Colin Craig is serious

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 4th, 2015 - 84 comments
Categories: Dirty Politics, law - Tags: , ,

Colin Craig is serious about suing Williams, Stringer and Slater. Formal legal advice has been sent. Not only that, but Craig’s pamphlet is appearing in letter boxes. I’ve seen a report via Twitter from (presumably) Wellington. Last night there was a copy in my box all the way down here in Sunny Dunedin, which means I guess that it may well have gone to most boxes in NZ, a pretty serious commitment.

Other than being generally in favour of truth being known, I don’t have much interest in the outcome of Craig’s proceedings. But I do have an interest in dirty politics, and I thank Craig for putting it back in the public spotlight. He’s reminding NZ what a sleazy and amoral government this is, and the tactics and tools to which it will stoop. Good.


Updated: lprent 1700

This morning Cameron Slater was roaring in defiance (donotlink)

I will be resisting Colin Craig’s unfounded allegations against me, and I will be counter-suing for substantial damages as a result of his malicious defamatory lies.

Ah yeah right. How many court cases is this idiot involved with now? At a hearing late last month he was claiming that he had no money for lawyers.

Anyhow. I suspect that instead he will be reaching out to the witless fools who read his bullshit at Whaleoil again. Yep, and that was what he did.

Read Peter Aranyi’s analysis at The Paepae “Is Colin Craig ‘defaming’ Cameron Slater and his commercial attack website?“.

Like the white trash that they are, Slater Jnr and his wife and their deputy dog Pete Belt are already threatening to ‘expose’ all sorts of other embarrassing information and allegations about Colin Craig in ‘open court’. Oh yeah? Like, stuff they’ve held back? Why? Because it was too unseemly? Do they really think everyone else is an idiot?

How that looks to me: that is the sort of bullying intimidatory legend-in-their-own-lunchbox behaviour one has come to expect from these reality-challenged individuals. A lot of Slater Jnr’s, Juana’s and Pete Belt’s statements seem to me to be meremarketing — intended for consumption by the gullible ‘whale army’ — you know, the people who buy Slater Jnr’s branded sun hats, T-Shirts (and ski masks?).

Do not adjust your set. This might get interesting.

After he wrote it, the inevitable happened. Peter Belt “deputy dawg” softened up the gullible skulls, and then Cameron whined for more free money.

I can’t see any evidence on the net that the court proceedings have actually been filed yet. Slater and Stringer claim in another post that they haven’t (donotlink). But that probably just means that Slater and Stringer haven’t seen them yet and they are way too stupid to realise that a case is actually started when the court gets the documents and processes them. They could have been filed and paid for at the court, but not yet made it through the normal routes to the defendants. Perhaps they should talk to a real lawyer, like Williams?

Definitely popcorn material.

BTW: Cameron Slater opened a new front today promising a attack on the IRD.  I won’t bother linking to it. Just imagine the usual strange claims targeting the media.

I’d normally just ask myself who is paying for this attack? Junior in his boundless greed usually just snuffles up like a pig in a trough. But there could be a  different motivation…

Bearing in mind that most people who are aware of Slater jnr’s strangely obscure finances, also think that he he has been defrauding other taxpayers for years, I suspect that this is his way of announcing he is under investigation by the IRD.

84 comments on “Colin Craig is serious ”

  1. Tracey 1

    Interesting times.

  2. Tiger Mountain 2

    surely not…
    “don’t call me Shirley”–Colin Craig

  3. dukeofurl 3

    Craig is just the entree, the main course will be Little. With Peters to follow as a desert.

    Dirty politics never went away, and it will be back stronger.

  4. tc 4

    go for it Colin Craig and all power to you as our law enforcers seem unable to do anything about admitted law breaches.

    Interesting times indeed as Colin has the funds and the innocent zeal to make an impression on this septic issue.

    Maybe shake the sheeple awake as to how their govt goes about its business on citizens that don’t conform to their agenda.

