Du Plessis-Allan jumps the shark

Written By: - Date published: 9:59 am, March 18th, 2018 - 87 comments
Categories: David Farrar, jacinda ardern, labour, Media, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: , ,

My morning coffee was spoilt by doing something that I immediately regretted.  Reading Heather Du Plessis-Allan’s latest article, or as it is known colloquially, click bait, was something I should have prepared myself for.

It contains the sort of analysis that I would normally expect from Cameron Slater.  Even David Farrar has standards sufficient to not sink to these levels although he may prove me wrong.

For hot on the heels of her discovery that Chris Bishop’s social media difficulties were the result of a cunning attack by labour comes this earth shattering discovery, that there is a power struggle under way in the Labour Party and Jacinda is being targeted.

Her reasoning is this:

Labour HQ says its reason for keeping the incident secret from the Prime Minister was to protect the young alleged victims. They say they didn’t want the 16-year-olds further traumatised by fearing the story was spreading.

I don’t buy that.

Firstly, the 16-year-olds didn’t need to know Ardern was told.

Secondly, regardless of whether you believe Labour was trying to protect the kids — or protect itself by covering up the story — there is one obvious point at which the Prime Minister definitely needed to know. That point was when the Labour Party bosses knew the story was about to hit the media.

At that point, Ardern should have been told. The Labour suits should have realised how Ardern would look when confronted by media who knew more than she did. At best she looked like her own party won’t trust her with top secret information. At worst it looked like her own party is scheming against her.

They should have protected her. But they didn’t. Why?

In my view, there may be a power battle going on inside Labour most of us aren’t aware of. I wasn’t aware of it until I stumbled across it last year. It became so fascinating that I wrote an 11,000-word thesis about it at university.

The battle in my view is between party president Nigel Haworth and the Prime Minister.

In the Labour Party, the party president has as much power as the Prime Minister. This is one of the quirks of the party. The president has enough power to force Labour MPs to follow his instructions by passing party rules.

When MPs get badly out of line, the president’s part of the party deals with the discipline. Not the Prime Minister.

In my view, Haworth may have asserted himself as party president. He knows how much power he has, and he’s putting some of it to use.

Of course the party hierachy should have breached any understandings of confidentiality and told all and sundry.  And it is interesting that in Heather’s world breaching confidences is fine as long as no one finds out.  The fact that this issue is being politically weaponised because Jacinda did not know about it speaks volumes of those trying to keep the story running.

Anyone who knows Nigel Haworth would laugh at the assertion that he is engaged in some sort of power play with Ardern.  And the claim is clearly completely devoid of those things which should be a requirement before pontificating publicly, those things being facts.

And there has been this attempt to equate this with Ponygate and Todd Barclay’s Muller’s arguably illegal use of a recording device not to mention one or two other incidents involving MPs engaging in behaviour which probably did not meet the probity test.  The general secretary making an arguably incorrect call on how to treat the disclosure is not the same as engaging in behaviour that is at least morally offensive.

87 comments on “Du Plessis-Allan jumps the shark ”

  1. Anne 1

    I start the ball rolling by repeating an altered comment I made on today’s O.P.

    After a week of hissy fits and histrionics unparalleled in NZ political history over a sexual harassment case that occurred within the ranks of the Labour Party, I present two articles which have appeared in the NZ Herald.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12013364

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12013908

    The first is a well written editorial… reasoned and captures the true essence of the matter.

    The second reads like it was produced by a 10 year old… is full of made up bullshit and whacky theories fit for an 18th century science fiction drama.

    Edit: and the thing that gobsmacks me most of all… none of the media protagonists who have indulged in the hysteria have given even half a thought to the distress they must have caused the young victims of this case.

    • newsense 1.1

      Yep, hypocritical spleen of the rump of the Tory press machine. NZHerald needs to go through more of a revamp. Just hiring Simon Wilson doesn’t balance out all your other commentators.

      • patricia bremner 1.1.1

        Simon who has cancer? That Simon Wilson? Nice guy, horrible situation for him.

