Have to say it is mildly humorous there has been nearly zero articles on here about Winston and his SFO issues and tonnes about National when the Nats aren't even under investigation.
I appreciate that some of the nats no doubt knew about a certain nutter and some donors actions and it was dodge, but a bit of balance would be nice, given NZ First's predicament and Ardern's in-action.
Pound-for-pound, the opposition National party's "predicament" seems at least as serious as NZF's at this early stage. Maybe they deserved each other in October 2017, but the 'no-mates' Nats couldn't quite seal the deal. Thankfully, other parties in NZ’s current parliament haven't been similarly tarnished, yet.
Cash only: $100 political donations cap in NSW
"The ICAC inquiry has heard claims that Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo, who was a prohibited donor at the time, delivered $100,000 in cash in an Aldi plastic bag to the ALP's Sydney headquarters. The NSW Liberal Party was also recently revealed to have fallen foul of donation laws in relation to a $1750 donation made by Chinese property developer Ming Shang at a fundraiser for Drummoyne MP John Sidoti in February 2015." https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/cash-only-100-political-donations-cap-in-nsw-20190917-p52sap.html
Tasmanian Liberals received $75K in donations from private hospital operator Healthscope
““No corporation, no big business hands over money out of the goodness of its heart,” [Greens leader] Ms O’Connor said.
“It’s money that they regard as an investment into their own self-interest in the future.”
Murchison independent MLC Ruth Forrest agreed.
“People are sick and tired of not knowing what influences are out there, and we have a right to know when we’re casting our vote,” Ms Forrest said.” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-18/tasmania-liberals-political-donations-healthscope-hospital/11807134
Well tbf the Nat party, at least on the surface has escaped the wraith of the SFO and NZF is in the bulls eye, but agree she is probably not dissimilar when you get down to the nitty gritty.
Difference is. Ardern needs Winston to form a govt, and is looking a bit lost.
It remains to be seen whether the National Party has successfully been able to scapegoat others for its donations fraud or not. For example, if Jami Lee Ross were to be among those charged, he was a senior MP, Chief Whip and Simon Bridges' bagman at the time of the fraud.
It remains to be seen whether the National Party has successfully been able to scapegoat others for its donations fraud or not. For example, if Jami Lee Ross were to be among those charged, he was a senior MP, Chief Whip and Simon Bridges' bagman at the time of the fraud.
Hon Simon Bridges: What ethical standards has her Deputy Prime Minister upheld in the last two weeks?
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If the member wishes to ask a direct question about an issue around ministerial conduct, he is most welcome to, but I imagine the public right now sees the deep irony of this line of questioning from the leader of the National Party.
So it's more than likely the crime was committed by someone while they were a member of the national party . It makes one wonder if maybe all 4 are recent ex members of the national party.
The money went to the National Party. That's enough to point to a certain irony, especially since a certain phone call was made talking about how the money was to be handled as well as some pretty overt racism about the merits of various ethnicities as list MPs and a rather 'egregious' I believe the current bon mot is reference to the list member from the West Coast. I'd have said outrageous, myself.
All of which goes to explain the PM's remarks I quoted from Hansard, but you'll need to see the on-line footage to see the look that was directed across the House at the hapless questioner, Simon Bridges.
On RNZ this morning a lawyer spoke about the role of the SFO. He said that we get to hear very little about who or what detail the SFO is investigating until the court case if it is to occur happens. So I don't think that we know at all where this investigation is going or who gets caught up in it.
But as the PM said the public is no doubt seeing the irony alluded to.
Yep. The deterrent enforced by the Tenancy Tribunal, or the deterrent able to be enforced by the Tenancy Tribunal is a JOKE!
There was another one yesterday about a Land-peasant's son who harassed the tenants in person and online for months and was ordered to pay about $2400 from memory. That is a weak slap on the hand.
I note that the two Land-peasant bodies, REINZ and the other one are gearing up for a fight against the no-cause eviction legislation.
They say they'd rather have stiffer penalties for errant Land-peasants to act as a deterrent. News for them, the penalties are so weak now that any increase will have to be 10-fold to have any effect.
