DPF does the right thing

Written By: - Date published: 5:05 pm, March 18th, 2019 - 101 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, blogs, David Farrar, Deep stuff, democracy under attack, dpf, Media, national, Politics - Tags:

Looks like there is a bit of a crisis going on over in right wing blog land.

DPF has finally decided to take the rather extraordinary steps of turning off comments and approving them manually.  This is something that we have done from time to time in the past for sensitive posts.

But Kiwiblog has been out of control for a while and some really rancid things have been posted in comments over there.

And at Whaleoil things are going really strange with a paywall article headed “[n]ow is not the time to be bullied into silence” and text saying “[a]ll this is happening while – and in no small part because of – the left’s Orwellian clampdown on free speech . . .”

This is the trouble when you court support among the far right.

National as a whole has a major problem.  Its use of dangerous rhetoric has been very disappointing. 

No doubt someone will say the left is just as bad.  Waiting for the first example of false equivalence …

 

101 comments on “DPF does the right thing ”

  1. Dennis Frank 1

    Interesting and good to see. Your equivalence point is worth making. My take is that the equivalence is very approximate: toxicity emanates from leftist commentators here way less than rightist commentators there.

    I see Russell Brown has now initiated a centrist discussion, which is always a good option. Although he did so via a framing that seemed too leftist for my liking – inasmuch as it was a focus on hate speech as causative. So I commented that the global context was more causative and explained why.

    • Sam 1.1

      The Great Free Speech wars has come to an end. The thirst for white supremacy and of sanitising history has been quelled by the events of 15 March. With that the debate for free speech is over, if it ever was a debate. DFP was not bullied or coerced by government to enforce the will of the anti-free speech community, it was satisfied with one argument that the Government absolutely rejects division and what that might mean for every one who is greiving and how we may wake up from that.

    • woodart 1.2

      I do wonder whether these changes have been bought on by an attack of conscience , or a losing of advertising revenue…….

      • I feel love 1.2.1

        A bit of column A, a bit of column b… Sean Plunket had a bit of a Twitter back down too, back tracking and deleting, denying everything “I know nothing” Schultz style.

      • Muttonbird 1.2.2

        Actually, RWNJs are announcing a cessation of commenting/posting both here and on their own blogs.

        We thankfully lost John Selway and Stunned Mullet recently from what I can only imagine is exactly what you say – an attack of conscience.

        • JohnSelway 1.2.2.1

          I didn’t say I would stop reading and I have to address your lie about me.

          RWNJ? I have never supported nor given any reason for you to call me a right-winger. Justify it or just admit you’re a fucking liar

      • OnceWasTim 1.2.3

        waddle waddle waddle flap flap squawk squawk.
        I’m putting money on conscience going forward @ woodart after having analysed the prevailing winds

        • Sam 1.2.3.1

          Shouldn’t give political friends any powers that you wouldn’t give to political enemies. So no vacations, Climate Change is still lurking.

  2. Whaleoil articles and opinions are exactly what I would expect and fear.

    – Rejection of any blame to the right or white supremacy,
    – rejection of any gun control (or banning anything ever)
    – shifting blame to the left who are using this tragedy for political advantage (see gun control)
    – scorn of anything the current government is doing.
    – rejection of any association with Trump
    – video of white guy claiming he predicted the Chch attack except not an attack in Chch. I don’t know the guy but I don’t have to finish watching – it’s a ‘our speech has been oppressed therefore human nature means someone is going to get killed.’
    And the usual anti-Maori trash that transcends simple racism and anti-feminism that transcends simple sexism.

    Ugh ugh. But they are serious and sincere and they really need to be watched somehow.

    Is there anybody with power who is now looking more carefully at these sites? Could a petition be started or a coordinated email to an MP? Or am I just dreaming?

    Even if Slater went bankrupt, he has plenty of regular supporting voices on his platform.

  3. Dennis Frank 3

    Oz Politics: “the Morrison government has refused entry to Milo Yiannopoulos, known, among other things, as a promoter of “ironic” Nazi trolling of the kind practised by the Christchurch murderer, whose actions he implicitly endorsed, describing the victims as practising a “barbaric and evil “religion. This isn’t a free speech issue: Yiannopoulos’ repulsive statements are still freely published here, and there has been no attempt to suppress them. If he were in Britain (his home country), the thorny question of “no-platforming” would arise.” https://johnquiggin.com/2019/03/17/closed-borders/

    So the right are taking action to marginalise the alt-right? Somewhat, it seems. A trend to encourage, for sure. Better late than never!