    • clare 1.2

      indeed,

      whatever they felt about it those young people have now been used as ammunition in a political attack that is nothing to do with them and has completely ignored their feelings and rights.

    • Michelle 1.3

      You are so right Anne the young people are being used for political fodder the party shit stirring don’t really care about these young people. We need to remember in our country a 16 year old can get contraceptive, have an abortion, have sex. work and pay taxes and get married all they can’t do is legally drink alcohol and vote. They are not children they are young adults. Now there is no excuse for this type of behavior but when we still have court judges in our country that still blame women for wearing skimpy clothing saying this encourages rape etc what do you expect ?

  2. Ad 2

    PM is defending, explaining, rotating.

    PM needs to attack, clean it, repair.

    • mickysavage 2.1

      According to conventional rules of political battle but do you really think this is hurting Ardern? Believe me I have no time for the general secretary but cries for his head seem to be somewhat excessive.

      • Ad 2.1.1

        Agree it’s excessive.

        Regrets.

        Now fire him.

        • ropata 2.1.1.1

          And cause another media stink over unfair dismissal. Are you a Nat mole?

        • Psycho Milt 2.1.1.2

          Now fire him.

          Firing him would effectively declare that all the bullshit spouted by right-wing pundits over the last two weeks was an accurate portrayal of events.

          • Ad 2.1.1.2.1

            It would.

            The Prime Minister would then have to eat it for a while.
            Another cost of doing business when you have to play the janitor when no other damn person in the Party is prepared to do it.
            Key fired people for less – particularly early on – and the caucus got stronger and stronger for 6 years.

            They learned.

            So then the alternative history is this:

            The media keep getting drip-fed stories and innuendo for months, which corrodes the confidence of the public in the Prime Minister … which is, dare we be reminded, the only reason we have this government in place.

            • tracey 2.1.1.2.1.1

              Ad

              Can you remind us who key fired early on?

              • Ad

                Remember that nitwit in housing?
                Heatley? Something to do with a hamburger?

              • Barfly

                Richard Worth?

                • That one’s probably worth a look as a comparison test. In that case, a National Party cabinet minister was sexually harrassing people and engaging in behaviour sufficiently bad for the victim to lay a complaint with the Police. The incident HdPA is frothing about pales in comparison.

                  Key did as Ad recommends and sacked Worth (well, gave him the choice between resigning and being sacked, which is effectively the same thing) and it did indeed protect National from having the details of the incidents made public. But is anyone here proud that Key’s political skills enabled him to put the lid on one of his cabinet ministers being a serial sexual harrasser (at the very least) and avoid any consequences from it?

                  • Akldnut

                    Yes Key acted as soon as he found out about Mike Sabin and sacked him thereby saving us millions by not having to have a by-election after the 2013 General Election.
                    I see clearly that HDA covered that one with the same critical gusto and impartiality as this case

                  • tracey

                    And with respectvto Worth. His behaviour was well known when Key made him a Junior Minister

              • Incognito

                Jason Ede? Where is Jason Ede?

          • stigie 2.1.1.2.2

            Helen would have fired him right away, why he isn’t being fired now is that the PM did possibly know about this early on in the piece and tried to shut it down.

            • tracey 2.1.1.2.2.1

              Please list the number of Presidents and MPs Clark fired.

              I mean Williams absolutely stuffed up the “we have something on Key” thing and stayed on

        • DoublePlusGood 2.1.1.3

          Sorry, why are we firing someone who did their job properly?

          • stigie 2.1.1.3.1

            Keeping it from the kids parents is not doing your job properly.

            “You’re fired”

            • Matthew Whitehead 2.1.1.3.1.1

              Incorrect, keeping confidentiality is best practice in this situation if your goal is to minimize any additional harm, and they should only have supported survivors in telling their parents with their consent. Talk to a survivor’s group to confirm, or listen to HELP’s interview on RNZ.

              What Kirton failed on was making sure the support they offered initially was available and that they maintained contact with the survivors in case they asked for additional support to what they initially requested.

