Dotcom snoopers: The “dirty, disgusting, despicable game”

Written By: - Date published: 4:19 pm, February 14th, 2014 - 73 comments
Categories: blogs, brand key, john key, slippery, spin, Spying, uncategorized - Tags:

So, the PM is hinting that his tips about Winston Peters visiting Kim Dotcom 3 times, came from Cameron Slater.

This is the same Slater who said on TV 3’s The Nation that:

Slater: Well, Auckland politics is like where any politics is, in that it’s a dirty, disgusting, despicable game. And it involves dirty, disgusting despicable people at all levels.  And to have this sort of high and mighty belief that New Zealand politics is clean, isn’t.

Stuff reports:

Prime Minister John Key has given his “100 per cent” assurance that intelligence agencies were not spying on Winston Peters, indicating his source was controversial blogger Cameron Slater.

Key revealed today that he speaks regularly with Slater.

[…]

“Contrary to what you might want to believe I can read, it happened to be in the New Zealand Herald, it happened to be on the Whale Oil website, and a member of the public, basically for want of a better term, rang me up and said what was the case,” Key said.

“I assumed it was right, I said it and it turned out to be right.”

He confirmed he and Slater spoke regularly, including this week when they discussed Dotcom, but Key hedged when asked if Slater was his source.

“I wouldn’t say that I wouldn’t say either way, I’m just telling you it’s not GCSB or SIS.”

Key said he regularly called Slater, who broke the story of the Len Brown affair, “to see what he’s got on his site and mind”.

[…]

“Contrary to what you might want to believe I can read, it happened to be in the New Zealand Herald, it happened to be on the Whale Oil website, and a member of the public, basically for want of a better term, rang me up and said what was the case,” Key said.

“I assumed it was right, I said it and it turned out to be right.”

He confirmed he and Slater spoke regularly, including this week when they discussed Dotcom, but Key hedged when asked if Slater was his source.

“I wouldn’t say that I wouldn’t say either way, I’m just telling you it’s not GCSB or SIS.”

Key said he regularly called Slater, who broke the story of the Len Brown affair, “to see what he’s got on his site and mind”.

NZ Herald‘s Claire Trevett is also reporting this story.

But, the question remains, who told Slater and who told the Herald gossip columnist?

This is looking like a sophisticated circular shell game.  Normally it’s thought that the PM’s office leaks stuff to right wing bloggers.

[Update] Full transcript of the John Key stands up video, “PM’s whale oil ‘friends’ “, on Stuff at the link: there are multiple unidentified interviewers in the video.

Key: A member of the public, basically for want of a better term, rang me up and said what, what was the case.  I assumed it was right.  I said it. And it turned out to be right. But I can absolutely swear my life on it that there’s been no public agency involved.  Nor would there be.  And by the way, if there was, that would be an immensely serious thing, that would see the end of myself as prime minister and the end of the government, so, um, I think he’s out to lunch and in Lala land.

Interviewer: Does he need to provide some evidence of that?

Key:  I would welcome any evidence he’s got.  I would be more than happy to comply with any enquiry.  I’m happy for a complete review of GCSB, SIS, every agency I have any involvement with.

Interviewer: Was it a member of the public? Was it somebody that came to you and said “Those things in the paper, they’re true, prime minister, what are you gonna do about it?”  How did that happen?

Key: Yeah.  They rang me up and said, he’s been out there 3 times, and um, it’s apparently accurate. I said fair enough. I didn’t assume it was that controversial to be honest.

Interviewer: Was Cameron Slater the member of the public that contacted you.

Key: I’m not gonna say who it was. But I can tell you they don’t work for the GCSB or SIS or any other agency.

Interviewer: [?]

Key: Every so often.

Interviewer: Every so often – weekly?  Monthly?

Key: Dunno. I’d have to go and look at my files.

Interviewer: When you spoke to him this week did you discuss Kim Dotcom or []?].

Key: Briefly.

Interviewer: So he was your source?

Key: No.  I wouldn’t say that.

