Fairs fair : how to complain, how not to and why not

Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, May 16th, 2018 - 21 comments
Categories: admin, Dirty Politics, internet, The Standard - Tags: , ,

One of the loudmouth irrelevancies of the Labour past has been harassing Greg Presland recently on social media alleging issues with something that seems remarkably undefined written on this site. I know Phil Quin moderately well after observing his behaviour during the 90s when I was heavily involved in the Mt Albert electorate while he was working for Phil Goff.  Ambiguity and smearing do seem to me to be his modus operandi. But you can read his current story, and it does appear to me to be a work of fiction, here.

But it does point to a issue with what happens when people complain without following due process.

In a completely separate issue (at least I presume that it is despite the similarities of dirty politics methods), I am currently working through the process of bankrupting another ‘complainant’ who also failed to follow due process.

Rather than using a more usual procedure of complaint, Dermot Nottingham chose instead to pursue a private prosecution against me personally. Which he lost along with all of the appeals to date incurring at the current count, more than $47k in court ordered costs to me. This does seem to be his modus operandi. He currently appears to have at least another $130k in court ordered costs from other failed private prosecutions. Try the judicial decisions search page with the search of Nottingham and you will see what I mean with  consistent pattern of losses in court and appeals against costs.

Neither of these two fools used the procedure explained in our contact page, or the carefully explained more recent procedure in the HDCA page.

Over the last decade the first procedure has been used successfully by many people of all persuasions, political or otherwise, over the years to get rapid action on anything published on this site. One of us reads the complaint, usually me, elicits information to find out where the section is, why it is an issue and then takes the appropriate action.

Nine times out of ten it results in the material being wiped and the offending commenter or author being given sharp rap over the knuckles (and our moderating procedures reviewed again). The other times; it is carefully explained exactly why we thought that was fair comment or expressed opinion and usually with an explanation of the legal options.

That is because we are fair – almost obsessively so. We stomp on false facts where we see them, limit the expression of opinion if it isn’t backed by source or if it is not expressed as being opinion, and generally try to allow a robust debate about politics and society. That also means we don’t pander to bullies trying to bypass process. They usually run into me and I’m not tolerant of people trying to game things.

Neither Phil Quin nor Dermot Nottingham even bothered to try the clear route for complaint. Both appear to me to be, at least in part, seem to have deliberately tried to bypass those. The suspicion in both cases has to be that there are politically motivated reasons aimed at silencing fair commentary and opinion.

Dermot Nottingham has been closely associated with Cameron Slater of dirty politics fame for years. His legal advocacy seems to have been a major reason why Cameron has been steadily miring into a legal morass.

Phil Quin has been regular opinion writer on the subject of the Labour Party from for decades – from what can only be described by many Labour party activists as being from the Act wing.

Both appeared to be capable of selectively reading the site. But also appeared to lack the capability to find the Contact page. So in my view you have to look towards other motivations than their stated ones for their actual actions.

Certainly Phil Quin’s actions with his post lend themselves to that interpretation. He has appeared to have deliberately targeted a specific person with what looks to me at present like a completely unsubstantiated allegation against them.

Update: it is likely the posts he wants to complain about is this one by me, this one by weka, and this one by mickysavage on his disgraceful commentary about Golriz Ghahraman.

By the sounds of his continually evolving story, it isn’t even the person who wrote whatever he is objecting to. If there is any substance to whatever allegations he has been spewing around without providing detail, then I’d take a bet that they are in comments.

Then he has outright lied in a public post about the response from The Standard.

Greg Presland contacted me with a link to Phil Quin’s allegations in Facebook. I contacted Phil Quin via the same medium, told him who I was, gave him the contact page link and my email address and asked him to send me the link and details to whatever it was that he was talking about.

Yet somehow Phil appears to have ‘forgotten’ this exchange in his post. He seem to have forgotten blustering his way around (in the classic Quin pattern) about not wanting to know the ‘inner workings’ of The Standard in the facebook exchange.