            • tracey 2.1.1.3.1.2

              Do not take advice from Collins.

              She doesnt ( apparently)

              Understand conflict of interest despite being a tax lawyer
              Know that leaking private information to a blogger leading to an innocent man getting death threats is wrong
              Know that as a Cabinet Minister you shouldnt use your power to help your husband
              Know that bullying the police to fudge statistics is wrong

              Care about children? Collins would eat them if she thought it would advance her interests

            • Michelle 2.1.1.3.1.3

              They are not kids stigie they are young adults when they go to family planning they don’t ring us up and say by the way your daughter came today and got contraceptive its a no no ( privacy)

        • Stuart Munro 2.1.1.4

          REDUNDANT, adj. Superfluous; needless; _de trop_.

          The Sultan said: “There’s evidence abundant.
          To prove this unbelieving dog redundant.”
          To whom the Grand Vizier, with mien impressive,
          Replied: “His head, at least, appears excessive.”

          ~ Bierce

        • cleangreen 2.1.1.5

          Ad has some merit but here is what I think is going on now.

          https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/03/18/tv-review-qa-jacinda-under-omnishambles-pressure-the-madness-of-the-greens/

          Yes Jacinda was naive here.

          She was ignorant as we see that the National Party has already got their own “operatives” inside her cabinet now as Shane jones (who jioned the National Government as a Pacific Island representative years ago,) has already showed us this.

          We now see when Jacinda is busy signing off TPP or giving money to other countries the national Party “black ops” will strike to damage her.

          My advice to her now is; she needs to take a firm control so all her ministers must step up while she is “absent here”.

          But Jacinda now needs to get real and re-organise her cabinet soon!!!!!

          Because her ministers like Shane jones ” are now failing her sadly as Shane Jones is an arrogant man that will not meet the community groups and pushes his often right wing policies now since his Gisborne “fuck-up speech “when he said “I have not seen any support for rail”!!!!!!!!!

          Is he an idiot??????

          Our community has for a very long time been calling for Winston Peters policy to re-open our rail to be adopted by this labour NZF coalition!!!!!!
          But Shane Jones is appearing to be deaf it seems, and so far is unresponsive to our repeated requests to his office to meet us but still wont meet with us on this.

          Then now National are attacking Ron Marks to now also for using a helicopter so yes right wing attacks are abundant now so jacinda watch your back now.

          Shane Jones needs to be ‘sorted’ by Jacinda now.

      • RedLogix 2.1.2

        It’s 2018 mickey …. women do whatever the fuck they want.

  3. Pat 3

    ‘The government is in disarray!’

    If nothing else the current (and previously employed) strategy of the National Party is exposing its fifth column and cast of useful idiots….sadly, it is effective for a portion a the electorate and has the added ‘bonus’ of repulsing many from political engagement.

    The only effective counter is to get on and improve things for enough of the public to enable re election.

    • Pat 3.1

      P.S.
      …and console ourselves with the knowledge that the Herald will likely disappear from our lives in the not too distant future.

      • Michelle 3.1.1

        agree 100% with Pat also we can see why it wouldn’t be in our best interest for the dom and the herald to join forces, that would be double jeopardy. We know full well who our media favour and during election time the gnats get free lobbying and advertising courtesy of the herald and mediaworks.

  4. red-blooded 4

    I thought the discussion on Media Watch this morning was reasonably balanced. They don’t seem to have a link up – maybe later?

  5. newsense 5

    You say it was the kind of analysis that you would expect from Cameron Slater. Remember that time when there was a bizarrely partisan or some odd column that ran briefly under Heather’s name and then was posted under a different name?

    Anyway this is the headline news on the NZherald site and proof that, as they keep publishing Mike Hosking that they are the official National party opinion site. Did David Cunliffe help a constituent? Don’t apologise after, just don’t be partisan hacks in the first place.

  6. Sparky 6

    Putting all of this aside a better question to address to Labour is do they still think they are a party of the left? After all like it or not its leftist voters who hold the real balance of power.

