Dead man walking

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 20th, 2020 - 106 comments
Categories: bill english, brand key, Christopher Luxon, election 2020, john key, Judith Collins, national, polls, same old national, Simon Bridges, uncategorized - Tags:

The vultures are gathering.  When you are the leader of a party whose basic membership qualification is that they have to believe they are born to rule failure is not tolerated.

The media is reporting that there will be a vote of no confidence held in Simon Bridges’ leadership at next Tuesday’s National caucus meeting.  The threat of so many MPs losing their jobs is too much to allow.

Yesterday Jim Bolger publicly endorsed Todd Muller for leader.  John Key previously confirmed that Chris Luxon was his pick.  All we need is for Bill English and Jenny Shipley to come out publicly and choose a successor and Bridges’ humiliation will be complete.

How dysfunctional National has become is confirmed by this Henry Cooke Stuff article which shows how bad things have become.  From the article:

One National MP who spoke to Stuff on the condition of anonymity said that Bridges’ low ratings in the preferred prime ministerial poll made it difficult to see him running a winning election campaign.

“It’s hard to see how he can fight an election campaign when only four-and-a-half per cent of people want him to be prime minister,” the MP said.

Another said the problem was that the public was actively hostile to Bridges’ being the person bringing National’s message to them.

“The problem is the phone isn’t being picked up,” this MP said.

Several saw Bridges’ comment concerning the Prime Minister dying her hair on Newshub on Tuesday night — a joke that he didn’t dye his hair himself — as a particularly egregious example of poor leadership.

But others see the transaction cost of possibly bloody leadership contest as far too high.

Another National MP, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the last thing the party needed was a public battle about itself while the country was focused on coronavirus.

“The more you focus on internal ructions the more the country thinks you’re not talking about them,” the MP said.

“That’s just not going to help us.”

The leading contenders are Todd Muller, Judith Collins and Mark Mitchell.  I am not sure who for but David Bennett is one of the MPs doing the numbers.  The idiot replied to an email to give away the game.  Note to all MPs.  Never ever email anything that you do not want to see on the leading page of any news blog.

Bennett is now in a marginal seat and has sunk to particular depths by running a petition against a planned Kainga Ora development on the basis that poor people would be living there the development is medium density.

And the factions are interesting. I spent quite a bit of time analysing Labour’s ABC faction back in the day. Nowadays there is an ABBA faction, the Anyone But Bridges Alliance. I wonder if they will be Bridges Waterloo?

All eyes will be on Thursday’s Colmar Brunton result. If it is better then the Reid Research poll Bridges can spin it either as an improvement or the Reid Research poll being an aberration even though it appears to match what is happening in private polling.

If it is not then unless the dominant view is to just get the campaign over and change leaders after the election then Bridges is toast.

Update: Newshub has claimed that there are two MPs that are challenging the leadership, Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye.

106 comments on “Dead man walking ”

  1. Oh dear, how sad. Never mind. Poor Simon, poor simple Simon.

  2. Sanctuary 2

    The vultures are gathering, they are just wondering which of them is going to be the first to check if the corpse is really dead.

  3. Andre 3

    Hey Nats, just cool it willya? The country needs Simon exactly where he is.

    • Tiger Mountain 3.1

      Mr Bridges is a classic case of genuinely being neither qualified, nor temperamentally suited, to national political leadership. I cite his Northland “no bridges” pork barreling and his undermining of colleagues per the “JLR tapes”, and his discordant mis-speaks during C19.

      Please National-keep him on!

      It is tempting to submit to the news cycle “blood in the water” take and see this as really important-but it is just the Nats doing what they need to do to best represent local and international finance capital. Maybe enough New Zealanders will see through it and realise that the NZ National Party represents those that see the Govt. action to stall Covid 19, as not much more than a barrier to profits and increased shareholder value.

