Dotcom loses in the Court of Appeal

Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, July 9th, 2018 - 60 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, Andrew Little, uncategorized - Tags:

Kim Dotcom

The Court of Appeal has released its decision in the Kim Dotcom extradition case. The case has had a lot of resources thrown at it by both sides and I hope my brief description does the arguments and the judgment justice.

The decision can be read here. As befits the resources that have been poured into the case the decision is complex and will be considered authoritative. And the case is now off to the Supreme Court.

This is not meant to be a detailed dissection of the case. But there are some interesting aspects of the case that deserve comment.

First the business model used by Megaupload was described in some detail.

Dotcom maintained that his business was legal because there was a robust system in place to take down material stored on the Megauload se4rver that was in breach of copyright. There is legal protection for the innocent storing of copyright material if there is a robust take down procedure.

The Court thought that the system Dotcom put into place was, to use that legal phrase, a little too cute.

The basics were that Megaupload provided file storage for its customers. Its terms of service provided that users must not upload any files that infringed copyright.

A Megaupload user could upload a movie which had been ripped from a DVD or otherwise illicitly obtained. Megaupload would convert it and store it as a flash video (.flv) file.

A file in that format can be played directly or streamed in an internet browser without needing to be downloaded. Copies were stored on multiple servers around the world.

When the file was uploaded it would be given a unique identifier. The user would be provided with a URL  link permitting the user to access that file. The user could share the link with anyone, but could not do so on a Megaupload site.

A movie stored on Megaupload could be viewed via Megavideo, a separate website that shared Megaupload’s database. Anyone who had the uploading user’s Megaupload link could view it via their browser, but they could not search directly for infringing movies on Megaupload or Megavideo.

Viewers could access files stored on Megaupload via third-party or ‘linking’ websites that Megaupload did not control.

Viewers could watch 72 minutes of a Megaupload stored movie for free. To watch the balance the viewer would have to purchase a premium subscription from Megavideo.

Until June 2011 Megaupload ran a rewards programme that paid users for uploading files that were much in demand for downloading. The United States says many of these files were popular because they were copyrighted and not otherwise freely available for online viewing or download.

A small proportion of users uploaded many files in exchange for rewards. One user uploaded that many infringing files he received reward payments of more than US $50,000.  He was the subject of 1,200 take-down requests. In one six-month period links created by this user generated more than 10 million downloads.

At its height Megaupload earned revenues of more than US $175 million and accounted at one stage for four per cent of global internet traffic. The US government claimed that this was evidence of the systematic infringement of copyright and says that copyright owners lost more than US $500 million.

To save server space Megaupload engaged in a practice called deduplication. When a user uploaded a file identified by Megaupload as a copy of a file already held on its servers Megaupload would not store the file but would send the user a new link to the existing file.

The US Government claimed that files that MegaUpload treated as duplicates were usually uploaded by the same user and would be based off the same rip. Some users uploaded the same file many times in anticipation of take-down requests from copyright owners. Each upload would receive a new link which could be offered to the public on linking websites.

Copyright owners in the United States very frequently asked Megaupload to take down infringing files. The US Government contended that Megaupload did not respond by deleting or disabling access to infringing files but would delete the link nominated in the take-down notice, leaving the file accessible via other links.

The case features some Skype discussions between some of the defendants (not Dotcom) which look pretty incriminating including discussions between Ortmann and Van der Kolk where it is clear they knew that material  in breach of copyright was being stored on the site.  As the Court put it:

There is also evidence of several conversations between the appellants themselves which on the face of it constitute evidence of guilty knowledge and dishonesty.

The legal discussion is rather dense and brains better than mine can dissect it.

The proceeding was attacked on the basis that it was an abuse of process, the circumstances including …

… the unlawful interceptions of communications by the Government Communications Security Bureau, the failure to disclose to the District Court when applying for a provisional arrest warrant under s 20 of the Extradition Act that the information had been collected illegally, the military-style raid on Mr Dotcom’s home as well as unreasonable search and seizure.

[289] Mr Dotcom also alleged the prosecution was commenced against him in the United States for political reasons and that New Zealand granted him permanent residence so as to streamline his extradition.

