There was the pretty good photo actually of Muller and co. at Cardrona the other day announcing one of the few policies they have, the 'Tourism Accelerator". Ruining it was one guy in a cap who looked like a naughty schoolboy – Hamish Walker.
He hasn't sacked him, he's given the portfolios to someone else while the Inquiry is happening, at the same time minimising the seriousness of Walker's actions.
Given Walker's racist press statement the other day, it's bizarre he hasn't been permanently demoted. Might be time for National to look for another Clutha/Southland candidate, but I won't hold my breath.
Fair enough. Given that Walker will hold the seat anyway, Muller has under-reacted there. No loss to him if Walker is on the back benches for 2 months, he's hardly a Bridges.
Have a listen to RNZ this morning,Privacy commissioner say politicans have some sort of immunity re- leaking info,not just parlimentary privilage.
Also how about supporting people with dis-ablitys on this site and have a spell check,it is 2020. Dyslexic count, do you know how long it can take just too write a wee note like this,or shall I give up,is that the idea.
I have dyslexia and use the Grammarly addon for chrome which works here. It's also available for other platforms too. I only use the free version and it suits my needs. Hope it helps.
Pressing Ctrl and right clicking on words marked as spelling errors should bring up the browsers usual menu. In most browsers that will bring up the browsers dictionary support. Just found that gem…
Being a programmer and mildly dyslexic myself, I have been using the "Source" when I want to fix words because the right click context menu works well there.
But I’ll have a look around for other server side tools that may help.
Amy Adams is probably looking for a seat to get back in after the election. She has a house in Cromwell which is now in Clutha Southland after the boundary changes this year.
Ought we to feel some compassion for the true-blue Nats of Clutha-Southland, who must be feeling sick to their stomachs with this latest exposure; Todd Barclay, Sarah Dowie, and now Hamish Walker?
bout time they did something about it then. National have the same dilemma as Labour now, their party has been taken over and it will take a lot to set it right.
Council staff are often referred to as 'the orcs', especially when they have their enforcement hats on. I've seen a couple of instances, fires mainly, where it was quite apt. Fortunately not directly on the receiving end. A few texts do the rounds warning of orcs abroad or at the gate….
Acquired in her role as acting CEO of the rescue helicopter trust.
There's still the question as to why the trust had patient-identifed data sent to it, e.g. was it an analyst screw up or did it have a genuine need for that information.
And if the trust got the data in error, did Boag or anyone else report this to the data supplier, or did she run straight to her party? lol even odds either way?
It depends on how big the admin team is, I suspect. If it's five tiers below her, there might be vertical compartmentalisation issues for the trust to look at.
But if the acting CEO was actually working for a living in a small team and helping develop the staffing plans if any of those folk need air transport, she might have reasonably legitimate access. Or maybe someone emailed her going "I got sent this, seems to be more than I should receive, what should I do?" And her response speaks for itself.
I would have thought the people who would need the list ahead of time would be whoever manages the call outs, and the staff that go on call outs. I guess Boag could be hands on in that management.
The second scenario makes sense, although the person emailing shouldn't have emailed the information, but described it instead.
I mean, if I got something I felt completely out of my depth on and the boss says "give it all to me, I'll handle it", suddenly all my problems are solved because the managers will be the ones doing battle.
But those are the causes of the train:car collision, and investigators need to confirm that all the signals are working, the car was functioning normally, the drivers were all sob – holy crap, that train had three wagonloads of illegal ammunition and weapons?! And they belonged to the people who reported the crash to make a point about the safety of that level crossing?! WTF???
That's the sort of vibe I'm having at the moment, lol.
I am guessing burner phone, so not work related at all.
From lines about the spreadsheet not being protected, an external to work hack is inferred. Of course that might be to protect a NP source at some level within the public service or management regime.
"Under the Electoral Act, party advertisements require a promoter statement and the written authorisation of the party," the commission spokesman said.
Obvious answer is to put the required "promoter statement and the written authorisation of the party" on it and stick them up on every street corner!
Similar to the, 'Let's do this' moment, she grabbed something real, popular and already in existence and ran with it. Do the same here, Hayden!
Boag gave the info to Walker who passed it on to media.
How Boag got it is now the issue – she says it came to her as CEO of Auckland of Rescue HelicopterTrust. I am not sure if this credible, time will tell.
And why was it sent to her private email address if it was related to her role as CEO of that Trust?
Heron needs to identify the sender of that email before Boag accidently deletes it. And if the sender used a burner phone etc and Boag could not identify who sent it …., why would she think it was related to her work …
My suspicion is she is protecting a National Party asset, the question is where MOH, or in the border security system, or …
Maybe the MOH needs to look at a system for monitoring the Apple and Android apps that have come out about a month back.
