Dirty politics past and present

Written By: - Date published: 12:42 pm, November 17th, 2016 - 63 comments
Categories: David Farrar, Dirty Politics, dpf, same old national, spin - Tags: , , , ,

Recent cataclysmic events, both political and geological, mean a few interesting stories have slipped under the radar. Here’s two of them.

National’s surviving dirty politics blogger chose the (NZ) day of the US election to slip out this little beauty – Trying to rehash Dirty Politics

The DIA e-mailed me this week to say that they are releasing the data below, sought by Nicky Hagar since February 2015, showing calls and texts from Jason Ede to me between January to August 2011 when Jason worked for Ministerial Services.

A table is included.

So eliminating the one minute ones which would be no answer/voicemails, this shows 13 phone calls over eight months, which is around one phone call every 19 days.

Oh yeah there were also six text messages over eight months. This will of course be breathlessly reported by Hager as proof of, well something, and repeated uncritically by some in the media.

DPF sounds a little upset – it’s just metadata – surely if he has nothing to hide he has nothing to fear? Or is it perhaps the case the metadata isn’t so harmless after all? And he tries to spin this as a non-event, but it does show regular contact with Dirty Politics HQ. Presumably most of the discussion was via email, which is not covered by this data.

For a second story, National is still up to its old tricks, trying to subvert the media –

I think we all owe it to ourselves to go and read the piece – which was not changed – that Paula Bennett didn’t want us to see – Depressed Wellington man’s impossible search for a suitable home

63 comments on “Dirty politics past and present ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. ianmac 1
    17 November 2016 at 1:40 pm

    There is a defensive tone to Farrar’s response. Of course a text message could include a chunk of dirt.

    • Muttonbird 1.1
      17 November 2016 at 9:46 pm

      Also this was DIA’ed calls from Ede to Farrar and one must assume the same number of calls went the other way, if not a lot more since Farrar was subservient in the relationship.

  2. Barfly 2
    17 November 2016 at 1:53 pm

    That’s phone calls ,,what about VOIP calls

  3. Sacha 3
    17 November 2016 at 3:01 pm

    Poor little Davey never really grasped the legal concept of ‘public interest’.

  4. James Thrace 4
    17 November 2016 at 3:48 pm

    A lot can be said in a one minute call.

    • Bearded Git 4.1
      17 November 2016 at 6:02 pm

      @JT My thoughts exactly, in 55 seconds you can say a lot-certainly not all of these can be discounted.

  5. Wayne 5
    17 November 2016 at 4:24 pm

    How is it Dirty Politics that David Farrar spoke to Jason Eade? David is a senior well connected National Party member. I would have expected him to talk to Jason Eade from time to time.

    Presumably senior Labour people or senior Green people talk to their Leader’s offices from time to time.

    • b waghorn 5.1
      17 November 2016 at 4:43 pm

      when is jason eade going to come out of hiding and clear up his side of the story

    • One Anonymous Bloke 5.2
      17 November 2016 at 4:53 pm

      Well, we already know about the Dirty Politics machine in the Prime Minister’s office. This latest is just another piece in a rather large jigsaw.

      Exhibit some personal responsibility for a change. Has no-one ever advised you to “front-foot” a problem? These mealy-mouthed denial lines just make you look shabby, Wayne.

    • RJL 5.3
      17 November 2016 at 5:17 pm

      @Wayne

      Depends on what was said and what was done as a consequence of those conversations, of course.

      DPF’s crappy blog and its apparent role as an outlet of National spin and disinformation speaks for itself.

    • Chris 5.4
      17 November 2016 at 5:33 pm

      Yeah, just business as usual for your lot. Nothing to see here, eh?

    • dukeofurl 5.5
      17 November 2016 at 5:37 pm

      Edes job was to ghost write draft articles and photoshop pictures for both Farrar and more so Slater for their blogs.
      All while on the taxpayers dollar.
      Essentially he was doing national party business rather the countries

    • Bearded Git 5.6
      17 November 2016 at 6:03 pm

      Where is Jason Ede?

    • lprent 5.7
      17 November 2016 at 7:08 pm

      Presumably senior Labour people or senior Green people talk to their Leader’s offices from time to time.

      FFS Wayne. That is a really dumbarse diversion. This wasn’t to the leaders office, it was to one particular person inside the leaders office.

      It was by a person who may have talked to other people in the leaders office frequently because of the nature of his business. Pimping for the National party as their pollster.

      However this was the person responsible for dealing with social media, and their dirty tricks via social media.

