Ernst and Young should investigate Cameron Brewer

Written By: - Date published: 7:46 am, December 20th, 2013 - 240 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, len brown - Tags: ,

Cameron Brewer has been touted as a potential National MP for Epsom and also possibly the next Mayoral candidate for the right in Auckland.  He has also spearheaded the attacks on Len, particularly over Len’s failure to disclose the complimentary hotel nights and upgrades that he received.

Brewer also criticised Len over his trip to Hong Kong at the beginning of the year.  Specifically Brewer noted that the trip ought to have been declared and noted the requirement that “[the] Mayor and councillors must make an annual return of interests, including: “Contributions to travel costs made by third parties to a member and the value of the contribution’”.

But it appears that Brewer has his own difficulty to deal with.  He apparently forgot to declare a freebie trip given to him by Mediaworks.

From the Herald:

Auckland councillor Cameron Brewer, who has been baying for Mayor Len Brown’s blood for not declaring gifts, has admitted not declaring a four-day junket to the Gold Coast.

Mr Brewer yesterday admitted taking free air tickets and accommodation paid for by MediaWorks, which runs TV3.

The right-wing councillor said he made a declaration of interests in 2011, but not in 2012, which would cover the period he went to Queensland.

The 2012 declaration of interests shows that Mr Brown and just nine of the 20 councillors filed returns.

Mr Brewer and Dick Quax, who yesterday said “unless the council code of conduct has any kind of meaning there has to be serious consequences”, were among the 11 councillors not to file a return.

And on the subject of gift returns on morning report today Dick Quax admitted not filing returns for 2011 or 2012.

What is that word starting with H?

240 comments on “Ernst and Young should investigate Cameron Brewer ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Philj 1
    20 December 2013 at 7:49 am

    Ha ha hypocracy.

    • Tom Gould 1.1
      20 December 2013 at 8:22 am

      A monumental hypocrite, up there on his high horse. And turns out Theodorus Jacobus Leonardus “Dick” Quax is no different having failed to file his 2012 return. What freebies has he enjoyed?

      • ghostwhowalksnz 1.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 9:42 am

        So you are saying he Quax likes a duck, but stays on his well feathered nest when it comes to a coverup ?

        • David H 1.1.1.1
          20 December 2013 at 10:34 am

          I saw Quax on Brekkie TV this morning, trying to look all righteous and failing. And as for Christine Fletcher, well she was a case of ‘We can’t fire Len, so we need to look at changing the rules’ Typical right wing logic.

      • Linz 1.1.2
        20 December 2013 at 1:13 pm

        In Quaxs’ words, “this is deja vu all over again.”

  2. Philj 2
    20 December 2013 at 7:58 am

    Is there any honest politicians in New Zealand? Seriously. Are there any decent folks that would consider entering the dirty snake pit of NZ politics?

    • BevanJS 2.1
      21 December 2013 at 8:56 am

      Yes, it seems the desire to be a politician often comes with some less than helpful personality traits. Too much entitlement and not enough service.

  3. Colonial Viper 3
    20 December 2013 at 8:00 am

    Time to come clean, Cameron. What else are you hiding? Was this just a one off mistake, or a pattern we can expect to see from you in public office?

  4. bad12 4
    20 December 2013 at 8:13 am

    The English language fails to supply adjectives which would serve to describe the behavior of Auckland Councilors such as Brewer,

    Pathetic Hypocrites comes close, attempting to cane the Mayor for not declaring ‘gifts’ while conveniently forgetting to declare their own noses having been firmly lodged in the ‘gift’ trough makes them and their political futures a laughing stock,

    These people have no shame, playing their pathetic little political games at the expense of the Auckland rate-payers who were ripped off yesterday by the Hypocrites as they debated Len Brown all day while they were supposed to be debating the Auckland City budget…

    • amirite 4.1
      20 December 2013 at 8:25 am

      It’s time to reach for the Urban Dictionary then:

      1. hypocracy
      What Democracy turns into when all of the politicians in your country are liars.

      When no party/President that wins the election manages to keep its/his own ideology, and instead, keeps changing it every time it/he feels like it, that’s no democracy. That’s hypocracy.

      2. hypocracy
      A democracy governed by hypocrites.
      The British government advocates moral standards to which it does not conform. Britain’s political system is therefore a hypocracy.

      3. hypocracy
      a political environment characterised by reduced and limited scope of state control of personal behaviour

      From hypo- “below normal” and -cracy “a type of government”. Coined from a misspelling of hypocrisy (claiming moral standards to which one does not conform). See also hypercracy

      4. Hypocracy
      a Democracy where most voters are dumber than a flatworm.
      .

      5. hypocracy
      Demanding that others live up to standards that you will not live up to.

      Railing against a law or situation that has brought you many personal benefits.

    • Paul 4.3
      20 December 2013 at 11:52 am

      And they refuse to pay their workers the living wage.
      Hypocrites and sociopaths.

  5. you_fool 5
    20 December 2013 at 8:14 am

    The stupid thing about all this is that if everyone just declared their freebies no one would care, no one would probably notice…

  6. Tracey 6
    20 December 2013 at 8:25 am

    Nothing to see here. You are all just deflecting for len brown. Their non declarations are different.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 6.1
      20 December 2013 at 8:32 am

      Yes its different all right

      Just as its different when Whale Oil cheats on his wife:

      Just as its different when then Mayor John Banks lies about his anonymous election donors.

      Just as when its different when Cameron Brewer goes on a secret trip to the GC

      • Rob 6.1.1
        23 December 2013 at 1:41 pm

        Whale Oil is not an elected official, lets so who is behind the 270K+ doantions in Len Browns election trust account and now we know that that Brewers trip wasn’t so secret.

        Try again.

        • gobsmacked 6.1.1.1
          23 December 2013 at 2:04 pm

          So Rob, do you think that all these secret trust accounts should be opened up?

          Including National’s?

  7. Tracey 7
    20 December 2013 at 8:28 am

    This whole thing, imo, now ownns up the private lives of our public figures as so called fair game. Brewer admitted nothing he merely confirmed what others discovered. If it hadnt been published a few days ago he would never have declared it. By not declaring he and quax must be saying its the sex not the non declarations that upset them so. By that logic they must be happy for all public figures lives to be scrutinised. Is rubbish bag rummaging time for nz?

    • deemac 7.1
      20 December 2013 at 10:26 am

      London seems to cope with Boris Johnson’s numerous affairs. How is it anyone’s business but his wife’s?