  5. Save NZ 5

    Go Colin.

  6. Matthew Hooton 6

    Serious is one word.
    Nuts is another.
    Distributing his “book” in Dunedin???
    Is that for real?

    • dv 6.1

      Where is Jason Eade Matthew?

      • Marvellous Bearded Git 6.1.1

        @dv +1000

        • Chooky 6.1.1.1

          +1001 Marvellous One and dv …where is Jason Eade?!… and Cactus Kate!….least we forget

          every so often you need a person to stand up and call it as it is…to make everyone else take notice…”DIRTY POLITICS” is what it is

          …and Colin Craig is saying “Enough is Enough!”

      • dukeofurl 6.1.2

        hes either selling airtime on radio telephones ( as if) or working at 50 Manners St Wellington

      • DoublePlusGood 6.1.3

        Probably tied up in Hooton’s basement.

    • Lanthanide 6.2

      It is pretty loopy. He’s throwing good money after bad; his political future as a candidate is completely shot. At best he could play some sort of party president role, but even then being associated with a fledgling party in that sort of role would be a kiss of death for the party.

      • Tracey 6.2.1

        misguided doesnt equate to nuts or loopy. it is possible he knows his mp days are gone forever but still wants to shine a light on what he considers low level behaviour which harms democracy and nz. by all means disagree but that doesnt mean he is nuts or loopy.

        • tc 6.2.1.1

          Agreed this assumption about his political carrier is pure conjecture and the right will play it up rather than talk about DP which is the issue here.

          IMO he’s driven by his Christian beliefs that the DP stylings are neither fair or legal and it’s his own crusade for some justice. Good luck to him I say he’ll need it given what he’s stacked up against.

          • Lanthanide 6.2.1.1.1

            “this assumption about his political carrier is pure conjecture”

            Given that his last public statements on the matter is that he would start another new party and lead it if he couldn’t be the leader of Conservatives, I don’t think it’s “pure conjecture” at all.

        • Anne 6.2.1.2

          tracey @ 6.2.1
          Yes. That’s always the line defendants take when they’re trying to hide the truth… brand the whistle-blowers/victims as loopy and nuts!

        • Hanswurst 6.2.1.3

          I don’t see any reason to think that he’s concerned about democracy. The simplest explanation in my view would be that he’s simply affronted. He’s made plenty of money and obviously sees himself as a successful businessman; I doubt that he would even see it as the end of the world if his political career is less than a roaring success. I imagine he just wants to look people in the eye in years to come and say, “Yeah, sure, I was taken down, but it was by court-certified wankers.”

          • Anne 6.2.1.3.1

            I agree. He wants to be vindicated from the apparent ‘trumped up charges’ leveled at him by the DP team. I’m sure that would be his primary objective. What effect it might have on his political aspirations is probably low on his list of priorities at this stage.

        • Stuart Munro 6.2.1.4

          He may be eccentric – but eccentric beats the crap out of corrupt. He plays with his own money, good luck to him.

    • Tracey 6.3

      he is pursuing his interests with zeal… and you all him nuts. he is doing it in the open, is that what makes him nuts? if he did it under layers and thru conduits or companies and so forth, would that make him sane?

      • Lanthanide 6.3.1

        Politics is about selling yourself to the public. A lot of people already thought he was nutty and a bully with his legal tactics. These latest moves are only going to make that perception worse.

        So if he has any intention of future political involvement, yes, this is nuts.

        • Pascals bookie 6.3.1.1

          He’s not selling to you tho Lanth.

          he’s selling to people who think the liberal media are hella biased against conservatives/christians, as are the main politicial parties. No one is prepared to fight against that bias because they will be crushed and ridiculed, bla blah blah.

          What he’s trying is not disimilar to Trump, tho without US specifics, but it’s the same conservative populist stick that goes back to Goldwater and Nixon, who both played themselves off against the media elite who mock good people.

