Conflict what conflict?
Written By:
- Date published:
1:22 pm, July 12th, 2024 - 16 comments
Categories: crime, law, law and "order", national, paul goldsmith, same old national -
Tags:
Someone should call the States Services Commission. And check with them if the Government had handled the appointment of Sunny Kaushal as head of a new Government advisory group appropriately.
The details of the appointment are contained in this Radio New Zealand post. From the post:
The government has announced a new advisory group headed by the chair of the dairy and business owners group, to help ensure fewer victims of crime.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee made the announcement at a dairy in Ellerslie on Thursday afternoon.
Goldsmith said it was budgeted to cost about $1.8 million a year for at least two years, largely paid through the proceeds of crime fund.
The group would “engage directly with victims, workers, business owners, retail experts and advocacy groups over the next two years to provide the government specific proposals to address urgent challenges in retail crime,” he said.
“New Zealand has seen an exponential growth in retail crime over the past five years.”
He said he wanted the group to look into matters like using security cards, enabling business owners to legitimately defend their property, and the potential for using facial recognition.
“We’re open to proposals and we want this group particularly to do the policy work to come up with suggestions in that area quickly … we want to get things done faster, to go further, in the retail crime space.”
Lets see, complex legal issues surrounding the right to self defence and the right to defend your property and thorny privacy issues relating to access to and use of facial data. And clearly needing someone to coordinate this work.
My first question is why would Sunny Kaushal be considered for the job? I am not sure of his qualifications but I am aware that he is a businessman and the owner of the Shakespeare Tavern. I met him a number of times when he was a member of the Labour Party and we both contested the New Lynn selection in 2017. He did not impress me as an intellectual giant or having any particular expertise in any particular area.
He then went off to National presumably after it became clear that there was no route for him to become a Labour MP.
He has since been a voiciferous complainer about retail crime. He has advocated for youth detention centres and for the law to be amended to make parents responsible for children under 18 who get into trouble. He also opposed smoking reforms implemented by the last Government on the basis they affected the economic viability of dairies.
The use of $3.6 million from the proceeds of crime fund is interesting. The fund is meant to fund the following initiatives:
- Expansion of alcohol and other drug treatment services
- Initiatives to fight organised criminal groups dealing in methamphetamine and other drugs
- Initiatives to address mental health issues within the criminal justice system
- Initiatives that address crime-related harm to communities and improve community wellbeing
The funding is allocated through an application process. It will be interesting to see the paperwork involved in this particular application. Unlike most announcements there is nothing on the Beehive website about this particular announcement.
Last term National made a song and dance about how many advisory groups Labour appointed and also attacked Nanaia Mahuta for contracts that her husband Gannin Ormsby had with government agencies. The one difference is that Ormsby at least was qualified to handle the sorts of issues he dealt with.
I am sure the OIAs are flying around. And that we will hear more about this story.
CommentsOpinions
Recent Comments
FeedsPartyGovtMedia
- Perpetual Blues Machine
Tell me why you wanna be so cold?Why you wanna be so mean?You've gone and let your true colours showYou're a perpetual blues machineLast night I watched coverage of the National Party’s 88th Annual General Meeting and Conference on the news, and it left me with these three thoughts:OMG could ...8 hours ago - Bernard’s Sunday Soliloquy for the week to August 4
TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to August 4 were:1. The week the front fell off The Govt’s austerity mask fell off in Health, Education & OTThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government’s essential promise before last year’s election ...9 hours ago - Flat as a pancake
This Prime Minister is as formulaic as a bottle of pancake mix. Add water to bottle, shake.His answers to questions are so very often just empty marketing slogans. And he has a favourite that he will intone at will: we’re rebuilding the economywe’re rebuilding the economywe’re rebuilding the economy, so we ...11 hours ago - Henchmen and Cockwombles
You've got a new job, working for the manAs a full-time lackey, you're his new henchmanIn your suit and your shoes you push paper aroundYou cross names off a list as you put them in the groundOnly you know the price for which you've been boughtBut it's coming to an ...1 day ago - Old Mate Grabaseat gets efficient, and other Turkeys
1 day ago - “Karen is no Victim. She’s a Survivor.”
SummaryOranga Tamariki (‘OT’) has $30 million stripped out of its budget and ~400 roles removed including record keepers, lawyers, the Office of the Chief Social Worker and all specialist Maori roles. In March, OT had 160 social worker vacancies. The government is stripping the support of those that remain when ...1 day ago - Election Fever!
Hi,I landed back in America to see that Donald Trump had done a live interview at a National Association of Black Journalists event in Chicago.He used the opportunity to act like a complete maniac, berating an interviewer who dared to point out his racism before claiming Kamala Harris had only ...2 days ago - The Quest for Opportunity
David Seymour describing himself as an ‘old-fashioned lefty’ caused a flurry in the commentariat.The responses were not always informed. One thought he was saying he was a Marxist. In fact it is relatively recent when Marxism became an important strain on New Zealand’s left. Our Communist Party formed only in ...2 days ago - What he was thinking
1. Who was the splendid person who asked this splendid question of Shane Reti?Does his private health insurance cover injuries sustained while being thrown under the bus by the Prime Minister? a. Kieran McAnultyb. Josh Drummondc. Emily Writes d. Ayesha Verrall2. Bernard Hickey asked this as a rhetorical question, but let's have ...2 days ago - Inquiring too well
Stephen Lawrence was murdered thirty years ago in a racist attack in London. The murder and the resulting police non-investigation has been the focus of multiple inquiries over the intervening three decades, resulting in official findings of institutional racism against the UK police and multiple corruption investigations. The "Spycops" scandal ...2 days ago - The Hoon around the week to August 2
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about revolts against the Government over austerity and disinformation by directors and staff alike at Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ, adding to the Kāinga Ora board ...2 days ago
- What’s that you say Todd McClay?