    • Morrissey 7.2
      20 December 2013 at 12:27 pm

      Brewer admitted nothing he merely confirmed what others discovered.

      That must be the stupidest sentence published on the entire internet this year.

      • Tracey 7.2.1
        20 December 2013 at 1:36 pm

        why?

        admit = reveal, make known, disclose, divulge, make public, avow, declare, profess, own up to, make a clean breast of, bring into the open, bring to light, give away, blurt out.

        confirm = To support or establish the certainty or validity of; verify

        Which do you think Brewer did?

  8. Tracey 8
    20 December 2013 at 8:33 am

    For all the criticism some have of the greens perhaps its their integrity that galls the right. Jeanette fitzsimmons integrity and ability to focus on the ball not the player set a standard in that party. I recall many debates where off the ball stuff was going on and she would stand up and speak to the issue. Its possible but more convenient for many to tell themselves honesty and integrity is too hard to expect in politics. I call bullshit on that. It always comes back to character.

    • Tinfoilhat 8.1
      20 December 2013 at 11:29 am

      Very true Tracey it’s so sad that we don’t have many (any) politicians like Jeanette or Rob Donald about these days.

      • Tracey 8.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 11:33 am

        and yet so many say they want more, but they choose illusury self financial interest over integrity. many have been doing it since the 80’s and are still waiting for the trickle down…

        do the same thing expecting a different outcome = insane

  9. Rosie 9
    20 December 2013 at 8:35 am

    Cameron Brewer. I’m sure he used to work in a suit shop in Newmarket in the early 90’s when I was living in Akld and working also in Newmarket. He used to strut about the place with an inflated sense of his own self importance if I recall correctly. So nothing has changed perhaps.

    Yes, the hypocrisy is stunning. Those right wing councillors are getting really frothy and absurdly moralistic. (Quax, a winner yet again with his display of moral outrage, give the man a medal)

    .

    • ghostwhowalksnz 9.1
      20 December 2013 at 9:39 am

      Brewer worked in Banks mayoral office as ‘highly paid spin doctor’ – this was during Banks first mayoral term.

      So the idea of the mayor having his own advisors/ spin doctors isnt new. Even then he was a partisan slogger, as he was reprimanded for being a loud mouth at a election meeting while on the council payroll.

      So once he was out of a job when Banks was defeated the first time, he landed in Rodney Hides electorate office.
      After that came the stint as the Secretary of the Newmarket Business Association , a council funded organisation pushing Newmarkets barrow. So his contacts as a suit salesman came in handy.

      He wasnt posh enough first time around for the CR team so stood on his own for a spot on the Super City Council, and won handily.

      • Rosie 9.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 10:44 am

        I do remember the Banks link and definitely the role at the Newmarket business Association.

        Apparently he was a former journalist:

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Brewer

        I was sure it was him that used to manage some high end suit store, or men’s clothing store or something. It’s possible he did that while he was studying journalism. The name and face definitely go a long way back. Anyway, not important.

        Whats important is that he gets held to account – equally, otherwise it’s case of the pot calling the kettle black.

    • Cemetery Jones 9.2
      20 December 2013 at 9:43 am

      Sounds about right. Back in his days working for Banksie, Brewer was a customer at a shop I worked in. His contempt for those in lower stations of life was palpable. Say what you want about those old money customers, they knew your name and liked you to know theirs, asked how your studies were going and so on (fair few Nat bigwigs and media/pr industry tories among them). Not for him, though – pure white spite at all times. I remembered thinking he’s the kind of asshole who can only go far in life.

      • Rosie 9.2.1
        20 December 2013 at 10:51 am

        Interesting observation you made at the time CJ re going far in life.

        Lol, yes, I know those Remmers and Epsom customers. The only time I had anyone look down their nose at me for being a shop girl was when I was working in Naymaaarkay. Not all the wealthy show their contempt though. Some can be pleasant and well mannered and have a degree of humility about themselves. This makes a difference in the way they relate to others of a different status to them.

      • William 9.2.2
        20 December 2013 at 11:44 am

        There’s a story in this morning’s DomPost about the graduation of the latest wing of recruits from the Police College which has a lovely quote from one of the graduates.

        “I was talking to my old man back when I was living in Palmy, and he said he’d rather live a life of value than a life of success – and that thought stuck with me ever since.”

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/9537600/Olympian-joins-police-force

    • Tracey 9.3
      20 December 2013 at 11:35 am

      Saks?

  10. vto 10
    20 December 2013 at 8:37 am

    How on earth can these cheating sleaze bags accept gifts from corporates like SkyCity and make decisions about SkyCity at the same time?

    They fucking can’t.

    They are corrupt.

    • Anne 10.1
      20 December 2013 at 9:00 am

      They fucking can’t.

      Yes they can.

      They take the freebies/perks/gifts/upgrades and park the memory of them in a little box inside their brain. Then they make decisions/announcements and park them in another little memory box inside their brain. Two separate boxes and one bears no relation to the other. It’s a kind of memory denial that seems to afflict politicians in particular. When someone comes along and accuses them of taking bribes/gifts etc. they genuinely believe it isn’t true.

      We’ve seen a perfect example with John Banks. Still doesn’t believe he did anything wrong over the Kim Dotcom affair.

      • vto 10.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 9:48 am

        Well, yes, they can in that context i.e. it is possible to do.

        What should have been stated is “they fucking shouldn’t”

        It is corruption

    • grumpy 10.2
      20 December 2013 at 10:07 am

      Not relevant. Unfortunately the Auckland City Council have now set the bar very low. No matter what you do, it seems you only get a wet bus ticket – unless you are an employee, of course.
      What’s the point in investigating anything when there is precedent like that?

  11. karol 11
    20 December 2013 at 8:56 am

    Cameron Brwer says:

    Mr Brewer apologised but said it was not in the same league as Mr Brown’s $39,000 undeclared hotel use and there was certainly no intent to try and obstruct the process.

    Oh, so a little corruption is OK. But this:

    Mr Brewer yesterday admitted taking free air tickets and accommodation paid for by MediaWorks, which runs TV3.

    Mr Brewer selling himself to the MSM?

    • gobsmacked 11.1
      20 December 2013 at 9:12 am

      Perhaps one of the many contributors we’ve seen commenting here over the past few days could now tell us the exact amount that has to be declared, under their ironclad “it’s only ever about Len Brown, nobody else” rule.