Also, if this Labour-led government buckles to these amateur property addicts under pressure from NZF I will for the first time change my vote to the Green Party!!!
Some would have us believe that all NZ political parties and political leaders are [equally] corrupt – voters will judge for themselves. Here's a potted SFO history via cartoon descriptions – regarding the current ‘awkwardness‘ between NZF and Labour, we have been here before [in 2008]:
[1996] "A witness at the enquiry into New Zealand business tax evasion via the Cook Islands, takes cover behind privacy laws."
[2002] "Shows Michelle Boag, President of the National Party, as a girl racer. Refers to the Serious Fraud Office investigating a huge donation from merchant bankers Fay Richwhite to the National Party before the 1996 election."
[2002] "Shows the National Party as a headless chook having had it's head severed on the wood-block of 'credibility'. The headless chook is meanwhile calling for the head of the Director of the Serious Fraud Squad, who is investigating a suspect complaint into election donations to the National Party."
[2005] "Prime Minister Helen Clark uses a hand on a long stick to pat Labour Party politician John Tamihere on the back. Refers to Tamihere being cleared of fraud charges (relating to tax evasion on the $195,000 golden handshake he received from the Waipareira Trust), by the Serious Fraud Office."
[2008] "Shows leader of New Zealand First, Winston Peters, relaxing in a little boat on top of a sack of money. He smiles and wonders where he has put his paddle. The paddle is nowhere to be seen and the boat is drifting up 'Sh*t Creek'. Refers to the decision by the Serious Fraud Office to investigate donations made to Winston Peters for New Zealand First use and how untenable his position is becoming."
[2008] "In a nightmarish scenario, Prime Minister, Helen Clark, is bowed over under a huge weight and wonders when she will be relieved of it. The weight is Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First, whose head pokes through a hole in the back of Helen Clark's jacket. Refers to the investigations by the Serious Fraud Office, the Parliamentary Privileges Committee and possibly by the police into the way donations have been dealt with by New Zealand First."
[2008] "Shows Prime Minister, Helen Clark, attached by a rope to Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs and leader of New Zealand First as they attempt to scale an icy mountain peak. Winston Peters has lost his grip and now dangles from the rope. Helen Clark has a dilemma because he is carrying the oxygen so that if she cuts him loose her own life will be in danger. Refers to the investigation by the Serious Fraud Office and the Parliamentary Privileges Committee and maybe also the police into donations given to New Zealand First that may not have been declared. Helen Clark has to decide how far to support him and when or if to let him go."
[2008] "Shows two men looking at an image of a gun that appears to be coughing. The exhibit is labelled 'Key currency accusation'. One of the men concedes that it is not smoking but is coughing a bit. Refers to allegations that centre around the H-Fee – two payments totalling $A66.5 million to Equiticorp funnelled via sham foreign exchange transactions in 1988. During an interview in August 2007 Mr Key confirmed he worked as a foreign exchange dealer at Elders Merchant Finance, part of Elders IXL, which made the payments to the Allan Hawkins-controlled Equiticorp. John Key pointed out that the Serious Fraud Office director at the time confirmed that he was not involved."
[2009] "In the first of two frames a scientist looks through a microscope and tells Prime Minister John Key that what he is looking is trying to mutate and that they need a vaccine. In the second frame the viewer sees through the microscope a microbe containing the grinning head of Winston Peters leader of New Zealand First who is making a come-back to politics after having vanished from the scene for over six months after his ignominious defeat in the 2008 election. Ahead of the election Winston Peters was dodging accusations of undeclared donations and money being funnelled through secret trust funds, as well as a serious fraud office inquiry."
[2010] "'The Politician' cartoon strip. An assistant tells the minister as he hands him a document, that the government may have to bail out this finance company and the minister is dismayed because he had hoped that the company could bail out the government. Refers to The government's decision not to support a recapitalisation plan for South Canterbury Finance. It seems that receivership was the cleanest, simplest and ultimately safest option for both taxpayers and investors. The government now has to pay out around NZ$1.6 billion to 35,000 depositers in South Canterbury Finance who were covered under the extended guarantee scheme. The government is now in control and the Serious Fraud Office will extend and deepen its investigation of Allan Hubbard's affairs."