      So that kind of leaves just social media and dirty tricks for David Farrar in his role of a ‘independent’ blogger.

      It seems like pretty frequent contact to me.

      I sysop the largest labour movement blog. But I would talk to any one person using phone or text or even email in any party or leaders office a maximum of 4 times a year (and usually about 2). Most of that was usually to organise access to meetings and press standups. I don’t think that many authors here would even do that.

      I do tend to have more contact with individual MPs. That is usually when we’re organising guest posts for them.

      By my standards David Farrar would be damn near have been a close personal friend of Jason Ede. It doesn’t speak well of DPF’s ‘independence’. More like he is a dependent – which what I suspect is in fact the case.

      • stunned mullet 5.7.1
        17 November 2016 at 8:27 pm

        “But I would talk to any one person using phone or text or even email in any party or leaders office a maximum of 4 times a year (and usually about 2). ”

        Isn’t that due to the fact that most people think you’re an odious (and perhaps lovely odiferous) oik and it’s their preference to avoid you like the plague ?

        • lprent 5.7.1.1
          17 November 2016 at 9:52 pm

          Possibly. It helps with getting time to work on work AND doing a time consuming part time activity.

          But I notice that you avoided the point of my comment. Do you have YOUR head as far up John Keys arse as Farrar and Slater?

          Please tell us what it smells like…

          • stunned mullet 5.7.1.1.1
            18 November 2016 at 7:27 am

            I see you have moved on from your penis fixation to a bumhole curiosity.

            I have no interest in the stench or otherwise of Key’s poos !

          • UncookedSelachimorpha 5.7.1.1.2
            18 November 2016 at 9:35 am

            Like roses, apparently.

      • Sam C 5.7.2
        18 November 2016 at 2:33 am

        The fact that you sysop the largest labour movement blog and yet have such limited contact with party and leaders’ offices is a harbinger of why the left have been in opposition for the past 8 years and will continue to be so until at least 2020.

        You just aren’t organised. It really is men against boys. Or is that women against girls? Or transgenders against….?

      • Gosman 5.7.3
        18 November 2016 at 7:52 am

        David Farrar has stated he communicates with people from the Labour party on a similar basis. I have met him and his interactions while out and about are wide and varied. I think some e such as yourself based outside Wellington won’t understand that.

    • Robert Guyton 5.8
      17 November 2016 at 9:47 pm

      Butter wouldn’t melt here.
      Where?
      In Wayne’s gob.

  6. Chuck 6
    17 November 2016 at 4:34 pm

    Its a bit early to start making excuse’s for Labour and the Greens losing the 2017 election!

  7. Nessalt 7
    17 November 2016 at 4:47 pm

    Phil twyford losing it Andrea Vance because she didn’t run the story as he had shopped to her in their one-to-one meeting.

    • ropata 7.1
      17 November 2016 at 11:03 pm

      Vance used the centrepiece of the Labour conference to attack Labour on an irrelevant (and ultimately incorrect) point of instead of honestly reporting what Labour policy actually is

      • Nessalt 7.1.1
        18 November 2016 at 11:47 am

        Phil Twyford shopped a story to a supposedly friendly journo, then got all stroppy with her when she didn’t run it a shopped and miraculously labour supportive commenters on blogs and social media attacked said supposedly friendly Journo. Attacked for being a journalist and asking the (ultimately correct) questions necessary to be a journalist and not a MSM corporate shill.

        Apart from the order of operations, that’s pretty much DP to a T

        Just making sure it was included in the list!!

        • ropata 7.1.1.1
          19 November 2016 at 4:09 pm

          Dirty Politics is all about smearing your opponents, where did Labour do that? Oh it was actually Vance smearing Labour again.

          I think what annoyed Twyford was the fact that Vance went off on a tangent unrelated to the jobs policy Labour actually announced. She turned a news item into a hit piece on Labour with her nasty editorialising.

  8. North 8
    17 November 2016 at 4:56 pm

    Freudian slip there Chuck. And pearl-clutchy indignation from Wayne……..story is that no one even commenced a suit much less successfully sued Hager. No one either wrote a heavily documented book about DP on the Left.

  9. billmurray 9
    17 November 2016 at 5:11 pm

    NATWATCH,
    can’t get the slightest excited by your post, all politics are dirty.

    Are the Labour and Green parties politicians and advisers all angelic and pure?.

    You need to get real.

    • McFlock 9.1
      17 November 2016 at 5:17 pm

      Not one to criticise what other people get excited about, I merely suggest that if TS no longer does it for you perhaps you might consider frequenting pornhub instead?