      I’ve asked them consistently, and never had a response – is it resignations for many, or for none?

      You guys know who you are, you’ve been all over the Standard this past week, now tell us where you stand. On principle, or not?

    • Tigger 11.2
      20 December 2013 at 9:35 am

      Yep, what did he give in return ? Access? Information?

    • Tracey 11.3
      20 December 2013 at 10:56 am

      not “admitted” but confirmed. I am sick of the media having proof of something hidden by someone and having the grace to put it to them before publishing and then describing it as “admitted”. Brewer, Brown etc have admitted nothing. They have confirmed the facts not admitted them.

    • Colonial Viper 11.4
      20 December 2013 at 11:48 am

      MediaWorks is a very nice NAT friendly corporate.

  12. lprent 12
    20 December 2013 at 9:01 am

    Cameron Brewer (and others) should now be fully and closely audited to find out what exactly they haven’t been declaring.

    Since he and Dick Quax feel it is important (for Len Brown to do so), they should also *pay* for the audit.

    After all this is a fiscal and transparency issue.

    Or are Brewer and Quax merely perverts more interested in wet dicks?

    • BevanJS 12.1
      21 December 2013 at 9:19 am

      Pay Cameron Slater to be the Council’s internal auditor – he’ll approach the investigation with a high amount of focus.

      • lprent 12.1.1
        23 December 2013 at 9:06 am

        Problem is that he’d also ignore accounting principles and the actual legal position to make a piss-poor story. He’d ignore anything dodgy done by a “mate”.

        Not to mention his view on transparency is strictly one way. For some strange reason his own sources of funding are quite murky. Probably because those funding him don’t want to have it known what campaigns and vendettas that pay for.

        But mostly it would be a bad idea because he is a bit of a stupid dipshit who is more interested in destructive behaviour than anything useful. Ask his family and friends

  13. appleboy 13
    20 December 2013 at 9:06 am

    Surely a bunch of wailing banshees should now be planning to trail Brewer the hypocrit. Where’s BM and all those right whingers now…what will they have to say..

  14. ianmac 14
    20 December 2013 at 9:08 am

    Would Brewer and Quax have signed up for the Hypocratic Oath of Allegience? They certainly appear to have done so. 😈

  15. Huginn 15
    20 December 2013 at 9:08 am

    motes eyes beams . . . glass houses
    How did these muppets not see ths coming?????!!!!!!

    • gobsmacked 15.1
      20 December 2013 at 9:21 am

      Because they relied on Media Works not breaking a story about them (that’s TV3, Radio Live etc), and they were right. They relied on Radio NZ being wimps, and TVNZ being uninterested in news at all. They relied on predictable Brown-obsessives like Newstalk ZB turning a blind eye.

      All correct.

      But they also relied on the Herald backing its editorial stance to the extent of ignoring all journalism. Thankfully, they were wrong. The Herald is a rag, but it still – occasionally – prints the news. Crumbs of comfort, but that’s what we’re reduced to in the media these days.

  16. Grumpy 16
    20 December 2013 at 9:13 am

    E&Y were needed because Len denied any undeclared gifts. I think the AG should do a thorough investigation of all the elected officials, that way we would find out all those, like Len, who are still hiding something.
    I would sign a petition for that.

    • gobsmacked 16.1
      20 December 2013 at 9:23 am

      Grumpy

      Would you agree that any MP who voted for the Sky City deal, and accepted gifts from Sky City, should –

      – declare?
      – resign?

      • grumpy 16.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 9:56 am

        Should declare. From memory, that includes Shearer and Goff – and a few more hypocritical Labour MPs.

      • RedLogix 16.1.2
        20 December 2013 at 10:47 am

        I think the problem has arisen because there is a difference between a specific gift and a routine commercial ‘freebie, upgrade or discount’ because the media has been deliberately glossed over for the purposes of smearing Len Brown.

        Having said that all this bs demonstrates that it pays to err on the side of caution and declare everything.

        Now does that mean declaring that tenth free latte you got on your cafe loyalty card.
        Where does this stop?

    • Tracey 16.2
      20 December 2013 at 10:57 am

      it should be done regularly as sadly too many elected officials see accountability for our money as nothing important.

      Only winner out of all this is E and Y and their horrendous billing system

  17. karol 17
    20 December 2013 at 9:14 am

    I see the NZ Herald has printed a little factual, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it article on Brewer – seeming to present themselves as “balanced”. meanwhile they do another editorial bashing Len Brown.

    Brewer isn’t the only hypocrite.

  18. Puckish Rogue 18
    20 December 2013 at 9:25 am

    I’m so pleased our politicians are as bad as each other…no wait it sucks balls that our politicians are so untrustworthy

  19. yeshe 19
    20 December 2013 at 9:32 am

    Brown’s ‘gifts’ were hotel room upgrades, on rooms he or his family paid for, according to E&Y.

    Brewer’s seems worse to me .. it really was free travel and free hotel, a real no-cost junket — seems qualitatively worse to me for his non declaration. And the ‘book’ costs of Brewer’s two business or first class fares plus 5 star accomms for four days in GC ? Would be coming close to half of Brown’s total amount in one hit.

    And what else is not yet declared by him ?

    HYPOCRITE. And shame on the Herald for running it in as tiny a way as possible.

    • Bearded Git 19.1
      20 December 2013 at 10:12 am

      Agreed. There is considerable debate as to how Len’s upgrades should be valued if indeed thay have any monetary value at all. Who counts it as income in their own mind when they are upgraded from cattle-class to business?

      E and Y should have made this plain in their report-rather odd that they didn’t……

  20. captain hook 20
    20 December 2013 at 9:37 am

    Yes its obvious he uses far too much soap.

  21. RedLogix 21
    20 December 2013 at 9:44 am

    The distinction I have drawn all along here is the difference between ‘freebies and upgrades’ that are part of a businesses normal pricing and marketing strategy – and specific gifts that appear to be one-offs given to an individual well outside of normal business routine.

    Len Brown’s defence is simply that the Sky City and other hotel discounts were just that – volume or loyalty based discounts based on the fact that he was a valuable customer. That sort of thing is normal, routine and absolutely ubiquitous commercial practice everywhere.

    But frankly I’d be interested to see quite how a four day trip to the GC from MediaWorks quite falls into that category.