[2012] "Three men from the 'SFO' 'Serious Fraud Office' turn the spotlight on a cleaner because everyone else at Bridgecorp denies responsibility. Context: Rob Roest, along with fellow directors Rod Petricevic and Peter Steigrad – are accused of misleading investors in Bridgecorp prospectuses and offer documents and are on trial in the High Court at Auckland. It was "human nature" for a co-accused to attempt to "mitigate their position" when standing trial, Petricevic's lawyer Charles Cato said."
[2012] "Refers to the forced resignation of Judith Collins, the Minister of Justice and a potential rival to the Prime Minister, in late August 2014, following the disclosure that she was using a friendly blog to plot the downfall of the officer in charge of the Serious Fraud Office, Feeley. Collins had already been on a 'last warning' from the Prime Minister over her role in dealings of the milk company Oravida in its trade with China."
[2014] "Cartoon shows a doctor, likely Adam Feeley, using a paddles and defribrillator labelled SFO to restart former Justice Minister Judith Collins' heart. Prime Minister John Key looks on and asks how it's going; the doctor replies, "She's…" and then yells, "CLEAR!". Collins is lying on the ground with a tag on her toe, and emails to Cameron Slater, founder of the Whale Oil Beef Hooked blog scattered around her. Cartoon references a report that cleared Collins of allegations that she was involved in a smear campaign against former Serious Fraud Office (SFO) chief executive, Adam Feeley."
You and Paula Bennett might be very concerned about professional ethics. Maybe.
Personally, I don't see why it's an issue to keep the government operational until the scheduled election. If Doug Graham can keep his knighthood because his convictions weren't relevant to why he got it, winnie can be treated under the same rules regarding the current allegations. It might be found that he did nothing illegal, like last time.
Until the time Winston Peters has been charged (and found guilty) of donation fraud by a court of law, then PM Jacinda Ardern has no reason to stand him down or sack him.His position is not affecting the performance of the coalition government.
I am by no means a NZF supporter, not having much time for Winston Peters at all. The PM is looking at this issue from a fair and common sense perspective as it stands at the moment.
Simon Bridges tax lies were highlighted in Parliament today.
Dr Deborah Russell asked the Minister of Revenue about the marginal tax rate for someone on the median wage. The next supplementary question was a little dig at the Serious Fraud Office investigation into National Party donations.
David Farrar has done two posts today on the donations scandals. In the first he tries to manufacture clear separation between the the Nats and the four charged by the SFO for allegedly splitting $200,000 worth of donations 'of their own accord'.
No help or advice from the Nats on how to donate anonymously. Honest, governor!
Farrar's strategy is to keep clean the National Party by making dirty the shadowy and as yet unnamed donors for what was surely a mutually beneficial transaction.
On that, I think it would help their case if their lawyers didn't insist on name suppression – putting a human face to them might be a good move. Perhaps the National Party are the ones who have asked for name suppression?
Farrar also seems to be confident the court case will shed no light on what advice was given to the donor and donation splitters by the National Party. Or, that he is confident the advice came from someone who the National Party no longer likes…
I'll be interested to see how far the defendant's lawyers DIG DEEP into what communication there was between the National Party and their clients on this.
I suspect they won't dig deep at all. This will be sorted out in the back room.
The second post is about differentiating the NZF Foundation from the National Party Foundation from which is was modelled.
This strategy is again to manufacture clear air between the two. He at once claims that:
All donations to the National Party Foundation are treated as donations to the National Party for electoral law purposes and disclosed as party donations. The NZF Foundation donations were not.
but also that:
The National Party Foundation’s purpose is to build up a capital fund, own the building National HQ is in, and produce future income for National. It is not to secretly pay day to day expenses of the party. In fact the National Foundation has never spent a cent as far as i know. The NZF Foundation however was paying day to day expenses on behalf of NZF including sending MPs to the races.
PDF seems to be saying the National Party Foundation does not benefit the National Party directly at all despite apparently declaring donations as Party donations.