  7. ropata 7

    It was Todd *Barclay* (not Muller) rumoured to have been secretly recording his staff and then Bill English subsequently helping him out by text bombing her and then quietly sweeping things under the rug, and deleting evidence.

    Also why is the media hunting this story instead of
    a) NZDF lies about Afghanistan
    b) The division of NZ into property owners vs renters that is effectively apartheid
    c) a Chinese company stealing Christchurch’s water supply and bottling it for sale

    [Right you are. Corrected – MS]

    • Venezia 7.1

      Exactly my thinking Ropata.

    • dukeofurl 7.2

      Was more than a ‘rumour’. Bill Englishs statement to police had him saying Barclay told him about recordings and asked him if ‘he wanted to listen to it’

    • Michelle 7.3

      what about Indian brides being abused and no qualified builders on Auckland sites with illegal immigrants found a huge immigration scam. Partly due to the gnats education policies that opened the flood gates and them interfering with market polices to drive down our wages.

      • Philg 7.3.1

        And isn’t it the responsibility of the owner to ensure that their house builders are competent in building a non leaky house, lest it should leak down the track?

  8. Baba Yaga 8

    “Of course the party hierachy should have breached any understandings of confidentiality and told all and sundry.”

    The PM is not ‘all and sundry’. She should have been told. On the other hand, HDPA’s turning this into some internal power play within Labour is total nonsense.

    • dukeofurl 8.1

      She is generating a ‘lead’ that can be followed up with more news stories during the week.
      Wait for the inevitable question to Ardern about a power struggle. Its nonsense but thats how stupid ideas become mainstream- someone has to be a useful idiot

      • Babayaga 8.1.1

        It should only gain traction if there is more to the story than HDPA’s ramblings. Emphasis on SHOULD. Unfortunately baseless innuendo can create a backstory that gains traction.

        • dukeofurl 8.1.1.1

          Yes . Too strange . HPDA isnt even a member of the Press gallery, thats the people who do follow what people are saying around parliament.

          • Incognito 8.1.1.1.1

            Hubby is a Life Member of the Press Gallery. They are still married, aren’t they?

  9. patricia bremner 9

    This is a useful distraction National supporters have used and Duplicity Allen to spread it further.

    In few articles do they mention the well being of the youngsters concerned, as that seems of no concern to them.

    Each time the story is repeated with more details, real and imagined. Now a “Witness” who is talking to the Herald but not the Police?

    The idea of a “split” in the Labour ranks is because National and Duplicity Allen can’t imagine not telling everyone and sundry. So, that is why Jacinda Ardern wasn’t told?
    Really???

    IMO Labour should not talk of it anymore, except to say “the police are looking into it, and we will await the inquiry findings at this juncture, as we have done what the law allows and it is out of our hands now.”

  10. Incognito 10

    So, HDPA wrote a university thesis on ABBA (all-bu-but-Ardern)? Given that she has repeatedly demonstrated that she cannot distinguish fact from fiction and cannot separate personal bias from critical & logical thinking I doubt that she passed with a high thesis grade. Then again, one can always become a tabloid writer for NZH …

  11. JM 11

    “Of course the party hierachy should have breached any understandings of confidentiality and told all and sundry.”

    If the Young Labour adult organisers of the event who kicked out the alleged 20yr old he day after the incident, then agreed not to communicate with police or the victims’ parents – is the communication with Andrew Kirton four days after the incident not a breach of the same confidential understandings they claim for not telling the Prime Minister?

    • dukeofurl 11.1

      So you know personally exactly what level of confidentiality they were promised ?

      Or you ‘have heard’ what they were told ?
      ‘Police and parents’ seems a particular group that werent told.

      • JM 11.1.1

        “So you know personally exactly what level of confidentiality they were promised ?”

        Nope, do you?

        It’s a genuine attempt to understand where the so-called “understandings of confidentiality” lines were drawn and/or breached.