In this regard, one should note the USA is no longer taking in Indian IT migrants under their H-1B visa, and the government should look at bringing in IT expertise – US IT workers (leaving a commmunity spread environment) and a few of the Indian migrant workers (around 60,000 a year) shut out of the US employment market.
Walker said he had received legal advice that he had not committed any criminal offence.
"The information that I received was not password-protected by the Government. It was not stored on a secure system where authorised people needed to log on. There was no redaction to protect patient details, and no confidentiality statement on the document. "By exposing a significant privacy issue I hope the Government will improve its protocols and get its safeguards right."
They are running the same line they did with the Treasury leak, the Bishop snoop. The racist dog whistler is now claiming he was doing us a service.
His defence is that the information was not secure. Yet Boag is claiming it came to her on a private email to her in her work capacity. Something does not add up.
The information that I received was not password-protected by the Government. It was not stored on a secure system where authorised people needed to log on.
Yeah, I'd say that the lawyer giving that advice needs to go back to school.
Stealing from an open house is still stealing. Same would apply here.
And I'd say that it propably was stored on a secure system – until it was removed from that system and sent to Boag.
Any boy who graduated from a Good School should know what is correct behaviour and not look for excuses for exposing people's private information to others, that’s nasty hacking stuff. . Or was he home-schooled? There is no excuse Walker, get your boots on and go. And take your granny dolly with you.
Bridges relieved he lost to Muller – let the resignations flow. Anyone feeling for Hooton?
Maybe there’s a book in it: The Hollow Men – Dirty Politics – Dirtier Politics: How attack politics is stillpoisoning New Zealand’s political environment
Have felt for some time that Boag is naturally 100% pure poison – surely now Wallace can finally stop inviting her back to appear on The Panel.
Many of us foresaw that Dirty Politics was going to be rife this year. The Nats will go to any lengths to grab the reins of power. Not the least bit surprised Michelle Boag is implicated.
And no thought for the distress it must have caused the targeted individuals.
I had a nasty feeling that Muller would be manoeuvred out and it would be Nikki Kaye as leader in a head-on with Jacinda… replicating Labour's manoeuvre last election.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Why did someone supply Boag with the list? Why did she pass the list on to Walker, and who else – apart from the media – received a copy of the list?
If Boag is telling the truth (?) and she didn't know Walker had given it to the media then what was the original plan of action? Was it just going be left lying around in strategic places?
Walker is saying he made claims about govt covid systems and needed to back that up so gave the details to the media. So it's conceivable Boag hadn't intended that esp given Walker is a loose unit. Otoh, it's inconceivable the statements today weren't coordinated, so why should we trust anything any of them say? Boag makes a better apology but she made this bed so will have to lie in it either way.
If to her in her work role, why by email to her private email?
And if Walker's claim the spreadsheep was not protected, why presume the person who accessed it did so in their official work role?
Now let's go back to the snooping on Treasury budget information before the official release.
Synergy – like twins born the same day – lets illuminate. Barclay and Bishop came from the same background. Both from uni to work in parliament then onto the same job corporate affairs for an Auckland based international tobacco corporate (where there is dirty smoke …) before to parliament as MP's in the same year 2014. Barclay has since been replaced by Walker. For mine Heron should invite Bishop to speak to him.
The leak might not be illegal but wasn't there something in the Privacy Act that it was illegal to disseminate information which you had no legal right to have – or something?
Seems to also be a likely breach of s92U of the Health Act 1956, but again I can't find any penalty for it:
Despite anything in the Privacy Act 1993, information provided or obtained under a direction under this Part may not be used or disclosed by anyone except for the effective management of infectious diseases, but nothing in this section limits the right of an individual to access or disclose information about him or her under that Act or any other Act.
The suspicious thing to me is that it turned up in her personal email by itself, even though it was part of her role (apparently). So she didn't actually steal the data, because she didn't remove it from the Trust's systems herself. Wasn't that lucky for her? /sarc
I think we need to borrow one of those Police Helicopters until election time and have it hovering over various National Party people – as you would with potential criminals. Just think of the loot that the police could restrain? – lots of deckchairs and lounges and nice cars and expensive clothes and properties and….
What 'indiscretion' needs distraction by a cheetah-sized dead cat in the guise of a former President of the National Party, heavily involved in former dirty tricks campaigns, passing on sensitive and private information on patients to an MP who had recently been sanctioned for inappropriate behaviour by his leader, who then passed it onto the media, purely for political advantage in a bid to discredit a successful and popular government.
Well that one will rebound on them, like a very live tom cat with claws sharpened and feral instincts aroused, spitting fury and retribution.
A short story in which captain 'Sully' Sullenberger is bringing his powerless plane down to the Hudson River and irate passenger Todd Muller keeps knocking on the door & telling passengers "Well no I don't have a better suggestion right now but this is an utter shambles"
Who were they talking about/? The Herald reports……
"On Saturday, before they knew Walker's involvement, Muller and National's health spokesman Michael Woodhouse were damning of the privacy breach.