      • billmurray 9.1.1
        17 November 2016 at 5:23 pm

        Mcflock,
        My post was a fact.
        You need to grow up and post intelligent comment to posts.
        I know that you are capable.

        pornhub? LOL you seem to know all about them.

        [“My post was a fact.” No, it wasn’t. It was an opinion. One that many people here disagree with but probably can’t be bothered rehashing for the zillionth time since Nicky Hager reported what DP is in NZ. Now, you’ve had some fun for a few days. I suggest a couple of things. One is read the About and the Policy, esp the bits about backing up statements, and not wasting moderator time. The other is have a think about whether you really want to wind people up here. We’ve just had a long period of aggravation and I doubt that letting someone come along and start flame wars is the most likely next evolution of The Standard – weka]

        [lprent: Personally I think he is simply too stupid to understand. But I guess we’ll try the gentle approach for a few more comments to see if the idiot can figure out that we don’t like astroturfing trolls. ]

        • billmurray 9.1.1.1
          17 November 2016 at 6:01 pm

          weka,
          are you seriously saying that dirty politics is not practised by all political parties?.
          I am not trying to wind people up.
          I sincerely put my viewpoints.
          I also get upset when I am told to visit a pornhub or as previously has happened called nasty names. What for?.
          I know nothing of previous aggravation.
          I understand that this site is “left” in politics, when I was a active member in the Papakura LEC we had much healthy polemic but did not threaten or suggest leaving the LEC as a answer.
          Surely the answer is reasonable and intelligent debate without the name calling.

          • weka 9.1.1.1.1
            17 November 2016 at 6:14 pm

            Myself, I always like to take the time to get to know how a new place works, what the people are like etc. I’m suggesting that you have a think about how this place works and how you can fit in. It’s not a free-for all, and as I said, some of us are enjoying the respite from aggro. And seriously, read the Policy and About.

            “are you seriously saying that dirty politics is not practised by all political parties”

            Yes, I am. DIrty politics has a specific meaning. It’s not just about politicians being liars and ratbags. It’s a range of tactics and behaviours that are specific (in NZ) to National. Hager literally wrote the book on this stuff. It’s worth getting a copy if you are going to debate the issue here.

            As b says below, how about you put up some examples. I wouldn’t even bother about Labour, just start with the Greens and give us 3 examples of where they have practiced dirty politics a la Hager’s book. Bet you can’t.

            • billmurray 9.1.1.1.1.1
              17 November 2016 at 6:36 pm

              I have read Hager book and found it to be, in my opinion, mostly his opinion.
              Of course I can’t give three example’s as le Hager’s book, nor did I say that I or anybody could prove conclusively of dirty tricks.
              Dirty tricks were Hagers words, IMO secret tricks would have been a more apt choice of words.
              Hager,s book was put together by what was allegded stolen emails.
              It is not my bible on dirty or any politics, nor will it be.

              When John Key did a dirty political deal with John Banks in the Epsom seat, Labour screamed blue heaven dirty politics, Labour and the Greens are now doing the same thing in Mt Roskill.
              I am not being critical of that fact, though I restate that all politics is dirty politics.

              [lprent: FFS – Banned for 4 weeks for

              1. what appears to be a deliberate diversion on a post topic.
              2. Making assertions without offering any proof. Exactly where did Hagar allege that the Epsom National/Act electoral deal was ‘dirty politics’. Quite simply I think you just made that up. Dirty Politics was about the arseholes of the local blogosphere and their handlers in the National party.
              3. Not reading the about and the policy.
              4. arguing with a moderator

              I think that this one just needs a double up on each subsequent ban. Reads like a classic stupid troll. ]

              • In Vino …
                17 November 2016 at 7:55 pm

                Thank you Weka and lprent. I struggle to understand your treatment of CV, but you are doing all the work and have greater background knowledge.
                My concern was that the more destructive trolls were getting off scot-free by being matey and polite… You have restored some confidence.

              • Muttonbird …
                17 November 2016 at 9:43 pm

                Bye, billmurray. I called it yesterday, and you obliged today. Like a lemming off a cliff.

                You didn’t tell me who you were though…

    • b waghorn 9.2
      17 November 2016 at 5:48 pm

      they all do it Ha! i’m all ears show me labours and the greens links to shitty attack bloggers or fuck off.

      • Chuck 9.2.1
        17 November 2016 at 7:00 pm

        All political parties use the media to get into the public arena articles that may embarrass there opponents.