He doesn't look a thing like JesusBut he talks like a gentlemanLike you imagined when you were youngYou’re Not In Guatemala NowWe all know the famous line from Shortland Street, even if we haven’t watched the show in 30 years, probably even if we’re never seen it. Those stern matronly ...2 days ago - Weekly Climate Wrap: The methane mess
Extinction Rebellion activists protesting in 2021. Three years on and evidence of the contribution of methane (and the dairy industry) to climate change continues to grow. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion ...2 days ago
- The week the mask came off an Austerity Government, revealing front-line job cuts
With many already angry over measures such as the removal of free prescriptions and the repeal of smokefree legislation, the Government’s promises to only cut back-office staff and to keep existing publicly-available services in health and education are dissolving in front of people’s eyes. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: ...2 days ago - Weekly Roundup 2-August-2024
August already! That means spring is just around the corner, right? Here are some of the stories that caught our eye this week – about transport, housing, kids, dogs, trees, and all the little things that make cities great for people. As always, we look forward to your comments. A ...2 days ago - Putting pressure on the Government
With health spending under pressure, with estimates of a $1.3 billion budget blow at Health NZ, there is now another lobbying effort to try and stop the Government from spending $280 million on an extra medical school at Waikato University. The Universities of Auckland Otago have commissioned a report from ...3 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #31 2024
Open access notables The limits of “resilience”: Relationalities, contradictions, and re-appropriations, Davies & Arrieta, WIREs Climate Change [perspective]: We define manufactured irresilience as damage incurred by people, places and planet, which undermines the possibility of resilience, and results from causally discernible and remediable human behaviors. Building on the “critical ...3 days ago - Join us for the Hoon on YouTube Live
3 days ago - Pictures at an exhibition
3 days ago - Democracy vs billionaires
The G20 is currently considering a global agreement to tax billionaires. The plan - a 2% wealth tax on those controlling assets over $1 billion - would raise US$250 billion, and could be done simply by applying already-agreed rules on taxing multinational corporations. As the Financial Times points out, its ...3 days ago
- What’s Not To Like?
Heavy is the heart that wants to be a famous faceSucking all the air out of the roomFragile is the ego of the man that needs to win'Cause he doesn't know how to loseYou think they're in the palm of your handBut they're really under your skinJust when I think ...3 days ago - Curious Case of Health NZ vs the New Zealand National Party escalates
Chomp chompFirst of all, the all important news: the 2024 best pie recipient has been announced!The Supreme Pie Award this year went to an artisan bakery, Rangiora, located just 20 minutes North of Christchurch. Rangiora was built by Samuel Chapman in 1860 next to the local BNZ bank of the ...3 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on the government crusade to degrade public health
If anything finally convinces voters that the Luxon government is a deadly risk to life and limb, it will be the damage it is doing to the public health system. Our population is increasing and on average, it is getting older. Inevitably, the diseases related to aging require more complex, ...3 days ago
- Health NZ directors accuse PM of disinformation
TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Two former directors of Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ have publicly accused PM Christopher Luxon of trying to mislead the public over the merged entity’s finances, including one who worked as ...3 days ago - The greening of planes, trains, and automobiles
This article by Nicola Jones originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, a nonprofit publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible to all. Sign up for Knowable Magazine’s newsletter. As the world races to decarbonize everything from the electricity grid to industry, it faces particular problems with transportation — which alone is responsible for about ...3 days ago
- Which zones enable the most apartment projects?
Auckland desperately needs housing, and apartments provide crucial options for housing in accessible, high demand areas. Greater Auckland is actively working to enable apartments in more parts of the city, as a member of the Coalition for More Homes. Tamba Carleton is a Director in CBRE’s New Zealand research team. ...3 days ago
- 2024 Reading Summary: July (+ Writing Update)
Completed reads for July: The Mound, by H.P. Lovecraft and Zealia Bishop The Night Ocean, by H.P. Lovecraft and R.H. Barlow Out of the Aeons, by H.P. Lovecraft and Hazel Heald Poetry and the Gods, by H.P. Lovecraft and Anna Helen Crofts The Slaying of the Monster, by H.P. ...3 days ago - Wooing The Masses – A Green Fairy Tale?
Downloading The Deplorables: What Chloe Swarbrick is proposing to her Green comrades is a mass movement, but mass movements are driven by the interests of dominant majorities, not elites, and certainly not by the agendas of ethnic and sexual minorities. Working-class people, poorly-educated people, heterosexual people, Pakeha people: these are ...4 days ago - The Why And The How Of Abuse In Care.
Please Explain: Victims of abuse in care are now, at last, receiving recognition, apologies and compensation, but have they been given a credible explanation as to why their suffering was inflicted, and how it was able to go on for so long?READING THE ABUSE IN CARE REPORTS, two questions requiring ...4 days ago
- Staying Bought: The High Price Of Being In Charge.
Counting The Cost: Only through the creation of elaborate strategies of denial and deflection can those whose salaries depend on keeping the system going preserve their sanity. Very few people are able to embrace the injustice they daily dispense, but even fewer are unaware of its impact on their wellbeing.WE’VE ...4 days ago
- Strengthening the Waitangi Tribunal
Te Pāti Māori's Tākuta Ferris put a new bill in the ballot this week, the Treaty of Waitangi (Empowerment of Waitangi Tribunal) Amendment Bill. The bill does three things: it empowers the Waitangi Tribunal to inquire into legislation before Parliament and requires the government to respond to its findings; it ...4 days ago
- A Voyage Among the Vandals: Published
New story out today, as part of the July issue of Swords and Sorcery Magazine: https://swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/a-voyage-among-the-vandals/ ...4 days ago
- Not Far At All.