    • Chris 3.2

      The nats probably get a lot of their advice from this site. "Hey, on TS they all want Simon to stay and if he has to go they want either Collins or Bennett. I think Todd's our man."

  4. Incognito 4

    This is nothing new, as internal polls appear to have shown a downward slide for some time. Apart from some leak here and there, every now and then, and apart from Matthew’s Magic Numbers, the National Caucus apparently did not know anything because Simon doesn’t share those poll results with them. It’s a cunning strategy: ignorance is bliss and what you don’t know, doesn’t hurt me. In many ways, it sums up the National Party perfectly; they cannot be trusted with power.

    • Sacha 4.1

      Hiding internal party polls from colleagues should be enough reason to dump the chump.

  5. Sanctuary 5

    National's problem is they don't seem to have anyone who can read the room, or the zoom.

    I think they've spent the last three years in their offices being radicalised by Fox News.

    • In Vino 5.1

      Rude of me to cut in at such a late hour on this thread, but has nobody else noticed the clear threat?

      Todd M plays the role of Little – acts as stodgy, uninspiring leader, but then at late moment stands aside just as Little did. Suddenly, an inspirational Nikki Kaye with compliant media steps in with inspirational interviews. etc, to match what Jacinda did at last election.

      National have confidence in Nikki – she has already beaten Jacinda twice in electorates!

      I personally find Nikki rather vacant, but with compliant right-wing media playing along, this is the threat I see if Todd and Nicki emerge as new Opposition leaders.

      • observer 5.1.1

        That's taking conspiracy/fantasy to new levels.

        3 leaders in 4 months is electoral suicide. And Jacinda took over 6 years later (in government terms) than Nikki Kaye would be doing. No comparison really.

        Why would Kaye throw away her career when she would have a far better chance in 2023 or even later?

  6. Peter 6

    The election will be close. Unfortunately it could close so much that David Bennett gets in.

    • Tricledrown 6.1

      National seem to think we can bring in overseas students most likely from China by July, if Simon Bridges was any decent sort of leader he would be more in control of his cabinet as well as his mouth.

  7. Treetop 7

    A great heading "Dead Man Walking"

    Just where Bridges will end up in the National caucus after the vote for leader is what I want to know. Probably Bennett will be replaced as deputy leader as well.

  8. Ad 8

    Nikki will lose Auckland Central on current polling. Plus she's better as a Deputy than as leader: too Auckland, too liberal.

    Todd Muller would helpfully use the next term unifying that solid blue rural countryside, with no further rump resistance from NZF.

    • Anne 8.1

      Jim Bolger, the highly respected elder statesman has set the scene for a Todd Muller leader and Nikki Kaye deputy leader.

      A city/regional mix which will go down well with their supporters. Watch their polling numbers rise rapidly. The coalition govt. will need to work hard to win the election despite their current polling.

      • Enough is Enough 8.1.1

        I agree Anne.

        My prediction (based on my man in the street observations) is if they stick with Bridges, polling will stay where it is. Perhaps Nats will inch up to 35, but Jacinda will have an absolute majority (which isn't good if we want a transformational government, because as we need the Greens at the cabinet table with some power).

        The Muller/Kaye ticket will entrench the rural vote (which Bridges can't do), and attract back some of the liberal vote that is flirting with Labour.

        It will be game on, but not to the extent where we will lose

        • Anne 8.1.1.1

          Yep. That's my take too.

          I don't think it does any political party good to have too easy a ride. It just makes for arrogance and complacency which is in nobody's interest.

  9. Muttonbird 9

    This hair dye comment has to be one of his worst stumbles, and there have been a few!

    It shows how venal he is and how completely out of touch with what the public think of JA's performance.

    Perhaps Bridges reads Kiwiblog every night and is stuck in that unfortunate bubble thinking that's what most Kiwis really think.

    Bridges’ childish hair dye quip goes against basic decency but worse, it completely misses the truth that 95% of Kiwi's thinks JA and her government got the pandemic response right and, as the face of the response, Ardern has worked extremely hard for NZ.

