‘Donations’ or bribes

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 pm, November 19th, 2019 - 95 comments
Categories: corruption, democracy under attack, Dirty Politics, politicans, Politics, Simon Bridges, winston peters - Tags:

It has been ironic looking at the basic hysteria that our media are having about the NZ First foundation and its loans to the NZ First party. I suspect that it is likely to be legal – but that is because our legal structure has been setup for bribing politicians.

After all we still currently have a outstanding Serious Fraud Office investigation into an allegation about the current parliamentary leader of the National party. He is accused of ordering the splitting up a 100k donation into a series of 14k and a 2k donation to deliberately conceal a large bribe / donation from businessman Zhang Yikun. 

“Jami-Lee Ross political donations complaint referred to Serious Fraud Office“

Basically as far as I can see, it is really hard to see the difference between the mechanism of concealment of the ‘loans’ of the NZ First Foundation and that of the leader of the National party allegedly ordering a split of a ‘donation’ to avoid transparency. The only real difference is that one appears to be unlawful and other does not – but may be unprovable beyond reasonable doubt.

Perhaps some outraged legal wizards can explain to me how they are different? Because I can’t see any frigging difference. Both attempt to conceal the identity of large donors from the public.

The problem is that our laws on donations to politicians and political parties is inherently flawed for the convenience of our makers of legislation. 

Perhaps we should just cut the gordian knot and just outlaw large donations concealed in any way. Anyone who makes a largish political donation to a political party must do it transparent – or face prison.  Any political party who accepts a donation outside of the legal bounds must be dis-established, their assets seized and their current officers get mandatory prison time without parole.

In other words, treat them like we do for the appointed judges of the legal profession and the senior police.

If only so we don’t have to go through the media frenzy that ultimately and inevitably results in the investigations finding that the ‘donations’ were lawful under our current corrupt legislation. So that means that the legislation needs to be changed, and for the interests of our democracy – retrospectively.

Just to make it more interesting – let start with a presumption of guilt. The accused have to prove the innocence. At the very least it’d make for a more interesting drama than our current repetitive media storyline.

Of course this may lower the quality of our prisoners. But hey – that is a price that I am willing to deal with.

95 comments on “‘Donations’ or bribes ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Incognito 1
    19 November 2019 at 10:55 pm

    Under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009, the Commissioner of Police has the power of civil forfeiture without the need for a criminal conviction and without any restrictions on what property or asset can be restrained. I can so no reason why not a similar approach can be taken with political parties and politicians, possibly through IRD.

  2. peterlepaysan 2
    19 November 2019 at 11:03 pm

    Who benefits from secrecy?

    All donors ( and their $amounts) should be publicly available.

    • Wairua 2.1
      20 November 2019 at 9:01 am

      Mr. Schrader, has the fire gone out in today’s film industry?

      Well, I don’t think the fire went out, really, what happened is that we have had an evolutionary shift in the nature of motion pictures. Everything that we learned in the first 100 years of movies no longer applies. We used to know what a movie was, we knew how you projected it, we knew how you saw it, we knew how long it was, we knew how to monetize it, we knew how to distribute it — we don’t know how to do any of these things anymore, they’ve all changed.

      https://the-talks.com/interview/paul-schrader/

    • Phil 2.2
      20 November 2019 at 9:55 am

      Hell must have frozen over, because I'm nodding in agreement and fully supporting a comment from Pete 🙂

      I would also go so far as banning any political donation that is not directly from a named and identified individual. Trusts are too easy a mechanism to hide the true source of funding and they have no place in the political process.

  3. Sacha 3
    19 November 2019 at 11:04 pm

    Some related argy-bargy today in #nzqt. Wonder why Nat members of the Justice electoral committee would be holding up an official report involving electoral donations?

    https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20191119_051450000/5-question-no-5-justice

    Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I think most members of the House, and many members of the public, are concerned enough about issues in our donations regime, which is why the Justice Committee, in conducting its inquiry into the last general election, considered that issue specifically. It's just disappointing that members opposite blocked that committee from reporting their report

    …

    Hon ANDREW LITTLE: … I'm awaiting the Justice Committee's report of their inquiry into the last general election. It's taking a long time, but I eagerly await that report.

