Maybe.
Nats have a strong sense of where their economic interests lie and vote accordingly. They are far more class conscious than the left, even though they don’t think of it in those terms. So I reckon they will stay above 40%.
I tend to agree, however it will be an interesting study in politics watching how National AND their sycophantic poodles in the media deal with this. The heading above concerning Cunliffe is very apt, for example looking at the weight TVNZ is putting on this it appears very lightweight compared to the hammering and calls for resignation of Cunliffe at the time.
I am just so happy we have Jacinda and Winston at the helm, I have a feeling it may be a long voyage.
… [ I am just so happy we have Jacinda and Winston at the helm, I have a feeling it may be a long voyage ] …
Yes , so am I.
No matter that a few mistakes and blunders have been made, we need to appreciate it takes time to reverse the damage of National / Key. Those nine long odious years of enriching the rich. There is a softening taking place, and the frights put up those who deserve it and had it their way for far too long at the expense of others and esp those who could least afford it.
No , I’m glad we have the coalition. They will get better with time and the Key years will be looked back on as a time of austerity for so many who already had their backs against the wall.
And we have a deputy PM who also has a good taste in music ie ‘Burning Bridges’.
Not necessarily. Things can change very quickly. Look at English in 2002 followed by Brash almost winning in 2005. The disappointing thing about this Ross / Bridges fiasco is that it’s the best show in town by a country mile, but unfortunately it’s very temporary.
Oh my goodness… so much trouble going on,… It would have been nice to just drift off and listen to John Rowles Cheryl Moana Marie , but instead this is more appropriate for the sinking Titanic that is the National party…which I cannot say I have not thoroughly enjoyed seeing.
Doesn’t surprise me Carolyn_Nth. I was meaning I hope he is enjoying the shambles generally since it was the Dirty Political wing of the National Party and their MSM enablers who destroyed him. Karma has a funny way of working sometimes.
Oh, and a little bit of help from the former ABC club. 😉
Yes , Cunliffe really put the frights up the neo liberal establishment and that’s why he was piled on. By the likes of sleazy Key and his media mates and the ABC’s who didn’t back him in the debates.
I dislike the Karma concept,… to me personally it is you reap what you sow. If your going to indulge in skulduggery , it has a shelf life. And when it expires the proverbial will ALWAYS hit the fan. Sow good seeds, you get good fruit, sow weed seeds- you get weeds.
National has a fine crop of weeds and thistles atm.
I dislike the Karma concept,… to me personally it is you reap what you sow.
That’s Karma to me. I’m not into the religious or spiritual concept. If what you sow is bad then ‘karma’ will eventually come back to bite you on the bum.
Nonsense, David and Labour were soundly rejected by the electorate – blaming their failure on dirty politics and the media is pitiful.
I can assure you the last few times i have seen and talked to him he looks and is happy and being out of the parliamentary cesspit has made him look years younger than when he was in Wellington.
So we have a man called Stephen Joyce who had mates in the media industry and your trying to tell us that a few texts and emails with implications about budget settings didn’t influence the motives of those media heads ? You think we are that naive ?
The non existent $100,000 / donation bottle of wine and John Armstrong’s calls for Cunliffe to resign during the Donghua Liu affair ring a bell, mate?
Except, Lusk is playing a long game. And part of the Lusk plan is that attack politics lowers trust in politicians, but more potential left wing voters stop voting than right wing ones.
Also, one of the outcomes could be a new small ultra right wing party that provides the Nats with the coalition partner they need.
Here’s the thing. There is a fundamental ignorance of ethical process in NZ politics and this is evident across ALL the political parties. There is only one ethical conversation JLR and Bridges could have had.
JLR: ” what are we gonna do with the !00k donation buddy”
Bridges: ” Send all documentation to Party Secretary and set out in email to Party Secretary any other information you know of re that donation”,” After Party Secretary has cleared the funds we can discuss their disposition”
How many here understand this? And WHY! thats how it MUST be!
Would that have been the conversation in Labour? , the Greens?
Well i am glad to hear that Anne. I really hope you are right. It was not the case many years ago when i was a Green member but i still hope you are correct now
Actually i am probably just being misty eyed here but i kinda think under Ardurn that very possibly would be the conversation :). I just wish that it was more set out in party constitutions and not so dependent on the individual ethics of the players
A large part of the problem is that when a donation is given directly to a politician there is always the implication that some favour might be expected in return.