    The comment seems to brag that he's feeling fine but Ardern is aging and spent. Ardern is the person with the weight of a nation on her shoulders, not Bridges, and I think she made this point in Parliament recently.

    You's expect the hair dye comment from a teenage bully. I fear that is where Simon Bridges' development as a person stopped.

  10. The coup plotters appear to have coalesced around Todd Muller for leader, Nikki Kaye for deputy. Bridges, on RNZ, confirmed that there will be a vote on Tuesday, however he refused to name the challengers.

    Judith Collins is out.

    • Enough is Enough 10.1

      He confirmed the same to Hosking, so its going to be a busy weekend for the Nats.

      • Muttonbird 10.1.1

        Did Hosking deride Bridges and the National Party the way he did Shearer, Cunliffe, Little and the Labour Party?

        • roblogic 10.1.1.1

          Nah he's just waiting for his talking points from Farrar to recycle, or a heavenly oracle from the arse of Sir John Key

    • RedBaronCV 10.2

      Todd & Nikki would be far too left wing for most of the Nats wouldn't they? I can already hear them on Nikki – far too pretty.fluffy/barbie to be a Nat leader. They need to keep Simon!!!

      • Enough is Enough 10.2.1

        That's the point though isn't it. They need to win back voters who have jumped to Labour in the past 6 weeks. A hard right duo won't do that.

      • Incognito 10.2.2

        A more collaborative and less antagonistic and polarising approach might go down better with the electorate. This doesn’t mean that National will turn left or green on Tuesday but more that it will show a different side of face and persona. We might even get a real contest in the coming Election!

        • KJT 10.2.2.1

          Well. You would think so.

          But election coming up. National has to pretend to care about people.

          They are the two, they have, who could give that perception.

          Though Muller is already bleating about "villianising" farmers by expecting them to pay for their own pollution. So expect more polarisation, and “othering”..

      • RedBaronCV 10.2.3

        I can't see these two as anything more than face time to hide the real agenda.We need the honest Simon!

    • Treetop 10.3

      Collins out for leader but what about deputy leader?

    • coge 10.4

      There is a very good reason Judith has stayed out of this. It's a badly timed pantomime. There will not be a change in leadership.

  11. Reality 11

    Bridges’ latest foot in mouth was to call Paula by her well known name of Paula Benefit.

  12. Stephen D 12

    The Nats have a couple of choices.

    1.Stick with Simon and sacrifice a bunch of lower list MPs.

    2.Roll Simon for a leader who will pick up the party vote in the short term, then get rolled during BBQ season. Judith, Mark?

    3.Roll Simon for a leader who will take the loss, and rally the troops for a decent tilt at 2023. Todd or Nikki

    Senior caucus members probably want 1 or 3. Lower list MPs Judith. She might not win the election, but they know at least she'd take the fight to Jacinda.

    • Stephen D 12.1

      With Judith and Mark apparently not standing, looks like 1 or 3.

      Risk a bloodbath with Simon or let the Todd/Nikky ticket have a go, and give them next term to turn things around.

  13. Tricledrown 13

    The boy who cried Wolf was crying on National Radio this morning.Claiming crying foul he wasn't getting the exposure that Jacinda was getting.

    Absolute bollocks he got to much exposure by trying Trumpish tactics he got all the attention alright but the more they saw of simple Simon the less they liked.

    • Treetop 13.1

      Politics is a dirty business when a party leader is being rolled. Possibly had Bridges not have been distracted with his position as leader he might have been seen to have performed better during the Covid-19 crisis which is hopefully at the tail end.

    • Chris 13.2

      His troubles were caused by too much exposure, not too little. If he'd kept his head down, worked hard on his wee committee, put his election campaign on hold and came up with constructive ideas that showed a little national unity instead of ferociously attacking anything that moved he'd still be leader now. Poor bugger. It shouldn't have been that difficult for him. Would be interesting to know the advice he received.

