Flag process a missed opportunity

Written By: - Date published: 9:51 am, September 10th, 2015 - 123 comments
Categories: identity, International - Tags: , ,

As previously stated I think the whole flag process its a waste of money and a distraction from the real issues. But given that it went ahead, it should have been run fairly and inclusively. Any new flag needs to have broad support – be a unifying symbol. Instead we have a process that seems predetermined to deliver Key’s pet flag and a very divisive process.

This is typical of Key’s leadership style. If he can get 50.1% and his own way that is good enough. He is about his own agenda, not unifying the country. Time after time he attacks Labour, the Greens, the political left, as if we were not part of the country that he rules. It’s divisive and its damaging.

And so Key has missed an opportunity. The Red Peak flag was the only sign of enthusiasm and engagement that the flag process has ever generated. The Stuff poll puts Red Peak at 60% support, with the closest “shortlist” flag on 8% (and no change on 17%). In a RadioLive poll 86% want Red Peak added to the shortlist.
35,000 people have signed the change.org petition for Red Peak. Over $20,000 has been raised on Pledge Me.

Despite the vitriolic rantings of some Nats, Red Peak is not a leftie plot. It’s supporters include David Seymour, Mike Hosking and Gareth Morgan. Nor is it a “Twitter thing”, there is plenty of support in the community, as per the above links.

Anyway – Key wants his silver fern, so he is ruling out including Red Peak in the first referendum, despite the fact that it is procedurally easy to include it. He could have gone for the inclusive option, as usual his own way is more important. And the ridiculous thing is that it means that we the people will almost certainly vote for No Change in the second referendum. Ruling out Red Peak pisses off the only people who actually care about changing the flag. On the conservative side the RSA will be campaigning strongly for No Change. Faced with four crap flag choices we’ll probably vote for no change and the whole stupid $26m process will have been a complete waste of time and money. Ludicrous.

I’ve been enjoying some of the Kiwiana takes on Red Peak:

red-peak-kiwi

Fred Peak:

fred-peak

Ed Peak:

ed-peak

123 comments on “Flag process a missed opportunity ”

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  1. Detrie 1
    10 September 2015 at 10:38 am

    “This is typical of Key’s leadership style. If he can get 50.1% and his own way that is good enough. He is about his own agenda, not unifying the country”

    This sums things up perfectly with this government. All that fine talk after the election about unifying the county, the promises made after pike river, it’s just soundbites for the media. Let’s hope we don’t have another PM like this again. The hollow men all over again.

    • Pasupial 1.1
      10 September 2015 at 11:16 am

      He doesn’t even need 50.1% of; the 18+ year nonincarcerated citizens who are registered to vote, just of; those who are willing to participate in the process. With a nonelection postal referendum that may be 30-40% of the enrolled population. So that’s 15% or less of the total population.

      NACTolytes will surely vote as directed. A written-in protest vote (say for Red Peak or KOF) will be counted as spoiled and not affect the outcome; these people have no shame. So I will vote for the Hypoflag in the first instance (though would consider Red Peak if an option).

      More important is the second vote which must not be spoiled, and needs a large turnout (even if you can’t bothered with the farce of choosing between three different flavours of turd sandwiches and one giant douche).

      • weka 1.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 11:21 am

        The point of spoiling the first paper isn’t to affect the outcome of that referendum, it’s to show that we are bigger than what Key can controll. The numbers of spoiled papers will be published and if it’s high enough that will affect the debate and activism that follows, including leading up to the second referendum.

        Voting hypno flag, while still a valid strategy, will have far less impact IMO.

        • Pasupial 1.1.1.1
          10 September 2015 at 11:38 am

          Weka

          “The numbers of spoiled papers will be published”; by whom?

          Sure, it’ll be available through http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/ and on TS and TDB they’ll be discussed. But within the MSM who is going to beat a drum for those who couldn’t count to four (or however they’ll be dismissed). Once again; these people have no shame.

          • weka 1.1.1.1.1
            10 September 2015 at 11:54 am

            Pretty sure if 40% of the voting papers in a referendum are spoiled that the MSM will be reporting it. I’m guessing that normally the number is 1 or 2% or less.

            Red Peak is known to mainstream NZ because of social media. I wouldn’t dismiss that so easily either.

            • weka 1.1.1.1.1.1
              10 September 2015 at 11:58 am

              Informal votes seem to be less than 1% in CIF, but for the electoral change one, one of the questions had an informal vote rate of 33%. I can’t remember what the deal was on that. Anyone?