Any other charitable organisation I’ve ever been involved with would never handle money like this; if you want to donate you go to the treasurer directly. If the donation is anonymous, it’s also confidential. No-one else knows. If it’s not confidential, then usually it’s because the donation is earmarked for specific purpose that everyone knows about.
A properly functioning treasury would never tolerate donations landing up in the hands of individual members.
Just on another note of the day. (although no where as much fun!)
Appears things falling apart across the ditch too!
On the bright side:
“Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison is said to be considering allowing asylum seekers and refugees detained on Nauru into New Zealand.” (with conditions)
Remember the endless hammering on Winston from National and Act in 2008? NO? Sneers, denigration, relentless and of course it was over Donations. What comes around…
But ofc,… we know the final reel on the forgone conclusion regards Soiman Bridges,.. whereas with Winnie ,… well ,… hes like one of those penguin pendulum toys we all gave to budgies as children for them to attack that kept on bouncing back upright…
You just don’t hit Winston and expect him to stay down. It just aint gonna happen . 🙂
On a far more serious note, Rachel Stewart’s article today is on the nail.
One of the main reasons we’re doomed is that people are selfish and stupid.
“What makes me think humanity can’t achieve stabilisation of warming? How long have you got?
The first sign of how poked we are is the “on the street” silence since the “wildly alarming report” came out. I thought people were in shock and couldn’t find the words. Now I realise most don’t care.
I started asking folks what they thought, and the most common response was that they hadn’t “caught up” with the report. Now, that’s interesting because the world’s media has been (sort of) covering it. So where do these people get their news? The more I talked to them the more I realised how much reality TV they watch. And how deluded they are. So, there’s that.”
“Instead of staring at screens, and being constantly distracted, now would be a good a time to truly engage with those you love. To be grateful for what you have, and to try not to feel life’s bitter sweetness at every turn. Do the thing that brings you joy.
That’s not fatalism. That’s acceptance. And if it turns out politicians and/or technology save the planet in the nick of time, like in the movies, then what’ve you lost? Indeed, think about how much you will have gained.”
Way too Much baggage! and severly lacking any values! Just like the rest of the Natz!
“Yesterday, we discovered that Amy Adams owns part of Canterbury Plains Water, a firm that is running irrigation schemes in Canterbury. This is important because it reveals two potential paths through which Adams could use her public office to enrich herself, and her husband, and other family members.”
I forget where (TDB perhaps), the Northland quack Lance O’Sullivan was suggested as a candidate for the Botany by-election.
Be a good candidate as a tory party leader, charming, intelligent, handsome, photogenic, Maori (but not too Maori), knows little about politics therefore easy to manipulate by the money men…
He would be ready in a year or so to take over from the next seat warmer….
Attack politics is also effective because other people may not even realise that an orchestrated campaign is occurring. As Lusk said about one of his candidate
selection clients that year, ‘I have told him that I need to remain completely
anonymous.’
Maybe. But others have mentioned being connected with Lusk – but maybe after the attack has been successful. I think probably it’s not such a problem after the attack has gained momentum. After all, Bridges has been painting JLR as a “lone wolf”, and JLR has been fronting the media on his own.
And some mentions that Lusk is in the mix after some success may be a signal to others – to be very afraid, or, if in the Lusk camp, to boost their confidence.
The key thing during an orchestrated attack is that people don’t realise it has been orchestrated. People have tended to assume that JLR has been winging it.
This from the man who, spending bigly, started a witch hunt to find a leaker with mental health issues in his own party and left no stone unturned!? For something that was going to be publically released in three days anyway!? That was worth it??
Seriously, how the on earth is this arsehole Bridges still here?
That one tape reveals what an awful, awful man he is, and there are apparently plenty more to come, yet the soppy press are all sympathetic and still imagine he can get through it.
As we’ve seen, if this were a Labour or Greens leader he or she would have been crucified days ago.
And of course Farrar says the taped discussion is “quite standard in politics”. That is just a repulsive statement from a repulsive person.