The Court refused this application, stating that it did not come close to the very high threshold that must be met in these sorts of cases.  The Court also thought that these were issues for trial rather than at the extradition hearing stage.

There was some discussion about double criminality.  The Court held that this was a requirement but that the offences were extradition offences under the Act and the request was valid.

The case is bound for the Supreme Court.  It looks like there is a distinct possibility it will hit Andrew Little’s desk at some stage in the not too distant future.

60 comments on “Dotcom loses in the Court of Appeal ”

  1. patricia bremner 1

    No matter how it ends up…. he was right about J KEY and our system is not covered in glory in this.
    Dotcom is lucky in Andrew Little. A more honest man would be hard to find.

  2. Wayne 2

    Assuming the Supreme Court upholds the Court of Appeal, I would be surprised if the Minister does anything other than uphold the courts decision. The courts have looked at every angle of this case exhaustively, probably more than any other case in the history of the New Zealand legal system.

    Unlike you Patricia, I think the courts have done an excellent job in considering all the issues raised by both KDC and by the Crown on behalf of the US. No-one can seriously suggest the courts have been subject to any pressure. They have acted fully independently, just as I would expect.

    In such circumstances it would be a “brave/foolish” Minister who substituted his/her reasoning for that of the court in this particular case. I say his/her because it may not even get to the desk of Andrew Little, given the time everything takes in this case.

    Of course the Supreme Court may overturn the Court of Appeal, which will be the end of the matter.

    • Tricledrown 2.1

      Wayne we could do a 2 for 1 Deal and extradite Stephen Joyce as well.

  3. Sanctuary 3

    Little will deport Dotcom without much thought. To do otherwise would look like a Star Chamber like act of political patronage given the exhaustive legal process.

    Also, politically getting Dotcom out of NZ once and for all is a no brainer. The deep state and the government establishment loath him for showing them up as clowns. The general public is sick to the back teeth of him. The USA will like it. Dotcom’s remaining supporters are largely of the too left and pure to vote Labour kind.

    In short, Dotcom has no friends of influence left and a whole pile of important enemies.

    Deportation in those circumstances is a pretty easy decision.

    • Save NZ 3.1

      I think history always shows what happens.

      This case will be judged as it opens a massive can of worms. The US has closed it’s borders and destroying the UN, inequality around the world is escalating as more and more control is concentrated in a few corporations hands. So NZ decides to let then have personal right to justice outside of known international law?

      We applaud David Lange around the world as standing up to the US, a few decades later are the new Labour government, Uncle Tom?

    • Ross 3.2

      No, Little won’t deport KDC because only the Immigration Minister can do that. Having said that, KDC apparently falsified his residency application, so could be deported, presumably to Germany, which ironically has refused to extradite one Megaupload employee to the US. So KDC could avoid extradition but probably not deportation.

    • Richard Christie 3.3

      Sanctuary, you proffer a lot of considerations as to KDC’s fate.
      Notably none of them are considerations of law or concerns about due process nor mention of consequences resultant from our state agencies repeatedly breaking the law.

  4. Bill 4

    Did he break any NZ laws? Possibly copy-right ones I guess.

    Did he commit a crime in the US? Well, only if the domain “.com” is regarded in some way as being sovereign territory of the US. The US Government has previously argued that in seeking the extradition of people in the UK. (A kid behind a site called TVshack was a target a few years back)

    Me being simple and all – if he broke NZ law, then he gets tried and done in NZ. If he broke a US law, but wasn’t in the US then…well, put it this way, could the NZ government seek the extradition of a kiwi living in Canada who had broken the NZ laws on cannabis use by sparking up in Canada?

    Way I see it, Dotcom may well have been an unpleasant money grubbing bastard and much else besides. But it’s not his personality or character that’s on trial. And this “long arm” of US legal jurisdiction needs to be fcking well chopped off.

    • opium 4.1

      Totally agree.

    • saveNZ 4.2

      +100 Bill

      “But it’s not his personality or character that’s on trial. And this “long arm” of US legal jurisdiction needs to be fcking well chopped off.”