Right Turn: What social-liberal progressivism faces is a conservative populist surge composed of defenders of a status-quo that, if not gone, is, at least, widely perceived as going.“PROGRESSIVE” NEW ZEALAND is terrified of what it calls the “Far Right”. To hear progressive activists, academics and journalists tell the story, Aotearoa ...4 days ago
- Member’s Day
Today is a Member's Day. First up there is the third reading of a private bill, the McLean Institute (Trust Variation) Bill. It will be followed by the third reading of Stuart Smith's Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Cellar Door Tasting) Amendment Bill and the second readings of Dan Bidois' ...4 days ago
- Bernard's Chorus for Wednesday, July 31
The new Government is on track … to fail to meet both its Zero Carbon Act and Paris commitments. 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:The Government has received official advice that its emissions-increasing ...4 days ago - The People Have the Power
I was dreaming in my dreamingof an aspect bright and fairand my sleeping it was brokenbut my dream it lingered nearin the form of shining valleyswhere the pure air recognisedand my senses newly openedI awakened to the crythat the people have the powerto redeem the work of foolsupon the meek ...4 days ago - Could we “Ghentify” Auckland? A report from Velo-city 2024
As the Belgian city of Ghent shows, becoming a bike-friendly city is about so much more than enabling more cycling – it’s actually about reallocating valuable public space, and making connections that improve quality of life. In today’s guest post, former Auckland Councillor Pippa Coom reports from Ghent, where ...4 days ago
- Government’s HealthNZ claims start to unravel
The HealthNZ board, which the Prime Minister and Finance Minister dismissed on Monday as not being up to the job, had appointed two of the country’s most qualified accountants to serve as its advisors. Marc Rivers and Jonathan Oram were appointed as independent directors to the Whatu Ora Audit Committee ...5 days ago
- Climate Adam: Beyond Tomorrow – Earth's distant climate future
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). What happens after we stop emitting and changing our climate? Will things go back to normal, or will the global warming ...5 days ago
- Lovely piece of Turkey
5 days ago
.JPG){kind=link}
- Release: Document dump still doesn’t make the case for AUKUS
The Government continues its pretence that its promotion of Aukus Pillar 2 is what Labour did previously, which is just not correct, released papers show. ...2 days ago - Govt failing to keep communities safe from extremism
The Government’s decision not to implement eight of the 44 recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the March 15th attacks is an affront to those affected by this atrocity and communities at risk of hate crimes. ...2 days ago - Labour leader statement on cancellation of March 15 Royal Commission of Inquiry recommendations
“Almost five years on, there should be no better time to complete the 44 recommendations the Royal Commission of Inquiry made after March 15,” said Labour Leader Chris Hipkins. ...2 days ago
- Release: National have their heads in the sand over climate
The National Government is living in la-la land if it thinks it can achieve New Zealand’s climate goals with its current lack of policies to tackle the problem. ...4 days ago
- Govt undermines OT frontline services, breaks pledge
The Minister for Children Karen Chhour’s pledge that cuts to Oranga Tamariki would not impact frontline services has been broken. ...4 days ago
- Trickle-down tax cuts, at what cost?
Today’s tax cuts will come at the expense of our tomorrow. ...4 days ago
- Release: Anti-scam bill to help protect people’s money
A new Member’s Bill to increase protections from scams, including for vulnerable customers, is being introduced to the Ballot today. ...4 days ago
- Tākuta Ferris enters Member’s Bill to empower Waitangi Tribunal
Today MP for Te Tai Tonga and Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Tākuta Ferris has submitted his Member’s Bill into the ballot. The Treaty of Waitangi (Empowerment of Waitangi Tribunal) Amendment Bill will make Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding on the Crown. This bill will also allow ...4 days ago
- Release: Majority say no to Govt’s Maōri wards bill
The National-led government has taken away the choice of councils with the passing of Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill. ...5 days ago
- The woke agenda of the left
Labour Leader Chris Hipkins’ comments on the weekend that the government’s coalition agreements are ‘racist and anti-Māori’ shows not only how myopic and out of touch his thinking is, but it puts in neon lights just how siloed his party is in their obsessive echo-chamber. Labour ...5 days ago - Te Pāti Māori will establish a Kura Kaupapa Māori Education Authority
I tērā Paraire, i whakatairangahia e te Te Roopu Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi tō rātou pūrongo, ko Kei Ahotea Te Aho Matua – Pre-publication Version, mō te kerēme ohotata i kawea e Te Rūnanga Nui o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori (Te Rūnanga Nui). Ko tā te pūrongo i ...6 days ago
- Release: Kiwis lose more than they get under National
This week billions of dollars are going out the door that should’ve been spent on health, education and keeping costs down for people on public transport, homes, prescriptions, and school lunches. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour calls for Health NZ books to be opened
Government spin about Health New Zealand deficits can’t be trusted. ...6 days ago
- Green Party sends open letter to PM on renters’ rights
The Greens have launched an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to respond to the rental crisis. ...1 week ago
- Greens urge people to come together for transformational change
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has urged the party membership to reach out and bring more people into their movement. ...1 week ago
- Speech: Chris Hipkins’ Auckland hui address
Te Rangi e tu nei (The sky above us) Te Papa e takoto nei (The land beneath us) Tatou katoa te hunga ora (To us all the living) Tena koutou katoa (Greetings) ...1 week ago
- Release: Charter schools to remove the rights of teachers
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...1 week ago
- Te iwi Māori will not stand for another Foreshore and Seabed
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...1 week ago
- Te Pāti Māori Acknowledge the Need for Fundamental Change in State Care
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...1 week ago
- Release: National disgrace for children in poverty
Shifting the goalposts on child poverty is a new low for the National-led government. ...1 week ago
- Government quietly waters down child poverty targets
The Government’s move to dilute child poverty targets is a reminder that it is actively choosing to preserve hardship for thousands of households. ...1 week ago
- Release: National jumps on Labour’s trains
National is so short on ideas it is now announcing Labour’s rail announcement from a year ago, Labour transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...1 week ago
- Release: Opposition parties unite to protect ECE
Labour, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori are uniting to stop the Government’s dangerous changes to the Early Childhood Education sector. ...1 week ago
- Release: Another step forward for survivors of abuse in care
Labour welcomes the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care’s final report and the government committing to a formal apology in November. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt must listen to experiences of abuse survivors
The Government must do all it can to bring abuse in care to an end following the release of the independent inquiry. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Health New Zealand exposes Minister spinning in freefall
Health New Zealand contradicted the Government’s spin that back-office bureaucracy is the cause of overspend in the public health system. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt must act on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ Government Must Enforce ICJ Ruling
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Listen PM, boot camps don’t work
Refusing to listen to evidence, experts or experience the Government is stubbornly marching ahead with its boot camps. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt must act on ICJ ruling on illegal Israeli occupation
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Rents up under National, promises fall flat
National Party policies which promised to put “downward pressure” on rents are having the opposite effect. ...2 weeks ago
- MSD figures show Govt determined to punish beneficiaries
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...2 weeks ago
- We need real solutions, not more failed boot camps – Willow-Jean Prime
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...3 weeks ago