      • Editractor 1.1.2
        10 September 2015 at 12:58 pm

        The voting is going to be done on the basis of ranking not picking just one. I assume then that a valid vote must include four ranked choices. But will this work for or against the hypnoflag?

        As it is 3 silver fern flags vs 1 hypnoflag, it could benefit it if the fern flag vote is split evenly. On the other hand, if there is a standout favourite amongst the fern flags, it could work against the hypnoflag because people voting for the hypnoflag also have to rank the fern flags for the vote to be valid (my assumption).

        I’d say if you are going to vote for the hypnoflag, you also want to decide what might be the most popular fern flag and make sure to rank it fourth.

        • Clemgeopin 1.1.2.1
          10 September 2015 at 1:20 pm

          ” I assume then that a valid vote must include four ranked choices.”

          NO!
          See the RULES for voting (in the second link in this link):

          http://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-04092015/#comment-1066941

        • Gareth 1.1.2.2
          10 September 2015 at 1:24 pm

          I could be wrong, but my understanding is that you rank them 1-4, but if you just rank 1, that’s still counted.

          That would be a better strategy if you’re going hypnoflag as it doesn’t bleed support to the ferns.

          • Clemgeopin 1.1.2.2.1
            10 September 2015 at 1:31 pm

            +1 for 1st sentence and
            +1 for your strategy in the 2nd.

            Rule states:
            “You can rank as many or as few flag options as you wish, but you shouldn’t skip a number or use the same number more than once”

        • Editractor 1.1.2.3
          10 September 2015 at 1:35 pm

          Thanks for the clarification. My assumption in my above post is wrong so please ignore it.

          • Pasupial 1.1.2.3.1
            10 September 2015 at 6:48 pm

            Editractor

            I think your point that; “you also want to decide what might be the most popular fern flag and make sure to rank it fourth”, is quite valid. We use STV (a preferential voting system) down here in the DCC elections, so I am perhaps more familiar with this than some commenters from other areas of the country (but then the Labour leader election is preferential). Eventually, even if they have redistribute the votes from all but two options, one will get over 50%; but the more runoffs needed, the less convincing the win. I call it the Whiley option (after a pro-oil golfer councilor who I placed last in the rankings in the 2013 DCC election, even after Calvert!).

            However, I am not just voting against Key and the broken selection process. I do actually like Fyfe’s koru, though not as much as some of the other final 40, let alone the nonselected options. At the moment I am tending towards placing the Bruised Fern (beloved of Hooton) in fourth, with the Immigration Fern in second place. If Red Peak was to be included as an option, then I’d gladly put that second instead.

  2. CnrJoe 2
    10 September 2015 at 10:48 am

    If Key gets his fern it will be the hollowest of his victories

  3. Enough is Enough 3
    10 September 2015 at 10:54 am

    Who decided on the final four flags?

    I am totally against Key using any power he may have to circumvent the process by which the final four flags were selected.

    Notwithstanding the support this alternative flag has or doesn’t have, It would be a huge abuse of his power to do so.

    • weka 3.1
      10 September 2015 at 11:17 am

      Key using his power to circumvent a process that he created and controlled? Yeah I can see that would be a problem 😉

  4. shorts 4
    10 September 2015 at 11:01 am

    Until Red Peak started to gain a following post the short list the entire process has and is a debacle

    the Red peak supporters have shown there can be intelligent debate which serves to garner support and understanding for the choice… coupled with a good sense of fun too. I’m not overly fond of red peak but with each burst of intelligent discourse around it I find I like it more… this is the opposite of whats happening with the official four

    Key just may get his way… and a very hollow victory and legacy claim he will get as a result

  5. David Scott 5
    10 September 2015 at 11:04 am

    A better selection in the short list probably would have encouraged more people to vote for change.

    As it stands, the selection chosen for us is so bad that it’s now easy to vote for NO CHANGE.

  7. weka 7
    10 September 2015 at 11:16 am

    It could have been very different. Here’s how actual democracies do it (or those attempting to be actual democracies). My bold,

    We should have learnt from the process South Africa went through to find a new flag that a divided country had not only accepted, but has got behind as a symbol of a new era.

    When Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and South Africa began the process of ending apartheid, the nation’s flag became part of the negotiations about what post-apartheid South Africa might look like.

    In 1993, the National Symbols Commission held a nationwide public competition, which received over 7,000 designs. Six designs were shortlisted and presented to the public and the Negotiating Council. None were popular, so they tried again. The Commission asked several design studios to submit designs, but again, none were popular.