    Hon Dr Nick Smith: Was he involved in any discussions or actions with Labour members of the Justice Committee in their decision on 1 October to block the Electoral Commission and justice officials reporting on the unusually high level of anonymous donations to New Zealand First?

    …

    Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does he agree with the Prime Minister’s statement that political donations need to comply with the spirit, as well as the intent, of our electoral laws?

    Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Yes, and that’s why I remain concerned about those who as Ministers have travelled overseas to solicit overseas support for their political purposes.

    • lprent 3.1
      20 November 2019 at 2:59 am

      The national members are probably trying to figure out how many fourteens go into one hundred and have forgotten how to get a remainder.

      Or they are trying to figure out a way to make that lawful even under our useless existing electoral law.

      There is a reason why politicians have the same kinds of trust ratings as used car salesmen or bloggers. All I can say is that there were only a few of the arsehole bloggers and they’re mostly bankrupt now. I helped on that.

    • KJT 3.2
      20 November 2019 at 9:35 am

      Wasn't it two Indians to one Chinese?

  4. Stuart Munro. 4
    20 November 2019 at 6:29 am

    It's a great idea.

    And it might begin to clean up the suppurating cesspool of corruption that is the Gnats. It is desirable to have a rightwing opposition even to an enlightened government. Due to corruption the Gnats are presently incapable of fulfilling that function.

    Which is not to say that members of other parties have not flirted with corruption far, far too often.

    • AB 4.1
      20 November 2019 at 9:31 am

      "It is desirable to have a rightwing opposition even to an enlightened government."

      Agreed – I think the Labour Party would be a very useful moderating force in that role.smiley

      • KJT 4.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 9:33 am

        Burn. But true.

      • Stuart Munro. 4.1.2
        20 November 2019 at 10:14 am

        If we characterize Rogergnomics as an unseemly scramble to the right in pursuit of corporate largesse, there is no reason to suppose Labour could not scramble equally quickly to the left once that gravy train became untenable.

        • Gosman 4.1.2.1
          20 November 2019 at 10:40 am

          Ahh… so your real motivation for doing this is ideological not because you think it will mean there is a fairer system overall.

          • Sacha 4.1.2.1.1
            20 November 2019 at 10:44 am

            Believing power should not follow the largest chequebook can be strongly motivated by a sense of fairness. Believing that those with the gold should rule seems harder to paint that way, though I respect there are other reasons people hold to it.

  5. Blazer 5
    20 November 2019 at 8:11 am

    You have got to bear in mind the likes of Earl Hagaman(deceased)who would donate 100k to the Natz with no expectations,merely because 'he liked them'!

    • lprent 5.1
      20 November 2019 at 8:35 am

      Yes? so what? and whoever they were?

      I am sure that he could find some other place to offload money to. Plunket perhaps?

      Are you suggesting that we should maintain a corrupt donations/bribe system for the convenience of the dead?

      How about considering the living for a change? What I see is the living wealthy manipulating the legislative branch to screw the poor. Let's fix that..

      Besides if I was a suspicious person, I could speculate on favours past. Or a donation to benefit his kids..

      • Blazer 5.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 9:06 am

        The fact that he is now dead is quite irrelevant.

        'So what' is about the optimum extent of your comprehension,but a handy, but useless retort…all the same.

      • Gosman 5.1.2
        20 November 2019 at 9:26 am

        Where is the evidence that any of these donations are leading to outcomes that you suggest?

        • KJT 5.1.2.1
          20 November 2019 at 9:32 am

          What is your evidence, it didn't? There are some very strange coincidences if it was not for favors received.

          If it “looks like a duck…….