- David Seymour is Unfit to Serve as Minister
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...3 weeks ago
- Renters suffer as soaring rents feed rising inflation
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: National’s climate strategy undoes good progress
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...3 weeks ago
- Green Party releases executive summary of independent investigation
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...3 weeks ago
- Government back off track on climate action
Today’s Draft Emissions Reduction Plan shows the Government couldn’t care less about a liveable climate for all. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: PM needs to step in over Shane Jones’ undeclared meeting
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...3 weeks ago
- Government transforms maths education
The Government will transform maths education to tackle New Zealand’s chronic problem with maths and set kids – and New Zealand – up for success, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford say. New data from the Curriculum Insights and Progress Study (CIPS) shows just 22 per cent ...6 hours ago - Innovating to reduce manufacturing emissions
A new set of tools to support manufacturers to grow their business and reduce their emissions has been launched by Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts. “Manufacturing is a sleeping giant for New Zealand’s economy; with the right tools and support, manufacturing has ...2 days ago
- March 15 coordinated response concludes
The Government has concluded the coordinated cross-government response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques, Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins says. “March 15 2019 was one of the darkest days in New Zealand’s history, and one we will never forget,” Ms Collins says. “The ...2 days ago
- New chair appointed to Landcorp Farming
John Rae has been appointed chair of Landcorp Farming Limited (Pāmu), State Owned Enterprises Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint John to the role as he brings with him a wealth of experience and a sound understanding of the opportunities and challenges currently facing Landcorp. “He already ...3 days ago
- Strengthening partnership with Te Arawa
Whakamarohitia ngā wai o Waikato. Rejuvenate the waters of Waikato. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to restoring the health of the Waikato River with Te Arawa, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust for bringing their important kōrero to a ...3 days ago
- Government supports 132 events to drive regional tourism
A total of 132 events are set to receive a funding boost to help attract more New Zealanders to the regions throughout the year and grow the economy, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey announced today. “Regional events large and small are excellent drawcards for New Zealanders to explore beyond ...3 days ago
- Vocational education reform consultation begins
The Government is consulting on reforms to replace the failed Te Pūkenga experiment with a financially sustainable, regionally responsive vocational education and training system that delivers the skills and training New Zealand needs, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “After four years and hundreds of millions of wasted ...3 days ago
- Transparent investment reporting to drive fiscal discipline
The Government has released its first Quarterly Investment Report as part of the drive to deliver better value for money from government expenditure and restore fiscal discipline, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Finance and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. “We will be publishing these reports quarterly to provide the ...3 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointment
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has appointed Keiran Horne to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand. Ms Horne will bring to the Board extensive expertise in audit and assurance, following a career as an insolvency practitioner. She also has broad governance experience, including in the government sector. “Ms Horne’s expertise ...3 days ago
- Thousands more young people to get job coaching
A significant investment by the coalition Government in young job seekers will see an extra 2100 placed into community-led programmes that provide job coaches and other support to give them a better future. Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says an additional $9.45 million will be spent on expanding ...3 days ago
- Regulatory review into agricultural and horticultural products now underway
Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have confirmed the regulatory review into the approval path for agricultural and horticultural products is now underway, with the terms of reference approved. “This review by the Ministry for Regulation will look at how we can ...3 days ago
- Applications for new innovation fund open today
Applications open today for the Government’s first round of the new $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has today announced. “This fund provides an excellent opportunity for non-government organisations (NGOs) and community mental health and addiction providers to receive extra funding ...4 days ago
- Health Minister welcomes appointment of regional leaders
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has welcomed the appointment of four highly-experienced health leaders to roles as regional Deputy Chief Executives at Health New Zealand. “The last Government’s botched health reforms removed local leadership from our health system, resulting in layers of bureaucracy and a disconnection from the frontline,” says ...4 days ago
- Promised cost of living relief is here
The Government has delivered on its promise to New Zealanders with tax relief for hardworking Kiwis in effect from today, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “I am thrilled to have delivered on our promise to Kiwi families who can keep more of their hard-earned money to put towards things that ...4 days ago
- New appointments for Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust
Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee has today announced the appointment of eight trustees to the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust (the Trust). The Trust was established in 2004 to promote the preservation of Chinese New Zealand history and awareness of the contribution of early Chinese settlers. It also provides tangible ...4 days ago
- Joint statement: Australia-New Zealand 2+2 Climate and Finance Dialogue
Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts have today met in Brisbane with their Australian counterparts, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Ministers discussed joint action to meet our climate commitments, climate resilience in the Pacific region, how investment and finance can be ...5 days ago
- Jones to attend PIF Economic Ministers Meeting
Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones will represent New Zealand at this week’s Pacific Island Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Suva, Fiji. “Ministers from across the Pacific will discuss the key economic and socio-economic issues facing the region,” Mr Jones says. “New Zealand’s presence will demonstrate our commitment to the region, ...5 days ago
- Government restores local decision-making
The Government has today delivered upon one of its key promises to New Zealanders by restoring the rights of communities to determine whether to introduce Māori wards, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“The passing of Local Government Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill draws ...5 days ago
- New Zealand to welcome President of India
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced that the President of India, Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu, will make a State visit to New Zealand next week. “This is the second time New Zealand will be welcoming an Indian President, following Shri Pranab Mukherjee’s visit in 2016,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand and India have a ...5 days ago
- Vanuatu PM visits New Zealand for bilateral talks
Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will meet next week for talks on labour mobility, climate change, advancing Pacific regionalism and other areas of mutual interest. “New Zealand and Vanuatu have a long-standing friendship and both aspire to a safe, secure and economically prosperous Pacific Region,” ...5 days ago
- NZ and Indonesia launch ambitious Plan of Action
New Zealand and Indonesia have launched an ambitious Plan of Action to guide bilateral cooperation over the next five years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “New Zealand and Indonesia share an important partnership, and over the next five years we will be focused on delivering even more for our peoples," ...5 days ago
- Joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of New Zealand and the Republic of Indonesia at the 11th Jo...