  22. grumpy 22
    20 December 2013 at 9:58 am

    Come on, lets all push for a full AG investigation. So we cover everyone, lets start at the top and work down. I think that’s what everyone wants.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 22.1
      20 December 2013 at 10:02 am

      Start with Whitechapel and Aldgate.

      • grumpy 22.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 10:39 am

        Too obscure for me…..

        • s y d 22.1.1.1
          20 December 2013 at 10:51 am

          theres none so blind as cannot see

        • yeshe 22.1.1.2
          20 December 2013 at 1:46 pm

          grumpy — they are the names Shonkey chose for his blind trusts that hold all his shareholdings etc while he is pm … ( though I think from his suggestion, OAK would agree that Shonkey probably has more seeing-eye dogs working for him than most blind trusts would allow !!)

        • the pigman 22.1.1.3
          20 December 2013 at 11:05 pm

          Too obscure? C’mon grumpy it’s you that keeps referencing 14 Tawa Drive (whatever that is).

          They are the names of blind trusts that own, inter alia, the winery that Key doesn’t know that he owns, which produces the wine which he coincidentally provides to business associates as gifts.

          They are also adjacent stops on London’s District Line (well technically Whitechapel and Aldgate East, but Aldgate ain’t too far away).

    • RedLogix 22.2
      20 December 2013 at 10:06 am

      No – I’ve always argued that unless there were potential issues of criminality, proven compromise or gross hypocrisy – then private should remain private.

      Mainly because when we start doing witch-hunts the results are always selective and asymmetric; eg Len Brown gets to be the crime of the century while Brewer is a forgettable few paras.

      The hypothetical alternative is to dismantle entirely the notion of privacy completely. For everyone. Get rid of the selectivity and asymmetry. No-one really minds being naked in a room full of naked people.

      • grumpy 22.2.1
        20 December 2013 at 10:12 am

        “No-one really minds being naked in a room full of naked people.”

        Really? is there something we need to know 🙂

        • RedLogix 22.2.1.1
          20 December 2013 at 10:17 am

          You should try it sometime….

          • grumpy 22.2.1.1.1
            20 December 2013 at 10:35 am

            Man, I went to varsity late ’60s early 70’s – what do you think?
            Mind you, I was a leftie then……………….

          • grumpy 22.2.1.1.2
            20 December 2013 at 10:40 am

            Man, I was at varsity late ’60s early 70’s – what do you think?
            Mind you, I was a leftie then!

            • mac1 22.2.1.1.2.1
              20 December 2013 at 10:56 am

              Trendy leftie,eh, grumpy? I was a student in those times, but I was left right out when it came to the swinging sixties.

              • grumpy …
                20 December 2013 at 11:04 am

                Back in those days, it was the lefties who had all the fun. How times have changed.

                • mac1 …
                  20 December 2013 at 11:11 am

                  I dunno. The Young Nats club at Uni had a yearly party that was almost obligatory to gate crash, being so well endowed with nubile champagne and tasty flutes. 🙂

                  If I remember correctly……… it was so long ago……

                  • grumpy …
                    20 December 2013 at 11:13 am

                    True, guilty of that myself. As a member of PYM at the time, I normally mixed in different strata. Who could forget the Anarchist Army etc?

          • David H 22.2.1.1.3
            20 December 2013 at 10:50 am

            It’s the great leveler.

  23. Seti 23
    20 December 2013 at 10:07 am

    The difference is Brewer hasn’t saddled ratepayers with the enormous cost of thoroughly disinfecting the Ngati Whatua room.

    • gobsmacked 23.1
      20 December 2013 at 10:11 am

      And … we’re back to sex again.

      Your goalposts move quicker than in a gale at old Athletic Park.

      • grumpy 23.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 10:13 am

        What’s wrong with sex? You lefties atre a puritanical bunch – except Redlogix, of course.

        • RedLogix 23.1.1.1
          20 December 2013 at 10:21 am

          Yeah – that kind of dirty minded, school-boy sniggering from Seti is just plain tragic.

          • grumpy 23.1.1.1.1
            20 December 2013 at 11:12 am

            Hey, you’re the one skiting about rooms full of naked people…..
            We are, we are, we are, we are the…………
            Ring any bells?

          • Seti 23.1.1.1.2
            20 December 2013 at 11:51 am

            It wasn’t so much sniggering, more like sneering metaphorically at the Detroit-like path the clown is taking us down.

        • The Pink Postman 23.1.1.2
          20 December 2013 at 3:07 pm

          Grumpy.
          Nothing wrong in being faithful to the person you love. I’m a lefty and puritanical meaning my wife trusts me and has done for nearly 60 years , Nothing wrong in that Grumpy , and I also bet I’m a lot more broadminded than you are.

    • Tracey 23.2
      20 December 2013 at 11:00 am

      sex matters but corruption doesnt, you sound like a true blue british tory

  24. Tigger 24
    20 December 2013 at 10:10 am

    Clearly there is an issue with reporting and declaring of expenses in this council. Brown failed to declare, Brewer etc failed to report. Wider issue is accountability and time to fix that.

    • grumpy 24.1
      20 December 2013 at 10:15 am

      Agree. Unfortunately the precedent has been set. If the Council cannot deal with obvious corruption and it seems widespread, then it’s either an AG investigation or appoint commissioners.

      • Tracey 24.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 11:02 am

        over priced over charging commissioners who favour the appointer. Yup, that sounds like the way to stop supposed corruption.

        politicians who think that money and gifts they get are of no importance need to be gone for lack of intellectual capacity, includng Brown, Quax, Brewer et al.

        • grumpy 24.1.1.1
          20 December 2013 at 11:03 am

          So it’s the AG for you then?

          • Tracey 24.1.1.1.1
            20 December 2013 at 11:06 am

            culprits resign for a start, brown, quax etc… rather spend my money on a new postal ballot than fucking Ag and E and Y and the plethora of bloody over priced consultants.

            • grumpy 24.1.1.1.1.1
              20 December 2013 at 11:09 am

              …but ACC have set the standard now. Deny, don’t resign but if your pushed just give a half hearted apology and you’re OK.

              • Tracey …
                20 December 2013 at 11:27 am

                really? Brewer and Quax havent resigned despite being so adamant yesterday that not declaring gifts was abhorrent. Brown doesn’t appear to give a shit, which is at least consistent. But those two, what has stopped them resigning this morning? They’re all a disgrace, every one of them

              • amirite …
                20 December 2013 at 7:19 pm

                Thanks to Rodney Hide’s grand plan which was meant to install Banksie as a mayor till the day he croaks.