        They use a “friendly reporter” to provide a Chinese’s wall between the story and the source, if required. Or it’s breaking news…etc. Its been going on for a long time.

        Bloggers are increasing becoming the new MSM.

        At the end of the day the majority of the public don’t care about “dirty politics” they know all political parties partake. They just need to watch one news for 30 second news bites of MP’s (of all parties) argue like kids in parliament, accusing each other of all sorts of things.

        I know the activist left can’t understand why Hagers book did not result in a landslide election victory, and properly never will.

        [lprent: “Bloggers are increasing becoming the new MSM.”

        Apart from one incident back in 2008 on this site that was dealt with at the time, do you have proof that this happens on this blog or for that matter with any left blog in NZ?

        As far as I am concerned you just impugned me with an assertion of fact without offering proof and any evidence. Banned for 4 weeks. And if you can point to anything, then you could try email. However if you don’t present evidence to back your assertion, I’dd just keep doubling the ban.

        I suggest that you read the policy – try searching for self-martyrdom. ]

        • b waghorn 9.2.1.1
          17 November 2016 at 7:06 pm

          as i said to to your mate bmurray show me the proof. the whole meme that they all do it is part of the nats filthy tactics.

        • UncookedSelachimorpha 9.2.1.2
          18 November 2016 at 10:17 am

          “I know the activist left can’t understand why Hagers book did not result in a landslide election victory, and properly never will.”

          No one is arguing that dirty politics isn’t effective. Doesn’t make it right.

        • weka 9.2.1.3
          18 November 2016 at 10:41 am

          “I know the activist left can’t understand why Hagers book did not result in a landslide election victory, and properly never will”

          Oh, fuck off. The activist left don’t think all the same and there are plenty of leftwing activists who understand perfectly well the dynamics of the last election, including how the DP book fits into that. And of course, no-one was suggesting a landslide election off the back of the book anyway, so well done on the troll lines and thank-you Lynn.

    • Bearded Git 9.3
      17 November 2016 at 6:11 pm

      @ billmurray The idea that all political parties are dirty is the kind of crap that you and your Crosby-Textor mates like to peddle. But it is rubbish.

      The Greens, Labour and even Winston (at times) hold principled positions on issues and do not tell lies, unlike Key and his awful acolytes who now have an 8 year track record of this.

      Incidentally lies include lies by omission, a favourite tactic of the outgoing PM; tell part of the story, leaving out inconvenient facts. Sheepgate, the RMA amendments, Jason Ede’s role are examples.

      • billmurray 9.3.1
        17 November 2016 at 6:56 pm

        Bearded Git,
        not sure who Crosby-Textor are, nor do I want to know.
        I do not share your opinions on the purity of the NZ First, Labour and Green parties.
        IMO all political parties engage , when it suits them in dirty politics.
        I also believe that most politicians lie about what they will do when elected and that the for-most goal of all politicians is to get into a safe seat of what ever political party they represent. The electorate and the country come second.

        I do agree that lie’s of omission and leaving out salient facts and other shady practices are heavily practiced in NZ politics.

        “outgoing PM” LOL, hope you are right.

        Cheers

    • Cinny 9.4
      17 November 2016 at 9:00 pm

      Bill, dude it’s not a competition on whom is worse. Cause Nat’s win hand’s down and we all know it.

      And since you mentioned the Greens and Labour, they are way more honest than the outgoing government.

      And just because some political parties are super twisted, dirty and shady it dosent mean that all parties are. Nat party tactics have been a real eye opener over the years, but hey not all parties stoop that low. JS

      That’s what you wanted yes? To get real. Glad I could help xxx

  10. james 10
    17 November 2016 at 6:54 pm

    “The Greens, Labour and even Winston (at times) hold principled positions on issues and do not tell lies, unlike Key and his awful acolytes who now have an 8 year track record of this.”

    Actually National hold principled positions on issues as well – just because you do not like them – it dosnt make them unprincipled.

    • billmurray 10.1
      17 November 2016 at 7:02 pm

      james,
      you are right:

      (at times) LOL

    • b waghorn 10.2
      17 November 2016 at 7:10 pm

      they hold positions yes ,principles they have none, where is eade ,? and how in the hell is collins not only still in government but a fucking min ister again?, sheep gate ?,
      not a murmur from a single female mp when key harassed a young lady?

      • james 10.2.1
        17 November 2016 at 7:36 pm

        Yeah – and “we” could pull out a who lot about members of the left also – its not all 100% one sided you know.