  14. ianmac 14

    I seem to remember a time when Key was supportive of the Labour leader, Little I think, and of course he knew that it would be good for the National Party for Little to continue as Leader. Funny that the boot is now on another backside.

    Labour backs Bridges! Please stay on Simon.The country needs you!

  15. swordfish 15

    All eyes will be on Thursday’s Colmar Brunton result. If it is better then the Reid Research poll Bridges can spin it either as an improvement or the Reid Research poll being an aberration even though it appears to match what is happening in private polling.

    I think the differences will be relatively mild. Based on the House Effects of the various Pollsters currently making it into the news in one form or another (Reid Research, Colmar Brunton, UMR), I'm guessing the imminent Colmar Brunton will be somewhere in the region of:

    Lab 54%

    Green 6%

    NZF 3.3%

    (Govt 63.3%)

    Nat 34%

    ACT 1.4%

    (Oppo 35.4%)

    Other 1.8%

    [Lab lead over Nats = 20 points]

    [Govt lead over Oppo = 28 points]

    (And, no, collectively those figures don't quite = precisely 100% … but then Colmar Bruntons rarely do given their rounding of all ratings over 5%)

    Guesstimate: based largely on the average CB vs RR differentials for each Party in polls conducted around the same time over the entire period since the election of the Ardern Govt … but with slight weighting given to the most recent differentials + some weighting given to UMR vis-a-vis both CB & RR.

    • lprent 15.1

      Lab 54%
      Nat 34%

      That sounds about right based on the the usual differentials. I would have picked Lab 53%, Nat 35%.
      Come the election, more like Lab 49% and Nat 39% depending on exactly how bad this leadership spill is.

  16. Incognito 16

    I cannot wait for the National Party (and a few others, for that matter) to rejuvenate and reinvent itself as a modern centre-right party equipped to deal with the pressing issues of today and tomorrow. Bring it on!

  17. Bomber turns into a SiBri supporter?! I'm sure his motives are pure 😛

    https://twitter.com/CitizenBomber/status/1262820691503546368?s=20

    • Incognito 18.1

      No, no, no, Martyn!

      Is there even a pointing having Simon Bridges anymore?

      Please keep up.

      • Chris 18.1.1

        Yes there is. What would you prefer? Another good old kiwi bloke who can really relate to honest hard working kiwis? We had almost nine years of that and look what happened. And they may've just found themselves another one.

        • Incognito 18.1.1.1

          I’d prefer a decent Opposition that is not continuously trying to punch below the belt and above its weight and showing they’re living proof of the Peter Principle. People who lack talent and skills often resort to bullying, dirty games, and throwing mud at others in the hope that some will stick and taint them. The National Party lacks talent and courage and it is stale and beyond the pale. That said, the Labour Party better have a good look in the mirror too and not rely on current polling and the star power of one person.

  18. RedBaronCV 19

    Looks like round 70% of the country wants Simon . 63% on the govt benches and 4% who think he would be a great PM. That.'s real popularity for a Nat leader.

  19. Muttonbird 20

    Far out. That caucus must hate each other's guts.

    Massive split in ideology and some genuine disunity being thrashed out in public.

    Collins and Mitchell, the far right of the party firmly backing Bridges, while the slightly more palatable centre right clearly think Bridges is a chump. The country agrees!

    Good times.

  20. Hooch 21

    Todd who? I think if they roll Bridges they’ll stay at or worse in the polls. It would show that they are a scrambling rabble and ununified, although that ship has probably sailed now that they are publicly trying to knife him. I find it hard to see how Nationals rabid rump, who refer to Ardern as Cindy amongst other misogynistic terms, would accept Kaye, a young successful woman like Ardern, who many see as one of the lefter leaning National mps.

    • Muttonbird 21.1

      Be a good outcome if Bridges wins the leadership vote and he and his far right wing mates punish Kaye so much that she decides to jump ship to Labour.

