep shooting those feet.

    • McFlock 18.1

      From the post (you know, the actual topic at hand):

      The answer, of course, is that John Key was the Prime Minister who ignored that referendum, even after his MPs collected the signatures, and he was the one who brokered the deal so that National voted for the law in the first place

      On so many levels, in so many comments, on so many threads, you’re a fucking liar, photoshop.

      Are you trying to impersonate a paid shill for the sake of irony, or are you really just a moral vacuum, desperately clinging to the tory delusion in a futile attempt to preserve the last (albeit atavistic) shred of humanity that exists in the cold, dark, lonely, and boundless abyss that pretends to be your soul?

      • photonz 18.1.1

        Ooohh! Some mindless abuse from a mindless abuser – so hurtful.

        Wake me up from your tedious abuse if/when you’ve ever got something intelligent to say.

        The reason you want to keep to the topic at hand is because it’s irrelevant minutiae, and you don’t want to look at the big picture (the anti smacking law) which gave the Labour Party a bloody nose and makes them look like hypocrites when they talk about going against the democratic wishes of the people.

        • Crunchtime 18.1.1.1

          Empty meaningless comment devoid of content and sense. Begone, Nat shill.

        • McFlock 18.1.1.2

          The reason you keep wanting to change the topic at hand is because you support a government that claims incompetence when it’s corrupt and is genuinely incompetent when it’s not intentionally corrupt.

          cluebat: if you need to constantly lie to support a government, it probably shouldn’t be the government.

    • Draco T Bastard 18.2

      Colin Craig and repealing Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act.

      With this in mind, remember when Bob McCoskrie and Family First gathered signatures for a referendum that posed the totally disingenuous question…

      Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?

      This is not what this law did and nor does it read as such, which really did make me wonder if Bob even read the new law…

      There wasn’t an anti-smacking bill. There was a law change that ensured that people who abused their children would be charged and found guilty rather than getting away with it as was happening before the repeal of s59. I think you’ll find that most people are actually in favour of that.

      • photonz 18.2.1

        Draco says “There wasn’t an anti-smacking bill.”

        Yes – and the earth is flat.

        Keep it up – you look more and more delusional.

        • Draco T Bastard 18.2.1.1

          No, I just accept what actually happened and the reasons for it while you look more and more desperate to defend John Key’s and National’s lies.

  19. Dumrse 19

    ……yawn…… Fuck I’m right outa popcorn now.

    • Pascal's bookie 19.1

      That’s a shame, just when Colin Craig steps into the lamelight, already endorsed by the muppet in chief.

  20. rhinocrates 20

    Well this is amusing. National is sending out mating calls to Colon Craig’s Conservatives and has “Photonz” astroturfufing for them because they know that ACT and United Figleaf are dead while Dunne in a fright wig is desperately claiming that he’s still relevant.

    Remember everyone, popcorn is unhealthy. Eat salad while you watch this spectacle.

  21. Phil 21

    A timely post, as I’ve been pulled over by the police twice in the last week. On one occasion for absolutely no reason. Just checking my seat belt and warrant, he said. In talking to other folks I was surprised at the disdain and general dissatisfaction with the police. It seems people are losing trust in them for many reasons. We are heading towards a police state folks, be very careful, and wary.

  22. Matthew Hooton 22

    I don’t get the debating point the Greens are trying to make here. They draw attention to the fact that John Key ignored the pro-smacking referendum, and presumably they agree he should have ignored it. Doesn’t that just legitimise the concept of prime ministers ignoring CIRs? Which plays into Key’s hands on the MOM issue?

    • felix 22.1

      The point is that John Key is lying. Again.

      • gobsmacked 22.1.1

        Exactly, Felix.

        The Greens didn’t introduce the “debating point”, Matthew. They – and anybody else with a grasp of reality – are responding to the bizarre utterances of a Prime Minister who no longer even pretends to tell the truth. He started this fabrication on Wednesday in the House (as you well know).

        When the leader of our country says that a government which didn’t exist responded to something which didn’t happen, he is either a liar or hallucinating. Either way, we should all be worried.

    • rhinocrates 22.2

      Oh look, the hollow man’s back again, and even paid to bring up the section 59 amendment in an attempt to rewrite history.

      Go back to your carefully-preplanned attacks on rape apologists Hoots – that’ll play far better and be much more topical, as you must know.

      You do know that even your own paymasters snicker at you behind your back?

  23. repateet 23

    Remember to clap politely when David Carter is bestowed with his knighthhood folks!

  24. peterlepaysan 24

    Key is a ventriloquists dummy and Coleman and the Nats all know it We have been bought by wall street and Washington. Gordon Gecko Rules!

    Key will very soon retire to his homeland of Hawaii, Hollywood, Wall Street and Washington having reduced NZ to a pack mule controlled by which ever deputy sheriff is looking after Australia.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    17 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 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
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

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

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

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

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-26T23:40:30+00:00