      Likewise extraditing people to any other countries to be ‘bought to justice’ on their terms when the person does not live in or operate in that country. It could be China next, Russia, Philipines, who knows but NZ should not be the ‘human rights’ abuse country that sets that precedent!

      Dotcom should be tried in NZ under NZ law and the US corporations who apparently ‘lost’ the profits should be paying for it and fronting up for the case, not sure how the NZ government is involved in ‘helping their case along with a lot of illegal activity by police and our governor general . The NZ taxpayers should not be involved in this case at all as it should be a civil case. The dirty taste of whoever in NZ made our government responsible to pay for any damages should Dotcom be found innocent should be investigated and that person bought to the courts for misleading the government.

      Now it seems like there is a ‘financial’ incentive for the NZ courts to set this bad human rights precedent and be a nation that sells justice to save it’s own skin.

      At a time of declining human rights and greedy self serving politics where money and power buys justice or in this case injustice, I wonder what sort of country and what sort of government we are becoming.

      • cleangreen 4.2.1

        100& there saveNZ.

        ‘NZ should not be the ‘human rights’ abuse country that sets that precedent!’

      • Wayne 4.2.2

        I presume you are aware we have an Extradition Treaty with the US. We are therefore obligated to act on their extradition requests, with the courts deciding whether the person should be extradited or not.

        The reverse also applies.

        However, going by your previous posts, you would think we should withdraw from the treaty. We could do so, but in the meantime we have to comply with the treaty. If we deliberately ignored the treaty, the US could take New Zealand to the International Court of Justice.

        Since New Zealand stresses in our international relations, that we act by a rules based system, we are hardly likely to deliberately flout the rules.

    • Wayne 4.3

      Bill

      Although you have framed it as “me being simple and all” what you have essentially advocated is that no-one gets extradited for anything. They are either tried here, or not at all.

      Anyway, why do you think the District Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal are all wrong in concluding there are analogous crimes in both countries in respect of what KDC has done?

      Of course, the Supreme Court might agree with you.

  5. indinana 5

    “Did he commit a crime in the US?”

    Only one way to find out, face trail there – what could he possibly be afraid of? From what we know, he hasn’t even challenged if he has any case to face up to.

    • Bill 5.1

      No. The question isn’t “did he break a US law”. The question is did he do so in the US?

      If he didn’t break a US law in the US (ie – within the legal jurisdiction of the US), then there are no grounds to have him subjected to the US legal system.

      • David Mac 5.1.1

        So I can hack a billion dollars out of Bank of America and I’m untouchable? I can’t see a defense of “I’ve never set foot in the US’ saving my bacon.

        Dotcom’s big problem is his Fagan activity. Paying kids to steal on his behalf. In doing so he has fallen foul of US racketeering legislation.

        • Bill 5.1.1.1

          Where is the Bank of America located? That’s where the crime occurred. And executing it “by remote” is still perpetrating a crime on US soil.

          But where is “.com” located and who (if anyone) has legal jurisdiction? As I said above, that’s been the basis of extradition arguments put forward by US authorities seeking to do over British nationals who’ve never set foot outside of Britain.

          • McFlock 5.1.1.1.1

            .com is under US jurisdiction

            The domain was originally administered by the United States Department of Defense, but is today operated by Verisign, and remains under ultimate jurisdiction of U.S. law.[3][4][5]

            Verisign Registrations in the .com domain are processed via registrars accredited by ICANN. The registry accepts internationalized domain names.

            • dukeofurl 5.1.1.1.1.1

              Plus I think some of the servers they used/rented were located within US

              • McFlock

                ISTR something like that as well

              • saveNZ

                If they are trying to claim that having data on servers in the US is grounds for extradition – I’m sure it’s gonna be a bad precedent set for US tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft and the US clouds, as corporations move to use servers and providers in non US sites if there is risk of directors being deported on a whim to face charges under US laws, if this precedent is set… extradition under US laws by server and domain name rather than the laws of that country they reside in!

            • Paul Campbell 5.1.1.1.1.2

              That’s a spurious argument, doing a DNS lookup is legal, what we’re talking about is file sharing

              • McFlock

                It wasn’t an argument about DNS lookups.