          Whether there is 5 % in that for NZ I doubt, but it’s not mindless

          • Lanthanide 6.3.1.1.1

            The term ‘nuts’ used in this context is implying a value judgement, that the action being taken is out of step with social norms.

            Just like spending several million dollars on a solid gold bath tub would be considered ‘nuts’ by the general public; the person doing it may have perfectly valid (to them) reasons.

            Specifically in this case, I cannot see how these actions would engender him to reach the 5% party threshold for any future party that he had a serious contribution to; it would likely harm such future party. I also cannot see how it would help him run as an electorate candidate anywhere.

            • Hanswurst 6.3.1.1.1.1

              I suspect that you are right that it will bring no political gain for him. It may well end up denting Slater and co., however. If every party comes out the other side looking like a complete wally, I’ll be happy (not least because, to a man, that is exactly what they are).

            • Tracey 6.3.1.1.1.2

              standing up to bullies is outside social norms, I agree. perhaps we need to stop assuming that the primary motivation of his law suit is to become electable? See my comment to Hooton below.

              • Lanthanide

                Except that Colin Craig has a record of being a bully by using his money to fund legal proceedings against anyone he disagrees with.

                “perhaps we need to stop assuming that the primary motivation of his law suit is to become electable?”

                I’ve never said his ‘primary motivation’ was so he could become electable. I don’t care what his primary motivation is, I’m saying that this action will endanger his future political career more than it can help it – maybe he doesn’t care about that, but based on his public statements, it does seem like he wants to run as a party leader again in the future.

      • Matthew Hooton 6.3.2

        The sensible course for him would be to ignore what Cameron Slater says about him, and focus on rebuilding his networks with his party and the media.

        • Tracey 6.3.2.1

          unless t one of the reasons he wanted in to politics was to shine the light on standards of behaviour. In this regard he might be putting that goal ahead of his self interest in getting elected. he may also think if he succeeds in his case he could actually erase some perceptions of him.

          “sensible” is relative and subjective. To you doing something you disagree with = nuts. Doing something you agree with = sensible. We are all entitled to our opinions of course but they are still just opinions.

    • tc 6.4

      Thanks for that considered analysis Matty, I look forward to such an intelligent response from your compliant MSM soapboxes complete with the nodding poodles agreeing with you.

    • Enough 6.5

      Detest his political views, but got to respect his actions going after those abhorrent sleaze-merchants. Good on you, Colin.

    • r0b 6.6

      Distributing his “book” in Dunedin??? Is that for real?

      He calls it a “pamphlet”. All I can say is there was one in my letterbox last night. Not addressed, so hand delivered.

      Other sightings:

      https://twitter.com/toby_etc/status/628036554288594944

      https://twitter.com/AnneliseJoy/status/628293404435349504

      https://twitter.com/LewSOS/status/628362118950207488

      https://twitter.com/someofmybest/status/628353359796285442

      https://twitter.com/secondzeit/status/628433730781057024

      • dukeofurl 6.6.1

        Imagine they have party stalwarts down south.

      • RedLogix 6.6.2

        Given Mathews crippled, short-term attention span (like most right wingers) – it probably does look like a ‘book’.

        • Tracey 6.6.2.1

          it wasnt about him so he skim read…. until someone employs hus services then it is a nutty book

      • Matthew Hooton 6.6.3

        Received it at home in Auckland today. Looks like a nationwide letterbox dump. Cost must be hundreds of thousands. And it doesn’t say much more than these guys made some allegations about me on a blog that I say are wrong. His PMnakl dump only amplifies those allegations.

        • CnrJoe 6.6.3.1

          chop chop

        • Tracey 6.6.3.2

          Slater hollers about the size of his audience… so on that basis posting stuff there goes to a large audience. craig could win but get next to nothing in damages. he is therefore unlikely to be doing this to make a financial hit on slater et al. i suspect that for craig this is foremost about the “principle” and not about getting elected to parliament. he is lucky to be able to afford to take the case. i am aware of people legally defamed and damage done but the cost of lawyer fees is higher than the potential award.