    In early 1994, the chief negotiators for the African National Congress and the government were tasked with resolving the flag issue. Getting the public to design a flag didn’t work. Even getting designers to design a flag didn’t work. So they went to Frederick Brownell, a flag designer (or ‘vexillographer’) who had also designed the Namibian flag.

    With the elections nearing, Brownell designed the South African flag as an interim measure, but the flag became so popular, it stuck.

    So what are the lessons here?

    http://idealog.co.nz/design/2015/09/seeing-red-peak

    • dukeofurl 7.1
      10 September 2015 at 11:33 am

      Popular competitions are almost always wrong

      Getting professional designers on board can work, especially if they have flag design knowledge and experience

      Just checking the legislation, The Flag Referendums Bill, doesnt mention a panel or 40 ‘finalists’ at all.
      How did we get to have a panel who would come up with 4 designs ?

      Heres the panel-
      The panel will be chaired by former deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Canterbury Emeritus Professor John Burrows, ONZM, QC of Christchurch who was co-chair of the Constitutional Advisory Panel.
      Writer and reviewer Kate de Goldi of Wellington will be the deputy chair of the Flag Consideration Panel.

      The other 10 members are:

      Nicky Bell – CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand and board director, Auckland

      Peter Chin, CNZM – Former Mayor of Dunedin, director and trustee, Dunedin

      Julie Christie, ONZM – Director of Julie Christie Inc. and board member, Auckland

      Rod Drury – CEO of Xero and technology entrepreneur, Havelock North

      Beatrice Faumuina, ONZM – Olympian, Commonwealth gold medallist, ASB Head of Talent & People Strategy, board member and trustee, Waitakere

      Lt Gen (Rtd) Rhys Jones, CNZM – Former Chief of NZ Defence Force, Wellington

      Stephen Jones – Invercargill Youth Councillor, Invercargill

      Sir Brian Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE – Former All Blacks captain, coach and administrator, Masterton

      Malcolm Mulholland – Academic and flag historian, Palmerston North

      Hana O’Regan – Academic, Māori studies and te reo Māori, Christchurch

      • AB 7.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 9:58 pm

        Of the 10, 3 business people and 2 sports people! No historians, no artists, no designers. You are guaranteed a dull, conservative selection of flags.

    • Tracey 7.2
      10 September 2015 at 11:57 am

      shaking my head… sadly. Thanks for this Weka

  8. Olwyn 8
    10 September 2015 at 11:18 am

    This is typical of Key’s leadership style. If he can get 50.1% and his own way that is good enough. He is about his own agenda, not unifying the country.

    This says it all. The flag business typifies the Key way of doing things. As with the flag, quite a few of the just-minus-50% that do not support Key are of little consequence to him. He might well qualify as the most loved and most loathed PM, since those who don’t love him tend to loathe him, knowing that their fates are irrelevant to him. He has created a deeply divided country, but so long as he has his 50.1% that’s OK by him.

    • dukeofurl 10.1
      10 September 2015 at 11:58 am

      The Cuban flag design dates from 1848- nice hole you dug for yourself there .

      ww.cubaflags.com

    • weka 10.2
      10 September 2015 at 12:00 pm

      You appear to be design-challenged BM. Those aren’t peaks.

      • Tracey 10.2.1
        10 September 2015 at 12:03 pm

        He’s perpetuating a meme. His head will explode when he finds out Hosking supports the Peaks flag…

        • weka 10.2.1.1
          10 September 2015 at 12:07 pm

          last ditch attempts from Crosby Textor.

          • Tracey 10.2.1.1.1
            10 September 2015 at 12:09 pm

            Because it is a good branding exercise? For Key, NZ or both?

            • weka 10.2.1.1.1.1
              10 September 2015 at 12:14 pm

              NZ is not a brand, so I don’t think there is any way in which this is good for NZ unless one believes that NZ is a business.

              I’m guessing that the flag process was orchestrated, they didn’t see this coming, and now they’ve got the troles and astroturfers out to see if there is any way to redeem the branding plan.

              • Tracey …
                10 September 2015 at 12:21 pm

                I agree a country is not a brand, but Key is looking at this like a CEO not a leader. He sees NZ as a business. I assume, that Crosby Textor advises accordingly.

                Do you mean Key thought the flag campaign would be more popular and easier and we would all go “yeah the silver fern, isn’t it obvious?”

                Or was it, as it has nicely worked out to be at times, a useful distracting tool?

                • Jones …
                  10 September 2015 at 12:43 pm

                  Yeah… it’s part of the whole “NZ Inc” bs. Everytime I hear someone refer to NZ in that way I cringe.