If and when and when the National Party Foundation does "spend a cent" (typical National !) then will the National Party Foundation and the National Party be viewed by Farrar as one and the same? We'll wait and see.
Finally, in a curious feat of contradiction, DFP claims on the one hand:
The National Foundation is under the control of the National Party and chaired by the Party President. The NZF Foundation is not under their board’s control and many board members claim they know nothing about it.
Yet assures his readers it is the NZF Foundation and the NZF Party which are indistinguishable, and the National Party Foundation and the National Party which are completely separate.
Three of the four accused have applied to get the name suppression orders lifted. Maybe they want to talk to the media.
The NZ Herald:
"Three of the four defendants appearing in court next week following a Serious Fraud Office investigation into National Party donations have applied to have the name suppression orders associated with the case lifted," a statement by Pead PR reads.
"Legal counsel for the three defendants confirmed the application is before the Auckland District Court and is currently being considered by a judge."
2) They do not believe they are accountable to Congress, which is why they have no issues lying to them even while under oath. They believe they are only accountable to the President and even then, only to presidents like Trump.
3) Border Patrol believes it is not required to answer to local police, FBI, CIA or any other law enforcement agency. They claim to be to “premiere” law enforcement agency, superior to all others. They say they will become a “national police force.” To be used by a president
4) to enforce laws even among citizens. They know their forces are larger than is necessary, that is why they created this fake crisis. They know they have more gear than they need, that is why they stress emergency response, so they can get more.
5) And I am telling you, this comes from as high as you can get. This is why they have amassed such a force. Bookmark this.
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Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
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. ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
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 ...
Asia Pacific Report Following an open letter by Auckland University academics speaking out in support of their students’ right to protest against the genocidal Israeli war on Gaza, a group of academics at Otago University have today also called on New Zealand academic institutions to “repair colonial violence” and end ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda J. Graham, Professor and Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education, Queensland University of Technology Ryan Tauss/ Unsplash, CC BY Two male students have been expelled from a Melbourne private school for their involvement in a list ranking female students. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The Reserve Bank is now assuming Australians will see no interest rate cuts this year – and quite possibly none before the next federal election, due next May. That’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University The Victorian budget offered more of the same on Tuesday, with the only change being how the budget papers were packaged. The usual shrink wrap was gone, hinting at savings in the pages ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Coalition is demanding extensive amendments to the government’s legislation targeting non-citizens who refuse to co-operate with their removal. In a dissenting report to the senate inquiry into the legislation, the Coalition says it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanita Yadav, Senior Research Fellow, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Brett Boardman/Belvoir The complex and grappling issue of violence against women takes centre stage in the soul-stirring solo dance drama Nayika: A Dancing Girl. During a dinner conversation ...
Disruption to patient care from a nationwide junior doctors strike is bordering on unsafe, a senior doctor claims, despite what health officials say. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Diepstraten, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Ground Picture/Shutterstock The anti-cancer drug abemaciclib (also known as Vernezio) has this month been added to the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to treat certain ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic McAfee, Postdoctoral researcher, marine ecology, University of Adelaide Robbie Porter, OzFish Unlimited Around Australia, hundreds of people are coming together to help a once-prized, but decimated and largely forgotten marine ecosystem. They’re busy restoring Australia’s native oyster and mussel reefs. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Webb, Lecturer, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology Austin Human/Unsplash How does Earth stop meteors from hitting Earth and hurting people? –Asher, 6 years 11 months, New South Wales Alright, let’s embark on a meteor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rory Mulcahy, Associate Professor of Marketing, University of the Sunshine Coast Professional sports organisations regularly promote and develop initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion. While sport has the power to change attitudes by sparking conversations about political issues and social ...
Comment: The weekly Monday post-Cabinet press conference is a useful forum for observing Christopher Luxon and how he is developing into the job of Prime Minister. He attempts to convey the impression of a man of action, speaking fast, delivering memorised National Party strategies in a connect-the-slogans kind of way, ...
Double votes, missing ballot boxes, tired tech and stressed staff: how tick-tallying went astray at last year’s election. Cast your mind back to November 2023, that bleary-eyed post-election period duringwhichwewaited, andwaited, for a coalition deal to be hammered out. A distraction from the hotel-hopping of our ...