"This is unconscionable and unacceptable that those suffering from the incredibly dangerous virus now have to suffer further with their private details being leaked," Woodhouse said.
"The Government needs to get to the bottom of this, and quickly."
Muller told RNZ the breach was "quite staggering" and "unacceptable".
"Is it a deliberate leak or is it accidental? It doesn't really matter at a level … it's loose, it's shabby and it's a reminder these guys can't manage important things well."
It points to National's failings. Decency? Fail. Hypocrisy? Fail. Management? Fail. Leadership? Fail. Credibility? Fail. Political nous? Fail.
Sat at the table beside Muller, Woodhouse and Penk? at the Otago Museum cafe today. They were being hosted by what seemed to be a gaggle of starry-eyed Young Nats (guessing), none of whom were/seemed to be Maori. No sign of Hamish Walker. A bloke approached one of the cafe staff once the group had left to ask what the occasion was. He seemed infuriated by the response.
National has known for some time that the only chance they had of making inroads into Labours support was to discredit it on the Covid19 issue. Clearly this whole appalling saga has been master-minded by the the Crosby-Textor brigade and, this time, it has back-fired spectacularly in the most ham-fisted way. First there was the Bishop-Woodhouse "expose" which was clearly orchestrated. Then there was the "man who never was" fabricated by Woodhouse ("can't possibly disclose my source" ) and now this debacle. This is "attack" politics of the first order. The Nats bought into the C/T scheme several elections ago. It is their Party that has lost all credibility.
Don't call it ham-fisted and run it down. It has turned out just fine. It is really funny that people start acting like coaches for the Opposition and advise them what they should do to succeed. I want the buggers to fail so all of you coaches go back to your day jobs. You will be doing some good there I hope. I am interested in what is happening and any thing useful we learn perhaps go direct to Labour or the Greens to make sure they don't step in the smelly stuff themselves.
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The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
Hera Lindsay Bird reveals the best places in Ōtepoti to score more for your apocalypse-prep book hoard.Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve been killed in a car crash, and this second half of my life is just the brain unspooling itself, like one of those episodes of a hospital ...
ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
I didn’t know books could open you back up; that there were books that stayed with you, where reading was like a chemical event. I knew nothing.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Not too long ago, I was listening to the American ...
Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Henry, Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Shutterstock Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a raft of measures to tackle the problem ...
Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Siobhan O’Dean, Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney After several highly publicised alleged murders of women in Australia, the Albanese government this week pledged more than A$925 million over five years ...
Political parties have now fully disclosed the donations they received last year - with National getting more than double the cash of any other party. ...
A Pacific regionalism expert has called out New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS military pact. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard de Grijs, Professor of Astrophysics, Macquarie University Bruno Scramgnon/Pexels All systems are “go” for tonight’s launch of China’s next step in a carefully planned lunar exploration program. Placed on top of a powerful Long March 5 rocket, the Chang’e 6 ...
National returned a massive donation the day after a Newsroom story linked the donors to a property being investigated for operating unlawfully as a migrant workers’ hostel. The party’s 2023 donation filings, released on Friday, show it returned a $200,000 donation from Buen Holdings on August 23. That was the ...
Pacific Media Watch New Zealand has slumped to an unprecedented 19th place in the annual Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index survey released today on World Press Freedom Day — May 3. This was a drop of six places from 13th last year when it slipped out of its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Political Historian and Administrator Officer, Australian Historical Association, Australian National University Australia has had its fair share of public record-keeping controversies in recent years. Some have been mere farce, as in the case of two formerly government-owned filing cabinets (containing ...
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a United Nations-affiliated organization dedicated to fostering peace through civilian-led initiatives, has issued a statement in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. ...
A poem by Tessa Keenan, from AUP New Poets 10. Mātou These days we are a photograph; one of a farm strewn with cows that used to be bright harakeke or swamp. The kids point at it and say the sun sits behind a smudge (left by someone at Christmas); ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Faber & Faber, $25)The masterful Irish writer ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. Key facts Marriages and civil unions In ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lennon Y.C. Chang, Associate Professor of Cyber Risk and Policy, Deakin University Taiwan stands out as a beacon of democracy, innovation and resilience in an increasingly autocratic region. But this is under growing threat. In recent years, China has used a variety ...
In this excerpt from her new memoir, Dame Susan Devoy remembers her turn as star contestant on the 2022 season of Celebrity Treasure Island. The most anxious time of every day was pre-elimination, when you knew this could be your final day on the show. I felt such contradictory emotions, ...