Interviewer: You would not say “No”?

Key: Well you know.  I’m not gonna say either way.  I’ll just telling you it’s not GCSB or SIS.

Interviewer: Did you call him or did he call you?

Key: Ohhhh. I rang him. [sucks in breath]

Interviewer: [?]

Key: Well he’s a blog site. He writes.  He he, writes a whole lotta stuff I don’t necessarily agree with all of it. I speak to lotsa bloggers blogsters.

Interviewer: [?] with Cameron Slater:

Key: I just know him.

Interviewer: What do you call him for?

Key: Oh cause I talk about lottsa political events. See what he’s got on his site and mind.

Interviewer: How any other bloggers do you speak to on a regular basis?

Key: Heaps.

Interviewer: Why..? heaps? Seriously?  So, care to share any of the bloggers that you speak to?

Key: I’m sure you speak to a lot of them as well.

In the Stuff article, Slater is reported a saying:

Slater confirmed he was the source.

“If the prime minister said that’s the case, that’s the case,” Slater said.

Controversies surrounding Slater should not preclude the pair from having a professional relationship, Slater said.

“I’ve got a wide network that’s got across the party spectrum. I’ve got contacts in the Labour Party, I’ve got contacts in the Green Party, I’ve got contacts in the Conservatives, I’ve got insiders in NZ First, I talk to everybody.”

He described his relationship with Key as “professional where I ask questions and he gives me answers”.

So there’s a slight discrepancy between key saying he rang Slater to chat and see what’s on his site and mind, and Slater saying he asks Key questions and gets answers.

[Update] Stuff audio transcript corrected/edited 15 Feb 2014.

Report from  TV 3 News Thurs 13 Feb 2014, 6pm: ‘Key used GCSB to spy on me’ – Winston Peters. Key is asked how he knew Peters had 3 meetings with Kimdotcom.

Extract from video:

Key: Oh well, people tell me things from time to time.

Gower: Who?

Key: Not gonn tell ya.

Key: Don’t need to.

Key: Well, like I say, don’t need to.

Key: From time to time, people see things and from time to time they tell me.

Key: A person told me it was three. I was pretty sure they’d be right because, they often are, and guess what, they were.

 

73 comments on “Dotcom snoopers: The “dirty, disgusting, despicable game” ”

  1. Paul 1

    Unbelievable.
    Our country’s leader’s source of news is a blog from the sewer.
    This says it all about Key and the direction he’s taking this once fine nation.
    Shame.

    • well I never 1.2

      I agree, I don’t know which is worse, using the nation’s spy agency for personal political control, or relating (supporting) the lowlife that spews out his bile, and starts crying when anyone stands up to him.Where are the statesmen?

  2. weka 2

    Does anyone else feel a bit sick that the Prime Minister of NZ regularly talks to Cameron Slater? I mean, I understand that Key is right wing and would keep in touch with the right wing blogosphere, but Slater?! That’s actually pretty fucked up.

    • Anne 2.1

      He’s on the same level as Slater weka. The only difference is: he knows how to hide it from a largely gullible public. I picked it up at the time of the Mt Albert byelectoin in 2012. Some photographer caught Slater and Key together deep in conversation. Whatever Slater was telling him, Key’s eyes had lit up and he was hanging on to his (Slater’s) every word. From that split second photo capture… I have regarded Key with the utmost contempt. That he is romping around as our PM is truly embarrassing.

    • Rosie 2.2

      “Does anyone else feel a bit sick that the Prime Minister of NZ regularly talks to Cameron Slater?’

      Yes. Yes, I do and yes, it is pretty fucked up, even by Key’s lack of standards.

    • Yes it makes me feel very queasy – he rings him up – key has dispelled any illusions anyone may have about him – “oh hasn’t he got jolly good instincts”… “oh what a clever political player…” – wake up!!! The slimely snake is actually really slime covered and slides along on its belly flicking its fucken forked tongue to taste the air and see which way to go. There are no gloves on now – he rings up slater – rings him up!!!

      key i didn’t think you could go down any lower in regards to how little i think of you but you have – well fucken done you.