          • Gosman 5.1.2.1.1
            20 November 2019 at 9:55 am

            Coincidences such as ?

            • Dukeofurl 5.1.2.1.1.1
              20 November 2019 at 10:08 am

              Does the name Murray McCully ring a bell?

              Does the $7.5 mill of aid money to the island, that after Scenic won the bid, went to upgrading the 'resort' ring another bell.

              Where are the recent big donations , not feel so generous anymore?

  6. ianmac 6
    20 November 2019 at 9:16 am

    Simon was "Kimmed" this morning. Kim Hill asked innocent questions of Bridges about his belief that the Electoral Commission was "toothless" and how was the Police investigation into his splitting of donations to hide donations from rich people. Poor old Simon stumbled and pleaded that because he had no legal practising certificate, the allegations were really the press allegations, not his.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018723025

  7. Gosman 7
    20 November 2019 at 9:24 am

    "Perhaps we should just cut the gordian knot and just outlaw large donations concealed in any way. Anyone who makes a largish political donation to a political party must do it transparent – or face prison. Any political party who accepts a donation outside of the legal bounds must be dis-established, their assets seized and their current officers get mandatory prison time without parole."

    There is no way that would get past Parliament without massive amount of objections. Trying to do so without broad cross party support will be incredibly divisive.

    Do you remember the Electoral Finance Act? That will be a Child's birthday party in comparison to the Shi# storm that attempting to push through legislation like that would lead to.

    • KJT 7.1
      20 November 2019 at 9:27 am

      Labor tried to get big money out of politics in Clarks time. Remember the screams of "democracy under attack" from National, when the ability of the rich to buy the Government they wanted, was threatened.

      It is a pity we need to force politicians to act ethically with rules. It brings up questions about their suitability.

      It shouldn’t be too much to ask, that they act honestly while in Parliament. Even if we cannot stop the retirement “Directorships” in firms MP’s have enriched when in Government.

      • Gosman 7.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 9:54 am

        I know, how about you look to set up a board of "concerned citizens" that can vet the politicians and political parties? In that way you can be assured of getting the politics that meets YOUR standards.

    • AB 7.2
      20 November 2019 at 9:38 am

      I remember the Brooks Brothers Riot in response to the Electoral Finance Act. You don't make an omelette without stopping the weasels eating all the eggs in the first place.

      • Gosman 7.2.1
        20 November 2019 at 9:53 am

        Did you also remember the Labour party losing the very next election and then changes being made to the EFA?

        • AB 7.2.1.1
          20 November 2019 at 10:21 am

          I do. Labour's attempted reform to electoral finance was technocratic tinkering and too easily vilified as self-serving. Doomed to failure in the face of a well-organised and well-funded opposition with supporting voices all through the media establishment. No contest. That' no reason for surrendering though.

          • Gosman 7.2.1.1.1
            20 November 2019 at 10:25 am

            Let me get this straight. You admit that the last efforts to reform the way political parties are financed was mere tinkering and it eventually lead in part to the defeat of the government who pushed it but you still think it is worth spending precious political capital to go even FURTHER. Is that your position?

            • AB 7.2.1.1.1.1
              20 November 2019 at 11:58 am

              Nope. The conditions under which it was last attempted were not propitious. Nor were the proposals themselves structured in a way that would garner widespread support – they were over-complicated and therefore easily lied about. Conditions and tactics can change. We never give up.

              • Gosman …
                20 November 2019 at 1:25 pm

                Why were the last changes overly complicate? Ask yourself that question. There is likely a very good reason for it.

    • Stuart Munro. 7.3
      20 November 2019 at 10:11 am

      There is no way that would get past Parliament without massive amount of objections.

      You know, they might be unwontedly quiet. They know voters will punish corruption if its adherents are dumb enough to self-identify.

      • Gosman 7.3.1
        20 November 2019 at 10:14 am

        Yeah they would if you can convince them that it is a massive problem and restricting people donating to politics will stop this. Good luck in winning that PR battle.