A week that began in triumph ended in an all-too-familiar disaster for the Green Party. Duncan Greive asks if there’s something in the mission that breaks its best and brightest. A long, strange week for the Green party began with a fantastic poll result. On one level this is hardly ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Vanuatu’s former prime minister and opposition MP Ishmael Kalsakau has stepped down — just two days after he confirmed he was the rightful opposition leader. Kalsakau, MP for Port Vila, confirmed to ABC’s Pacific Beat, and the Vanuatu Daily Post on Thursday that he ...
What’s to blame for the coalition’s choppy start? Six months in, and the mojo meter is in the doldrums. A new poll would put National out of power and sees its leader, Chris Luxon, sliding in popularity. How much is it about policy, how much coalition management and a perception ...
The striking report goes far beyond the proposed repeal of the Oranga Tamariki Act’s Treaty of Waitangi provision, and its impact should be felt far beyond the unique circumstances of the claim it addresses. Earlier this week, the Waitangi Tribunal released an interim report on the government’s proposed repeal of ...
The world has been experiencing a productivity slowdown, from which New Zealand has not been exempt. COVID-19 temporarily boosted labour productivity, but more recently, productivity has retreated. The overall trend since 2007 has been one of slow productivity ...
What’s more wasteful than spending $315k on syrup and machine maintenance? Trying to drum up a controversy about it.Cast your mind back to the pre-pandemic idylls of 2019. A “rat” was a disgusting rodent and not a self-administered plague test; the sixth Labour government was in power; and the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Monash University Ken stocker/Shutterstock In the wake of numerous killings of women allegedly by men’s violence in 2024, thousands of Australians have joined rallies across the country to demand action ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Cutler, Professor and Director, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University Oleg Ivanov IL/Shutterstock Waiting times for public hospital elective surgery have been in the news ahead of this year’s federal budget. That’s the type of non-emergency surgery ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne Amna Artist/Shutterstock One of the earliest descriptions of someone with cancer comes from the fourth century BC. Satyrus, tyrant of the city of Heracleia on the Black Sea, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Rose, Professor of Sustainable Future Transport, University of Sydney LanaElcova/Shutterstock Electric vehicles are often seen as the panacea to cutting emissions – and air pollution – from transport. Is this view correct? Yes – but only once uptake accelerates. Despite the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Natassia Woodley, Researcher and Phd Candidate, Edith Cowan University There is widespread agreement Australia needs to do better when it comes to gender-based violence. Anger and frustration at the numbers of women being killed saw national rallies over the weekend and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Mark and Anna Photography/Shutterstock As home ownership moves further out of reach for many Australians, “rentvesting” is being touted as a lifesaver. Rentvesting is the practice of renting one property to live ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sukhmani Khorana, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney Netflix The new season of Heartbreak High is garnering mixed reviews. Critics are writing about the racy story lines, comparing it to other coming-of-age series about teenage relationships and ...
Bob Carr intends to launch legal action against Winston Peters and Julie Anne Genter is facing a second allegation of bullying. Both sucked the air out of an announcement on education, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in ...
In 1995, Sally Clark went out on her own in a bold and unorthodox attempt to join an illustrious group of equestrian riders conquering the world. In the days of glovebox road maps, brick cell phones, and the hit song How Bizarre, Clark refused to follow Sir Mark Todd, Blyth ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Beaglehole, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago niphon/Getty Images The number of people accessing medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Aotearoa New Zealand increased significantly between 2006 and 2022. But the disorder is still under-diagnosed and ...
So it turns out that Hamish Walker might just be a contemptible little weasel's arsehole. Who'd have thought it.
Muller has sacked him, it's not at all shambolic, strong team.
He gets to look like strong decisive leader. Woodlouse next.
Not quite Gabby, Muller sez "while awaiting the results of the inquiry", weak leader, what a shambles.
Really?
There was the pretty good photo actually of Muller and co. at Cardrona the other day announcing one of the few policies they have, the 'Tourism Accelerator". Ruining it was one guy in a cap who looked like a naughty schoolboy – Hamish Walker.
He hasn't sacked him, he's given the portfolios to someone else while the Inquiry is happening, at the same time minimising the seriousness of Walker's actions.
Given Walker's racist press statement the other day, it's bizarre he hasn't been permanently demoted. Might be time for National to look for another Clutha/Southland candidate, but I won't hold my breath.
https://twitter.com/justinCgio/status/1280374877405364224
@weka
Fair enough. Given that Walker will hold the seat anyway, Muller has under-reacted there. No loss to him if Walker is on the back benches for 2 months, he's hardly a Bridges.
I guess it shows us what to expect. Bennett had form on this, she's gone, but obviously National consider privacy breaches to be a minor matter.
@weka
Have a listen to RNZ this morning,Privacy commissioner say politicans have some sort of immunity re- leaking info,not just parlimentary privilage.