    • Tracey 24.2
      20 December 2013 at 11:03 am

      yup. sadly the only way to fix is to pay expensive bastards to audit regularly and that’s borne by the ratepayer. Easier is to vote for people with integrity, if you can work out who they are. John key has been regularly lying his way through the PM’ship, monkey see, monkey do

  25. Adrian 25
    20 December 2013 at 11:39 am

    And Fletcher has to go to, a lifetime of living on the proceeds of price gouging and corrupt monopolistic practices.
    Back to sex and the fascination with my post yesterday about the Cab minister and the boy friend all I can say is, with apologies to The Washington Post.
    ” Follow the tie “.

  26. grumpy 26
    20 December 2013 at 11:56 am

    Looks like more to come out about Len than I even dreamed of. Looks like the plan was larger than thought, taking down Len was secondary to destroying the reputation of Left wing journalists who were sucked in to defend him and the left councillors who fell for the same.
    “I can’t believe that Len Brown would just flat out lie like that. He knows what was omitted from the EY report. He knows that there isn’t just Bevan Chuang, he knows the state he left the hotel rooms in, he knows how the books were made and how the upgrades were obtained, he knows what went on behind curtains in the swanky harbour side hotel restaurant….he knows there is much, much more to come out.”

    Popcorn………………….

    • Tracey 26.1
      20 December 2013 at 12:03 pm

      you quoted but didnt name the person speaking or where from. Please do so.

      • grumpy 26.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 12:12 pm

        who do you think????

        • BLiP 26.1.1.1
          20 December 2013 at 12:18 pm

          ‘

          Jason Ede working on behalf of John Key and National Ltd™ working out its frustrated rage at not being about to loot the Auckland Council asset base after Rodney Hide carefully laid down means to do so but were foiled by pesky voters exercising that dreadful democracy?

        • Tracey 26.1.1.2
          20 December 2013 at 12:35 pm

          it isnt hard to guess where you got it from given you simply refuse to apply your current crusading principle evenly across the entire political spectrum

          • grumpy 26.1.1.2.1
            20 December 2013 at 1:03 pm

            What do you mean? I am very consistent, anyone found guilty (not just political opinion) should suffer the consequences. Unfortunately with the ACC, those consequences are not great.

            • Tracey 26.1.1.2.1.1
              20 December 2013 at 3:54 pm

              can you point to your posts raging for brewe, quax et al resignations?

              • Grumpy …
                20 December 2013 at 4:46 pm

                What can be more consistent that wanting a full AG investigation from the top down?

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  20 December 2013 at 6:48 pm

                  …but pleading ignorance of John Key’s corrupt arrangements? Well, you look disingenuous to me. And partisan. And grasping at straws. Or perhaps just like a dupe.

  27. fender 27
    20 December 2013 at 12:12 pm

    Ha ha ha ,

    Think before you stink Cameron Brewer, if that’s possible. Is it just coincidence you have more than a passing resemblance to John Banks?

  28. bad12 28
    20 December 2013 at 12:28 pm

    Perhaps now that Cameron Brewer has been ‘outed’ as a hypocrite no better than those He tosses accusations at, Dick might also care to ‘Quack’ on the matter seeing as it would seem that He also ‘failed’ to declare any ‘gifts’

    In reality besides Dick Quacking, perhaps the Auckland Council would like to convene a Kangaroo Court containing the same ferocity as that which the Hypocrites used to chastise the Mayor,

    On reflection tho, lest the multitude of calls for various resignations leave said Council without a quorum they all might like to consider a Truth and Revelations meeting where ALL those who failed to declare anything in the nature of a gift can confess receive absolution,(preferably after a severe flogging), and then get on with the business of helping the Mayor run the fucking City…

  29. xtasy 29
    20 December 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Yes, investigate Brewer, Quak Quak Quax and the lot!

    The ROT sits deep in Auckland Council, it seems, and now at least we can call it one all! And this case with Cameron Brewer shows so nicely, how these persons in politics, are all tied up with various commercial and corporate media!

    This is why democracy in NZ has become a farce. As discussed under other topics, it seems it is rather the media that runs campaigns and ultimately determines who becomes government, mayor or whatever.

    This should get more people worried. Listen to Paul Henry on Radio Live, who is doing the “Drive Show” for Duncan Garner at present, and the bias of also mostly right leaning journalists, moderators and talk back hosts becomes totally apparent. Listen to Sean Plunket, and he makes no damned secret, where his political preferences lie. Listen to Hosking on 1ZB, who will soon host 7 Sharp, and you can hear and see what his views are.

    Even Marcus Lush comes across more biased by the month and year. Susan Wood, whether at times on 1ZB in the mornings, and at other times doing Q+A for TVNZ, is equally biased towards the National led government. These are just some, who at least on radio bluntly show their personal views.

    That is not “balanced reporting”. So Cameron Brewer gets perks from Mediaworks, which is a company that also got treated favourably by Steven Joyce and this government. It was also largely the mainstream media that paved the way for John Key to succeed and become PM in 2008, running a real charm offensive for the man and his party!

    And we know that investigative journalism is dead. Read the stuff on the Herald Online, and see what “columnists” they have left, even one Bob Jones and a Rodney Hide! Little information is offered, much biased reporting based on press releases and comments primarily by government ministers, and only occasionally by opposition spokespersons or leaders.

    With such things going, there is no prospect for the public at large being informed voters. They are influenced voters, and too many are swayed to vote as the media suggests they should.

    Without informed voters there is NO true democracy in NZ, it is a farce. Having pollies dance with the commercial, corporate mainstream media, and the hardly different remnants of TVNZ, while alternative media has been nothing but wiped out, that proves we are all manipulated like hell.

    I went to the funeral protest for TVNZ 7, soon I will go to the funeral of democracy in NZ!

    • Tracey 29.1
      20 December 2013 at 1:52 pm

      nice to see you back xtasy

      • xtasy 29.1.1
        22 December 2013 at 12:21 am

        Tracey – only called in for a visit or “check out”, best wishes to you and all Standardistas for a sound and happy Christmas and good New Year (ELECTION YEAR!!!).

        Things can only get better, I suppose.

