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 ”

  1. ianmac 1

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

    • Muttonbird 1.1

      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

    That’s phone calls ,,what about VOIP calls

  3. Sacha 3

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

  4. James Thrace 4

    A lot can be said in a one minute call.

    • Bearded Git 4.1

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

  5. Wayne 5

    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

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

    • One Anonymous Bloke 5.2

      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

      @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

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

    • dukeofurl 5.5

      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

      Where is Jason Ede?

    • lprent 5.7

      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

        “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

          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

            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

            Like roses, apparently.

      • Sam C 5.7.2

        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

        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.

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

  6. Chuck 6

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

  7. Nessalt 7

    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

      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

        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

          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

    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

    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

      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

        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

          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

            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

              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

                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

                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

      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

        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

          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

          “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

          “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

      @ 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

        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

      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

    “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

      james,
      you are right:

      (at times) LOL

    • b waghorn 10.2

      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

        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

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

        • Gabby 10.2.1.2

          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

          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

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

        • lprent 10.2.1.5

          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

            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

      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

    “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

    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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    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 ...
    1 day 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    2 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
    7 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
    9 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
    10 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
    23 hours 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
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  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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