        Its just ignorant, stupid and moronic to state as an absolute that National have no principles, just as it would be for someone of the right to say that about Labour or the Greens – again, regardless of if we like them or not.

        As for Jason Ede – Who cares.

        Although I do note that someone on this blog previously commented on how it would be great if you could keep harassing him until he killed himself – and this was unchecked by other commenters – so perhaps its just as well people dont know where he lives – there are people who do seem to be willing to take things too far. (And for the record that goes across all spectrums – not just the left (I think its well proven that there are bat shit crazys on the right as well**)

        ** Not expecting any argument on that specific point 😉

        to save you asking for a cite – heres the quote:
        “Wouldn’t it be great if we could keep harassing Jason Ede, a man who no longer works in politics, until he did something like that Brenda Leyland lady.

        That would teach him.”

        [next time put in a link or expect to be moderated for wasting moderator time. I don’t know if it was you, but there have been too many people lately (mostly RWers) making accusations and using past comments as supposed back up but not providing links. And then when I go look it up it’s not what happened. Case in point, the quote above is from King Kong, a well known RWer, and he wasn’t suggesting Ede kill himself, he was trying to suggest that the left were harassing Ede into suicide. – weka]

        • Bearded Git 10.2.1.1
          17 November 2016 at 7:44 pm

          James-I will wear “ignorant, stupid and moronic” from you as a badge of honour.

        • Gabby 10.2.1.2
          17 November 2016 at 8:07 pm

          Well I’d quite like to know what Jason Evil is up to. I suspect he’s being a busy little bee.

        • b waghorn 10.2.1.3
          17 November 2016 at 8:50 pm

          i just want to know what eade was doing . and what dark hole he’s been moved to ,unless I’ve missed something it’s been an impressive vanishing act.

        • Cinny 10.2.1.4
          17 November 2016 at 9:06 pm

          I’d say the outgoing government has always had questionable principles and practices.

        • lprent 10.2.1.5
          17 November 2016 at 10:03 pm

          Don’t be a fool. You know better than to take a single instance and running your inflator over it.

          Moderators deal with things when we see them. Sometimes we simply don’t see them. There are a lot of comments on this site, and usually not enough moderator time.

          Commenters tend to ignore people doing something that moderators will probably deal with.

          Personally I have banned at least hundreds of people for making light of or threatening violence. Probably more for accusing us of hypocrisy.

          Do it again and I may feel like giving you a hypocrites departure from the site. But I have had too many wines tonight to make judgement now. So you get a pass.

          • In Vino 10.2.1.5.1
            17 November 2016 at 10:30 pm

            I believe that was aimed at you, James, just in case the thread went on too long for you… lprent must deserve a wine or two. (Bon courage!)

    • mpledger 10.3
      17 November 2016 at 10:00 pm

      The mess Key has made over getting the men out of the Pike River Mine is hardly principled – he was able to slide off the hook because he expresses himself so poorly in English, both in content and delivery. But sliding off hooks, his “go to” strategy when he gets himself into trouble, is hardly principled.

  11. Murray Simmonds 11
    18 November 2016 at 9:52 am

    “So eliminating the one minute ones which would be no answer/voicemails, this shows 13 phone calls over eight months, . . . ”

    Bullshit. Once upon a time, the standard advertising slot on NZBC/TVNZ was 30 seconds. So that wasn’t long enough to get a message across?

    What was the length of the Christchurch earthquake again, could someone remind me? I know that it was long enough for me to offer a few expletives, get up and close the China cabinet door, do a few other things in quick succession.

    One minute is actually quite a long time. I wish I could still remember the average number of words per minute for Radio NZ news broadcasts, but I seem to recall that its actually quite high.

    So come on twitty little boy. Give us the figure INCLUDING the calls of a minute or less. We are not as stupid as you might like to think on this side of the line.

  12. Murray Simmonds 12
    18 November 2016 at 10:44 am

    According to the National Center for Voice and Speech (http://www.ncvs.org/ncvs/tutoria…) the average rate for English speakers in the US is about 150 wpm. Interestingly, publishers recommend books on tape to be voiced at 150-160 wpm ( . . . ., auctioneers are generally 250-400 wpm (http://wn.com/World%27s_Fastest_…) while the average reading rate is about 200-300 wpm.

    https://www.quora.com/Speeches-For-the-average-person-speaking-at-a-normal-pace-what-is-the-typical-number-of-words-they-can-say-in-one-minute

    “Open office” Word count shows the above document is 56 word long (excluding this sentence!)

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    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
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    3 days ago
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