FGS don’t complain. it’s cheaper than television and presents the state and lack of integrity of the Gnashionals clearly. The longer the better. Even the thickest Gnat supporter must see the truth though we know they won’t, due to that virus ‘wilful ignorance’.
A fit sports club egalitarian population NZ, able to hold a line to any lightning incursions while modern tech has time to emerge/adjust and take out whatever’s turned up.
An strong & free NZ able to pull it’s own weight and not be a hysterical passenger in a neo-lib wreckage
Wonder what Tova O’Brien thinks. She knows who the Leaker is so does she look at JLR and think, “Ha they gotcha.” or “Hey they got the wrong guy.”
Will we ever know?
There are now only a few days left to give feedback on the Draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024-34 (see our earlier post this week on GPS submission guides). As we’ve reported, the GPS is a disaster for Local Government, so we were particularly interested to hear ...
Willis has pledged to go ahead with the debt-funded tax cuts, despite growing opposition from her own supporters worried about appearing fiscally irresponsible. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for ...
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
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For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
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This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
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Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
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Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
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Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
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Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
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Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
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Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
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Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
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Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
A ballot for 4 Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Insurance Contracts Bill (Duncan Webb) Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill (Julie Anne Genter) Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill (Greg Fleming) Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
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A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
The unidentified foreign intelligence operation discussed in a scathing report by New Zealand’s Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) last week appears to be a controversial United States intelligence system. The IGIS report said the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) decision to host a foreign system from 2012-2020 was “improper” ...
The National party are in big trouble. Will be interesting to see how the voters view this, could be awhile in the wilderness for the blue team.
Understatement.
Ah, such fun was had by all.
Maybe.
Nats have a strong sense of where their economic interests lie and vote accordingly. They are far more class conscious than the left, even though they don’t think of it in those terms. So I reckon they will stay above 40%.
I tend to agree, however it will be an interesting study in politics watching how National AND their sycophantic poodles in the media deal with this. The heading above concerning Cunliffe is very apt, for example looking at the weight TVNZ is putting on this it appears very lightweight compared to the hammering and calls for resignation of Cunliffe at the time.
I am just so happy we have Jacinda and Winston at the helm, I have a feeling it may be a long voyage.
… [ I am just so happy we have Jacinda and Winston at the helm, I have a feeling it may be a long voyage ] …
Yes , so am I.
No matter that a few mistakes and blunders have been made, we need to appreciate it takes time to reverse the damage of National / Key. Those nine long odious years of enriching the rich. There is a softening taking place, and the frights put up those who deserve it and had it their way for far too long at the expense of others and esp those who could least afford it.
No , I’m glad we have the coalition. They will get better with time and the Key years will be looked back on as a time of austerity for so many who already had their backs against the wall.
And we have a deputy PM who also has a good taste in music ie ‘Burning Bridges’.
What more could we ask for.
kiaora WK
Not necessarily. Things can change very quickly. Look at English in 2002 followed by Brash almost winning in 2005. The disappointing thing about this Ross / Bridges fiasco is that it’s the best show in town by a country mile, but unfortunately it’s very temporary.
English in 2002 never had a “Jihadist” in his ranks…..
Neither has Bridges.
“According” to the Hosk he does……..
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143700
Can’t argue with that.
‘Hosk’ is a political illiterate. I don’t think that he ever learnt much beyond leading questions and slogans.
Just a stupid parasite preying on those to lazy to do their own thinking.
They had the Boag constrictor.
Botany will vote nashnil, relieved at the thought that they can buy influence.
They have to go for a Chinese candidate now….lists are ‘so hard’
Where do you think National voters would go?
NZ First.
Conservative types will be devastated their party has become an auction place for Chinese money and influence.
Well, some of them will be. Others will simply just bow down to the power and wealth of ‘Chinese Businessmen’.
Yes true that
JLR vs Bridges turning into a biggie.
Blood being splattered all over the room and the carpet.
Oh my goodness… so much trouble going on,… It would have been nice to just drift off and listen to John Rowles Cheryl Moana Marie , but instead this is more appropriate for the sinking Titanic that is the National party…which I cannot say I have not thoroughly enjoyed seeing.
Georget Thorogood & the Destroyers – So Much Trouble – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBECb0qr9To
Ahhh the heck with it… I’m sick of the National party and its pathetic melodramas.