      • Tracey 6.6.4

        it has hit blockhouse bay but not mt eden.

    • Tricledrown 6.7

      Machevelian Henchman dog whistling nuts aye Mad Hater.
      For you to comment Matty boy their must be some truth in his claims.

    • dukeofurl 6.8

      Well a copy has gone to Arkles Bay, home of the Oily Orca

    • Chromophore 6.9

      Book? Were you quoting someone or did you exaggerate to be sarcastic? “Booklet” was the word used.

  7. Skinny 7

    I find it hilarious that the smart arse punk Williams from the Tax Evader Union gets a taste of dealing with a deep pocketed business man tying him up in what could be a costly legal battle.

    Keep it coming Col there is votes in it!

    • JeevesPOnzi 7.1

      None of them like it when their rules are applied to them……

      • Skinny 7.1.1

        Unions are an important part of society and in some countries being mocked like Williams does would get you a one way ride in a black Cadillac out into the desert.

        Reminding me of…Last year a Union leader friend of mine was telling me over dinner, that on a recent trip to the States for an international Union gig, he was traveling with a powerful American Union boss. Anyway as they were crusing along in the limo some where out in the country the union boss starts telling my friend how by coincidence a number of problematic people to his Union seemed to have vanished completely, and he was one of the last people seen with them. Suffice to say my friend was on edge till he got dropped back at his hotel.

        • dukeofurl 7.1.1.1

          Maybe for teamsters ?

          No need to go all the way to US, Australia has some tough ass unions and union bosses.

          • Skinny 7.1.1.1.1

            You got it brother. Personally I find some of the media hacks do the most damage. There are a number that would be on my ‘softening up/reprogramming list’ if I was still that way inclined.

            • dukeofurl 7.1.1.1.1.1

              Dont worry their bosses do that that for you.
              Imagine the humilitaion when after 20 years experience they get the ‘talk’ and find you they are replaced by the likes of Peebles Hooper.

              The advertisers always called the shots, instead of Farmers or Harvey Norman getting their way before its how many 18-36 yr female demographic click bait they get now.

    • Tracey 7.2

      has williams commented publicly cos i can only recall stringer talking on camera and slater issuing a statement many many hours after the story broke?

      • dukeofurl 7.2.1

        “Cameron Slater and Jordan Williams says they are not at all worried about Colin Craig seeking defamation damages against them.”- NBR

        Williams is lying low but I have no doubt a lot of commentary against Craig has him as the puppeteer behind the names that are talking
        http://patbrittenden.com/category/jordan-williams/

        Williams doesnt seem to have a ‘proper job’ as when the dirty politics broke he was gone from Franks Ogilvie

        • Tracey 7.2.1.1

          no income traceable to its sources you mean 😉

          • dukeofurl 7.2.1.1.1

            It seems like he uses his title as ‘executive director’ of the Taxpayers Union as his front organisation.

            Its like someone in ACT spat out an apple core and a little seed has grown into the Taxpayers Onion.
            Its still a dirty politics front for Nationals backers to hide behind. Im certain they will target Little or Peters in the next 12 months.

          • dukeofurl 7.2.1.1.2

            It seems like he uses his title as ‘executive director’ of the Taxpayers Union as his front organisation.

            Its like someone in ACT spat out an apple core and a little seed has grown into the Taxpayers Onion.
            Its still a dirty politics front for Nationals backers to hide behind. Im certain they will target Little or Peters in the next 12 months.

            As an incorp society TU has to show its revenues for 2013 it spent $11,000 on salaries and staff expenses.
            Executive directors must come cheap

  8. Tracey 8

    colin craig is getting the dotcom treatment. ..

    • tc 8.1

      With a sound media strategy that could work in his favour as people recall the dot com treatment……something along the lines of disagree with those in power and you could be next.

      Don’t like his politics but nobody deserves the crap that the DP crew dish up for the almighty dollar then hide behind the skirts of power.