Also how about supporting people with dis-ablitys on this site and have a spell check,it is 2020. Dyslexic count, do you know how long it can take just too write a wee note like this,or shall I give up,is that the idea.
regards Alex
thanks, will have a listen when I get the chance. Am pretty happy that the PC is very unhappy about what has happened, both Walker and Boag.
I agree about the spell check, I will ask Lynn when he is around.
Thank you
if you don't hear anything, please feel free to remind me (reply to my most recent comment on anything).
Hi LFD,
I have dyslexia and use the Grammarly addon for chrome which works here. It's also available for other platforms too. I only use the free version and it suits my needs. Hope it helps.
The chrome browser extension is here
And for other platforms etc check it out here.
Hi Alex,
This may or may not help.
Pressing Ctrl and right clicking on words marked as spelling errors should bring up the browsers usual menu. In most browsers that will bring up the browsers dictionary support. Just found that gem…
Being a programmer and mildly dyslexic myself, I have been using the "Source" when I want to fix words because the right click context menu works well there.
But I’ll have a look around for other server side tools that may help.
Muller doesn’t need to sack Walker. They will all be sagged in September.
Clutha Southland, I'm not so sure about that. Although after young Toddy as well, maybe there will be a swing.
Amy Adams is probably looking for a seat to get back in after the election. She has a house in Cromwell which is now in Clutha Southland after the boundary changes this year.
that would be the smart move from Nat. Don't know what their nomination process is.
He was re-selected earlier this year after a challenge With hindsight it looks rather murky, bit like Toddles.
Suppose they can change candidate up until Nomination Day, 21/8
Bit sad for Jon MItchell, he could be in for a chance against Walker.
Ought we to feel some compassion for the true-blue Nats of Clutha-Southland, who must be feeling sick to their stomachs with this latest exposure; Todd Barclay, Sarah Dowie, and now Hamish Walker?
Or not?
I know a few where it goes a way beyond the stomach. Not happy with the ol' party.
bout time they did something about it then. National have the same dilemma as Labour now, their party has been taken over and it will take a lot to set it right.
Brought it to the attention of my fellow councillors – met resistance to the idea that the behaviour of MPs is of concern to local body politicians
No, they'll line up like good little troopers and vote for the next swede in a suit.
just the ones they know 😉
Are you following what's happening with the ORC and Hobbs?
(lol, I feel there should be a LotR pun in there somewhere).
Council staff are often referred to as 'the orcs', especially when they have their enforcement hats on. I've seen a couple of instances, fires mainly, where it was quite apt. Fortunately not directly on the receiving end. A few texts do the rounds warning of orcs abroad or at the gate….
…and on RNZ just now …it was leaked to Walker by Michelle Boag.
Same old Dirty Politics.
Way past time to put RNZ on notice as well.
Apart from Jim Mora, what has RNZ done wrong?
Yes exactly…RNZ simply reported the facts, and did this fairly.
I prefer to think of it as "leaking" facts in this case …says Michelle Boag…
Not much at all. Jeez, I dunno – get a gift of a juicy story and turn it into a cause for complaining some more. Tedious, really.
Try Kim Hill and Nicola Willis this morning. Now that's RNZ quality.
Boag was on The Panel this afternoon. They really need to stop using her as a commentator.
She was answering emails too and this was commented on. She said she was multitasking. Obviously she was getting ready for the storm.
I missed that but was listening while doing other things. Do you know what prompted the confessions?
can you please have a look at the comment in Pending?
Yep left a note.
At what time in the programme?
About 4:30 or so. Wallace Chapman made a comment about her emails making a sound and she said she was multitasking.
Wallace and other hand wringers,wrecking a once proud network.
Acquired in her role as acting CEO of the rescue helicopter trust.
There's still the question as to why the trust had patient-identifed data sent to it, e.g. was it an analyst screw up or did it have a genuine need for that information.
And if the trust got the data in error, did Boag or anyone else report this to the data supplier, or did she run straight to her party? lol even odds either way?
I'm assuming they had it in case they needed to transport someone fro quarantine.
why would Boag have access to it though?
It depends on how big the admin team is, I suspect. If it's five tiers below her, there might be vertical compartmentalisation issues for the trust to look at.
But if the acting CEO was actually working for a living in a small team and helping develop the staffing plans if any of those folk need air transport, she might have reasonably legitimate access. Or maybe someone emailed her going "I got sent this, seems to be more than I should receive, what should I do?" And her response speaks for itself.
I would have thought the people who would need the list ahead of time would be whoever manages the call outs, and the staff that go on call outs. I guess Boag could be hands on in that management.
The second scenario makes sense, although the person emailing shouldn't have emailed the information, but described it instead.
I mean, if I got something I felt completely out of my depth on and the boss says "give it all to me, I'll handle it", suddenly all my problems are solved because the managers will be the ones doing battle.