Here’s John Rowles.
So much more pleasant .
JOHN ROWLES – Cheryl Moana Marie (1970) – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2-QpvPPWLI
Yeah THAT rendition was played at a few parties over the years.
And for Simon a ” bat out of hell “would suffice at the moment.
Cheers W.K
I hope David Cunliffe is enjoying every second of this drama. He has every right to, given what was done to him and his family.
Except, it also looks like Simon Lusk has had a hand in both undermining Cunliffe and Bridges.
Doesn’t surprise me Carolyn_Nth. I was meaning I hope he is enjoying the shambles generally since it was the Dirty Political wing of the National Party and their MSM enablers who destroyed him. Karma has a funny way of working sometimes.
Oh, and a little bit of help from the former ABC club. 😉
Yes , Cunliffe really put the frights up the neo liberal establishment and that’s why he was piled on. By the likes of sleazy Key and his media mates and the ABC’s who didn’t back him in the debates.
I dislike the Karma concept,… to me personally it is you reap what you sow. If your going to indulge in skulduggery , it has a shelf life. And when it expires the proverbial will ALWAYS hit the fan. Sow good seeds, you get good fruit, sow weed seeds- you get weeds.
National has a fine crop of weeds and thistles atm.
They did it to themselves.
I dislike the Karma concept,… to me personally it is you reap what you sow.
That’s Karma to me. I’m not into the religious or spiritual concept. If what you sow is bad then ‘karma’ will eventually come back to bite you on the bum.
Good on you , mate .
🙂
Nonsense, David and Labour were soundly rejected by the electorate – blaming their failure on dirty politics and the media is pitiful.
I can assure you the last few times i have seen and talked to him he looks and is happy and being out of the parliamentary cesspit has made him look years younger than when he was in Wellington.
So we have a man called Stephen Joyce who had mates in the media industry and your trying to tell us that a few texts and emails with implications about budget settings didn’t influence the motives of those media heads ? You think we are that naive ?
The non existent $100,000 / donation bottle of wine and John Armstrong’s calls for Cunliffe to resign during the Donghua Liu affair ring a bell, mate?
John Armstrong: Cunliffe’s resignation may be in order – NZ Herald
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11276526
Then there was the non existent 11 billion dollar hole by Joyce as well. Lies, lies, lies.
Its called influencing the population by media interference and distorting the truth and the facts.
Pull the other one , bud.
Except, Lusk is playing a long game. And part of the Lusk plan is that attack politics lowers trust in politicians, but more potential left wing voters stop voting than right wing ones.
Also, one of the outcomes could be a new small ultra right wing party that provides the Nats with the coalition partner they need.
Exactly! [or in TS lingo: you nailed it!]
Opposition in tatters, DP back (was it ever gone?), sharp shift to the right. Be careful what you wish for …
Yup you nailed it.
Unlike this clown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYywc65kWmg
You crack me up, Ed 🙂
Completely agree Anne.
Here’s the thing. There is a fundamental ignorance of ethical process in NZ politics and this is evident across ALL the political parties. There is only one ethical conversation JLR and Bridges could have had.
JLR: ” what are we gonna do with the !00k donation buddy”
Bridges: ” Send all documentation to Party Secretary and set out in email to Party Secretary any other information you know of re that donation”,” After Party Secretary has cleared the funds we can discuss their disposition”
How many here understand this? And WHY! thats how it MUST be!
Would that have been the conversation in Labour? , the Greens?
Would that have been the conversation in Labour? , the Greens?
Yes.
Well i am glad to hear that Anne. I really hope you are right. It was not the case many years ago when i was a Green member but i still hope you are correct now
Actually i am probably just being misty eyed here but i kinda think under Ardurn that very possibly would be the conversation :). I just wish that it was more set out in party constitutions and not so dependent on the individual ethics of the players
A large part of the problem is that when a donation is given directly to a politician there is always the implication that some favour might be expected in return.
Any other charitable organisation I’ve ever been involved with would never handle money like this; if you want to donate you go to the treasurer directly. If the donation is anonymous, it’s also confidential. No-one else knows. If it’s not confidential, then usually it’s because the donation is earmarked for specific purpose that everyone knows about.
A properly functioning treasury would never tolerate donations landing up in the hands of individual members.