  4. outofbed 4

    Well about time.
    He has provided a platform for extreme racism and misogyny for years.
    I have always been very surprised how radio New Zealand (the panel) has used him as a commentator given his history.
    I remember him being best pals with Slater at the time he was posting disgusting photo shopped images of H C and young Labour activists.
    On the surface it seems Farrar has cleaned his act up in recent years , however I find it very hypercritical that he has suddenly decided to clean up his act on his odious blog.
    He is not a very nice person.

  5. Rae 5

    So I made a point of listening to Sean Plunket today. What can I say? So much of it was about him, how he’d been attacked on social media all weekend, how he refused to acknowledge there was political motive in the shootings “it was all the work of a deranged individual”, clearly found it hard when Jim Veitch pointed out a few times the political nature of the act, how he said “peace and love” all the time as if he thought he were Jesus Christ.
    It was pretty sad, all in all.

  6. RedLogix 6

    Not sure where to put this, but some positive news to contrast with the theme of this thread:

    Having been confronted with the worst news a leader can receive — an unthinkable and politically motivated mass-fatality terrorist attack in a place of worship — Ms Ardern has yet to put a foot wrong.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-18/jacinda-ardern-leadership-under-pressure/10912018

    • lprent 6.1

      Yeah. Her actions and words have been superb. Not only in a political sense. She has acted exactly as we as a country have needed.

    • D'Esterre 6.2

      RedLogix: “Having been confronted with the worst news a leader can receive — an unthinkable and politically motivated mass-fatality terrorist attack in a place of worship — Ms Ardern has yet to put a foot wrong.”

      Indeed. Yesterday afternoon, I heard Peter Fitzsimons praising her response. Difficult to disagree, really.

      Many Australians must wish for such a leader. But as things stand there, cold day in Hell and all that…

      • RedLogix 6.2.1

        Actually Scott Morrison has done exactly the right thing over Fraser Anning … as has almost their entire political spectrum. (Dutton managed to make a dork of himself, but nobody noticed the difference.)

        • Macro 6.2.1.1

          (Dutton managed to make a dork of himself, but nobody noticed the difference.)

          LOL 😂

  7. Muttonbird 7

    Apparently Duncan Garner named Whaleoil and Kiwiblog as right wing hate speech sites this morning. Didn’t hear it myself but it would explain David Farrar’s frantic cleaning.

    It’s the equivalent of having company around but there are skid marks on the dunny. Farrar wasn’t ‘doing the right thing’ – he was forced to do it and evidence of that is there was absolutely zero attempt to condemn and clean up islamophobic comments previously.

    Farrar has a real issue with his white supremacist groupies and he knows it. They know it too because they are all fearful of having their free speech hate speech examined.

    • Jess NZ 7.1

      Re: Duncan Garner – that is great to hear, especially from him. If you use him and WO as search terms you mostly get lots of his articles quoted on WO.

    • RRM 7.2

      It’s the equivalent of having company around but there are skid marks on the dunny. Farrar wasn’t ‘doing the right thing’….

      Whereas your behaviour on KB is the equivalent of visiting someone’s house, eating the chips and drinking the beer, then shouting and calling everyone names like “RWNJ”…

      Then when you’re kicked out you come on here and call your former host a c*** behind his back while you wait for your ban to be up. At which time you know you’ll be straight back in there for more free platform.

      Because you’re a leftist so if there’s free stuff going you’ll be there boots and all, you’ll help yourself to the whole bowl if they let you.

      Now, I understand that as a leftist all this is completely normal behaviour, and you probably see your ban as evidence of some malign right wing conspiracy, probably involving “dirty politics”… am I close?

  8. Sacha 8

    Nat party may have finally found a limit to the shit they will allow their man to smear. Poor Davey.

  9. Muttonbird 9

    The other thing I noticed was how angry they are that the PM was wearing a headscarf on Sunday.

    This triggered the already islamophobic, the already misogynistic, and the already furious at Jacinda for being Jacinda.

    And that the world has noticed it? Sent them over the edge.