      • RedLogix 8.1.1

        Where this could work is if people start to wake up to what happens to anyone, regardless of political stripeness, that this govt sees as a threat.

        First Goff and Cunliffe got the treatment. Most people would be fooled into thinking this was pretty much left-right tribalism as usual. Then Dotcom who most people could ignore as a nutty foreigner. But Craig was a target who is nominally on their side. That may well be a bigger lump to swallow.

        Now the sinister outlines of the dirty politics machine take on a much darker outline. This Key govt is about power at all costs. Mostly it’s the soft power of a compliant media propaganda machine; but the harder edge was always there.

        Damage Control Plan A will be to discredit Craig as ‘nutty’. Oh … too late.

        • tinfoilhat 8.1.1.1

          Oh for goodness sake, some on the political left must take responsibility for the electoral debacle.

          We could have sleep walked to a Green/Labour government if it wasn’t for the ego of Dotcom and the idiocy of Mana getting into bed with him, the absurd ‘Moment of Truth’ shambles in Auckland was the last straw for those wavering in the middle and all it served to do was obliterate Mana and drive swing voters from the Greens and Labour into the arms of NZ First and National.

          • RedLogix 8.1.1.1.1

            The whole Mana project was a folly from the outset. There I’ve said it.

            I can see why it’s underlying vision and principals were attractive. But as politics it was only ever going to look like fragmentation and divisiveness. And voters always punish everything touched by it.

            (Especially New Zealanders – they pathologically need ‘strong leaders’.)

            • Tiger Mountain 8.1.1.1.1.1

              don’t agree on this one, Internet Mana would now have two MPs but for the gang tackle in Te Tai Tokerau from Labour in particular, Greens, NZ1, conservatives and the Prime Minister again in particular

              • Colonial Viper

                750 more votes in Te Tai Tokerau and we would have had both Hone and Laila in Parliament as advocates for child poverty and workers rights.

                If Dotcom had kept a low profile in the last 2 months and stopped being such a show pony we could also have had Annette Sykes in there as number 3 on the list.

                Harawira, Harre, Sykes. The contrast would have made Labour look pale red and ill.

                • Olwyn

                  The Dotcom phenomenon was a sobering lesson for both him and us. We all learned that money per se does not do what rich-man’s-club approval does. None of the parties apart from Mana were willing to be seen as spitting in America’s eye by letting Dotcom sail on unopposed.

                  • Clemgeopin

                    The ‘moment of truth’ non event was one of the main reasons KDC lost some crucial credibility, benefiting Key & National. I suspect that KDC had good reasons in good faith for both , it as well as to decide against going ahead with it on the last day after legal advice.
                    Remember the strange email episode? I think he was set up by the Hollywood big wigs or the dirty politics crew.

                    Of course there were other reasons too why Nats somehow managed to win, though very narrowly.

                    • Molly

                      The Moment of Truth – was more than a political event, it was an informative one.

                      Unfortunately, given the time and intent of the media what was continually reported and discussed was Dotcom.

                      The important truths were shared by Greenwald, Snowden and Assange.

                    • Clemgeopin

                      @Molly:

                      Yes, you are correct. I phrased my comment very poorly.

                      The live cross with Greenwald, Snowden and Assange was outstanding, amazing, impressive and very important. Sadly, most of our media, being biased and of quite a low calibre, did not give it the publicity and importance it deserved. Greenwald is a superb journalist with a great intellect.

                      What diminished the evening was the absence of the ‘bombshell revelation’ about Key/Hollywood executives etc that KDC had hinted at. It was this big disappointment of the event I was alluding to in my above post.

                • Tiger Mountain

                  agree CV, in retrospect they should have taken KDC’s loot and kept him well out of sight, and as Colin Craig discovered hero to zero can be a quick trajectory

                • dukeofurl

                  Why couldnt Hone win after being the local MP for 9 years, and $110k of KDC money.