  30. ghostwhowalksnz 30
    20 December 2013 at 1:44 pm

    Guess who was crowing on his own website about Browns undeclared trip

    “Auckland councillor Cameron Brewer wants a council review into Len Brown’s affair with Bevan Chuang widened to investigate a trip the mayor made to Hong Kong.

    Mr Brown has not officially declared the trip in January this year, sparking criticism from Mr Brewer and in right-wing circles.

    http://www.cameronbrewer.co.nz

    “What the rules say
    Mayor and councillors must make an annual return of interests, including: “Contributions to travel costs made by third parties to a member and the value of the contribution’

    Which of course he broke.

    Brewer helpfully wants voters to contact him and lists his details on his website
    GET IN TOUCH

    PO Box 9733, Newmarket,
    Auckland 1149

    Tel: 021 828 016

  31. Penny Bright 31
    20 December 2013 at 4:19 pm

    The solution is not complicated.

    1)What is needed is it to be MANDATORY and a statutory requirement under the Local Government Act that all local government elected representatives, staff responsible for property and procurement, and appointed Directors on CCOs, plus staff and declare their interests in a publicly-available ‘Register of Interests.’

    2) The ‘Code of Conduct’ for local government elected representatives needs teeth.
    At present, it is not an offence under the Local Government Act 2002 to breach the ‘Code of Conduct’.

    There are examples internationally of ‘Registers of Interests’ and ‘Codes of Conduct’ that could be used as a basis for discussion and legislative change.

    The risk of bribery and corruption at local government level is well-known, and widely reported by anti-corruption agencies just’ across the ditch’, such as the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission, (CMC), and the West Australian Corruption and Crime Commission.

    Here in New Zealand, in my considered opinion, practices which are condemned elsewhere as corrupt, are commonplace, and seen by many as just ‘normal’.

    How can ‘conflicts of interest’ be checked for, if interests are not declared?

    Can you rely on the integrity of elected representatives to ‘do the right thing’ when it comes to declaring ‘conflicts of interest’, here in New Zealand – particularly Auckland?

    Apparently not.

    High time for some meaningful legislative change?

    I think so.

    Penny Bright

  32. ianmac 32
    20 December 2013 at 4:42 pm

    News just now that the Deputy Mayor says that Cameron Brewer will not face prosecution for his nondeclation. (Perhaps they fear that they all will be in trouble? If one is in trouble then at least 11 others will face scrutiny.)

    • Grumpy 32.1
      20 December 2013 at 4:51 pm

      We’ll, she can’t say much else after yesterday. It is one thing not to declare a gift but to not declare a gift from a lobbyist for favorable treatment and then to give that favorable treatment is far worse. If you are not going to punish the latter, then you can’t do much about the former.
      That is the situation ACC finds itself in- dysfunctional!
      Time for commissioners and/or the AG.

      • Tracey 32.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 4:56 pm

        do you know why media works gifted a trip to brewer and why he would think it prudent to not declare it? Hopefully Mr Slater has been hot ont he trail for these answers. Am surprised he didnt break the story.

      • Chooky 32.1.2
        20 December 2013 at 11:23 pm

        +1

    • Sacha 32.2
      20 December 2013 at 4:52 pm

      will not face *censure*

    • Anne 32.3
      20 December 2013 at 8:35 pm

      Penny Hulse speaks with Mary Wilson on Checkpoint on the Brewer affair. Excellent stuff. Puts Dick Quax in his place. Commonsense and maturity abound. Something you cannot say of the right wing shillers and shriekers…

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/2580739

      Btw. She doesn’t entirely rule out an inquiry into Declarations of Interest. That’s a decision to be made in the New Year after everyone has had a holiday.

      • karol 32.3.1
        21 December 2013 at 8:55 am

        Exactly. And she points out that Brewers failed declaration is of a kind that is worse that Brown’s hotel gifts and upgrades.

  33. appleboy 33
    20 December 2013 at 6:37 pm

    Hmmm. Let me see. Len Brown didn’t declare free upgrades on rooms he paid for personally.

    Cameron Brewer took free flights to the Gold Coast from Media Works and didn’t declare..oh and he’s aiming to be a National Party MP.

    Hmmm. what say ye people. yes I think so. A lying greedy hypocrite. Perfect for National then.

    .

    • Grumpy 33.1
      20 December 2013 at 7:23 pm

      You forgot that Len took free rooms to shag his girlfriend from a company lobbying the council over an issue the mayor changed sides to support. If Brewer did the same, he should go too but I can’t see where Mediaworks benefitted. Perhaps John Campbell could help?

      • RedLogix 33.1.1
        20 December 2013 at 7:27 pm

        grumpy being an evidence free zone as usual.

        And still being a pervert.

      • Sacha 33.1.2
        20 December 2013 at 8:27 pm

        There is no evidence that Brown shagged anyone at SkyCity in a free room. Read the report. The conflict of interest is bad without any panty-sniffing. Brewer’s seems a straightforward commercial arrangement that no one might have paid further attention to if he weren’t crusading quite so hard.

        • Grumpy 33.1.2.1
          20 December 2013 at 9:06 pm

          Oh, you mean it’s only payback?

        • Grumpy 33.1.2.2
          20 December 2013 at 9:31 pm

          Which version of the report are you referring to?

          • felix 33.1.2.2.1
            21 December 2013 at 6:55 am

            Presumably the one everybody except Farrar and Lusk got, the one that cleared Brown of receiving undeclared gifts.

            • Frank Macskasy 33.1.2.2.1.1
              21 December 2013 at 10:02 am

              The Ernst Young Report: http://www.nbr.co.nz/sites/default/files/images/Independent_Review_Report_FINAL_131213_1.pdf

              It’s not very long, and worth a read. From it,. I realised that a recent Campbell Live story on this issue was badly flawed. The journo who put together the story either hadn’t read it properly or just ignored it.

              Check out the Summary of Factual Findings. It has more “We did not identify any improper blah blah” than any actual evidence of wrong-doing.

              I suspect 99.99% of Aucklanders have not read this document. If they had, they would be telling Quax, Brewer, Fletcher, et al, to stop buggarising around and get back to work.

              • Grumpy …
                21 December 2013 at 10:17 am

                See Fran’s article today about the report being heavily sanitized. Thankfully there are at
                East a couple of copies of the original out there.
                Why did he need day rooms? That buggers up the narrative a bit, don’t ya think?

            • Grumpy 33.1.2.2.1.2
              21 December 2013 at 10:06 am

              Seen the first draft, have you?