  10. Dukeofurl 10

    Its not just Farrar thats got his hand on the delete button.
    Russell Brown has said

    ‘Newstalk ZB apparently deleted a number of opinion pieces. The National Party quietly removed the petition that cynically sought to raise ire and fear about New Zealand signing up to the UN Global Migration Compact.

    • Sacha 10.1

      Please link to the source when you quote something: https://publicaddress.net/hardnews/these-things-we-must-now-change/

    • Muttonbird 10.2

      It seems Farrar is finally putting in place some sort of moderation system, or at least changing some settings.

      That it would take this for him to recognise the cancer within his blog is telling. For Farrar, ZB, and the National Party it reads like a deep-clean-because-we-have-to.

      • woodart 10.2.1

        yes, never leaders, only reluctantly being dragged into good behaviour. a real shame that it takes a tragedy for some to exhibit common decency….

        • Peter 10.2.1.1

          Exhibiting common decency because they have to? The thing is, mongrels infesting Kiwiblog won’t be having random attacks or frequent outbursts of decency or getting decency implants, they’ll simply find other ways of polluting the world. No doubt they’ve bred and sending infected offspring into the world.

  11. What comes around, goes around…

    John Key: “Get some guts!” on sending troops to Iraq – YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38abHfFqr3s

    • WeTheBleeple 11.1

      Excellent. I wanted to bring that up but it was too much Schadenfreude in the weekend.

      Fair in a lather wasn’t he, because mutual war = trade opportunities.

      We got these pricks number now. Don’t worry, New Zealand won’t forget where they’ve been led.

      I won’t let them. Nor will you or many others who’ve had a gutsful of the economics of hate.

      • vto 11.1.1

        Exactly. I said at the time that Key dragging us out from under the umbrella of the UN and into the arms of the war-monger USA would lead to terror attacks here…

        Key has blood on his hands

        • RedLogix 11.1.1.1

          That is a very, very fine observation vto.

          I might have phrased it a little less bluntly, but in essence yes. As the lonely pro-globalist here I’m sitting here nodding my head and thinking of the contrast between Helen Clark and John Key on this point. Both saw NZ’s future as indelibly linked to the global community, but each had quite different visions of how to achieve it.

          Key went with what he was comfortable with, rather than what was principled and visionary. While Clark went on to a stellar career at the UN. It speaks volumes.

    • Notice Jamie Lee Ross to Keys left and rear…

      ‘Dreams’… Fleetwood Mac…

      Thunder only happens when it’s raining
      Players only love you when they’re playing
      Women they will come and they will go
      When the rain washes you clean, you’ll know, you’ll know

  12. John Key booed off the stage at the Big Gay Out – LGBT against the …
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEXo6VfQg6Y

  13. John Key Denies Contact With Slater – YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR-NM3l4qCU

  14. cleangreen 14

    “Donkey deep in rorting was Key and Joyce during those dark days of 2011 eh?

    https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/winston-calls-govt-explain-bail-out-mediaworks-owned-johnny-foreigner-ck-87880

    “Winston calls on govt to explain ‘bail-out’ of MediaWorks, owned by Johnny Foreigner”
    NBR Contributor
    Wed, 09 Mar 2011

    Winston Peters.
    New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has asked the government “to explain why it is using public funds to finance an overseas-owned radio and television network”.

    The company in question is MediaWorks, owned by Australia’s Ironbridge Capital. MediaWorks stable includes TV3, Four, C4, RadioLive, The Rock, Kiwi FM and other media properties

    Mr Peters’ statement cheerfully ignores the 11.2% interest the government is charging MediaWorks on the $43 million of deferred radio spectrum licensing fees it owes to the Crown under a 2009 deal offered to all broadcasters. It’s a punitive rate that certainly won’t make the deal feel like much of a bail-out from Ironbridge’s end.\

    Today, Mr Joyce said 11.2% was a commercial rate for a company in a distressed position. Given his background in commercial radio, the minister had put the arrangement to cabinet as a whole, which had collectively approved the decision.

    The New Zealand First leader was unconinced. “The government is running around telling New Zealanders how public expenditure has to be slashed while at the same time it is bailing out its mates in the media industry,” Mr Peters said.

    “There seems to be a different set of standards for private enterprise under this government. We are sure there are far more worthy causes to support in New Zealand at present.”

    Mr Peters said the situation looks suspiciously like the government is getting some radio and television networks in line for its election year propaganda.