                Bill wanted to know who has jurisdiction over .com sites. There was the answer. The company that runs that TLD is american, under american jurisdiction, and thence onward it flows.

        • Dariusz Wieclawski 5.1.1.2

          Where did you find that crazy information that Kim paid kids to steal on his behalf?Megaupload,iCloud,Dropbox are just the storages.Lots of people uploading everything. The problem was Kim storage was better than others and corporations just couldn’t take it and simply close the competition. The problem is that NZ government helped US corporations against own residents even allowed FBI to ride Kim home in NZ. That is disgusting and illegal.If Kim Dotcom will be extradited to USA it is mean that our Government selling own residents and citizens to corrupted criminal corporations. So that will be a crime. I believe that Andrew Little will stop the madness.

          • David Mac 5.1.1.2.1

            It’s common knowledge, this from Mickey’s post:

            “Until June 2011 Megaupload ran a rewards programme that paid users for uploading files that were much in demand for downloading. The United States says many of these files were popular because they were copyrighted and not otherwise freely available for online viewing or download.

            A small proportion of users uploaded many files in exchange for rewards. One user uploaded that many infringing files he received reward payments of more than US $50,000. He was the subject of 1,200 take-down requests. In one six-month period links created by this user generated more than 10 million downloads.”

      • dukeofurl 5.1.2

        The similar case the Court of Appeal considered was Cullinane, who was indicted for racketeering after he was said to be running a visa fraud scheme by bringing in kiwi long distance truck drivers to work in US

        (a) Between July 1996 and March 1999 a scheme operated that took nearly 200 truck drivers into the United States for them to be
        illegally employed in the United States as long-haul truck drivers.
        The drivers obtained tourist visas and were admitted into the United
        States based on those visas while at all material times they intended
        to work.
        (b) Mr Cullinane’s part in the process was that he was the
        recruiter of drivers in New Zealand. He recruited in seminars within
        New Zealand attended on occasions by him and on occasions by an
        alleged co-offender Mr Melbourne.

        United States of America v Cullinane, [2003] 2 NZLR 1
        ‘The High Court held that Cullinane was not eligible for surrender on
        either the racketeering or visa fraud charges. In determining
        Cullinane’s eligibility for surrender both the District and High Court
        used a three-stage test set out in the Extradition Act 1999. The
        United States was granted leave to appeal from the High Court decision
        to the Court of Appeal .
        The Appeal Court dismissed the appeal

        Inspite of Cullinane being ruled ‘not eligible’ for extradition for complex reasons, the racketeering offence was similar to Dotcom, the Court of Appeal had to overturn its previous Cullinane precedent in order to ‘catch’ Dotcom

    • Richard@Downsouth 5.2

      Mega upload only did what google drive, dropbox, and a slew of other cloud hosts did… Mega infact had a robost DCMA copyright takedown policy, and took down files reported a lot quicker than the competition… they were just singled out by the MPAA/RIAA Mafia…

      On top of this, the US Govt ordered Megaupload to HOLD files on its servers so they could chase people downloading and uploading files… then prosecuted Mega for failing to obey the DCMA

      • David Mac 5.2.1

        I don’t think this right. Yes, a Disney movie can be found at many locations that are not aligned with the content owners.

        As per Mickey’s overview, Dotcom paid bulk uploaders cash for doing so, not pocket money, one uploader banking $50,000.

        Me pinching a photo off your website and making it available to others and feathering my nest via your creativity is one thing. If I was to pay a team to steal your original content and deliver it to my site, in the US I’d be breaking the same laws established to capture gangsters. Dotcom is up on racketeering charges.

        • Gabby 5.2.1.1

          Would you go to gaol for 12 mths at least if you did it here though davy?

          • David Mac 5.2.1.1.1

            If I was making $175 million a year purveying stuff that wasn’t mine I’d expect repercussions.