Instead he seems to be proud of his continued attempts at bullying via social media and mainly upset that his chosen target has removed his ability to do so. If he wanted to prove that he was a irresponsible dimwit to me then he couldn’t have picked a more appropriate method.

This site is operated by The Standard Trust as explained in our about. The trustees are myself and Mike Smith. Ultimately decisions about censorship on this site devolve on to us. That is who you have to talk to if you want to complain about material on this site.

If people want to complain about specific content on The Standard, then at a minimum they need to follow the due process. Part of this is laid down by InternetNZ and the Domain Name Commission who control the .nz domain. Part is now covered by the Harmful Digital Communications Act and other legal procedures. But mostly it is run and implemented by us.

But all of which requires that if you really want to get material taken down or amended on this site, then follow the procedure and contact the site through the stated procedures. Trying other means will get you a sharp and probably expensive. in one form or another. response.

I am sure Phil will be happy about this response from The Standard. “Don’t be your normal dickhead self.”

FFS Phil – If you actually want fairness, then get off your lazy arse and follow the procedure. Send me the exact details of why you are objecting to as links and quoted material. State why you think that a fact stated was inaccurate or an opinion was excessive, And I will personally have a look at it.

But don’t waste my time stroking your ego. I neither have the time nor the inclination to pander to idiots. Basically if you can’t do the same basic simple operations that we need to locate issues and which orevious complainants like Ian Wishart, Cameron Slater, and many others who we disagree with have followed successfully. Then I can’t really see why I should waste my  time wiping your pathetic arse.

And please stop trying to be just another idiotic bully on the internet – it is just irritating. Especially since you appear to be incompetent at that as well.

Lynn Prentice – sysop

21 comments on “Fairs fair : how to complain, how not to and why not ”

  1. Chris T 1

    Not going to comment on this Quin bloke as I have never heard of him, but a quick google says it is probably this

    https://thestandard.org.nz/phil-quin-our-medias-goto-dogwhistling-aussie/

    • lprent 1.1

      Ah. That would explain why he didn’t want to engage with me. And why he has been completely coy about actually providing links to whatever he is complaining about.

      However that is also an opinion piece about a opinion piece commentary by him about someone else. It clearly states why I formed the opinion that I have based on his behaviour. And reading it, I really can’t see anything that I’d like to change.

      If you write opinion, especially that crock of crap that he wrote about Ghahraman, then you’d have to expect that analysis and opinion about what you’d written would follow.

      To stand and whine about the downstream consequences of people highlighting his opinions and opining on them would have to be the height of hypocrisy. After all I can’t see a trace of anything apart from bully behaviour in his article on Ghahraman. Why should he get concerned about someone using exactly the same right to opine upon him.

      If he cares to continue to want to complain, then I’d happily pass this over to Mike Smith to look at.

      • Chris T 1.1.1

        Fair call

        It also strikes me as a bit of a stretch that 4 different US clients didnt hire him because they all happen to find the same opinion piece.

        • lprent 1.1.1.1

          It does happen. I remember someone named in a post as being the current company officer with a particularly egregious company with very dubious labour practices. They had real issues getting employment afterwards. Our post came up top or high in all search results by employment agencies. (I’d have to look up the email for details now).

          This was raised with us by a family member using the contact page. Several of us at the time did some research. We found that they hadn’t been responsible for the poor decisions when they were made. They just managed to carry the can afterwards. So I wiped the persons name from the post and comments a couple of days after the complaint was made.

          But at least there was none of the kind of stupid games that Phil seems to be playing.

  2. Anne 2

    Wow, that’s interesting.

    So, some of the wee darlings are having hissy fits because a naughty author or commenter dared to criticise them. Don’t know about anyone else, but that’s grist to the mill for me.

    It became obvious a few years ago that the Dirty Political crowd decided to target Greg Presland and I expect they have been doing it on on and off ever since. Phil Quin is continuing the tradition.

    “Silly little boy”.

    • Rosemary McDonald 2.1

      “So, some of the wee darlings are having hissy fits because a naughty author or commenter dared to criticise them.”