        Seems weird that in the cold-light-of-day after an ugly incident like this, four 16yo victims raised the sexual assault matter with whichever adult organiser(s) were on-site the next morning. If, as has been reported by Kirton, the same victims were NOT keen to disclose the incident to a “wider circle” i.e. parents and police, why was that same adult circle widened to include him FOUR DAYS after the fact. He was clearly NOT one of the adults they confided in on-site.

  12. Tracey 12

    How come John Key could not remember things for 9 years and it was pretty much okee dokee by the media etc, Ardern isn’t told something and the world is ending.

    Constantly forgetting important matters of government and public interest is much worse than not having been told about it at all.

    • dukeofurl 12.1

      Key was very matey with all the commentators, calling them all the time on the phone, offering tips, gossip, spinning stories.
      You name it, but they almost never gave the game away as ‘coming from JKs lips’

  13. JustPassingThrough 13

    Well one instance is not enough to prove a conspiracy as opposed to simple idiocy and incompetence. But if a pattern emerges of Labour party officials dropping the PM in the crap then you have to start to wonder. Correct?

  14. adam 14

    Definition of crass
    1 a : gross 2a; especially : having or indicating such grossness of mind as precludes delicacy and discrimination
    b : being beneath one’s dignity crass concerns of daily life
    c —used as a pejorative intensifier crass flatterycrass propaganda
    2 : guided by or indicative of base or materialistic values crass commercialism crass measures of success
    3: Du Plessis-Allan

  15. Kat 15

    This weekends MSM lead lines:
    “PM made to look like chump”
    “this already weak govt”
    “power struggle in Labour”
    “one of the quirks of the Labour party”
    “Winston Peters out of control”
    “greens do deal with national”
    “Labours honeymoon is over”

    And so the ramping up is ramping up…………..

  16. dev 16

    What a ridiculous thing to say. Why on earth would Haworth want to bring down Jacinda? What purpose would that possibly serve?

    Also, I’m fairly sure he doesn’t unilaterally set rules for the Party and the MPs. Nor does he discipline MPs.

    She has to know that none of this is plausible. I’m kinda curious to have a look at this 11,000 thesis on the Labour Party she wrote. Is it online anywhere?

    • rightly or wrongly 16.1

      Well, thinking hypothetically, say that proposition was correct you would have to ask who would benefit?

      Ardern holds the position as PM and leader of Labour so presumably the conspirators would be either wanting to assume these positions for themselves or for someone they support. (I can’t imagine anyone conspiring to be able to replace her as Minister of Children)

      Given that her public profile is likely the only reason why Labour is in Government it would seem somewhat foolhardy to turf her out.

      I think it is a bit far fetched. The old adage, ‘Never ascribe to malice what can be explained by incompetence’ rings true.

      The only possible credence is whether factions within Labour are crystal ball gazing and are jostling for position in the event that for some reason (medical/life choice) Ardern decides not to return to politics after giving birth.

      In this unlikely eventuality then there would be indeed be ructions around who would replace her and how would this affect the coalition government.

    • Incognito 16.2

      I’m afraid not as only Masters and PhD theses must be deposited in the Auckland University Library. So, unless HDPA makes her Honours thesis publically available it will be lost to mankind.

      At first, I was also interested in her thesis but I’ve now changed my mind; I can do better things with my time than reading 11,000 words written by HDPA – I even refuse to read her tabloids in the NZ Herald.

  17. Pete 17

    I too have a thesis. It doesn’t run to 11,000 words, only 51.

    “Opinions are neither right nor wrong but merely personal views and the act of them being published is no measure of their value, sense or reasonableness.

    Many of the nearly five million people in New Zealand are old enough to have opinions. Heather Du Plessis-Allan is just one of those.”