International audiences are starting to discover what New Zealand already knew about After the Party.When After the Party aired in New Zealand last year, the response was fast and furious. In his preview for Rec Room, Duncan Greive said it was a “gritty, wrenching and highly confronting” series. By ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shahram Akbarzadeh, Convenor of the Middle East Studies Forum (MESF), and Acting Director the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University Iran’s leadership has been a direct beneficiary of the months-long war in Gaza. With every missile that Israel fires ...
Claire Mabey reviews the haunting and sexy debut novel from Sinéad Gleeson, who is about to touch down in Aotearoa for a string of live events.When Irish writer Sinéad Gleeson was in Aotearoa in 2018 with her spectacular collection of essays, Constellations, she told me she was working on ...
PNG Post-Courier Bougainville Affairs Minister Manasseh Makiba has described the Post-Courier’s front page story yesterday regarding a meeting between Bougainville and national government leaders as “sensationalised” and without substance. The Autonomous Bougainville Government (AGB) had warned it might use “other avenues to gain its independence” should the PNG government “continue ...
Where some saw the worst press conference given by the government to date, Anna Rawhiti-Connell recognised girl maths game.Nicola Willis, recently exasperated by comparisons to Ruth Richardson, said she was “a bit sick of being compared with every female finance minister that’s ever been out there.”Some think that’s ...
The March results are reported against forecasts based on the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2023 (HYEFU 2023), published on 20 December 2023 and the results for the same period for the previous year. ...
Jamie Arbuckle, the district councillor who became an MP but decided to keep getting paid for both roles, will instead donate one salary to charity. ...
Adding gender to the Human Rights Act would simply make the implicit explicit. So why is it so controversial? Paul Thistoll explain. At present, Aotearoa’s 1993 Human Rights Act (HRA) includes sex, marital status, religious belief, ethical belief (meaning a lack of religious belief), colour, race, ethnicity or national origin, ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, an 18-year-old who’s studying and working in hospo shares their approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Transmasc Age: 18 Ethnicity: Pākehā/Māori Role: Student, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Resources Minister Shane Jones has reportedly asked officials for advice on whether oil and gas companies could be offered “bonds” as compensation if drilling rights offered by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Gleeson, Associate Professor of Law, Macquarie University Shutterstock The Albanese government is weighing up the costs of delivering an election promise to protect religious people from discrimination in Commonwealth law. Such protections were relatively uncontroversial when included in state anti-discrimination ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yen Ying Lim, Associate Professor, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio Dementia is often described as “the long goodbye”. Although the person is still alive, dementia slowly and irreversibly chips away at their memories and the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Judy Bush, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, The University of Melbourne Adam Calaitzis/Shutterstock I met with a friend for a walk beside Merri Creek, in inner Melbourne. She had lived in the area for a few years, and as we walked ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Throsby, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Macquarie University Arts companies and individual artists in Australia are supported by government arts agencies, philanthropists, industry bodies, private donors and patrons. However, it is frequently overlooked that a major source of support for the arts ...
Harm Reduction Coalition Aotearoa, a new incorporated society dedicated to ending harmful drug policies, officially launched today, seeks a new fit-for-purpose drug law for Aotearoa New Zealand, rooted in science, experience and evidence. ...
The Corrections Minister admits he "muddied the water" after he and the Prime Minister repeatedly provided incorrect information about a $1.9 billion prison spend-up. ...
It took a post-post-cabinet statement to confirm that 810 new beds will be built at Waikeria, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Lili Tokaduadua was only 15 when she left her family in Fiji to pursue her netball dream in New Zealand. She’d been playing the sport for 10 years and was offered a netball scholarship at Auckland’s Howick College. Now, in her first year out of high school, the 19-year-old defender ...
The beloved local grocers lost a legal challenge to stop a new cycleway outside their store. Joel MacManus reports. In the annals of New Zealand legal history, there are a few brave people who have dared to stand up to the powers that be, no matter how bleak the odds ...