        • Stuart Munro. 7.3.1.1
          20 November 2019 at 10:17 am

          Let the issue in the news, and even the toxic scumbags of National will be reluctant to defend their sleazy practices – at least in public.

          • Gosman 7.3.1.1.1
            20 November 2019 at 10:23 am

            What does let the issue in the news mean? It was in the news in the past. Do you remember the Owen Glenn funding for NZ First issue back in 2007/2008? It received plenty of coverage.

            • Stuart Munro. 7.3.1.1.1.1
              20 November 2019 at 10:31 am

              Rubbish. A narrow look at an isolated instance – not a broad coverage, though even so it nearly ended NZF. A better example would be the review of MP expenses that cost Jones his marriage and much of his credibility. All MP expenses were looked at, and they have become a little more circumspect as a result.

              • Gosman …
                20 November 2019 at 10:38 am

                Except that involved MP's spending taxpayers money not members of the public gifting their own money to Political parties. There is quite a difference. The voluntary nature of donations make it less easy to try and shame people.

                • Stuart Munro. …
                  20 November 2019 at 10:48 am

                  You're being loose with your definitions there:

                  It isn't taxpayers' money, it is citizens' money.

                  And of course the foreign nationals and corporates who have been propping up the sleazy Right in NZ are not properly described as the public, but as malicious, probably criminal, aliens.

                  • Gosman …
                    20 November 2019 at 11:17 am

                    Probably criminal, aliens?!? Better check under your bed for some of those criminal aliens….

                    • Stuart Munro. …
                      20 November 2019 at 11:25 am

                      Alien is a legal term, as surely even you are aware.

                      Aliens have no business interfering in a democracy – nor do corporations. One person one vote, not one dollar one vote.

                    • Gosman …
                      20 November 2019 at 11:31 am

                      I knew what you meant. My comment still stands.

          • Incognito 7.3.1.1.2
            20 November 2019 at 10:28 am

            This is a PR battle and you’ll notice that defending is losing. So, they will deny any wrongdoing and pretend everything is allowed and within the Law. This is the yardstick of the Right and they’ll stick to it because they have an invested interest in this and because they had a big hand in writing the Law as it stands. Morality and ethics, transparency, and accountability are not enshrined in (the) Law. Just rights and breaches of those rights, IMHO.

            • Gosman 7.3.1.1.2.1
              20 November 2019 at 10:34 am

              If it isn't allowed then you are free to take a private prosecution if the Police won't.

              • Stuart Munro. …
                20 November 2019 at 10:42 am

                Unlike the recipients of improperly obtained corporate largesse, I am scarcely in a position to indulge in vanity lawsuits. There are however remedies more traditional within democracies that may suffice.

                • Gosman …
                  20 November 2019 at 11:16 am

                  Except people like me will oppose you on those and given the results of the past attempts in this area it will likely not get the outcome you expect. Feel free to go ahead though. Left wing regulation over reach always provides fodder for right wingers.

                  • Stuart Munro. …
                    20 November 2019 at 11:28 am

                    What makes you suppose my solution is regulation?

                    Constant shaming of corrupt MPs is reasonably effective – even if they, like you, are sociopathic enough to ignore it, their voters aren't.

                    No fodder for you here sunshine – try working for a living.

              • Incognito …
                20 November 2019 at 11:38 am

                You know, this line is starting to grate on me because it doesn’t address anything I said in my comment. In fact, you use it repeatedly to deflect and shut down the discussion. Similarly, you keep wishing ‘good luck’ to those who are not happy with the current situation and are trying to come up with suggestions for improvements. I’m concluding that your comments contribute very little and in fact waste our time. In other words, you’re trolling. I’m going to put on my Moderator hat soon because my patience is running out rapidly. Consider this a warning.