1. On 30 July 2024, Her Excellency Retno L.P. Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, convened the 11th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Auckland, New Zealand. 2. The Ministers ...5 days ago
- Overly-prescriptive CCCFA regulations scrapped
Strict loan affordability requirements and arduous, overly prescriptive checks are a thing of the past, say Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “From tomorrow, 31 July, eleven pages of overly prescriptive affordability regulations will no longer be part of the Credit Contracts and Consumer ...5 days ago
- Study underway to secure national fuel resilience
A study of New Zealand’s fuel security, including investigating reopening the Marsden Point refinery, will soon get underway as the Coalition Government seeks to beef up the country’s resilience, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says. “Ensuring New Zealand is a resilient and self-sufficient country is a priority for this government, ...5 days ago
- Enabling faster flood resilience works in Māngere
The Coalition Government is proposing temporary law changes to make it easier to undertake flood works in Māngere to improve the community’s resilience to severe weather events, Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Environment Minister Penny Simmonds say. “Māngere was particularly affected by the 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods and ...5 days ago
- Government introduces roadside drug testing legislation
The Government has introduced legislation that will enable roadside drug testing as part of our commitment to improve road safety, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Alcohol and drugs are the number one contributing factor in fatal road crashes in New Zealand. In 2022, alcohol and drugs were contributors to 200 fatal ...5 days ago
- Regulating online casinos approach
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to a high-level approach to regulating online casinos designed to minimise harm, support tax collection, and provide consumer protections to New Zealanders. “There will be a licencing system for online casinos, where operators will need to comply with ...5 days ago
- New satellite technology will lead to fewer flight cancellations
New satellite technology that significantly improves GPS accuracy, has reached an important milestone, with two 11-metre satellite dishes switched on by Land Information Minister Chris Penk. Known as the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN), the project improves GPS accuracy from five to 10 metres, down to less than a metre ...5 days ago
- Trans-Tasman Finance and Climate Ministers to meet
Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will take part in the second annual Australia-New Zealand 2+2 Climate and Finance Ministers’ meeting in Brisbane this week. The “2+2” format allows New Zealand’s Finance and Climate Change Ministers to meet with their Australian counterparts on the interconnected issues ...6 days ago
- NZ advances relationship with South East Asia
High-level meetings in Laos this week have emphasised the important role the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) plays in ensuring a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The ASEAN-led Ministerial meetings have been an opportunity to engage with a wide range of partners on ...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 ...1 week 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 ...1 week 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 ...1 week 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 ...1 week 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 ...1 week 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 ...1 week 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 ...1 week 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. “Minister ...1 week 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 ...1 week 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 ...1 week ago
- Labour criticises lack of contingency plan on Cook Strait ferries amid budget issues
Labour's transport spokesperson described the government's handling of the iReX project as a complete failure. ...2 hours ago - Kieran McAnulty emphatically denies leadership ambitions, says media must ‘accept that’
The senior Labour MP insists he does not want to be the leader of his party, even if the position was vacant. ...2 hours ago
- Minister Shane Reti defends claim of five-day financial failure at Health NZ
Health NZ's board went from "receiving the level of reporting it needed", to its financial situation being "suddenly quite different" in just five days, the health minister says. ...5 hours ago
- Watch: Christopher Luxon decries ‘shocking’ state of maths achievement in schools
The prime minister has described the "shocking" state of maths achievement after "years of drift and decay", and says a new primary school maths curriculum will be introduced as early as Term 1 next year. ...6 hours ago
- Watch: Christopher Luxon speaks at National Party conference
The prime minister is speaking to National Party faithful at the party's annual conference. ...7 hours ago
- Champion Mystics must keep a finger on bounding Pulse
It has all the elements to be one of the closest ANZ Premiership grand finals since 2018 – when the defending champions Steel came from behind in the final minutes to tip out the favoured Pulse by a solitary goal. No doubt current Pulse players Whitney Souness, Tiana Metuarau and ...12 hours ago - An Ode to .. Gerry Brownlee
Signs of the Times Friar Gerry opens The Games With a blow on his referee’s whistle. Two teams sworn to eternal bickering Face off on either side of the River Swill. On the left side – the Brown Necks. On the right side – the Magenta Necks. The Brown Necks ...12 hours ago
- Turkey-based Freedom Flotilla aid ships put ‘on hold’ but Handala still heads for Gaza
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has told supporters that the “Break the Siege” aid project for besieged Gaza from Turkey has been put on hold — indefinitely — due to rising tensions in the wake of the assassinations of key resistance leaders in the capitals of Lebanon and ...16 hours ago - New head of UN deep-sea mining regulator vows to restore neutrality
SPECIAL REPORT: By Stephen Wright of BenarNews Promises of “accountability and transparency” in deep-sea mining has seen a tsunami-size vote by nations on Friday for a Brazilian scientist to replace the incumbent British lawyer as head of an obscure UN organisation that regulates the world’s seabed. Mounting international opposition to ...20 hours ago
- Gaza killings and the death of Western journalism – why the shocking silence?