How what we produce and what we eat connects us to the world beyond our shores, visualised. Walking around a supermarket or vege shop, it might be obvious that everything on the shelves came from somewhere. But you might ...
Professor Jemma Geoghegan, of the University of Otago, Otakou Whakaihu Waka, co-leads a Te Niwha project aimed at understanding how and where avian influenza could affect Aotearoa New Zealand, as the highly infectious H5N1 virus spreads globally. The virus has now spread to all continents except Oceania and was recently ...
Thirty years on from Rwanda’s genocide, is guilt over the atrocities is blinding the world to the true nature of its current leadership? The post The repressive underside of Rwanda’s regime appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: Last week, important recommendations for our criminal justice system were made by the international community. Every five years, each member of the United Nations has its human rights practices reviewed. This rolling event – the Universal Periodic Review – is the culmination of a government reporting on its human ...
Highly pathogenic avian influenza – H5N1, or bird flu – has been flying around the world since the late 1990s. New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands are so far free of it, but now it’s been discovered in mainland Antarctica and scientists say it’s only a matter of time ...
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The following interview with auto electrician and former caver Stu Berendt, 68, of Charleston on the West Coast, came about because he was part of the caving team that found the rare and amazing fossil remains of the giant Haast eagle, the subject of one of the year’s best books, ...
A $1.8b funding boost for Pharmac still won’t enable it to buy more drugs, raising questions about the Government’s approach to the agency The post Can Pharmac do more with the same pot of money? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Stokan, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County If you live in one of the most economically deprived neighborhoods in your city, you might think the government is directing a smaller share of public funds to your community. ...
Wansolwara The news media’s crucial role in climate change and environment journalism was the focus of The University of the South Pacific’s Journalism Programme 2024 World Press Freedom Day celebrations. The European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna were the chief ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Adams, Professor of Corporate Law & Academic Director of UNE Sydney campus, University of New England Last August, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched legal proceedings against Qantas. The consumer watchdog accused the airline of selling thousands of tickets ...
This episode of A View From Afar was recorded LIVE on May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, May 5, 2024 at 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Assistant Professor, Bond University Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures At the crux of the critical response to Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Challengers is one word: “sexy”. The film charts a love triangle between three up-and-coming tennis players: Tashi (Zendaya), ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA Canberra, UNSW Sydney For years, First Nations people have been telling governments they want to be listened to. In particular, they want more ownership of the programs and services that are supposed to help them. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Nasser, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilise ...
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 I covered the May 2 United Kingdom local government elections for The Poll Bludger. The Blackpool South parliamentary byelection was also held, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Grant-Smith, Professor of Management, University of the Sunshine Coast The federal government has announced a “Commonwealth Prac Payment” to support selected groups of students doing mandatory work placements. Those who are studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social ...
South America?
Have to say it is mildly humorous there has been nearly zero articles on here about Winston and his SFO issues and tonnes about National when the Nats aren't even under investigation.
I appreciate that some of the nats no doubt knew about a certain nutter and some donors actions and it was dodge, but a bit of balance would be nice, given NZ First's predicament and Ardern's in-action.
Sorry to disappoint. Give us your bank details and we will give you a refund.
Pound-for-pound, the opposition National party's "predicament" seems at least as serious as NZF's at this early stage. Maybe they deserved each other in October 2017, but the 'no-mates' Nats couldn't quite seal the deal. Thankfully, other parties in NZ’s current parliament haven't been similarly tarnished, yet.
Well tbf the Nat party, at least on the surface has escaped the wraith of the SFO and NZF is in the bulls eye, but agree she is probably not dissimilar when you get down to the nitty gritty.
Difference is. Ardern needs Winston to form a govt, and is looking a bit lost.
It remains to be seen whether the National Party has successfully been able to scapegoat others for its donations fraud or not. For example, if Jami Lee Ross were to be among those charged, he was a senior MP, Chief Whip and Simon Bridges' bagman at the time of the fraud.
It remains to be seen whether the National Party has successfully been able to scapegoat others for its donations fraud or not. For example, if Jami Lee Ross were to be among those charged, he was a senior MP, Chief Whip and Simon Bridges' bagman at the time of the fraud.