                • Gosman …
                  20 November 2019 at 12:09 pm

                  You are seemingly trying to reopen the debate that ran over a decade ago around the EFA. I am merely pointing out that it wasn't very successful for the left. I am also not sure what the actual problem you are worried about here. I keep asking what policies exactly have been implemented as a result of this 'undue' influence from anonymous 'big' money donors.Can you advise me of some?

        • AB 7.3.1.2
          20 November 2019 at 12:03 pm

          "restricting people donating to politics"

          Interesting framing. How about instead: "protecting the principle behind one person one vote – namely that each citizen has equal influence over the outcome of elections"?

    • Psycho Milt 7.4
      20 November 2019 at 11:31 am

      Do you remember the Electoral Finance Act? That will be a Child's birthday party in comparison to the Shi# storm that attempting to push through legislation like that would lead to.

      Yep. And if we want a useful indicator of which parties are benefiting from bribery donations, we just have to look at which parties generated the EFA shitstorm.

  8. Dukeofurl 8
    20 November 2019 at 9:26 am

    The US system is quite low personal limits on donations , something around US$2500 per candidate.

    Even if you gave $10 for a T shirt or 'Yard sign' your name , address and employer is required and will be made public.

    The employer part is too make sure that, say the owner of a Chinese restaurant doesnt have a big number of his employees also donate amounts to the same candidate ( This is what happened to NSW Labour party recently).

    US is also to make transparent business owners and their senior employees who donate to a congressman or senator who has oversight on their business.

    In spite of all that , the US has many loopholes , such as PACs who advertise in support or opposition to particular candidates.

    AS well the major parties have Congress and Senate campaign committees who fund raise big $$$ and contribute money to vulnerable election races , but only if you largely follow party line in Votes. The donors are hidden behind the Campaign committee name.

    Its complicated , but I hope I have the details right.

  9. michelle 9
    20 November 2019 at 9:44 am

    Why don't we just get rid of all donations as national have already shown they can rort the system by using a Chinese NZ owned company to donate funds so we either change the rules or get rid of the problem. This might create a more level playing field.

    • Gosman 9.1
      20 November 2019 at 9:57 am

      And waiting for the call for State funding of political parties in 3…2…1…

      • Dukeofurl 9.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 10:10 am

        They are funded now , millions every year, plus at election time too. They are a bit like schools what ever is provided is never enough
        US has it !

        • Sacha 9.1.1.1
          20 November 2019 at 10:13 am

          Like 'integrated' schools, they trouser the funding without changing their character much in exchange.

          • Gosman 9.1.1.1.1
            20 November 2019 at 10:21 am

            Would you like them to change their character as a result of receiving State funding?

            • Sacha 9.1.1.1.1.1
              20 November 2019 at 10:26 am

              Politicians – you bet!

              • Gosman …
                20 November 2019 at 10:35 am

                I bet you would too. Typical totalitarian leftist.

                • Sacha …
                  20 November 2019 at 10:37 am

                  Surely there is an equivalent notion of 'social contract' in your world.

                  • Gosman …
                    20 November 2019 at 11:19 am

                    I generally prefer to let the democratic process weed out those that do not meet my definition of 'good character'. I don't think it is a clever idea to try and decide for others (with a few exceptions).

                    • Sacha …
                      20 November 2019 at 11:30 am

                      If that approach worked, politicians would be better regarded than used car dealers. Yet here we are.

                    • Wensleydale …
                      20 November 2019 at 1:59 pm

                      Given your fervent support of National, your definition of 'good character' probably needs taking out to the back paddock and shooting.

            • Dukeofurl 9.1.1.1.1.2
              20 November 2019 at 12:57 pm

              "The latest annual report of the Parliamentary Service – just published – shows that the most recent “Party and Member Support” budgets for the parties totalled $122 million.

              Individual parliamentary budgets were as follows:

              National, $65.1m; (more than labour because Ministers funded separately)

              Labour, $43.7m;

              New Zealand First, $6.2m;

              and the Greens, $5.8m.

              Amongst other things, these budgets pay for about 402 parliamentary staff working for the parties and their MPs.