COMMENTARY: By Mohamad Elmasry On Wednesday, the Israeli army killed two more Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi were working when they were struck by Israeli forces in Gaza City. Al-Ghoul, whose Al Jazeera reports were popular among Arab audiences, was wearing a press vest at the ...21 hours ago
- Israel accused of being a ‘rogue state’ trying to destabilise Middle East
Asia Pacific Report Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian political leader and a former member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Executive Committee, says Israel’s “gangster style assassination and extrajudicial executions” are designed to “inflame the whole region”, reports Al Jazeera. The killings of the Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran ...1 day ago
- Hundreds turn out for rally against Māori children in state care
Organisers of the rally say they want action for tamariki and mokopuna in state care. ...1 day ago
- Focus on Politics: Swarbrick opens up about a tense AGM and the Green dream
Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick speaks about the challenge she gave members to go through some growing pains, and the ongoing fallout of the Darleen Tana saga. ...1 day ago
- National Party to work ‘very hard’ to grow membership base
Party faithful are relishing the election result but are also being asked to encourage like minded people to join the cause. ...1 day ago
- The Paris Dossier – Day 7
New Zealand added a sailing Silver to our medal table overnight in the men’s 49er, and we now sit at two golds, three silver and a bronze. But all eyes will turn to the five-time Olympian Emma Twigg at 8.18 tonight (NZT) as she looks to back-up her rowing ...1 day ago
- AI is coming for your playlist
Your next favourite artist could be AI. On today’s episode of The Detail, AI music expert Ollie Bown, an associate professor at the University of New South Wales School of Art and Design, talks through how AI music platforms work, and the pros and cons of taking music creation out ...2 days ago
- Mortgage borrowers ready for interest rates to fall
Following the Reserve Bank’s green-lighting of earlier rate cuts last month, pundits have been all a flutter trying to pick when and how much the Official Cash Rate (OCR) will be cut this year. There are three RBNZ meetings remaining in 2024 – August, October, and November. Our formal view is that the ...2 days ago
- Short story: Hitch, by Emma Neale
We were driving along State Highway 1 at night, after visiting family who lived out of town. Even as we travelled nearer the city again, the highway was spookily deserted. It was a week or so after our national lockdown lifted, and I wondered if people across the region were ...2 days ago
- Upholding te ao Māori not a zero-sum game
Opinion: The mantra of the current Government is ‘getting the country back on track’. As far as policies related to Māori go, they are definitely getting us ‘back on track’ – to the long history of government actions aimed to safeguard Pākehā privilege at the expense of Māori. You can ...2 days ago
- The Secret Diary of .. Shane Reti
MONDAY The Prime Minister calls, and asks why there was no doctor at Dargaville Hospital when a patient went into cardiac arrest last week. I laugh, and ask him if he knows his way around the health system. He laughs, too. The great thing about the Prime Minister is that ...2 days ago
- Judith Collins causes ‘shell-shock’ in small Christchurch hall
Analysis: It was a circular moment. On Friday morning, media were invited to an announcement by the office of National Party Minister Judith Collins about the Government’s response to the Terror Attack Royal Commission recommendations. That same venue, the central Christchurch justice buildings, was where media pored over the Royal ...2 days ago
- National Party conference: ‘A government focused on action and delivery’
The National Party caucus and party faithful are gathering in Auckland for its annual general meeting. ...2 days ago
- Pacific profiles: Meet Auckland’s favourite driving instructor
The Pacific profiles series shines a light on Pacific people in Aotearoa doing interesting and important work in their communities, as nominated by members of the public. Today, James Fungavai. All photos by Geoffery Matautia. During golden hour at VTNZ Glen Innes, we met with Tongan driving instructor James Fungavai. ...2 days ago - The Weekend: There’s nothing fair about the Olympics
So why do we keep trying to disqualify the best athletes? Every four years I get hooked on the Olympics – I research the careers of weightlifters and long jumpers and cry every time an athlete cries on the podium and become more patriotic than I ever thought possible. And ...2 days ago
- ‘The enjoyment of human folly’: Abby Howells on the beauty of Taskmaster
The award-winning comedian and upcoming star of Taskmaster NZ takes us through her life in TV, including the call of the Beaurepaires ad and the power of Fran Drescher. When Abby Howells was cast in the upcoming season of Taskmaster NZ, her first call was to her parents back in ...2 days ago
- ‘Fishing rod, cigarette and a bottle of Mumm’: Princess Chelsea’s perfect weekend playlist
Princess Chelsea shares a special fishing edition of the perfect weekend playlist. Women love her, and fish fear her: any given weekend can be made perfect in Princess Chelsea‘s eyes if a bit of rock fishing is involved. “It’s sustainable and great for your nervous system. It’s great by yourself ...2 days ago
- ‘Funny, refreshing, and courageous’: Shilo Kino’s All That We Know, reviewed
Natasha Lampard reads Shilo Kino’s best-selling novel, All That We Own Know, recently published by Moa Books. “This is where her whānau were from. This is where she was supposed to belong. Where her ancestors stood on the very same whenua and signed Te Tiriti…The field was overflowing with ...2 days ago
- On still having an eating disorder in my 30s
If I had to put a number on it, I’d say I’m about 90% recovered. I never imagined I would get this far. This essay discusses disordered eating. Please take care. It’s 7.10am and I’m ushered into a little room by an exceptionally kind nurse to run through a pre-op ...2 days ago
- Sweet dreams, Sweet Valley High
On the news of Sweet Valley High creator Francine Pascal’s passing at the age of 92 this week, we revisit Megan Dunn’s essay on the pop culture cult of identical twin teens Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. Francine Pascal orchestrated the creation of over 150 Sweet Valley High books which have ...2 days ago
- Government’s focus pivots to economic empowerment for Indigenous Australians in Garma speech
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will switch the government’s focus in Indigenous affairs policy towards the economic empowerment of First Nations communities, in a speech at the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land on Saturday. Addressing ...2 days ago
- Pacific Journalism Review at 30 – a strong media legacy
COMMENTARY: By David Robie Pacific Journalism Review (PJR) began life three decades ago in Papua New Guinea and recently celebrated a remarkable milestone in Fiji with its 30th anniversary edition and its 47th issue. Remarkable because it is the longest surviving Antipodean media, journalism and development journal published in the ...2 days ago
- Promoting peace and stability in the Middle East by unconditionally backing its worst aggressor
COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone President Biden — if you feel like pretending Biden is still serving as President and still making the decisions in the White House — has pledged to support Israel against any retaliations for its recent assassination spree in Iran and Lebanon which killed high-profile officials from Hamas and Hezbollah. A ...2 days ago
- Former Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson arrested on a Japanese warrant from 2012 – what next?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tamsin Phillipa Paige, Senior Lecturer, Deakin University Sea Shepherd founder and anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been arrested in Greenland and awaits potential extradition to Japan. The arrest relates to incidents in the Southern Ocean in February 2010. The charges against ...2 days ago
- Official AUKUS documents outline timeline of New Zealand’s understanding and position on Pilla...