      She'd be a great Labour MP and I'm not entirely sure why she isn't.

  21. Stephen D 22

    How do the Nats go about compiling the order for the List?

    That will be a fun series of meetings!

  22. ianmac 23

    Would Muller really consider being Leader? About 3 months in the job. Then losing the election. Luxton elected MP then promoted to Leader. What should Todd do?

  23. dv 24

    Judith said Simon won't be rolled, and she is not standing.

    • lprent 24.1

      Better hunting after the lost election?

    • Peter 24.2

      Judith said he won't be rolled?

      Headline: 'Judith Collins says no-confidence vote would fail'

      Body: National MP Judith Collins says she will not be challenging leader Simon Bridges – and does not believe a no-confidence vote against him would pass.'

      Does what she said match what she actually said? Does her saying she thinks a no-confidence vote won't succeed equal a definitive 'wont be ruled?

      And to cap it all off she's just a bird on a power line looking down at what's happening:

      "I am just focused on the job and I am not part of anything that is going on. I am keeping myself well out of everything."

      Ah, the vision! A bird on the wire actually being a lying cow!

    • Enough is Enough 24.3

      Judith has a rock solid fan club out in punter land, who make up a noisy portion of Nat supporters.

      That support does not translate to caucus support though. More chance of Auckland congestion ever being fixed than there is of Judith getting the numbers.

  24. AB 25

    Would be fun to watch Nikki Kaye spinning frantically to reconcile National's fundamentally sociopathic vision with her 'liberal' credentials. The waffle and illogic of it would be epic if she was ever faced with a decent interviewer. Big 'if' that.

    • Enough is Enough 25.1

      The National Party are the kings of PR and bullshit.

      What part of their 'public' persona would lead you to suggest they have a fundamentally sociopathic vision?

  25. Dean Reynolds 26

    It's always entertaining watching our betters behaving just like the rest of us

  26. observer 28

    It has to be Muller. Not a saviour, not an election winner, but simply to change the narrative, and give National a chance of denying Labour an overall majority.

    I don't agree with the conventional wisdom that he would only get "one shot" – i.e. an election defeat automatically means an opposition leader has to be dumped afterwards. If National under Muller recover so there's a caucus of 50+, then he will have saved a lot of MPs who were facing unemployment. They would have no cause to get the knives out.

  27. WANTED: Crony capitalist operation seeks slick new front-man for PR campaign. Experience asset stripping small nations preferred

  28. Fireblade 31

    Bwahahaha!

    National MP calls Todd Muller "pale stale and male".

    Meanwhile, Simon Bridges is considering calling an emergency caucus meeting this Friday to try and squash the leadership challenge.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300016914/simon-bridges-considering-early-caucus-meeting-to-head-off-leadership-challenge

  29. observer 32

    Monday: poll tells National MPs that daily personal attacks on PM really, really, really isn't working for them.

    Wednesday: So let's keep doing it!

    Who will decide Bridges' fate? Matt King, Simeon Brown, Stuart Smith and all the other Nats who use social media to show how much they don't get it. Bridges is only the symptom, the disease is much worse.

  30. Sacha 33

    Bridges gets his Friday showdown, fresh off the next poll: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300016914/national-caucus-will-meet-on-friday-to-decide-simon-bridges-fate

    The National Party caucus will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to hold a vote on Simon Bridges’ leadership.

    The rest of the story is rehashed equivocation from the earlier one.

  31. observer 34

    Update:

    6 pm Thurs: TVNZ poll.

    noon Fri: National caucus meeting brought forward 3 days – now confirmed. Classic "put up or shut up" move by leader.

    More MPs now publicly backing Bridges, odds on survival shift to better than even.

  32. observer 35

    This is changing by the minute …

    Now Muller claims HE has the numbers. Letter sent to caucus.

    Stay tuned, this is the best soap opera in years!