  6. patricia bremner 6

    Yes Bill I agree. This has nothing to do with personalities or even crime. It has everything to do with power.
    “The exhaustive legal process” has been answering queries and questions in law put up by Dotcom’s legal team. The acceptance of shoddy police and Dept behaviour as OK
    remains a dirty stain imo.
    When freeing a man of charges could cost NZ dearly, it is laughable to say “there has been no pressure”.
    Just because one or perhaps two acts were illegal but allowed doesn’t make it right.
    His resident rights were violated twice. He has not broken NZ law.
    Andrew Little will give it a true fairness test, because he is brave and upright.
    I think you hope it will continue ’till J Collins is Minister of Justice Wayne. One word Wayne, Orivida. Judith called out the system twice over David Bain, with fewer reasons.
    Our Justice system has had a nasty narrow view, often created in political corners, and it is people like Andrew Little who correct these wrongs or re-weight judgements.
    I know Andrew will make a true evaluation, that will have fairness at its base.

    • cleangreen 6.1

      Yep Patricia;

      ‘Power and control’ is the aim of these corporations here,

      Remember we will also be facing them in a legal dispuite later when we are in any trade agreement with a country where they operate inside of too.

      This is a taste of ‘corporate control over governments and commerce.’

  7. Treetop 7

    When KDC home was raided this was a fishing expedition. The raid was deemed to be illegal.

    Is the extradition to the USA another fishing expedition?

    KDC was shut down and this is what was wanted by those who hold the copyright.

    Unless there is clear international law regarding being able to extradite on a specific cyber charge then KDC should not be extradited.

    There are a number of people who do not deserve to be in NZ yet they remain because they have not broken NZ law.

    I look forward to hearing what the outcome is from the Supreme Court of NZ.

  8. saveNZ 8

    With substantial damages at stake, NZ interests should be to settle the case ASAP and that Dotcom is obviously a genius in his chosen field and could actually be creating jobs and wealth in this country, maybe some high paid jobs in Queenstown rather than another luxury tourist venture paying minimum wages !

    But funny how lawyers want to just keep those legal bills rolling in and NZ has turned into some cowardly nation that just does what we think China and the US want us to do and then what some of their corporations want them to do, which is pretty hard when they seem to be opposite …

    • Treetop 8.1

      This matter should not have reached the point it has reached. To go bankrupt is not right either. By the time KDC has finished he probably will be bankrupt.

      You highlight a problem in NZ, the court takes too long to reach a decision and the cost is crippling or just not affordable to defend yourself.

      As well too many stuff ups by the police which only complicates the initial matter.

  9. Burton 9

    Christopher Lopez Mentally ill inmate died while in prison

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drioPfvuwI4

    How US treats it’s prisoners.

  10. appleboy 10

    This is bull shit.

    This is a civil copyright issue.

    Why did 72 armed police with guns and helicopters conduct a raid on a civil copyright matter?

    The search warrant was illegal

    The GCSB spied illegally on Dot Com, yet ‘evidence’ still Ok to use!

    The police illegally sent data clones to the USA against court orders.

    They denied KDC access to his data to provide contract and defence to cherry picked ‘one liners’ Crown law submitted.

    Chris Finlayson denied access to KDC’s data so he could defend himself.

    the Human Right Commission found Finlayson acted ILLEGALLY in denying this access.

    The police has said they can’t provide information held prior to 2013 “because it was not migrated to the new IT system”. FFS

    His NZ residence denial by Simon Power was over ruled by John ‘Pony Tail’ Key as a cock suck to Obama.

    This is a damn political trial – Key handed KDC on a plate from US pressure.

    USA wanted to make an example of KDC.

    The same file sharing mega did still goes on, on dozens of such the same ole sharing sites, oh and by the way Youtube is FULL of copyrighted material…

    This case is the high water marks of the worst political corruption in NZ history. makes me sick this is happening.

    Labour should expose exactly what happened here and consign Key and National to history for the stinking crooks they are. Do a deal with KDC to waive 6.8 Billion damages claim and expose John key’s stinking govt for lies and corruption and US dick sucking .

    If he gets deported I will abstain from voting Labour for the rest of my life.

    I will be ashamed of NZ over this if this extradition goes ahead.

    • Treetop 10.1

      Looks like the final hope for any justice is the NZ Supreme Court.

      • patricia bremner 10.1.1

        Why do you think the appeals to the Privy Council were axed? To be “in house.”
        The final straw came in 2010. So yes, now it is the NZ Supreme Court, and then the Minister of Justice, currently Andrew Little.