  3. fender 3

    “to see what he’s got on his site and mind”.

    Who would want to know such toxic information as this FFS. Good to have it confirmed though how friendly these birds of a feather are.

  4. phil 4

    Did the spy agency seed the information to The Whale? Then PM rings the whale for a chat? How circular. Sounds like CIA Modus opperandus.

  5. xtasy 5

    Now there could be some other source that has not yet been considered. While we know of course that the GCSB and SIS have top notch equipment to do their jobs, you can as a private individual also buy rather astonishing modern technological equipment, like concealed tiny cameras, audio recorders, transmitters and what else there is.

    Any tech savvy person, who may have been media, private investigator, a friend of Slater or other individuals that now have been exposed of being party of the “informant network” and “the informed” themselves, could theoretically have been to Coatesville, perhaps installed some equipment near the entrance, in trees or on posts, or wherever, to “surveil” what traffic and persons go in and out.

    This may sound far fetched for some, but with the importance of Dotcom, of his case and what he now represents in the form of a true THREAT to our PRIME MINISTER and this government, nothing can be ruled out. There would be enough persons who would be very keen on any information they can get. So apart from possible “sources” around Dotcom himself, this may need to be investigated also.

    As for Key and Slater, yeah, thanks for the PM, to finally come out with the truth. So not only is Judith Collins a regular chatter with the abominable person that runs Whaleoil.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1

      Who’s running who?

      Key/Collins/Slater/Lusk are responsible for Whale Oil. That much is certain.

      It raises an interesting question. Rising inequality inevitably leads to increased infant mortality, and more dead children for Key/Collins/Slater/Lusk to mock.

      Is that a conflict of interest?

      • marty mars 5.1.1

        Who is running who? – yep that is a question that i’d like more illumination around – “If you want to destroy my sweater, hold this thread as i walk away, watch me unravel, I’ll soon be naked, lying on the floor, I’ve come undone…” This thread will get pulled until the yarn snaps or key is lie-ing there unraveled.

    • Anne 5.2

      Spot on xtasy. Electronic spying equipment is available, and provided the user knows what he/she is doing and how to operate the equipment they can spy on all sorts of people in all sorts of situations. I said yesterday on Open Mike (I think) that Key doesn’t have to acquire such info. from the spy agencies. He has his own spies and informants and we know Slater and Farrar are merely two of them. Don’t be surprised if his private spy agency the KIS(?) is partly funded by himself and other ‘key’ businessmen who live in his pockets – or he lives in theirs…

      • Murray Olsen 5.2.1

        There are plenty of Perfed out coppers who manage to do security work for the oil companies. Some of the same faces turn up at protests all the time, taking photos. Some of them would no doubt be happy to contract their dubious talents to the Taxpayers’ Union (haha), the New Zealand American Business Association, or even a rightwing think (haha) tank. These guys play for keeps, and do not want to lose Key.

        • xtasy 5.2.1.1

          I have been to a few protests, particularly against the benefit “reforms” (or rather draconian “cut backs” to entitlements and endless sanctions), and some were with activists at meetings Bennett and some other National MPs held for the public.

          It was astonishing and telling, how friendly and warm the relationship between the present cops and the National politicians and members were. They all seem to know each other very, very well, and I have never seen the cops be as “warm” and friendly with any Labour or other MPs on public events. That certainly told me something about the true state of affairs, as to how New Zealand is “run”!

          And yes, there would be NO shortage of private investigators or even volunteers, to do some of the dirty works to assist their National Party friends and mates, in higher and less higher places.

          I witnessed also last general election day, how near our local election booth, there were many hurried, almost worried and overly determined middle class while males (apparently business and similar folks), who asked me for the way to the booths, and they seemed to be so determined to cast their votes. It all had the feel as if they were shit scared that National and Key might lose, as that seems to them to be seen as a “disaster” to their lot in New Zealand society, indeed in their narrow minded view a “disaster for the country”.