Words in the House by someone looking a bit lost?
Hon Simon Bridges: What ethical standards has her Deputy Prime Minister upheld in the last two weeks?
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If the member wishes to ask a direct question about an issue around ministerial conduct, he is most welcome to, but I imagine the public right now sees the deep irony of this line of questioning from the leader of the National Party.
None in the National party are being investigated by the SFO.
Did she not know that?
@ Chris T (2.2.1.3.1) … "None in the National party are being investigated by the SFO."
You are privy to SFO information then?
It is pretty widely reported it is 3 donors and the nutty bloke.
Until the nutty one got granted name suppression and every outlet had to stop saying his name
So it's more than likely the crime was committed by someone while they were a member of the national party . It makes one wonder if maybe all 4 are recent ex members of the national party.
Well no. Cos 3 are donors
And the fourth went a tad nutcase and got resigned.
Does being a donor rule out being a member, at any level?
Not so sure about that…
I've only donated to one party and I was a member at that time.
The money went to the National Party. That's enough to point to a certain irony, especially since a certain phone call was made talking about how the money was to be handled as well as some pretty overt racism about the merits of various ethnicities as list MPs and a rather 'egregious' I believe the current bon mot is reference to the list member from the West Coast. I'd have said outrageous, myself.
All of which goes to explain the PM's remarks I quoted from Hansard, but you'll need to see the on-line footage to see the look that was directed across the House at the hapless questioner, Simon Bridges.
I appreciate that some of the nats no doubt knew about a certain nutter and some donors actions…
A certain "nutter" and his all-on-his-lonesome actions that he instigated and carried out all by himself, huh?
The tough bit with "plausible deniability" is that the "plausible" part is a real bitch. "Implausible deniability" isn't really a thing.
Probably not carried out by himself, but the SFO have decided it was.
On RNZ this morning a lawyer spoke about the role of the SFO. He said that we get to hear very little about who or what detail the SFO is investigating until the court case if it is to occur happens. So I don't think that we know at all where this investigation is going or who gets caught up in it.
But as the PM said the public is no doubt seeing the irony alluded to.
All goo
All the media will be proved wrong then.
And Winston will be found to just be selling charity cookies they forgot to write down
"balance"
https://twitter.com/usertwentyfive/status/1229547232984170496
$200 for taking a photograph of their tenant in bed. Unbelievable.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/119598552/landlord-photographed-tenant-in-bed-ordered-to-pay-600
Yep. The deterrent enforced by the Tenancy Tribunal, or the deterrent able to be enforced by the Tenancy Tribunal is a JOKE!
There was another one yesterday about a Land-peasant's son who harassed the tenants in person and online for months and was ordered to pay about $2400 from memory. That is a weak slap on the hand.
I note that the two Land-peasant bodies, REINZ and the other one are gearing up for a fight against the no-cause eviction legislation.
They say they'd rather have stiffer penalties for errant Land-peasants to act as a deterrent. News for them, the penalties are so weak now that any increase will have to be 10-fold to have any effect.
Also, if this Labour-led government buckles to these amateur property addicts under pressure from NZF I will for the first time change my vote to the Green Party!!!
Some would have us believe that all NZ political parties and political leaders are [equally] corrupt – voters will judge for themselves. Here's a potted SFO history via cartoon descriptions – regarding the current ‘awkwardness‘ between NZF and Labour, we have been here before [in 2008]:
Did someone say pledge cards.
They are all dodgy including Ardern who is too weak to stand down Winston while the investigation is going on.
I wonder what your spin would have been if she'd ditched him a week or two back? "abandons her friends, coldly calculating", that sort of thing?
Not really
Winston has always been dodgy, no matter what govt he conned into an agreement
Yeah, I guess we'll never know, eh.
You and Paula Bennett might be very concerned about professional ethics. Maybe.
Personally, I don't see why it's an issue to keep the government operational until the scheduled election. If Doug Graham can keep his knighthood because his convictions weren't relevant to why he got it, winnie can be treated under the same rules regarding the current allegations. It might be found that he did nothing illegal, like last time.