But those are the causes of the train:car collision, and investigators need to confirm that all the signals are working, the car was functioning normally, the drivers were all sob – holy crap, that train had three wagonloads of illegal ammunition and weapons?! And they belonged to the people who reported the crash to make a point about the safety of that level crossing?! WTF???
That's the sort of vibe I'm having at the moment, lol.
Just sacked from his current shadow cabinet roles or dumped as the candidate as well hopefuilly?
Only his
shadyshadow roles.Apparently it's a shambles, a National disgrace.
There are some idiots around 😱
Pity there is not stronger support for the 3 strikes rules, from my reckoning that this is his 2nd.
It's OK, he belongs to the 'personal rsponsibility' party. I am sure his leader will sort it out. /sarc.
Nah, it's his third, lying about door knocking, a bloody strange guy.
The news says ( Acting chief executive of Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust Michelle Boag has confirmed she gave the patient details to Walker. )
So it was National people all the way trying to do a hit job on the current government.
She has fallen on her sword according to the news article, but I think should face charges for using her position to access those detail.
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/national-mp-hamish-walker-admits-leaking-covid-19-patient-details/ar-BB16q0uY?li=BBqdg4K
The info went to her private email, until we know who sent it to her I am not buying her story at all.
Forensic examination of her e-mails will tell.
But her e-mails …
I am guessing burner phone, so not work related at all.
From lines about the spreadsheet not being protected, an external to work hack is inferred. Of course that might be to protect a NP source at some level within the public service or management regime.
Still investigate. If it was sent as an attachment there could be metadata that hold clues.
The Electoral Commission once again bowing to the powerful elite.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/election-2020-electoral-commission-finds-jacinda-ardern-aroha-posters-are-political-ads-not-art.html
Obvious answer is to put the required "promoter statement and the written authorisation of the party" on it and stick them up on every street corner!
Similar to the, 'Let's do this' moment, she grabbed something real, popular and already in existence and ran with it. Do the same here, Hayden!
And get them in the Labour shop, I'll buy one.
The Electoral Commission was found to be wrong in banning Darren Watson's Planet Key song.
To my mind this poster is way more apolitical than the song.
And Michelle Boag. What a shocker. Errors of judgment all around apparently. Nothing to do with being vile little shits. Horrible, horrible people.
Boag gave the info to Walker who passed it on to media.
How Boag got it is now the issue – she says it came to her as CEO of Auckland of Rescue HelicopterTrust. I am not sure if this credible, time will tell.
As in, who's her connected friend who thought she could use the info?
And why was it sent to her private email address if it was related to her role as CEO of that Trust?
Heron needs to identify the sender of that email before Boag accidently deletes it. And if the sender used a burner phone etc and Boag could not identify who sent it …., why would she think it was related to her work …
My suspicion is she is protecting a National Party asset, the question is where MOH, or in the border security system, or …
How well do she and Gormless get on?
Clearly shows there is a Nat plant in the ministry. Got to get them out as they must have breached all those forms they signed when they were hired.
Spot on!
Read these statements by Walker, Muller, Boag – incredible.
Party meltdown.
https://twitter.com/henrycooke/status/1280375155223478272
Charge them and jail them. Contemptible shits!
Labour to govern alone.
Reckon Boag need to do some time for sure.
On track and trace monitoring.
Maybe the MOH needs to look at a system for monitoring the Apple and Android apps that have come out about a month back.
In this regard, one should note the USA is no longer taking in Indian IT migrants under their H-1B visa, and the government should look at bringing in IT expertise – US IT workers (leaving a commmunity spread environment) and a few of the Indian migrant workers (around 60,000 a year) shut out of the US employment market.
Wonder if Muller knew earlier in thw week when he was failing to comment on the matter?
What a shambles and lack of Leadership in the National Party.
They tried to dismiss an investigation as politics to deter it, but once Heron had those powers to question people they were done.
New name for Covid-19 National-Party-style – Shambolic Colic?
They were very, very, very quiet, weren't they?
What a bloody outrage. This should mean single digit polling. Finally Nats caught out
Clutha Southland will still go Gnatsy. The prick would probably get credit for his 'honesty' as well as his racism.
Dirty National Party scum.
Farrar watch:
Farrar attempted to soften this earlier on today. He went down the avenue that the real crime is that the information wasn't password protected.
I see that Nats are now using this line.
Farrar = Dirty Politics.
Not password protected, Bishop sent the email to Boag's private email address?
Probably!
Article link: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12346280
They are running the same line they did with the Treasury leak, the Bishop snoop. The racist dog whistler is now claiming he was doing us a service.
His defence is that the information was not secure. Yet Boag is claiming it came to her on a private email to her in her work capacity. Something does not add up.