    “The foreign-owned media chain will no doubt be grateful to the people of New Zealand for their generosity,” said Mr Peters.

  15. vto 15

    Very interesting development in the mind of Farrar..

    and good note on false equivalence, and also just above linking in John Key and his “join the right side” hate speech, which arguably also enabled last Friday’s massacre.

    The National Party, on so very many issues, is hateful and mean. Typically it is in relation to workers. This incident highlights its horrible underbelly which provides solace to the haters and supremacists.

    Farrar has recognised this, it seems. Perhaps other National Party people will also realise how much of what they stand for and promote is in fact nasty, mean and hateful. And that they should not turn the blind eye that they do to those policies and speeches which drive other people down so they can rise up.

    The National Party is a mean and nasty organisation that people should avoid

  16. Gabby 16

    Or, he’s been told by JasonEvil and/or his ilk to dial it back a bit for now.

  17. Heather Grimwood 17

    Annabel Crabb, chief reporter ABC has piece just reported on RadioNZ web . It says it all. A wonderful piece.

  18. Black with a Vengeance 18

    Banned for calling out the racists and white supremacists DPF had been harboring for years…

    …ummm, what’s wronng with that picture?

    • SPC 18.1

      You do realise you might be forcing DPF to delete every General Debate thread on the site, to cover the tracks – given he has plenty of scrubbing work to do on some of the topic threads.

      Posterity and all.

  19. sam green 19

    Interestingly i was given a strike by Farrar last Thursday 14th.

    “sam green
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    These are your people Farrar – every day in every way you make it possible for them to misrepresent and malign. You must be so proud.

    [DPF: Smearing me also a Strike – Strike 2]

    Thumb up 2 Thumb down 56REPLY REPORTMARCH 14, 2019 12:19PM”

    He is now scuttling like the cockroach he is because he knows he is culpable in allowing racist and hateful ideologies to “foment”. He is now moderating like a madman but the race hate is still there, seething below the surface. Very few of the commentators have the insight to maybe just do a little soul searching instead of playing victims (poor old me I’m a white man). His fawning over Jacinda Ardern is transparent at the very least.

  20. Adrian 20

    14 years staring him in the face for hosting shit. That’s why he is feverishly house cleaning before the rellies ( Police, SIS ) get there.
    I can’t even spell schadenfreude but it does give one a nice warm feeling.

    • lprent 20.1

      He is going to find that moderating back to a reasonable persistent standard is a lot of hard work. From memory it took me about 3 years after the initial authors lost the ‘freedom of speech” vanity and started to think that we needed moderation to squelch the nutter comments.

      Essentially you have to shift the culture of the site, and it involves a lot of resistance. Doing moderation and release is probably the most irritating of strategies for the commenters.

      • SPC 20.1.1

        I got moderated over at TDB, the time delay was really annoying, and so on-going participation in any debate was rare. But it’s because of the censorship of my posts countering MB, when he channels SP attacking woke people, the Greens, that I have stopped posting there.

  21. sam green 21

    I’ve also just posted this:

    “sam green
    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    It’s his published blog – he has a responsibility to ensure that it is not a platform for racism and hate. He should have a legal obligation and hopefully – although it’s not happened up until now – a moral (human) one.

    Click to EditDelete (4 minutes and 56 seconds)
    Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0REPLY REPORTMARCH 19, 2019 5:01PM”

    • SPC 21.1

      Particularly so after he monetised the site with the advertising. As a commerical medium a responsibility to afford, by either time or paid staff, to moderate the site.

      It was a bit hard to get that through to him, as you would get a strike for anything he deemed a personal criticism of his site management (my only one there was posting on his monetising the site – there is also the monopoly on how meaning is interpreted with a site run run by one person).

  22. Magisterium 22

    “As for Christchurch, here’s hoping another earthquake flattens the place. They need to be taught a lesson.”

    [lprent: From a commenter who was clearly disappointed about the election result in 2014 on the day after. It was followed by two comments of condemnation by other commenters starting with karol saying “Seriously? That’s an awful thing to write.”.

    Perhaps you have a point to make to go with a single comment out of the 1,492,571 published on the site? Rather than apparently just being a dumbarse incapable of offering an opinion or engaging in a robust debate. Putting in a link with no context is the action of an idiot incapable of debate or an ability to think. ]

  23. Muttonbird 23

    David Farrar has announced major changes in policy. There will be two classes of commenter.