              $122 mill state funding for parties for one year.

  10. Sacha 10
    20 November 2019 at 10:26 am

    Concise backstory by RNZ's Jane Patterson: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/403667/nz-first-s-political-donations-a-creeping-feeling-of-deja-vu

    Swirling rumours of dodgy dealings over political donations, Winston Peters full of bluster and denial, and potentially a drawn-out series of combative but ultimately meaningless exchanges with the parliamentary press gallery.

    • weka 10.1
      20 November 2019 at 10:41 am

      "It's hard to avoid the conclusion he could have avoided much of this had he admitted early to a mistake with the donation, and just amended the pecuniary interest register accordingly."

      As hard as political culture is, I think people are way more forgiving when people front up and be honest and admit mistakes. But only if they do it from the start.

      Fingers crossed that Ardern and Labour have some decent strategy here and don't go down the Clark route.

      • Sacha 10.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 10:46 am

        Indeed. Wish there was evidence we could trust their brains trust.

        • Dukeofurl 10.1.1.1
          20 November 2019 at 1:06 pm

          Admit a mistake ? Like Bridges didnt

          More like push the electorate officials under a bus

          "In the process of preparing both the local candidate and party returns, as required by the Electoral Act, two donations were incorrectly attributed to Mr Bridges' candidate return by the local Tauranga Electorate Committee,'' a National Party spokesman said."

          https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/368688/simon-bridges-amended-electoral-donation-return-insider-claims

          Love the byline on this story and the mysterious person who knew so much about Bridges and donations

          'A National Party insider has told RNZ News that Simon Bridges amended his personal electoral donation return to remove two donations totalling $24,000. – Jo Moir Political Reporter

          Later events showed exactly who the 'insider' was , who is now definitely on the outside and the less than savoury methods he used.

    • ianmac 10.2
      20 November 2019 at 11:54 am

      Since quoting Patterson why not include

      But as with internal political scandals, National will have to step carefully as its nose is not completely clean.

      For years it used blind trusts to transfer donations to the party itself, a practice that ceased with a law change. Even now there is still an active Serious Fraud Investigation into the National Party relating to the disclosure of donations.

      • Sacha 10.2.1
        20 November 2019 at 12:01 pm

        Since quoting Patterson why not include

        Because others can always pick out parts like you’ve just shown. I'm not keen on pasting big chunks of an article someone can easily go and read – as regulars can attest. 🙂

  11. Sacha 11
    20 November 2019 at 11:12 am

    One thing I had not thought of before – if donations are made totally transparent, will more of them tend to go to both current major parties (bob each way), thus locking in less funding for smaller ones?

    • weka 11.1
      20 November 2019 at 11:20 am

      why would that happen?

      • Sacha 11.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 11:26 am

        If you are say a company or wealthy person trying to hide your political leanings to avoid blowback, it would be more efficient to donate to only the most likely major parties in each bloc.

  12. Sacha 12
    20 November 2019 at 11:23 am

    Not good for our democracy, either way:

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/20-11-2019/one-possibility-is-nz-first-has-broken-electoral-law-the-other-possibility-is-worse

    If what has been reported is both true and not a breach of the rules for political donations, then New Zealand’s reputation for being squeaky clean looks like a joke, writes electoral law expert Andrew Geddis.

    …

    Everyone else, from the Act Party to the Greens, has had at least the occasional donor wanting to give them a big enough sum for their name and address become public.

    And knowing their name and address, we then can see if that donor gets anything for its generosity. Which is how things should be in a properly transparent, clean political process.

  13. observer 13
    20 November 2019 at 11:46 am

    Everyone is missing the real story here, which is that Simon Bridges genuinely believes that Jacinda Ardern has invented time travel. Wow! She's an impressive PM but even that might be beyond her talents.

    Bridges has attacked Ardern today for "hanging out with Steven Colbert" when she should be dealing with the NZF donations story that broke … er, two days ago.