A series of discussions about the AUKUS security pact between New Zealand and Australian officials has been revealed in newly released documents. ...2 days ago
- It’s tax time and scammers are targeting your myGov account. Here’s how to stay safe
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassandra Cross, Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching) Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology For many, tax time is an exciting part of the year – there’s the potential for a refund. However, it’s also an attractive ...2 days ago
- The Questions is a gorgeous and joyful piece of new Australian musical theatre
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Campbell, Lecturer, Performing Arts, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia Claude Raschella/State Theatre Company South Australia A blind dinner date in a small high-rise apartment between a blandly dressed neat-freak with a professed admiration for alt-right male online celebs, and ...2 days ago
- Food and exercise can treat depression as well as a psychologist, our study found. And it’s cheape...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrienne O’Neil, Professor, Food & Mood Centre, Deakin University Alexander Raths/shutterstock Around 3.2 million Australians live with depression. At the same time, few Australians meet recommended dietary or physical activity guidelines. What has one got to do with the other? ...2 days ago
- Palestinian headdress barred from Parliament’s public gallery
Members of the public have been told to remove their keffiyeh – a Palestinian headdress – before entering Parliament’s public gallery, in a move they believe is an “unjustified breach” of their human rights. On Wednesday, Samira Zaiton, a Palestinian activist and former parliamentary staff member, attempted to enter the ...2 days ago
- The Week in Politics: Health horror stories and claims of racism in Parliament
Analysis - It should have been a really good week for the government but a string of horror stories got in the way, writes Peter Wilson at his look back at the Week in Politics. ...2 days ago
- Tauranga City Council’s only woman elected to become deputy mayor
A councillor let the news slip just before mayor-elect Mahé Drysdale was able to officially announce it. ...2 days ago
Old Sunny…. national party spokescrony. Wasn't hard to see him slithering into this new position.
There is a terrible blight ( very often in poor areas) of dairies selling drugs. Alcohol and smokes/vapes.
They seemingly have no qualms as they are legal… nevermind the harm they cause. Esp the,as yet unknown, vape harm… particularly to young (incl very young)
Old ex Labour now Nat Sunny had called Labours actions to restrict as "racist". The links are initially on google Newshub 22/8/23…but page not found. Newshub closed.
Shame on Sunny
Sunny is your basic opportunist. The small traders he purports to represent are at the bottom of the capitalist retailing eco system, often buying their stock from Pak’n’Save or (near) expired goods merchants. They sell liquor, tobacco, vapes and related products, and price gouge grocery items in poorer communities.
When people talk “food security” it includes access. So if you do not have transport, the dairy is where you might go for basics. Fair enough for the occasional convenient purchase but mere exploitation if it is regular.
Actually that would be my reading of the situation. This is effectively a payoff to reduce bad headlines.
From the times that I have been around Sunny Kaushal (also at Labour party events), I had him picked as only really being interested in his own self-interest. I always considered him to be completely indifferent to the interests of others unless, by coincidence, it assisted that objective. Nothing I have seen since, including his support for robbed dairy owners, has made me change that opinion.
I also thought that his innate political incompetence would prevent him from his ambitions. It looks like I was wrong. He has finally managed to find the lever, that of dairy owners misery, that allows him to monetise his self-interested ambitions.
But I guess that National really wanted him to shut up. I don't expect that he will be capable of any useful or effective advice.
Personally I think that the most effective way to stop making small retail businesses a target would have been to reduce the number of places selling addictive drugs – ie tobacco and nicotine. It has been the obvious reason why these robberies have been happening – as Sunny himself pointed out in 2017 (and that is advice I don't expect him to repeat now).
But National, Act, and NZ First are so overwhelmed by the nicotine pushers both as donors and suppliers of their MPs and staffers, that they didn't and won't take the best steps to alleviate the crime problem that it causes. I suspect that Sunny will be targeted by them as well.
Instead his upcoming advice will probably lean heavily on 'research' paid for by the Tobacco lobby like this one reported in 2021 by the NZ Herald, who in characteristic deference to industry interests didn't report the most interesting feature of the study – ie who funded it.
As a comment in that article pointed out the paper was sponsored by the foundation for a smoke free world, which was a foundation solely funded by tobacco giant Philip Morris at the time.
I trust that any 'advice' from Sunny's advisory group will be carefully OIA'ed to see just how corrupted by tobacco funding and ex-flacks it becomes.