    One class is auto-approved and is for those who use their real name or a pseudonym linked to a page which identifies the commenter ie Facebook (bit ironic he’d insist on using for identity a company which live-streamed the Christchurch mass-murders but that’s another story).

    The other class is a moderated class and is for those who wish their comment to remain anonymous. These comments will be moderated by the sole moderator, David Farrar.

    These changes are enormous and a direct reaction to the heinous event last Friday. David Farrar has finally been forced to confront the truth that his blog is a hotbed of islamophobia. He realises media and the public are now looking hard at what his people say and has put in place much much stronger moderation and disincentive for the racism which has been one of the defining features of the blog thus far.

    Many positives will eventuate from the desperate and violent tragedy of Friday 15 March 2019. Ardern’s leadership, changing attitudes, gun law reform, and more effective intelligence services among them. But let’s not forget it was also the event which made one right wing blog site reflect on its own history, and making change for the future.

    • BM 23.1

      Are you going to use your real name Muttonbird?

      • Sam 23.1.1

        I’v got dibz on Sam.

        • BM 23.1.1.1

          I’m expecting a lot of Bob Smith’s to start posting.
          No idea how he’s going to verify peoples names? do you have to show your driver’s license or passport before you can post on kiwiblog?

        • sam green 23.1.1.2

          Hmmm – arm wrestle?

          • Sam 23.1.1.2.1

            Debate me

            • sam green 23.1.1.2.1.1

              Bugger. I’m a bit shit at debate. Darts?

              • Sam

                Just making it harder on yourself.

                Put my Facebook into my kiwi blog log in so if you want it. You’re kind of going to have to convince me that the world will end if I don’t give it. Or perhaps convince 75% in a referendum to include an upper house with half Māori and half non-Māori representation. Which ever one comes first.

            • Grant 23.1.1.2.1.2

              If you keep challenging people to debates you’ll Get a reputation for being a mass debater

              • Sam

                Least you didn’t say a wanker.

                Richard Dawkins coined the word memetics or “meme” for short in his book The Selfish Gene. Was arguing that genetics could be made easy to understand with picture representations and how there’s no right or wrong answer to all these complex picture representations. Who would have guessed that his theory would spin out into a full blown cultural revolution, wish I had the brains for that.

              • lprent

                It is unlikely – for the obvious reason.

        • Muttonbird 23.1.1.3

          Apparently you’ll have to use a Facebook login or similar to verify your identity if you want to use ‘Sam’.

          • Sam 23.1.1.3.1

            Nothing I ain’t done before

            • Muttonbird 23.1.1.3.1.1

              Why don’t you use your real name here then?

                • Muttonbird

                  Oh yes. What is your last name, Sam?

                  [I know that question is essentially rhetorical, Muttonbird, however, it crosses a line. And it’s like reverse Gosmanism, and we can’t have that.

                  Sam, chill out, please. Less bot like contributions for a start.

                  Cheers, y’all. TRP]

                  • Sam

                    You’ll have to do better than that lame ass excuse for being curious and inquisitive. You got to make the question so extra, so compelling, so wonderful that I’ll hand over bits of my identity to you on an anonymous message board.

                    • Muttonbird

                      Well, you’re not really using your real name, are you. You are still anonymous.

                      Do us a favour and keep it that way.

                    • Sam

                      Some guys, gender not assumed, have a wager going and Iv got a debate going for my login and real name so you’ll have to get in line. Apologies for not being able to make good on that favour you asked for. Perhaps one of the lower tier commenters could do you a solid.

                  • Muttonbird

                    Ridiculous, TRP. Have a good night.

      • Muttonbird 23.1.2

        I got booted for this post referring to the since disbanded Milton gun club which trained the Christchurch mass-murderer.

        Here’s another quote from the article:

        The place just stunk of inadequacy compensated through use and ownership of semi automatic firearms. It was pretty f…ing disturbing.

        A bit like Kiwiblog.

        https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/111336647/we-dont-breed-mass-killers-accused-christchurch-shooters-gun-club

        • BM 23.1.2.1

          You’ve been banned, permanently?

          • Muttonbird 23.1.2.1.1

            I’m unable to log in.