Their lines are NOT in synch.
Pretty legal.
Yeah, I'd say that the lawyer giving that advice needs to go back to school.
Stealing from an open house is still stealing. Same would apply here.
And I'd say that it propably was stored on a secure system – until it was removed from that system and sent to Boag.
It's also personal information relating to a patient of our health system, which I thought was about as private and confidential as it comes.
Any boy who graduated from a Good School should know what is correct behaviour and not look for excuses for exposing people's private information to others, that’s nasty hacking stuff. . Or was he home-schooled? There is no excuse Walker, get your boots on and go. And take your granny dolly with you.
Wonder how he knows that.
Still nothing on the story at the Herald, don't want to know, don't want to tell – waiting for National to prepare a cover up they can run with?
On the main page currently as "Outrageous' breach: Nat MP, Boag leaked Covid patients' details", updated 6:02pm.
Article link: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12346280
It was not not the main story at 6.09. And the updates referred to the new cases in Victoria.
Don't be silly, it's been there since before 6.
Too many commenters here buy into media conspiracies. It's a big story so it gets covered.
The opining idiots (Hosking et al) are not the reporters.
When I posted the main story was the one on Trump's twitter post. And the only breaking news was the new cases in Victoriaa.
Bridges relieved he lost to Muller – let the resignations flow. Anyone feeling for Hooton?
Maybe there’s a book in it: The Hollow Men – Dirty Politics – Dirtier Politics: How attack politics is still poisoning New Zealand’s political environment
Have felt for some time that Boag is naturally 100% pure poison – surely now Wallace can finally stop inviting her back to appear on The Panel.
Well, well, well. Sleaze, dishonesty, sheer nastiness – the adjectives coming like a tsunami.
To see Muller and the Woodhouse twerp on the news tonight trying to be so serious was pathetic and laughable.
And speaking of Woodhouse, his toilet seat with Clare Curran on it is disgusting. And now he says he can't remember it. Despicable.
Many of us foresaw that Dirty Politics was going to be rife this year. The Nats will go to any lengths to grab the reins of power. Not the least bit surprised Michelle Boag is implicated.
And no thought for the distress it must have caused the targeted individuals.
dirty lady…
Clean out your mess before you leave your dirty dirty scene – National Girl !
Hose out the Helicopter and disinfect it before you leave it – Mrs dirty Boag
I had a nasty feeling that Muller would be manoeuvred out and it would be Nikki Kaye as leader in a head-on with Jacinda… replicating Labour's manoeuvre last election.
Of course, I may be wrong…
"National- Putting the Shame in Shambles".
Unbelievable. From the top down. I hope the enquiry hunts them all the miscreants down and sheets the responsibility home.
Resignations, repudiations, renewal.
National needs time in the wilderness to reassess, to discover its soul, to reflect and repent.
And discover decency.
Wonder how Boag got the spreadsheet? If it was done in a way that looks / is malicious (as opposed to ‘shambles’), then Nats are done for. Yay!
Todmunter will be disappointed that Winsterfirst seemingly has bagsies on Arron Banks and his crew of lying little shits.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Why did someone supply Boag with the list? Why did she pass the list on to Walker, and who else – apart from the media – received a copy of the list?
If Boag is telling the truth (?) and she didn't know Walker had given it to the media then what was the original plan of action? Was it just going be left lying around in strategic places?
The mind boggles at the potential scenarios. 😮
Walker is saying he made claims about govt covid systems and needed to back that up so gave the details to the media. So it's conceivable Boag hadn't intended that esp given Walker is a loose unit. Otoh, it's inconceivable the statements today weren't coordinated, so why should we trust anything any of them say? Boag makes a better apology but she made this bed so will have to lie in it either way.
If to her in her work role, why by email to her private email?
And if Walker's claim the spreadsheep was not protected, why presume the person who accessed it did so in their official work role?
Now let's go back to the snooping on Treasury budget information before the official release.
Synergy – like twins born the same day – lets illuminate. Barclay and Bishop came from the same background. Both from uni to work in parliament then onto the same job corporate affairs for an Auckland based international tobacco corporate (where there is dirty smoke …) before to parliament as MP's in the same year 2014. Barclay has since been replaced by Walker. For mine Heron should invite Bishop to speak to him.
Hard to pick the top tweet, has to be close…
https://twitter.com/ZippyGonzales/status/1280390396997062657
that is good. This one too,
https://twitter.com/pitakakariki/status/1280405448567304195
The leak might not be illegal but wasn't there something in the Privacy Act that it was illegal to disseminate information which you had no legal right to have – or something?
on the face of it, it looks like a straight out breach of the Privacy Act to me.
The only offences under the Privacy Act relate to failing to provide information to the Commissioner. It is probably illegal but not criminal.