          Sadly we know what the outcome was. So there is NO surprise that they will involve their most loyal blogsters, like the Whale and Farrar, to intensify efforts, to make sure that Key and Nats get the upper hand in the public media and social media battle, no matter what means will be necessary. We are witnessing just the very beginning of what is to come this year.

  6. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 6

    Can someone please explain what is so wrong with leaders of political parties meeting? Doesn’t seem like the big issue that it is being made out to be – by the-desperately-increasingly-friendless-National party.

    Surely meeting up in person is the best way for them to find out what they have in common and how (or if) they can work together?

    Or are they expected to look on one another’s websites and work it out that way?

    Or better yet, perhaps they are expected to read Whale Oil like our PM does or watch to voxpops on TV3 news and draw conclusions from what Whale Oil and TV3 news deems important to convey?

    • idlegus 6.1

      “Can someone please explain what is so wrong with leaders of political parties meeting?” – nothing, just media spin & beat up, distraction, its all the silly right wing contributors to this blog have got it seems, weak!

      • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 6.1.1

        ah, thanks idlegus, it is nice to hear someone else is viewing things the way I am 🙂

  7. Not a PS Staffer 7

    Karol

    The real news is the stupidity of Russell Norman going cap in hand all the way out to DotCom’s palace to discuss election tactics. A visit like that, by taxi, in not going to be kept secret. Norman’s mistake was to expect it to be a secret. He is now a certified fool.

    We have always known that Winston has no scruples about who he will meet and do deals with. No news there.

    And we have known for a long time that Key knows how to operate the leavers of power, access the state agencies, access overseas bodies and schmooze with any media person who will give him favourable column inches.

    Russell Norman has brought all of this on himself.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1

      Yep, we’ve known that for a while. It hasn’t made the headlines before now though. Slater has been in the news of late too.

      Key is now overtly associated with a man who mocks dead children for money. Looks like an opportunity to me, and not to bag Russel Norman, either.

    • karol 7.2

      NaPSS, The real latest news is Key’s admission. Stay on topic or comments will be deleted or moved

      ….. or worse.

      This is a clear attempt at diversion.

      • Not a PS Staffer 7.2.1

        Karol, I find your response rude and excessive. I’m very disappointed that a moderator on The Standard feels free to act in this manner.

        Your story is about how Key can find out about who has visited DotCom.
        My point is that the information on the visit could have easily come from a simple source like the Taxi driver who got $350+ for a return trip from Auckland Airport to Coatesville.
        My point is that Russell Norman was trying to hide meeting DotCom: it was an act of political stupidity to meet him at all; compounded by going to see him at the most talked about mansion in NZ, possibly on his own.

        John Key and National have to be removed at the next election. Stupid and incompetent acts by Russell Norman will get in the way. When David Shearer was screwing up, in his job of leader of the opposition, he was held to account on these pages without moderators threatening to block off comments.

        What is wrong with holding Russell Norman to account on these pages?

        • Colonial Viper 7.2.1.1

          Karol, I find your response rude and excessive. I’m very disappointed that a moderator on The Standard feels free to act in this manner.

          karol’s comments were sensibly worded and you have no cause for offence just because you were called out, you sensitive wee sausage.

    • the pigman 7.3

      “The real news is…”

      Yeah, nah. Try again.

  8. JustLikeTigerWoods 8

    Jealous?

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1

      The leader of the opposition contributes to this blog, but this is the first time John Key has confessed his association with Cameron Slater.

      I don’t think jealous is the right way to describe sharks that smell blood.

    • fender 8.2

      Oh yeah, like who wouldn’t want to front the National party sewer-site, you’d have to be a feral to turn down that gig /sarc

    • chris73 8.3

      Yes they are 🙂

      • stever 8.3.1

        Yeah, I agree. Who wouldn’t want someone of John Key’s stature and integrity associated with them?