              • bad12 …
                21 December 2013 at 10:47 am

                Got a copy of all this that you make much innuendo over have you grumpy, if not you should shut it lest you either become to sound like a shrill wanker or a legal eagle comes a calling to silence such slander…

                • Grumpy …
                  21 December 2013 at 11:02 am

                  Really? Are you saying there were no changes? Heh!

                  • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                    23 December 2013 at 8:21 am

                    You mean, after Brown had had his say?

                    Because it’s just totally wrong for any investigation to hear from its subject, eh.

                    That’s how it works in court, too: we hear the case from the prosecution and then the jury retires. That’s right, isn’t it?

                    On Planet Wingnut.

  34. Tracey 34
    21 December 2013 at 10:12 am

    The right struggle with facts. If they penetrate it explodes their heads. Which is why they try so hard to resist any.

  35. Grumpy 35
    21 December 2013 at 10:13 am

    Oh dear, this was so obvious.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11176088
    The AG could also do Brewer at the same time. Note the reference to the heavily trimmed report and the number of “day rooms”. Now, I wonder what they were for.
    Tawa Drive hasn’t even come up yet.

    • karol 35.1
      21 December 2013 at 10:30 am

      FOS is all innuendo and speculation – and of course politically motivated. And then there’s today’s NZ Herald editorial

      Kind of down play’s Brewer’s failings, and is not at the level of a front page smear. However, it does end thus:

      Mr Brewer’s criticism of Mr Brown means he will face repercussions. He finds himself in similar territory to that of former Act Party leader Rodney Hide, the self-proclaimed perk-buster who was found to be going out of his way to obtain perks. It might be tempting to think Mr Brewer’s discomfort will finally convince others to take such declarations more seriously. But history suggests that would be wishful thinking.

      • Grumpy 35.1.1
        21 December 2013 at 10:34 am

        We agree, but Len is still front and centre and will be until he goes, despite these little sideshows.

        • bad12 35.1.1.1
          21 December 2013 at 10:50 am

          So are we to be mis-treated to your whining innuendo with no provision of facts for the next 3 years grumpy???

          Len Brown aint going anyplace until the next election, you should get used to that fact…

  36. captain hook 36
    21 December 2013 at 11:09 am

    It seems as if Len Browns opponents are just a bunch of prurient purves who want to get their phizogs on the teevee to improve their own chances at the next election.
    Nothing has been served by this witch hunt except to feed the egos of a whole gang of little people grasping at the main chance.

  37. tricledrown 37
    21 December 2013 at 11:23 am

    Media Works joyces old employer (still owns shares I bet)
    T
    Media Works the new bretheren
    Eclusively providing free propaganda for National.
    Another of National dirty slush funders helping undetmine democracy.
    Complaints to the BSA need to be made.
    Their Djs on all stations are continually driving Nactionals agenda.
    When Key was in South Africa media jerks(jocks) were dog whistling Gone before Key.
    Cootdinated by joyce no doubt.
    Fermenting race hatred.
    Mandela reached across the divide National are deliberatly creating a divide.

    • Ian 37.1
      21 December 2013 at 5:35 pm

      Yeah. Listened to Wallace Chapman for 2 minutes the other day.Definitely right of Attila the Hun!

  38. Pete 38
    22 December 2013 at 8:11 pm

    Actually, it appears Brewer did declare his tip funded by MediaWorks and his RWC attendance. He merely forgot that he had done so. In the meantime he donated $1,000 to charity (City Mission, if I recall correctly).
    It is silly to compare this to Brown. Firstly, Brewer did not fail to declare gifts, and when he thought that he did, he came out and apologised straight away.
    This really should not be a left v right issue. It is about ethics, integrity, honesty and an ability to lead the people of Auckland in all areas. Unfortunately Len Brown can’t do the anymore as he fails on the above qualities. In any event there is an overwhelming view in Auckland that he should go.

    • Sacha 38.1
      22 December 2013 at 8:26 pm

      “it appears Brewer did declare his tip funded by MediaWorks and his RWC attendance”

      Got a link to back up that claim?

    • gobsmacked 38.2
      22 December 2013 at 8:28 pm

      How do we know what Brewer – or anybody else – failed to declare?

      We didn’t know about Brown before. We only know now because there was a full inquiry. If there’s a fishing expedition, chances are it will catch fish.

      I’d like to know who accepted freebies from Sky City AND voted for the convention centre deal. We could start by asking the MPs. Preferably under oath.

      It is about ethics, integrity, honesty and an ability to lead the people of Auckland in all areas.

      In a democracy, those are tested at the ballot box. Crimes are tested in a court of law.

      Mix up the two, and it’s called a “coup”.

    • felix 38.3
      22 December 2013 at 8:30 pm

      “This really should not be a left v right issue.”

      Yeah. David Farrar, Simon Lusk, Jason Ede, Dick Quax, John Banks, and Camerons Brewer and Slater are all totally genuinely concerned about who the mayor fucks.

      🙄

    • Murray Olsen 38.4
      22 December 2013 at 8:48 pm

      One question for you, Pete. Cameron Brewer originally mentioned a trip to the Gold Coast. The trip he is supposed to have declared was to Port Douglas. This is a bit like getting Dunedin and Kaitaia mixed up. Why the discrepancy? Usually these guys only start forgetting where they were thirty years or so down the track. Is Brewer’s memory worse than Key’s? (OK, two questions. Choose which one to answer, if you like. If you can remember.)

    • Anne 38.5
      22 December 2013 at 9:04 pm

      And what about his former opponent and now cabinet minister, John Banks Pete? Is he about ethics, integrity, honesty and an ability to lead? What about John Key? Is he about honesty, integrity, ethics etc?

      I am flabbergasted over the hysteria whipped up over Slater’s sleaze. It smacks of blatant hypocrisy. It’s well known many ‘married’ male pollies have availed themselves of nubile female company when the opportunity has arisen. The same goes for some media personalities too. Power is an aphrodisiac.

      Did you hear about Banks’ bit on the side? The police uncovered the affair during an investigation into something else. Kept quiet about it. And how do you know there’s an overwhelming view in Auckland Brown should go? A bunch of online unscientific polls? Those polls are easy to manipulate and frequently are… The fact is, most people don’t give a damm as long as he delivers on his promises.