    • AB 17.1

      Pete
      Could I please add another 19 words?
      “And there is no reason why her opinions should be published in preference to yours, mine or anyone else’s”

    • Carolyn_Nth 17.2

      ex- Auckland University students statements:

      Heather du Plessis-Allan, Journalist

      “I loved studying Political Science so much so that other subjects were dull by comparison. I loaded my degree with as many Political Studies papers as I could find that would give me not only a major, but also a minor and a third subject. That turned out to be a good choice because it was while studying politics that I finally decided on a career in the media. I believe my study of media politics has given me the skills to analyse and question not only my stories but also my industry. When I’m writing a story I find that one of my yard sticks is whether my former lecturers would approve.”

      Oh dear.

    • tracey 17.3

      I heard another version of this

      Opinions are like arseholes. We all have one.

  18. mikeyapples 18

    Totally sick of opinion pieces by her and Hoskings being given literally top of the page placement over news. Surely this transparent click bait/bias is grounds for a press standards complaint. Any advice out there? I am sick of this shit in the Herald and would love to stick them up one over this crap.

    • tc 18.1

      Exactly and wtf is Curran through all of this dirty politics 2.0.

      Thought she was tasked with toughening this space up, its not too hard if you mandate such words as OPINION and ADVERTISING as bold headings for non factual pieces.

      These shills need bells around their necks for the sheeples benefit to assist in digesting an owned media.

      • tracey 18.1.1

        Are you advocating censorship? Surely all Curran coukd do is speed up funding into public broadcasting? Mind you they could reintroducing the Charter?

        • tc 18.1.1.1

          I’m advocating that factual pieces are identifiable so any errors in them can be pursued.

          If it’s a rant opinion piece, advertorial, postulation then it should state as much so it can be treated as such i.e. non factual.

          Public broadcasting is a part of the clean up however you ignore this type of deliberate positioning , casually passed an item off as if it’s factual, at your peril if truth’s a valued commodity.

          • Wensleydale 18.1.1.1.1

            So anything authored by Hosking, Hawkesby, Soper or du-Plessis Allan would be tagged ‘hyperbolic nonsense’, ‘delusional conspiracy theory’ or ‘further evidence of profound mental illness and/or the abuse of psychotropic drugs’?

      • Carolyn_Nth 18.1.2

        Curran appointed a digital advisory group this week. Some on the left that don’t rate Curran that much, were pleasantly surprised by the line up.

        Clare Curran announced the first eight members of the Digital Economy and Digital Inclusion Advisory Group today.

        “This Government wants to see every New Zealander able to participate fully in our society and it’s clear that our future will be a digital-rich world. The economy and everyday interactions will be increasingly driven or supported by digital technology,” says Ms Curran.

        The government can’t stop and bark at every passing car. Labour did well in managing the Labour Youth camp failings.

        Someone from the government needed to step up about the Operation Burnham lies and cover ups.

  19. Lloyd 19

    Surely this story is the perfect example of a Cambridge Analytica meme. If you haven,t followed this story in The Guardian on-line, I urge you to check it out.

    You might also want to delete your Facebook account while you are cancelling your Herald subscription.

  20. Venezia 20

    Has The Herald exposed the long standing sexual misconduct of Russell McVeagh and other big law firms to this degree? It is interesting that a journalist trained to Honours level can produce such unsubstantiated click bait, ignore the advice given after consultation with sexual abuse support groups, and make opinionated statements about relationships of Labour hierarchy. Would her lecturers approve??

  21. Peter 21

    What I want to know is who finances Du-Plessis-Allen to write her typical nonsense in MSM. Clearly she is someones puppet.

  22. Delia 22

    This column was one of the most childishly written, I think I have read in 48 years of reading newspaper social commentary and that is really saying something.

  23. UpandComer 23

    Why wasn’t Ardern told? If we believe she didn’t know, why wasn’t she told Labour had resided over the sexual assault and intoxication of underage girls, then did nothing except for utter banalities about covering it up ‘for the victims sake?’. Looks like the feminist air has gone out of that particular bilge.

  24. Michelle 24

    she ( Jacinda) could have done a jhonkey and said ‘I cant recall’ many dumb dumb kiwis had no problem with that line

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    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
    8 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
    9 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
    10 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
    11 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
    13 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 ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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
    8 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
    9 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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