Correct ! So the party constitution needs to explicitly set this out or it becomes at the whim of exec/leadership
Am I reading too much into appearances?
Siomon supported only by Paula at his press conference – where are Adams, Collins, McClay, Brownlee etc?
Sharpening the knives in the kitchen perhaps?
Having JC standing behind you picking bones out of her teeth might not be much help at this juncture?
Starting at $CAD7.50 a gram at the provincial government run Ontario Cannabis Stores in Toronto.
https://www.thestar.com/news/cannabis/2018/10/16/how-much-will-cannabis-cost-you-heres-a-breakdown-by-province.html
Just on another note of the day. (although no where as much fun!)
Appears things falling apart across the ditch too!
On the bright side:
“Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison is said to be considering allowing asylum seekers and refugees detained on Nauru into New Zealand.” (with conditions)
https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/368802/australia-pm-said-to-be-considering-nz-s-nauru-resettlement-offer
However shifting embassies! ….
How Bizarre!
Australia is becoming a rogue state.
Don’t know about on the bright side, I could see Sco MoFo taking the chance to tighten up big time on NZers working in ockiland.
Possibilty… but understand they have Bigger issues currently …
https://www.abc.net.au/
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17-10-2018/#comment-1537595
Remember the endless hammering on Winston from National and Act in 2008? NO? Sneers, denigration, relentless and of course it was over Donations. What comes around…
Lol !… ne’er a truer word spoken.
But ofc,… we know the final reel on the forgone conclusion regards Soiman Bridges,.. whereas with Winnie ,… well ,… hes like one of those penguin pendulum toys we all gave to budgies as children for them to attack that kept on bouncing back upright…
You just don’t hit Winston and expect him to stay down. It just aint gonna happen . 🙂
Sorry for being pedantic ianmac : What goes around…….
The other day I quipped here it will be pistols at dawn. I’m beginning to suspect it might be for real. 😯
A saying,
what goes around comes around
Ie the wheel keeps turning, what goes out of favour can come back in favour as the wheel keeps turning.
If the thunder doesn’t get him then the lightning will……….
The higher they fly, the harder they fall.
Bridges is a penis..
Oops sorry, not a saying more an observation.
Wow. Surely even Bridges wouldn’t go so far as actually having JLR hurt would he? Imagine if he were to “go missing”?
Note the little face riffer.
Flour bombs in paper bags and rolled up newspapers at dawn like the Dunedin Varsity students do.
I reckon that’s how all wars should be fought and then everybody could have fun.
Predictions for tomorrow in Day 4 of the Bridges/ Ross saga?
Cup of tea and a handshake?
Hopefully more taped conversations. Just one a day though. Any more than that and I’ll have an accident.
Blardy nearly had an accident because of Peters and his phone yesterday. Took a very long time to stop laughing after that…
On a far more serious note, Rachel Stewart’s article today is on the nail.
One of the main reasons we’re doomed is that people are selfish and stupid.
“What makes me think humanity can’t achieve stabilisation of warming? How long have you got?
The first sign of how poked we are is the “on the street” silence since the “wildly alarming report” came out. I thought people were in shock and couldn’t find the words. Now I realise most don’t care.
I started asking folks what they thought, and the most common response was that they hadn’t “caught up” with the report. Now, that’s interesting because the world’s media has been (sort of) covering it. So where do these people get their news? The more I talked to them the more I realised how much reality TV they watch. And how deluded they are. So, there’s that.”
“Instead of staring at screens, and being constantly distracted, now would be a good a time to truly engage with those you love. To be grateful for what you have, and to try not to feel life’s bitter sweetness at every turn. Do the thing that brings you joy.
That’s not fatalism. That’s acceptance. And if it turns out politicians and/or technology save the planet in the nick of time, like in the movies, then what’ve you lost? Indeed, think about how much you will have gained.”
Yep! I’m gonna do that tomorrow …
Brilliant
Rachel’s, (Stewart), piece here; (just in the event you haven’t caught up with it …)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143210
So, who now in the Nats’ caucus (or wider Nat Party) would trust anyone connected with the Jami-Lee Ross and Simon Lusk?
People known to be in or connected with the Lusk camp include Mark Mitchell and Judith Collins.