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0028/latest/DLM298435.html
Is Walker saying 'not criminal' National spinning?
Seems to also be a likely breach of s92U of the Health Act 1956, but again I can't find any penalty for it:
The suspicious thing to me is that it turned up in her personal email by itself, even though it was part of her role (apparently). So she didn't actually steal the data, because she didn't remove it from the Trust's systems herself. Wasn't that lucky for her? /sarc
Boag said she got it in her role of Rescue Helicopter, yet the info went to her private email – from whom we do not yet know.
I think we need to borrow one of those Police Helicopters until election time and have it hovering over various National Party people – as you would with potential criminals. Just think of the loot that the police could restrain? – lots of deckchairs and lounges and nice cars and expensive clothes and properties and….
Privacy Commissioner:
"Edwards believed the deliberate leak of the information was illegal and in breach of the privacy act, he said."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12346280
National needs a big dead cat on the table.
Careful. You're starting to sound like Ad.
Would that be a bad thing?
Yep. It means you are more interested in the game than peoples lives.
False dichotomy. I’m interested in the game of blogging because I’m interested in people’s lives.
That statement shows to me you are leaning toward the contempt which Ad shows others.
That comment shows how poorly you understand some people and consequently how poorly you judge them.
Ah, well you and Ad also need to have a think about how you are perceived by others.
Maybe this is the dead cat.
Hoo boy, weka! as a distraction from what?
What 'indiscretion' needs distraction by a cheetah-sized dead cat in the guise of a former President of the National Party, heavily involved in former dirty tricks campaigns, passing on sensitive and private information on patients to an MP who had recently been sanctioned for inappropriate behaviour by his leader, who then passed it onto the media, purely for political advantage in a bid to discredit a successful and popular government.
Well that one will rebound on them, like a very live tom cat with claws sharpened and feral instincts aroused, spitting fury and retribution.
What's still hidden in the closet, weka?
Heh, I was trying to be funny, but who knows!?
It's that or this is Hooton's master plan.
The dead cat is on Muller's top lip. He is growing a moustache, trying to put a new face on National.
People will also forget the other stuff when they notice the moustache- the old 'putting on a wig for the first time' trick.
Perhaps that's it. Muller is about to start wearing a wig. It's a well-known political fact that 'big hair' pleases the punters!
The story is weirder than weird and that’s pretty weird.
Lol, true, and then there's all the stuff we don't know yet.
That may be the late great miss catty Boag…meow!!!
There's always Rodney.
Hoots David!
@DavidSlack
I added quotes 🙂
Who were they talking about/? The Herald reports……
"On Saturday, before they knew Walker's involvement, Muller and National's health spokesman Michael Woodhouse were damning of the privacy breach.
"This is unconscionable and unacceptable that those suffering from the incredibly dangerous virus now have to suffer further with their private details being leaked," Woodhouse said.
"The Government needs to get to the bottom of this, and quickly."
Muller told RNZ the breach was "quite staggering" and "unacceptable".
"Is it a deliberate leak or is it accidental? It doesn't really matter at a level … it's loose, it's shabby and it's a reminder these guys can't manage important things well."
It points to National's failings. Decency? Fail. Hypocrisy? Fail. Management? Fail. Leadership? Fail. Credibility? Fail. Political nous? Fail.
What comes around goes….. or is it Karma.
Wonder if those keen "journalists" will quote Muller's words back to him?
Woodlouse will be thrilled that the bottom of it is being got to so quickly.
Sat at the table beside Muller, Woodhouse and Penk? at the Otago Museum cafe today. They were being hosted by what seemed to be a gaggle of starry-eyed Young Nats (guessing), none of whom were/seemed to be Maori. No sign of Hamish Walker. A bloke approached one of the cafe staff once the group had left to ask what the occasion was. He seemed infuriated by the response.
https://twitter.com/kirsty_johnston/status/1280357882316255233
National has known for some time that the only chance they had of making inroads into Labours support was to discredit it on the Covid19 issue. Clearly this whole appalling saga has been master-minded by the the Crosby-Textor brigade and, this time, it has back-fired spectacularly in the most ham-fisted way. First there was the Bishop-Woodhouse "expose" which was clearly orchestrated. Then there was the "man who never was" fabricated by Woodhouse ("can't possibly disclose my source" ) and now this debacle. This is "attack" politics of the first order. The Nats bought into the C/T scheme several elections ago. It is their Party that has lost all credibility.
Don't call it ham-fisted and run it down. It has turned out just fine. It is really funny that people start acting like coaches for the Opposition and advise them what they should do to succeed. I want the buggers to fail so all of you coaches go back to your day jobs. You will be doing some good there I hope. I am interested in what is happening and any thing useful we learn perhaps go direct to Labour or the Greens to make sure they don't step in the smelly stuff themselves.