        • chris73 8.3.1.1

          Well Obama doesn’t seem to mind, the Queen thinks hes all right and he gets an invite to the G20 meeting but apart from that

          • Hayden 8.3.1.1.1

            Dear Mr President

            Next time you’re playing golf with John Key, perhaps you could ask him about his relationship with Cameron Slater, convicted criminal, mocker of dead babies and accident victims, and all round scumbag* (kind of like Matt Drudge crossed with Perez Hilton, without the scruples of either, to give you a local reference). Also, let him win a few holes, that bright, pinkly-flushed face and silly grin delight us so.

            I’ll finish it later.

            * honestly-held opinion, somewhat understated

          • Tim 8.3.1.1.2

            “Who wouldn’t want someone of John Key’s stature and integrity associated with them?”
            me for one!
            If we get another term of that kind of stature and integrity – I’m off! No doubt I’ll be able to watch another attempt by Mr Charisma on Letterman delivering a Top 10. I think I should be able to cope without being resident in a ‘rock star’ economy

      • fender 8.3.2

        No we are 😀 at these dots being officially joined, who wouldn’t want everyone to know they were friends with one of the most hideous creatures in NZ.

        Look forward to hearing slimebag bark at the judge when he gets sentenced, Key may duet with him.

        • chris73 8.3.2.1

          “No we are 😀 at these dots being officially joined, who wouldn’t want everyone to know they were friends with one of the most hideous creatures in NZ.”

          I admit that I’m surprised that Norman would want to be seen getting hot and heavy with someone convicted of computer fraud, data espionage, insider trading and embezzlement. But I guess the pursuit of power does things to people.

          • fender 8.3.2.1.1

            “…hot and heavy…”

            Now there’s a revelation. At least Banks had the decency to refrain when he realised Kim was married!

            You obviously saw everything though, good work mate. Beats going on an “ammo watching” field-trip eh..

    • Hayden 8.4

      Look at a photo of Cameron Slater. Listen to a recording of Cameron Slater speaking. Try to imagine someone being jealous of that.

  9. Pascal's bookie 9

    “expect it to be a secret”

    Did he?

  10. McFlock 10

    So the PM talks regularly with a pervert who stalks opposition MPs.

    I can see why he didn’t want his association with a sewersnipe panty-sniffer to be publicised.

    • Hayden 10.1

      Can you imagine the awkwardness of Bevan Chuang, sitting in a darkened hotel room with Cameron Slater, describing in graphic detail her sexual liaisons with Len Brown? You can almost hear him panting, smell the body odour as his temperature rises with each new revelation…

      I think I’ve put myself off my tea (sirloin of murdered cow, if anyone’s interested).

      • chris73 10.1.1

        Can you imagine the awkwardness of Bevan Chuang with Len Brown? You can almost hear him panting, smell the body odour as his temperature rises with each new revelation…

        I think I’ve put myself off my tea (sirloin of murdered cow, if anyone’s interested).

        – Fixed it for you 🙂

        • Hayden 10.1.1.1

          No you didn’t, you just changed Cameron Slater to Len Brown and now it makes no sense. This is why you get that pitying look so often at family gatherings.

          Besides, how many times did Bevan go back? I imagine her relationship with the Slater is less convivial.

  11. Tigger 11

    Slater on their relationship:
    “He described his relationship with Key as “professional … where I ask questions and he gives me answers”.”

    I don’t recall any interviews with Key on Whale Oil so what are these questions about?

    And didn’t Key say he got info from Slater, ie he asked the question?

    • xtasy 11.1

      There are many “professional” crooks, no doubt about that!

    • karol 11.2

      Key is in the video at the Stuff link – saying he talks to whale oil, “to see what he’s got on his site and on his kind” – ie must include Key asking questions.

      Key didn’t exactly say he got the Dotcom-Peters info from Slater, but he wouldn’t deny it.

    • mickysavage 11.3

      Professional, so Key pays slater for his crap?

  12. mickysavage 12

    Well talking about jumping the shark …

  13. Zorr 13

    At which point, every time the Prime Minister now opens his mouth to accuse an opposition MP, the response should be “Did you get that information from Whale Oil?”