                  Normally that would be impossible to beat.! The truth was Hone was worn out after 9 years and wanted out

          • Clemgeopin 8.1.1.1.2

            +0.5 Some partly good points.

        • Tiger Mountain 8.1.1.2

          agree RL on why Colin Craig might get some traction on this, interesting he stuck with the “brand”–“Dirty Politics”, still maintain Nicky Hager’s only mistake was not including “National’s” in the book title

    • Paulie 8.2

      What do you mean by that?

  9. Old Mickey 9

    As Slater said on Garners show last week, there is “nothing illegal with dirty politics”…..I can only hope that the publicity & outcome causes the public of NZ to actually say enough. We will not accept this sort of behaviour any more.

    • Tracey 9.1

      there is a civil wrong if the dirty politics is defamatory…

      • dukeofurl 9.1.1

        Defamation is perfectly legal if its true ( or in some circumstances honest opinion)

        That is Slaters big hurdle, and as he tried with the Judith Collins affair, first he tries to say it wasnt me and then he tries plan B.
        It seems hes trying to go for plan C , now. Suing Colin Craig after saying sueing was for losers

  10. Adrian 10

    I thought the Dotcom thing was/is more about not giving the encryption codes to the FBI/CIA. ” How dare you boy! ”
    Yeah, go Colin. Never ever thought I’d hear myself say that.

  11. NickS 11

    The perfect gif for this:
    http://giphy.com/gifs/lol-wtf-anita-sarkeesian-l41lXPwHWohc2kxGg

    Here’s to Colin doing Slater and friends some serious damage.

  12. Tigger 12

    I see Hooten on here calling him ‘nuts’. Actually I think this is a smart move. The case may well throw up evidence that hasn’t yet seen the light of day.

    Also Craig’s money – he can do what he wants with it. Does the general public know who Slater is? No, they don’t. Or at least they didn’t. I question Craig’s methods but I think his general aims are fairly sound.

  13. Alpha Z 13

    Whale oil money begging cry says;

    “Any amount is fine. It all adds up”

    I weighted up sending about 1 cent. but on second thought i decided, nah. the dirty bugger don’t deserve nothing at all;
    surely his close mates key and collins will go to help him anyways.

  14. Irascible 15

    Craig’s pamphlet distributed throughout Botany-Pakuranga yesterday. Such a positioning indicates a serious determination to be heard.

  15. Charles 16

    I’m confused by the pamphlet. Is it supposed to be “balanced reporting”, unlike what is seen on the scurrilous blogsites he denounces in the opening passages; attacks led by conscience, or lack thereof, as he says? Because in the end, the total effect appears to be what Mr. X confirms,

    “Forget the term “dirty politics”. This is about smart people, who know the game, making sure they get the outcome they want. How they get there doesn’t matter, the point is they get results.”

    (“…smart people…”, not sure that’s an accurate description. Certainly, capable, in what they do.)

    The preceding “interview” on the dissolution of the Board appears to (somewhat ambiguously) demonstate the above phenomenon. You’d have to have experienced something similar to fill in the gaps, I guess. It could be true, it could just be competent pulp-fiction. That’s the problem.

    So what is the point of it all – other than encouraging blogwars to jump onto the back of snail-mail? Proof that W.O. exists? That politics is nasty, or that Dirty Politics exists? It does not prove or disprove Dirty Politics, add to or subtract from, anything. Hidden agendas, yes, but isn’t that politics since forever? Is it his pre-manifesto material, for his next Party: Politics driven not by conscience, but by a direct communion with (his) God?

    …ahhhh now I get it. Colin Craig isn’t a politician, as far as national politics goes. Looks like he missed a “turn-off” at an earlier “intersection”. I was confused by the “external volume” issue for a sec. Well, best of luck to him.

  16. JeevesPOnzi 17

    All praise the messiah!

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    6 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    8 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    8 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    9 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    9 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    10 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    11 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    14 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    14 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    15 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    15 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    16 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    17 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    19 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T11:57:24+00:00