All good. just don't expect people to treat him or Ardern to with anything but a nudge nudge wink wink till the result comes out.
"Most open and transparent" and all that
You do realise that the Government is not under investigation by SFO and it is NZF Foundation, don’t you?
Whereas if you're openly corrupt, there is no winking or nudging even when four people are charged in relation to donations to your party.
The left are well-acquainted with the rules of winking and nudging when applied by tories. So is Winston.
@ Chris T (4.1) … Pot kettle comes to mind.
Until the time Winston Peters has been charged (and found guilty) of donation fraud by a court of law, then PM Jacinda Ardern has no reason to stand him down or sack him.His position is not affecting the performance of the coalition government.
I am by no means a NZF supporter, not having much time for Winston Peters at all. The PM is looking at this issue from a fair and common sense perspective as it stands at the moment.
Simon Bridges tax lies were highlighted in Parliament today.
Dr Deborah Russell asked the Minister of Revenue about the marginal tax rate for someone on the median wage. The next supplementary question was a little dig at the Serious Fraud Office investigation into National Party donations.
Farrar watch:
David Farrar has done two posts today on the donations scandals. In the first he tries to manufacture clear separation between the the Nats and the four charged by the SFO for allegedly splitting $200,000 worth of donations 'of their own accord'.
No help or advice from the Nats on how to donate anonymously. Honest, governor!
Farrar's strategy is to keep clean the National Party by making dirty the shadowy and as yet unnamed donors for what was surely a mutually beneficial transaction.
On that, I think it would help their case if their lawyers didn't insist on name suppression – putting a human face to them might be a good move. Perhaps the National Party are the ones who have asked for name suppression?
Farrar also seems to be confident the court case will shed no light on what advice was given to the donor and donation splitters by the National Party. Or, that he is confident the advice came from someone who the National Party no longer likes…
I'll be interested to see how far the defendant's lawyers DIG DEEP into what communication there was between the National Party and their clients on this.
I suspect they won't dig deep at all. This will be sorted out in the back room.
The second post is about differentiating the NZF Foundation from the National Party Foundation from which is was modelled.
This strategy is again to manufacture clear air between the two. He at once claims that:
but also that:
PDF seems to be saying the National Party Foundation does not benefit the National Party directly at all despite apparently declaring donations as Party donations.
If and when and when the National Party Foundation does "spend a cent" (typical National !) then will the National Party Foundation and the National Party be viewed by Farrar as one and the same? We'll wait and see.
Finally, in a curious feat of contradiction, DFP claims on the one hand:
Yet assures his readers it is the NZF Foundation and the NZF Party which are indistinguishable, and the National Party Foundation and the National Party which are completely separate.
Go figure…
Three of the four accused have applied to get the name suppression orders lifted. Maybe they want to talk to the media.
The NZ Herald:
"Three of the four defendants appearing in court next week following a Serious Fraud Office investigation into National Party donations have applied to have the name suppression orders associated with the case lifted," a statement by Pead PR reads.
"Legal counsel for the three defendants confirmed the application is before the Auckland District Court and is currently being considered by a judge."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12309703
'Murica's Sturmabteilung.
https://twitter.com/BuddJenn/status/1227623752583667713
2) They do not believe they are accountable to Congress, which is why they have no issues lying to them even while under oath. They believe they are only accountable to the President and even then, only to presidents like Trump.
3) Border Patrol believes it is not required to answer to local police, FBI, CIA or any other law enforcement agency. They claim to be to “premiere” law enforcement agency, superior to all others. They say they will become a “national police force.” To be used by a president
4) to enforce laws even among citizens. They know their forces are larger than is necessary, that is why they created this fake crisis. They know they have more gear than they need, that is why they stress emergency response, so they can get more.
5) And I am telling you, this comes from as high as you can get. This is why they have amassed such a force. Bookmark this.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1227623752583667713.html
https://twitter.com/matt_cam/status/1229100545778110465
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1229100545778110465.html
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ixEzKA4k0&feature=youtu.be
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/feb/18/readers-tributes-andrew-weatherall-wonderfully-creative-dj