  33. georgecom 36

    will be a pity if Bridges loses, I am very comfortable with him continuing where he is.

    if he gets rolled I hear rumours he might start a bungy and boat anchor manufacturing business. should be quality products given Simons talent for making things plummet.

    “Bridge Anchors, guaranteed to drop”
    “Bridges Bungys, guaranteed to go all the way down”

  34. Sacha 37

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300017132/national-leadership-todd-muller-emails-challenge-to-caucus-saying-national-cant-win-under-simon-bridges

    "It is essential that National wins this election," Muller wrote.

    "I share the view of the majority of my colleagues that this is not possible under the current leadership."

    • observer 37.1

      Which means Muller cannot campaign for National or hold a portfolio if Bridges keeps the leadership. Backbench electorate MP at best.

      No way he or Kaye can say "Simon's the man!" without the voters laughing.

      (edit)

      From Sacha’s Stuff link –

      He wrote that Labour had failed in every task it had set itself and the consequences of it being re-elected would be “catastrophic for two generations.”

      So he can’t read the NZ room either. Only the National room.

    • AB 37.2

      "the consequences of [Labour] being re-elected at this time will be catastrophic for two generations."

      I would refer Bridges to a delusional business numpty who can utter such drivel.

  35. Muttonbird 38

    Incredible that Bridges (and Boag) would cry like a baby this morning about the PM getting all the coverage and him no air time, and then use the very same interview for Party specific purposes in trying to squash a coup.

  36. Fireblade 39

    While the government is managing a global pandemic and keeping New Zealanders safe, the National Party is inwardly focused, stabbing each other in the back and plotting leadership coups.

    It's a disgusting display of arrogance by the National Party.

  37. Muttonbird 40

    Bridges and Jami Lee Ross are so similar with their huge, cast-iron egos and their staggering lack of self-awareness it’s not hard to see why they were great mates.

    I should do Twitter.

    • I Feel Love 40.1

      Don't have to join Twitter, just open it & watch it, fascinating to see stuff happening in real time, and the many, many nutbars (I'm wondering are the Maga anti vaxxers taking the anti lupus drug?).

  38. ScottGN 41

    I love love the old girl who got vox pop’d on One News tonight, “why can’t Jacinda lead the National Party?”

  39. Graeme 42

    In the fortnightly missive from Destination Queenstown

    TIA is hosting a Discussing Tourism webinar with Hon Simon Bridges and Hon Todd McClay tomorrow Thursday 21 May at 2pm. Hon Simon Bridges will discuss the work of the Epidemic Response Committee and next steps, as well as National’s views on the future of our tourism industry. Mr Bridges will be joined by National’s Tourism spokesperson Todd McClay. Click here to register.

    Should be entertaining if it goes ahead. Simon's ERC session on tourism today was a bit of a no-show

  40. Nic 181 43

    Whilst I intensely dislike Mr Bridges, both personally and as a politician, I don’t want to see him rolled just yet. Better I think to have him go down with the ship. Any replacement after the election will struggle even more for relevance. Viva the struggle!!!

  41. observer 44

    A quick trip around RW social media (ugh, I know) shows plenty of anger towards the challengers. Not necessarily Bridges fans, more "don't rock the boat". It's a familiar refrain to Labour ears from the Time Before Jacinda.

    Going to be a bloody Thursday. Only Colmar Brunton can Save Our Simon.

  42. mac1 45

    A muso's take on National's woes.

    Simon Bridges will need all his drumming skills to beat up his support to keep his job. At the moment he is arhythmic and out of sync. Will the C&W man Muller please the fans more?

    National seem to think they can combine C&W with Metro noise to get a sound that will please the punters. What will more likely happen is that they'll form separate bands.

    The National atonality extends to believing that Ardern's popularity is "Kumbaya" when it's actually more "Stand by Me" and "We are the Champions".

    Todd Muller will take National back to "Me and You and a Dog named Blue."

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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
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  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
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