      Hah! After flicking through the links to remind myself of the minutiae of that particular little artificially generated shit-storm the word that keeps popping into my mind is “snowflake”.

      Now I’m having to self flagellate, as this is a term most often used over where Farrar’s Ferals play.

      What was obvious at the time was that They had dug deep and mined the foetid depths to try and find something, anything on someone, anyone, to undermine the new Government.

      Golriz was low hanging fruit.

      Sadly, it seems They were in part successful because this talented MP has been so far underutilised.

      • lprent 2.1.1

        Yeah. There are three posts by different authors about different aspects of the smear at the time.

        But mine targeted Phil Quin

        But I’d also say that Gloriz is a first term MP. Traditionally not usually given a lot to do because just learning the ropes at parliament as an MP (even for people who have previously been around parliament) usually takes up much of their time.

        • Anne 2.1.1.1

          All MPs will tell you that entering parliament is a very steep learning curve. There are masses of regulations and traditions which take time to get their heads around. Add to that… preparations required for select committee hearings and House debates must be quite daunting for newbies, I’m not surprised most are not burdened with any other responsibilities for at least a year.

  3. greywarshark 3

    I’ve been reading about vexatious litigation and the slow attempts the justice system has been making to reduce the harrassment from it when it is being brought by malicious or paranoid people who have the funds to do it.

    The government I fear, is more interested in stopping conservation groups from using the Courts to try and prevent some destruction by predatory corporates or through conniving assistance by local Councils.

    Here are some links about vexatious litigation.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11726085
    Courts to get powers to block vexatious legal action
    10 Oct 2016

    Radionz
    New Zealand
    4:05 pm on 3 May 2014
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/243253/blogger-declared-vexatious-litigant
    Businessman and blogger Vincent Siemer has been declared a vexatious litigant and will no longer be able to file court cases relating to a long running legal dispute.
    Lawyers for the Crown asked the High Court to stop Mr Siemer from filing new cases after years of litigation including law suits against several individual judges, the Attorney-General, the Law Society and the Judicial Conduct Commissioner.

    Already this year the Supreme Court has ruled on four cases brought by Mr Siemer after ruling against him on 13 cases last year.

    In a ruling, Justice Ronald Young and Justice Brown said that they had decided not to impose a complete ban on Mr Siemer filing law suits.
    But he would be banned from further suits against judges, lawyers and the parties involved in his original dispute over a receivership.
    The judges said that Mr Siemer simply refused to accept the finality of rulings against him and persistently instituted vexatious proceedings as a result.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6880351/Attempt-to-shut-down-vexatious-litigant 2012
    In the High Court at Palmerston North yesterday, Justice Patrick Keane and Justice Peter Woodhouse heard Reid had taken 77 legal cases before various courts since the mid-1980s.

    https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/lawtalk/lawtalk-archives/issue-842/proceedings-ban-follows-vexatious-litigation 2014

    http://www.mondaq.com/NewZealand/x/185386/court+procedure/The+Law+Commission+on+vexatious+litigants+in+New+Zealand 2012

    http://r126.publications.lawcom.govt.nz/Chapter+16+-+Vexatious+actions/Querulous+litigants 2011

    https://nz.vlex.com/vid/commission-vexatious-litigants-in-zealand-385534768 No date

    • AsleepWhileWalking 3.1

      The legal system equivalent of a stalker

    • lprent 3.2

      The problem with the vexatious litigant legislation is that is just for civil law.

      Private prosecutions are criminal law.

      They are also an important safeguard against the state. It is not the only entity capable of bringing prosecutions. Organizations like the SPCA can as well. But so can private citizens.

      However to bring a prosecution the most that is required is a primary facie case that a judge considers may have legs. That doesn’t require much the way of proof. It just requires that there may have been an obvious breach of a particular law.

      The problem is with self representing prosecutors with limited legal capabilities and absolutely no duty to the court. They have no particular need ti actually check their assumptions. They can also soak up a lot of legal time with status hearings avoiding the inevitable

      In my particular case, that meant that Dermot prosecuted the wrong entity in my co-defendent. APN did not own the NZ Herald when their articles was written.