            But really, I think this event has changed the way that blog operates and a lot of commenters will be reflecting on their views. There’ll still be intolerance, Maori-bashing and bene-bashing galore but the worst of the islamohobia will be moderated out.

            I’m not required anymore.

        • Black with a Vengeance 23.1.2.2

          I was born and raised in Milton.

          It was always a great place to hide your white supremacist, violent racist views in plain sight.

          I swear every other cocky’s black dog, including my Uncle’s, was called nig and often suffered the inglorious insult of…

          ‘You fucking useless black bitch’ before getting the shit beaten out of it if it didn’t respond to the whistle.

          Looking back now I think my uncle may have been a bit of a cracker.

          Ain’t no place like home!

    • Cinny 23.2

      This bit MB… “moderated by the sole moderator, David Farrar”

      Question please…Is he the only moderator for that blog?

      It’s just that I always thought it was a free for all judging from some of the vile comments I’ve read there before.

      • Muttonbird 23.2.1

        He’s the only moderator. Being an authoritarian he has trouble relinquishing mod power I suspect.

        The way it worked was if a comment was reported 6 times for any reason it would be sent to moderation – otherwise not much would be looked at.

        This of course meant that none of the racist stuff was sent to moderation because no one reported it because they were all pretty much in agreement.

        • Cinny 23.2.1.1

          Don’t want to type the words coming out of my mouth right now, as mum would say, such words aren’t very lady like……..FFS etc etc

          Thanks for explaining MB, much appreciated.

      • Gabby 23.2.2

        You’ve just got to avoid calling any of his socks a fuckknuckle. He doesn’t like that.

        • Cinny 23.2.2.1

          Love that word 🙂 Cracking up laughing.

          • greywarshark 23.2.2.1.1

            You would think that Dr Seuss would love that one. By the way I just read the other day that he didn’t have any children. He wasn’t the man I expected.

        • Robert Guyton 23.2.2.2

          I got banned, for life, for referring to his knees; actually, expressing concern for their health!
          True story.

          • sam green 23.2.2.2.1

            The mind boggles. Doesn’t he use a pillow?

            • Robert Guyton 23.2.2.2.1.1

              I care nothing for his personal life; I just felt for his knees! He was such a big fellow back in the day. Knees do a lot of work and receive little praise for their efforts. Farrar’s folk care little for the whales, so I thought, “Save the knees”! Why ever not?

              • greywarshark

                When you get a moment Robert could you have a look at How to Get There and my bit about firebreaks in manuka. I thought I would hear but everyone has been so shocked this weekend. Something is being planned over in Tasman and I though I would like to know what ideas you and WtB had.

                Sorry there has been a double up. I put up one and then it vanished and then I got worried and put it up again. and got both.

                • Robert Guyton

                  Hi Grey. Manuka’s a challenge. The blight that blights it was imported by farmers from Aussie to knock it back as it threatened (?) to reclaim hard-won pastures. The blackened branches, twigs and leaves we see now weren’t apparent pre-farmer. Manuka’s a beautiful tree, of course, but in fire-prone areas, a worry – it bursts into flames with great enthusiasm. Manuka honey doesn’t attract my support, for some reason, so I’ve nothing useful to say about that. Our native bees are busied-out by the honey bee. Manuka’s easy to grow and its seeds a cinch to collect; gather the pods before they open, keep them in a paper bag in a warm place till they open and release, then sow on the surface of seed raising mix. The trick is to include for associated fungi in your potting mix.

    • Black with a Vengeance 23.3

      I would trust David Garrett’s ID…lol

      …and fwiw, I don’t do social media nor would risk the consequences of using my real name.

      Lots of those fuckers have guns and don’t mind telling you how they’d like to use them.

    • Sacha 23.4

      “He realises media and the public are now looking hard at what his people say”

      And his customers may care too. Wallet always a fast way to a right-leaning heart.

  24. Suddenly my respect for David Farrar has gone up 100-fold…

    • Rosemary McDonald 24.1

      “…my respect for David Farrar has gone up 100-fold…”

      Hah! From anti-hero to zero?

      Farrar has enjoyed, nay, has wallowed in the popularity of his wee cess pit of unfettered ferals and their hate speech.

      Mayhap he’ll be donating all of his advertising revenue for the past umpteen years to the victims?

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    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    4 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    9 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    12 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    14 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
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