  39. Blue 39
    22 December 2013 at 8:46 pm

    No I don’t think they’re interested in”who”. Rather more interested in “where” and the monumental arrogance of the mans inability to display any dignity and grace. Anyone bothered to ask how Ngati Whatua feel about Brown desecrating their room?

    • Murray Olsen 39.1
      22 December 2013 at 8:51 pm

      Ngati Whatua weren’t particularly bothered. They were asked. I don’t like you desecrating this blog.

      • Grumpy 39.1.1
        22 December 2013 at 8:59 pm

        Dunno about that, they have little tolerance for even sitting on a table……

        • Colonial Viper 39.1.1.1
          22 December 2013 at 10:40 pm

          The spokesperson guy seemed to view it as being mildly irrelevant and amusing. Though he quite liked the idea that more people have heard of Ngati Whatua now, thanks to Len Brown.

        • Murray Olsen 39.1.1.2
          23 December 2013 at 12:13 am

          That’d be a table that people eat off. The Ngati Whatua I know have little tolerance for people trying to abuse Maoritanga for their own political ends.

    • gobsmacked 39.2
      22 December 2013 at 8:53 pm

      I expect their answer would be “Since when did a bunch of National/ACT Maori-bashers give a damn about us?”

    • felix 39.3
      22 December 2013 at 10:57 pm

      “No I don’t think they’re interested in”who”. Rather more interested in “where” and the monumental arrogance of the mans inability to display any dignity and grace.”

      Yeah. David Farrar, Simon Lusk, Jason Ede, Dick Quax, John Banks, and Camerons Brewer and Slater are all totally genuinely concerned about the dignity and grace of elected office.

      You lot are a fucking joke. You wanted it to be damn near impossible to boot out the mayor because you thought you were installing John Banks in the role (oh fuck we forgot to factor in brown people and poor people!)

      Instead we got Brown, a man who got caught cheating on his wife.

      However if you lot had got your way against the wishes of Auckland, we would now have Banks as mayor in court facing charges related to lying about receiving money to fund his mayoral election campaign!!.

      Dignity and grace my fucking arse.

  40. Bobo 40
    23 December 2013 at 7:14 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11176844

    I think some sort of apology is in order Mickysavage. The rug has been pulled out from under you somewhat.

    • lprent 40.1
      23 December 2013 at 8:55 am

      Can’t see why. It took Cameron four days to find it himself, wasn’t correctly declared (an email!), and above all wasn’t visible in the public record.

      Not to mention that this statement by Brewer appears to be a complete lie..

      …and was actually part of the Ernst Young review…

      The E&Y terms of review were very specific and only covered the Mayor. They didn’t cover councillors, so they didn’t looked at their gifts. If Cameron Brewer thinks that they did, then I can’t see him putting his hand up to pay E&Y eh?

      Silly git really just couldn’t help himself. I guess hypocrisy is just too embedded in his blood.

      • Ron 40.1.1
        23 December 2013 at 1:56 pm

        Just my suspicious mind but I would love to see the copy of the email with its header intact.
        I am sure that no one on council would attempt a cover up for Brewer but would still like to see email.

  41. Pete 41
    23 December 2013 at 7:59 am

    The reference to Cameron Brewer is in this mornings Herald. It would appear that council staff did not inform the inquiry or the media (when asked) that Brewer had properly declared his trip.
    This left right dichotomy is a red herring to the really substantial issue about Browns suitability to lead. And before the John Banks thing is raised again – no, he wouldn’t be suitable either!

    • Anne 41.1
      23 December 2013 at 8:52 am

      Actually if you listened to Radio NZ’s political correspondent this morning you get a different picture. Essentially, Brewer rang someone and told them about the trip but only after having been advised to… and he still wriggled out of a formal declaration of interest. He also accepted another gift – something to do with Sky City I think – that wasn’t declared. In essence, the journalist was saying he’s dancing on the top of a pin.

      What also came out is that the two known freebies (Brewer’s and Brown’s) were roughly similar in dollar terms. He also pointed out that Brewer’s attempt to castigate Brown for accepting gifts etc. when he had done the same himself leaves Brewer open to the same criticism as applied to Brown.

      I think an investigation into the expenses of the right wing councillors is required, especially as it seems to be largely those councillors who failed to declare registers of interest.

      Yes Iprent, hypocrisy indeed!!

      • grumpy 41.1.1
        23 December 2013 at 10:19 am

        Seems that the majority of councillors, especially the left, failed to file returns. Screams out for the AG to take an interest.

  42. NOT Fisiani 42
    23 December 2013 at 8:22 am

    [deleted]

    • grumpy 42.1
      23 December 2013 at 10:18 am

      Note they just can’t help themselves by keeping on referring it as a “junket”, all the while refusing to take any notice of Len’s junket to Hong Kong.
      Does show that there is a direct line from Len’s $4m “office” to The Herald editorial staff……

  43. gobsmacked 43
    23 December 2013 at 9:58 am

    Loving the circular logic from our visiting t/rollies:

    “It’s not about an obsessive, anti-democratic, blatantly biased tabloid campaign by the Herald! It’s about Brown being bad and Brewer good! Because it says so in the Herald! I have a link!”

    That’s Mandy Rice-Davies territory, darlings.

    Try linking to the independent Ernst and Young report into Brewer, Quax, Banks and co – when there is one. Or link to you demanding one.

  44. captain hook 44
    23 December 2013 at 11:07 am

    you should have heard him on the radio this morning saying that his crime wasn’t that bad when compared to Len Browns.
    Brewer is just a fink.

  45. IheartLEN 45
    23 December 2013 at 2:35 pm

    So Brewer did email the correct Council staff with details of his trip at the appropriate time, requesting further advice of whether he should declare anything further. Sounds like a declaration to me.

    • Sacha 45.1
      23 December 2013 at 2:39 pm

      If the “appropriate time” means the day before he knew a story in the Herald was to be published outing him, then yes. Let’s not mistake that for doing the right thing.

    • mickysavage 45.2
      23 December 2013 at 3:55 pm

      It should have been in the public return. When you attack someone for not doing something properly the least you can do is make sure you did it properly yourself.

      And Brewer has just gone on Facebook and said that he has reflected on things and will give a donation of $1k to a charity. Good on him. But it does not change the underlying facts of the matter.

      • gobsmacked 45.2.1
        23 December 2013 at 4:02 pm

        Will it be the same charity that gets John Key’s salary, but never sends a receipt? 🙂

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    7 days ago
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    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

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  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
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