    Simon, let me explain this very slowly. Past tense. Present tense. She was meeting Colbert in Auckland, a month ago. She isn't now. He's been back in New York for weeks. Just because it's on your screen now, that doesn't mean it's actually happening now. (Your mind must explode when they show Simpsons reruns).

    Television, eh? What sorcery!

  14. Sacha 14
    20 November 2019 at 11:52 am

    This really does sound like funding campaign expenses without declaring them, and it may have already been a bridge too far for some: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/117529946/what-nz-first-slush-fund-was-spent-on-campaign-hq-staff-overtime-and-a-shredder

    In October 2019, Lester Gray resigned from his position as NZ First Party president after refusing to sign off on its financial statements. Gray said in a letter to the NZ First board that he had not been shown documentation he requested and therefore could not sign off the returns.

    "I refuse to sign off the 2019 financial reports with the information I have been provided," he wrote to the board. "As president, the limited exposure I have had to party donations and expenditure leaves me in a vulnerable position.

    "This type of operation does not align with my moral and business practice values, and I am therefore not able to support the party any longer."

    • Sacha 14.1
      20 November 2019 at 11:55 am

      The apparent laundering reminds me of those comments from Bridges to Ross about keeping the $100k donation away from the main Nat campaign funding pool so it could be spent on ads without the party bosses interfering.

      And echoes of 1980s Roger Douglas pocketing millions of grateful corporate dollars directly to bankroll campaigning on his own terms without those pesky accountable Lab party officials getting in the way.

      • Dukeofurl 14.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 12:48 pm

        The reason why you wont hear too much in the media about the murky side of Bridges and that donation is this:

        "Bridges' valve burst Wednesday evening when he phoned around political editors to warn them he had been defamed and his reputation damaged."

        In effect he was saying repeat this and you have defamed me …hint financial consequences

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    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    22 hours ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    23 hours ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    2 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    3 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    4 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    4 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • JERRY COYNE: A good summary of the mess that is science education in New Zealand
    JERRY COYNE writes –  If you want to see what the government of New Zealand is up to with respect to science education, you can’t do better than listening to this video/slideshow by two exponents of the “we-need-two-knowledge-systems” view. I’ve gotten a lot of scary stuff from Kiwi ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Good news on the GDP front is accompanied by news of a $5m govt boost for Supercars (but what about ...
    Buzz from the Beehive First, we were treated to the news (from Finance Minister Grant Robertson) that the economy has turned a corner and New Zealand never was in recession.  This was triggered by statistics which showed the economy expanded 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, twice as much as ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • The Scafetta Saga
    It has taken 17 months to get a comment published pointing out the obvious errors in the Scafetta (2022) paper in GRL. Back in March 2022, Nicola Scafetta published a short paper in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) purporting to show through ‘advanced’ means that ‘all models with ECS > ...
    Real ClimateBy Gavin
    1 week ago

  • Friday's Chorus: Penny wise and pound foolish
    TL;DR: In the middle of a climate emergency and in a city prone to earthquakes, Victoria University of Wellington announced yesterday it would stop teaching geophysics, geographic information science and physical geography to save $22 million a year and repay debt. Climate change damage in Aotearoa this year is already ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Calling the big dog’s bluff
      For nearly thirty years the pundits have been telling the minor parties that they must be good little puppies and let the big dogs decide. The parties with a plurality of the votes cast must be allowed to govern – even if that means ignoring the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • The electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
     Another poll, another 27 for Labour. It was July the last time one of the reputable TV company polls had Labour's poll percentage starting with a three, so the limbo question is now being asked: how low can you go?It seems such an unlikely question because this doesn't feel like the kind ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    1 week ago

  • A Womance, and a Nomance.
    After the trench warfare of Tuesday night, when the two major parties went head to head, last night was the turn of the minor parties. Hosts Newshub termed it “the Powerbrokers' Debate”.Based on the latest polls the four parties taking part - ACT, the Greens, New Zealand First, and Te ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
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