      I haven’t ever “owned” The Standard and didn’t write the post in question.

      This was all knowable when Dermot Nottungham started the case. He didn’t ask nor even apparently even try to find out. Like Phil Quin, when I reached out to point this out, it got ignored in a flurry of pointless and inaccurate allegations.

      Yet he recklessly proceeded to start and continue the case.

      So I intend to make sure Dermot Nottingham never proceeds with a case like this again and to make sure taht any other fool is fully informed before they proceed with similar stupidities.

      • greywarshark 3.2.1

        I thought that there had to be proved first that there was a case to answer before all the hooha.

        The matter just confirms for me the advantage of having a pseudonym. There are too many loonies around that feel entitled to let out whatever arises from their bowels.

        • lprent 3.2.1.1

          Not really. The expectation is that the police / crown prosecutor / lawyers will have already have done that. They are all to one degree or another officers of the court. And the penalties for misleading the court tend towards the draconian professionally.

          With a private prosecutor doing it without legal assistance, all they have to do is to present something that looks like it may be a case. There are no obvious early penalties and no real long term ones as well apart from paying costs after they screw up or get made bankrupt.

          In the latter case, they can effectively get disbarred from court actions for 3 years without their official assignee signing off on it.

          • greywarshark 3.2.1.1.1

            Sounds damned unsatisfactory to me. The illusory attachment to some theoretical idea of the openness of the law, so scrappily followed, just poisons and clogs up the system. There are people who play with the system and everyone just keeps going through the motions because nobody gets to the root of the problem and changes it so it works in a way we can respect.

            I have a friend who is after a dodgy character who is so slithery its a wonder he can keep standing. She has found other people are after him too but he is all the time setting up new things with his gains from his misuse of business law. Tracked down he just walks the other way, pleads ignorance, is unwell, can’t be served, and people are put to great expense time and stress trying to get the man dealt with. They are law abiding but the law seems to lean towards him not them.

  4. AsleepWhileWalking 4

    Did the rounds a few years back harassing users of ACC Forum.org.

    VERY well known. I received a PM warning me not to engage in anyway due to unstable and in OPs opinion vindictive nature.

  5. adam 5

    I found Quin so very drool, his writing is boring, his website is such a drag, that dishwater, even dirty dishwater – is way more interesting.

    Don’t waste your time lprent. It was obvious reading his peace, he one of those individuals who reveals in the role of the victim. You can’t get a straight answer, nor a result from people like that in my experience.

    I think Greg Presland did the right thing blocking him. On that front, virtual *hug* Greg, remember you don’t have to suffer bullies, especially really dull ones.

    As you will note Quin, mine is all my own opinion. Nothing here is more that that. Face facts buddy – some people don’t like you, or they way you operate. I am but one of those people.

  6. Muttonbird 6

    Quin is such a whiney little prick. Perhaps he should have thought twice before lying about Ghahraman for his own gain.

  7. mauī 7

    I feel slightly sick and I think I need a shower. Why does this always happen when this name pops up. Really fucking weird.

  8. SPC 8

    This appears to be little more than a complaint about one sentence “This latest little effort of Phil Quin on a female green MP shows all of the usual signs of that 1990s bubble misogynist training.”

    https://thestandard.org.nz/phil-quin-our-medias-goto-dogwhistling-aussie/

    He probably wants you to simply remove the word (misogynist) from the sentence.

    … as you say, if someone wants such a thing done, they need to go through the “standard” process for doing this … .

    • fender 8.1

      …and this bit:

      “The bit that Andrew Geddis seems to miss is, in my opinion, that she is a conservationist woman in a position of power with a philosophy of fixing things. Personally I couldn’t imagine anything that is more threatening to misogynist egomaniac who thrives on chaos.”

  9. Philg 9

    I am more interested in finding out why our MSM gives Mr Quin any coverage at all. Is it because he’s not a lefty, in fact, a righty?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    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
    16 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
    19 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
    19 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
    21 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours 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
    24 hours 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

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