So last woman standing to be next leader would be Amy Adams?
Way too Much baggage! and severly lacking any values! Just like the rest of the Natz!
“Yesterday, we discovered that Amy Adams owns part of Canterbury Plains Water, a firm that is running irrigation schemes in Canterbury. This is important because it reveals two potential paths through which Adams could use her public office to enrich herself, and her husband, and other family members.”
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1403/S00114/special-investigation-adams-family-values.htm
I forget where (TDB perhaps), the Northland quack Lance O’Sullivan was suggested as a candidate for the Botany by-election.
Be a good candidate as a tory party leader, charming, intelligent, handsome, photogenic, Maori (but not too Maori), knows little about politics therefore easy to manipulate by the money men…
He would be ready in a year or so to take over from the next seat warmer….
I now know where I read it.
Here on a post by Te Reo Putake.
Sorry TRP.
Too Much Monkey Business
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLriAocN1pU
Elvis Presley
Maybe I’m alone – but the last couple of days have reinforced one thing to me.
That corporate elects are morally unfit to lead anything, let alone a society.
Lest we forget: The Lusk Plan chapter from Hager’ s Dirty Politics.
The plan is basically to move NZ’s political landscape rightwards over time – and JLR had a key role in this in Auckland.
https://dirtypoliticsnz.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/dirty-politics_p55-67.pdf
P66:
So by mentioning him JLR has failed his master?
Maybe. But others have mentioned being connected with Lusk – but maybe after the attack has been successful. I think probably it’s not such a problem after the attack has gained momentum. After all, Bridges has been painting JLR as a “lone wolf”, and JLR has been fronting the media on his own.
And some mentions that Lusk is in the mix after some success may be a signal to others – to be very afraid, or, if in the Lusk camp, to boost their confidence.
The key thing during an orchestrated attack is that people don’t realise it has been orchestrated. People have tended to assume that JLR has been winging it.
Good point.
Mitchell is a Lusk plant.
Lusk mentioned on Radionz report about 5.20 pm.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107908171/jamilee-ross-arrives-at-police-station
This from the man who, spending bigly, started a witch hunt to find a leaker with mental health issues in his own party and left no stone unturned!? For something that was going to be publically released in three days anyway!? That was worth it??
Yeah, right!!
Yebbit that wasn’t HIS money.
Seriously, how the on earth is this arsehole Bridges still here?
That one tape reveals what an awful, awful man he is, and there are apparently plenty more to come, yet the soppy press are all sympathetic and still imagine he can get through it.
As we’ve seen, if this were a Labour or Greens leader he or she would have been crucified days ago.
And of course Farrar says the taped discussion is “quite standard in politics”. That is just a repulsive statement from a repulsive person.
He helps nashnil corner the arsehole vote.
I think Aotearoa has more than it’s fair share of voting arseholes.
FGS don’t complain. it’s cheaper than television and presents the state and lack of integrity of the Gnashionals clearly. The longer the better. Even the thickest Gnat supporter must see the truth though we know they won’t, due to that virus ‘wilful ignorance’.
A fit sports club egalitarian population NZ, able to hold a line to any lightning incursions while modern tech has time to emerge/adjust and take out whatever’s turned up.
An strong & free NZ able to pull it’s own weight and not be a hysterical passenger in a neo-lib wreckage
or
President Xi JinPing for life
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1032610/world-war-3-us-china-south-china-sea-donald-trump-xi-jinping-james-mattis
I say NZ1st!
Are you Shane Jones chcoffoffy?
Wonder what Tova O’Brien thinks. She knows who the Leaker is so does she look at JLR and think, “Ha they gotcha.” or “Hey they got the wrong guy.”
Will we ever know?
In the photo in this article (by National Party promoter Brigitte Morten) she tracks Ross today in Wellington. Any body language experts out there?
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/368882/long-days-stretch-on-for-national-as-ross-allegations-unroll
Party rejuvenation, Bridges style:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107924432/chris-finlayson-and-david-carter-to-leave-parliament-by-next-election
JM Jarre.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/oct/16/jean-michel-jarre-michel-granger-oxygene?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR26ZAkkvj7FXJLc5qEO5AwSKugJaBC6TjvBsAocWiP86cbUSoAmptvkWZM