  14. tricledrown 14

    Yeah C73 how many times has Slater been convicted.

  15. tricledrown 15

    Yeah C73 how many times has Slater been convicted.

  16. Pascal's bookie 16

    Yeah, well.

    See there’s a court case coming up. part of that court case will touch on whether there was any political influence in proceedings leading up to the trial, and the extent of it if there was.

    Certain Prime Ministers not a million miles from Thorndon might want to leave some dates free in the diary lest they are called to the stand. But even if they are not; ‘discovery’, there’s an interesting word, innit.

    https://twitter.com/KimDotcom/status/434250654022791168

  17. emergency mike 17

    “Interviewer: Did you call him or did he call you?

    Key: Ohhhh. I rang him. [sucks in breath]

    Key: I speak to lotsa bloggers.

    Interviewer: how any other bloggers do you speak to on a regular basis?

    Key: Heaps.

    Interviewer: Why heaps? Seriously? So, care to share any of the bloggers that you speak to?

    Key: I’m sure you speak to a lot of them as well.”

    lol. Just lol. He’s scrambling here.

    So any of u bloggers talk to John Key on a regular basis? Who knew that he was so actively engaged with teh blogs eh?

    Credibility: down.

    • karol 17.1

      Heh! And the interviewer woman who said “Seriously?” had disbelief/surprise in her voice. Like she was a bit gobsmacked.

      Transcript really should be:

      Interviewer: Why…?…. Heaps? …. Seriously?

      As surprised interviewer tried to formulate an appropriate question.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 17.2

      Can anyone spell “follow-up questions”? 😈

      “Poor little blighter! Let him go!”
      “Not till he says what he means by lots and none at all,” said Bert.

  18. bad12 18

    Just reeks of LIES doesn’t it, IF there was any truth in Slippery the Prime Minister ”talking to heaps of bloggers” as He asserts i am pretty certain at least one or two of these Bloggers would have not been able to resist the infamy of being named as a personal confidante of the PM,

    Yet amidst the furore complete and utter silence from across the blogesphere, Please oh Please ‘stand up please ”heaps of other Bloggers”, really it’s simply ghost riders in the sky which is where Slippery the PM obviously pulled that particular statement,

    Obviously Slippery and ‘wail-oils’ Blubber boy didn’t converse enough on this occasion to have got any ‘story’ straight enough to be able to deliver said ‘story’ with confidence to the media,

    Blubber boys, ”if the Prime Minister said that’s the case, then that’s the case”, is hardly vintage Blubber boy is it, IF Slippery was talking on a regular basis with this particular knuckle-scraping throwback to the days of the Neanderthal i am 100% certain that ‘it’ would have been preening,poncing, and, sneering in a fit of ”i am a superior being” instead of giving a barely positive reply to being questioned about any relationship between himself and the PM,

    This is the election campaign, National having NO new policy initiatives to front to the voters have decided upon DIRT as the main plank of discourse for the year,

    Labour/Green unveil policy that directly attacks child poverty with two very different but admirably dovetailing pieces of policy and National in what looked like an orchestrated attack on Metiria Turei via Ann Tolley reading off a scripted paper to attack Metiria’s life-style,

    Shane Jones, not exactly the most admired Labour MP unveils an attack in the Parliament upon what appears to be the criminal actions of at least one of the big two supermarket operators and Slippery again bereft of anything to counter the surge in publicity for Labour over the whole ‘cost of food issue’ winds up the attack on Russell Norman and Winston Peters,
    for daring to have meetings with DotCom,

    This i would suggest is going to be the sum of National’s election campaign right up to and including the official campaign period itself,

    That and the as yet undecided splurge of at least a Billion dollars of asset sales money National will attempt to buy a third term in office with…

  19. Visubversaviper 19

    Maybe Cam is doing his own spying. Wasn’t it him sneaking around Takapuna hoping to catch Andrew Williams watering the street trees? Be a bit hard to find a disguise though. Watch out for mobile telephone booths!

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    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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