        Kim has, through fighting the tangled dirty skeins of “in house” linen, shown their cheating. .Sanctuary is correct that they hate he showed them up in all their lies.

        Watching John on a replay “Campbell Live” interview John Key about Dotcom you see his fury held back. .His eyes are revealing. His implausible explanations seem childish in hind sight. .We “See” him now, The emperor with no clothes or credibility. Just a liar, using his friends to take decisions which favoured his agenda.

        John Key could have “killed kittens and kept his popularity” according to Kim.
        His legacy? NZers can be spied on/extradited according to USA laws/hardly afford a home /poor or rotting infrastructure…… and so on. He’s Knighted!!!
        Kim made money through the internet, exposed uncomfortable truths. He is vilified spied on raided and charged!!

        Kim’s legacy. We are more aware of the 5 eyes countries and their spying network.
        We are now aware it costs a fortune to defend yourself against the State. and “It” can change the laws to cover the backside, if needed.

        It will indeed be a brave individual who sets up an inquiry into all of this. Especially interesting is who is the party/person who signed up NZ exposure to costs if we lose to Dotcom., leaving the USA clear and free?

        This is a poisoned chalice which may well end in Andrew’s lap.

      • aj 10.1.2

        Textualism is a formalist theory in which the interpretation of the law is primarily based on the ordinary meaning of the legal text, where no consideration is given to non-textual sources, such as: intention of the law when passed, the problem it was intended to remedy, or significant questions regarding the justice or rectitude of the law.

        Law often has no relationship with justice, if justice was not the intention of writing the law in the first place.

    • Stuart Munro 10.2

      + 100

    • James 10.3

      Since you cannot even get it right that he is on criminal charges – the rest of your post is useless.

      • Richard Christie 10.3.1

        Can somebody please spell it out for James as I’m not so good at single syllable explanations.

      • Appleboy 10.3.2

        For the simpleton…the law states IP’s cannot be held responsible for content uploaded by users. So the criminal charges are a bullshit piece of US over reach. The fucking yanks want a poster boy – and we had the mother of all poster boys in a Prime Minister who pulls waitresses pony tails for jollies. I can barely believe NZ was so stupid for so long in accepting Key in all his stupidity and lies.

    • Richard Christie 10.4

      appleboy +100%

      except “If he gets deported I will abstain from voting Labour for the rest of my life”

      For me, Labour’s stance on TPP has already assured that.

  11. Tricledrown 11

    No not necessarily if Dotcom goes to the US, their courts want to know if proper processes were followed.
    The reason they tried to take all his money is to stop KDC’s ability to get decent legal redress.
    But the US has plenty of appeal courts just like here it depends on how much money you have
    Keys meetings with studio exec’s the $360 million subsidy excetra all timed in together.
    John Banks lying over helicopter rides and cheques shows how low National will go.
    Panama papers another example of how much of a double dealer Key and National get up to.

  12. SPC 12

    The world is a place where American corporates operate and pay little tax.

    And apparently the world finds it hard to get the US to agree to international arrangements that change this.

    But sure their corporate states laws/rules should have their reach all the same.

    This is what imperialism looks like.

    • Draco T Bastard 12.1

      +111

    • SaveNZ 12.2

      exactly SPC. Only American pirate sites are allowed on the WWW is the precedent that the US wants to set….

      Only US pirates/storage sites such as You Tube (Google) are allowed and there are still plenty of pirate or storage sites out there… the heavy handedness and making it political is actually going to be the end of Hollywood supremacy and the US as the consumer is king now (aka Apple) and that approach aint working.

      Consumers are not prepared to accept a US only dominance. China, India etc and only US pirate and file sharing sites allowed… nope can’t see it.

      Apple tried a different approach with out smarting people with decent tech and pricing which is why iTunes is successful and Warners and Disney have nothing. Hollywood were too cheap and un innovative to keep ahead of the curve, with all their groping and sexual harassment not to mention their emails about Obama and the race issues and films he might be watching. The Hollywood movie industry seem to feel they are above the law and they own the US government and the industry and the actresses judging by ‘me too’ with their lobby groups and dominance. They have lost respect of consumers.