Sunny K has called for dairy owners to be able to defend themselves. With guns.
Sunny. Another fucking idiot.
Will fit in well with the current coalition of clowns.
Evidence?
I've seen him commenting that dairy owners are likely to arm themselves for protection – but not calling for this to happen.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/06/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-says-arming-dairy-owners-won-t-reduce-ram-raids.html
Repeatably been saying that gun licenses were being sought of that various forms or weapons or various types being purchased from at least 2017 to 2023 in my brief search.
Essentially this is the way that Sunny gets around the various criminal laws against incitement to violence. He just implies that everyone else is doing it and therefore that it is a wise idea.
Problem is that if a shop owner actually tries 'self-defence' when they are not immediately at risk of harm and injures someone using a weapon that they purchased for 'self-defence' then they are going to get charged. That they are getting robbed of property at the time simply isn't a defence. They would have to show that they were in imminent physical danger – not that they were just being stupid.
Problem with that approach for Sunny is that all it takes is a shop owner having evidential material around from someone like Sunny encouraging preemptive 'self-defence', and it becomes likely that he gets pulled in on charges of inciting a criminal offence as well. There is a reason why 'incites', 'abets', and 'counsels' are some of the more common verbs in the Crimes Act. Including Part 4 "Parties to the commission of offences"
May get off in court with a jury, but the police would make a point of dragging it out in the courts including appeals. Police, crown lawyers, and judges take a dim view of heading into a world that ends in shopkeepers killing someone in their shop because "they looked at dangerous to me at the time" – which is where it gets to pretty fast.
Having a thinly veiled "but I didn't actually say that" defence to incitement generally can be torn apart in court, especially when a shop-keeper defending themselves on assault or murder charges start using Sunny's words as part of their own defence. Police, prosecutors and judges also love having a go at people who incite implicitly incite crimes, getting others to commit them.
And of course, even if the police don't lay charges, there are always private prosecutions and even wrongful death actions.
A product of Sunny's transactional approach to politics. "I do this for you therefore you will do this for me". He waka jumped from Labour because they were not prepared to give him the rewards to which he thought he should be entitled.
Now, the NACTs want him to continue being a "useful idiot" – to shut up about today's crime if it cannot be blamed on Labour – and to make it look as if they are actually doing something – however superficial, about a very deep seated problem.
Sunny Kaushal from personal experience is a capacious asshole.
Nothing good will come of anything ge produces.
Would be great if MO Deborah Russel would name him for who he really is.
I remember her…..lost a winnable seat, hardly sighted since, not sticking it to the CoC along with so many of the current crop.
Wtf are they waiting for ? Does it all have to go through chippie or are they simply not bothered calling it like it is.
Winnable? Winnable?
Deborah Russell lost a heartland Labour seat that had been defended for decades like dwarves in front of their mountain kingdom. Then she failed to provide any apology for the loss, has not explained what she would do differently next time, pissed off her LEC, and confirmed she wants to stand again.
Well what does one usually find in Da Bog*? That's right …
* Dairy And Business Owners Group
National won't lose the next election if they do things right.
The "dairy community" (my collective noun for dairy and small business owner fed up of risking their lives for the margins on milk, bread and potato chips) are closely watching this government. They got behind them on the promise of help, so they will quickly take away that support if they find themselves dumped on like the cancer patients.
From the tone of the article, we're right on schedule.
One thing I've noticed about Luxon is common knowledge – he seems to see his role as CEO of NZ Inc and so, like all great CEOs the first turnaround is to do a culling of workers. Anyway, I digress.
The implication from him seeing his role as CEO of NZ Inc is that he is ticking off his quarterly KPIs when he's done what he said he would, not when the problems are resolved.
Notice a lot of new legislation, like gang patches. Luxon's ticking off as 'done' when the legislation is in place, not when the problem has been fixed. Same with boot camps. New legislation, 10 kids starting boot camp, target met. Same with this. Appointment made for a think tank on small business crime, target met, on to the next target.
IMHO, he meets with people who already like him, he visits things that already succeed (if you were a prospective NZ PM and had to choose between visiting McDonalds or a promising new kiwi startup, what would you do?) and when reporters ask him difficult questions, he insults their intelligence by changing the subject, (sometimes quite dramatically), instead of facing up to them.
Sunny none too bright, but strategically a good move by the Govt. It will quieten Sunny down if he's on the team who are having tocome up with solutions. An old trick
Having said all this, I really hope this group comes up with something that works. Terrible what these small dairy owners experience in terms of crime. Wrong
Lets face it with National is they create jobs for THEIR BOYS. In other words You Scratch My Back and I Will Scratch Yours…"
NZ taxpayers money will be spent on this 'Advisory Group' that will probably in due course find its way into the NZ National Party coffers/bank accounts.
Crime even in the retail industry has been around for centuries, I doubt even an 'advisory group' will make any great achievement.
As is wont of politicians is the NZ taxpayers are again the Ambulance at the Bottom of the Cliff for the spending sprees of politicians no matter what political party they hark from or to.
I do wonder as to when this government will have an 'Advisory Group' on White Collar crime which too is a major problem even here in NZ???!!!! Will their hesitation be because alot of those that are into white collar crime are actually the very ones that donate to say National in the lead up to elections???!!!
As the years go by my trust of politicians whether local or central diminish. They ALL proclaim these pre-election promises but never deliver on those promises. Instead it comes across they develop an allergy to being honest with NZers.
Goldsmith was complaining about the growth of crimes in the dairy retail business on RNZ and why there needs to be action. And RNZ jumped in with the fact that sex related crimes were the fastest growing crime in that area. Of course Goldsmith wanted to hedge away from that because, it's most likely the shop owners who are preying on their shop workers, and it's not likely that going to be investigated with any vigour by Sunny Kausha's advisory group.
Let's just hope that any person subject to a personal attack in a Diary has the same right to defence as owners do … even whey the crime isn't robbery.