      Hollywood are even to cheap to pay their own legal costs because they knew without getting the corporate welfare of governments to do their job for them, they might lose and then have to pay out to Dotcom just like when You Tube won!

      Lucky they have a ‘Kiwi’ to make an example off and a lot of illegal government interference to buy the outcome.

      Apple have iTunes, because they were smart and won the hearts of consumers through good tech, not like Hollywood who think they can somehow control the web through having governments as their personal henchmen and US being the only ones allowed to have file sites rather than producing a product that reflects the times like Apple did with iTunes.

  13. barry 13

    I think it stinks:

    Nothing he is accused of is a serious crime in NZ, therefore should not be used for extradition.

    There is no way he can get a fair trial in the US.

    I think we should deport him to Germany and leave it up to them to sort it out.

  14. infused 14

    The de-dupe part is what I was pointing out on this site over and over again.

    He made new links to the same file. Takedowns only took down the URL, not the source file.

    If that had been done, I doubt Kim would have been touched.

    The other fact was, Megaupload had said the source file was deleted. This got discovered eventually by accident by copyright holders. The gig was up.

  15. weston 15

    dot com didnt have a monopoly on the condition of wanting to be admired for being successful but an observer of public reaction to him in general would certainly think so !!!I think in the main he was found guilty of one of the worst associated crimes of all namely RICH and FAT .Key and his friends did a very good hatchet job on him as well and its to our shame that so many bought into that particular smear campaign imo

  16. Treetop 16

    It will be a decade by the time the NZ Supreme Court reaches a decision to extradite or not extradite. The stupidity and lies and bullshit criminal charges is the cause.

    The final cost is going to be millions which cold be used to house the homeless. I know that it is important to pay for justice.

    reply to @10.3.2

    • David Mac 16.1

      Without reverting to whataboutisim I have a hard job overlooking that his team made $175 million dollars a year selling stuff that wasn’t theirs.

      When I do include whataboutisim, I see a wave of different treatment for different folk when it comes to the ownership of intellectual, patent and copyright protected property. From Chinese military jets chokka with carbon copy Lockheed tech, to the freelance writer having his next year’s income swiped off his hard-drive.

  17. Guy Perry 17

    This matter is or was initially a battle of personalities between JK and KDC.

    The public need to do their own in-depth research on both of these people before offering comment.

    Ask yourself, who would sell out their country to the tune of 10,000 lost jobs simply for a commission and their own personal gain?
    And who previously worked in the US in a “convenient” role prior to being placed (rather pushed) into political power here in NZ?

    What similarities does the current Australian political power hold with what happened here?

    Go ask yourself!

    NZ is no more than another star on a striped flag and don’t kid yourselves that our legal system and politicians can ignore what it’s TRUE cabinet is requesting…..sadly!

    NZ has been sold already, it’s just that very few have actually worked that out.

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  • How to Put Your Computer to Sleep
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  • What is Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT)?
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  • How Are Computers Made?
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  • Bryce Edwards: Serious populist discontent is bubbling up in New Zealand
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    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
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  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
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    4 hours ago
  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
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    6 hours ago
  • A crisis of ambition
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    9 hours ago
  • The worth of it all
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    12 hours ago
  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
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    14 hours ago
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    14 hours ago
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    14 hours ago
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    14 hours ago
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  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
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    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    20 hours ago
  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
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    22 hours ago
  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
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    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    23 hours ago
  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
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  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
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  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    1 day ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
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  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
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    2 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    2 days ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    2 days ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    2 days ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    2 days ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
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    2 days ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    2 days ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    2 days ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    2 days ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    2 days ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    3 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
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    1 day ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
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    1 day ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
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    1 day ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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    1 day ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
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    1 day ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
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    2 days ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
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    2 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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    2 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
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    3 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
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    3 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
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    3 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
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    3 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
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    3 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
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    4 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
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    4 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
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    4 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
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    5 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
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    5 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
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    5 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
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    5 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
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    5 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
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    5 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
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    5 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
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    6 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
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    1 week ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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    1 week ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
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    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
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    1 week ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
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    1 week ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
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    1 week ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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