                  • Tracey …
                    10 September 2015 at 12:47 pm

                    Me too… and it used to come out of Cunliffe and Shearers mouths? Or Goff? Cant remember it but I don’t like it at all.

  11. Graeme 11
    10 September 2015 at 11:52 am

    I could be getting out there a bit, but I’m beginning to wonder if Red Peak / Te Kainga wasn’t the preferred option all along.

    Key has to manage the expectations of a large group of Nat supporters who expect, and demand a fern flag. This option is now being shown to be rather shallow and unpopular in the face of the Red Peak campaign.

    He’s also shown the unique ability to execute a 180º u-turn and keep going forward. And to appropriate and implement opposition policies. So far without it all turning to shit on him.

    So do we now have another u-turn (accommodation) coming up, as Seymour has predicted, and have Red Peak / Te Kainga sail on through.

    But it’s odd, and sad in a way that Red Peak / Te Kainga is the only option that is coming through with reasonable vexillological standing. I’d feel a lot better about it if we were debating four flags that were the vexillological equivalent of the Red Peak design.

    • Tracey 11.1
      10 September 2015 at 11:59 am

      IMO Key is looking at this from a marketing/branding/business perspective. Hence the fern is a pre-requisite in his mind.

      Some people have rallied in the face of what they consider is a failure to capture NZ (all of it) in the four options. People do that when they feel they are not heard. They waited to see the choices, then took action.

  12. NZJester 12
    10 September 2015 at 11:58 am

    The guy from the flag committee said that their choices reflect what they learned by consulting with kiwis. I’m guessing most of those kiwi’s consulted is predominantly made up of John Key and his yes men.
    If they truly consulted to reflect New Zealanders, why is there such a big push now for the peaked flag to be added?
    Any real flag conciliation should take years not weeks or months.

    A lot of other flags put forward that also included the silver fern had to be dropped from consideration as well due to using the copyrighted All Blacks version of the fern.

    Another big point that has also failed to come up in this debate is what is to happen to all our other official New Zealand flags?

    That is the NZ government flag that is being debated, but I would like to point out there there are other official New Zealand flags and some that are based on our current flag.
    What will replace the Naval White Ensign or the optional Civilian Red ensign?
    The official NZ police flag also includes the current blue government flag in the top left as does the official NZ yacht club ensign.
    Will the NZ Air-force and the Civil Air ensigns also remove the union jack from the top left of their flags?
    Will the government just change all of those without consultation?

    • Tracey 12.1
      10 September 2015 at 12:00 pm

      are we being punished for not going to the public meetings? Perhaps they should have gone online for the whole process?

      • weka 12.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 12:04 pm

        People went to the CC meetings though, and got roundly ignored. I don’t think there is anything that would have made this a good process. Righties are arguing that this is just some anti-Key thing, but the whole underlying ethos of the thing is that Key is manipulating democracy to brand NZ Inc, and people are resisting that.

        They should have just handed the whole thing over to whatshername on the panel to make a reality TV programme about it and then we could have voted via txt. Much more reach and they could have made some money off it.

        • Tracey 12.1.1.1
          10 September 2015 at 12:07 pm

          I DO think it has served one purpose, NZers are no where near unite don what NZ stands for. I agree that people seem to be reacting to the notion of the flag bearing a brand, first and foremost, and a representative of NZ identity second.

          I think most people were waiting patiently to see the choices. Then they began to speak out.

          The vitriol of some of the dislike of the red peak idea has surprised me though.

          • weka 12.1.1.1.1
            10 September 2015 at 12:11 pm

            I’m in two minds about that. One the one hand Red Peak appears to be genuine resistance to what Key has done, which seems unprecendented. On the other hand, I’d hate for our flag to be chosen in such a reactionary way.

            I’m not sure if this is getting people to look at what NZ stands for or not. Certainly here in the politisphere we are. Not sure about wider than that.

            • Tracey 12.1.1.1.1.1
              10 September 2015 at 12:26 pm

              I DO think Ke’s fixation with the flag is a reflection of his sporting alliances. Sports people in NZ generally (yes, I am making a generalisation) see the fern as representative of NZ BUT ‘everyone” does not love sport or identify with sport, and that, I think, has been underestimated by Key.

              I am not sure what I think about red peak BUT the opposition to it has been somewhat vitriolic, from our own BM on here today and Hooton and his nazi BS. Why? Given it is not in the running? What is Hoots et al scared of?

              • weka …
                10 September 2015 at 1:05 pm

                I think they’re scared of things not being controlled their way, and of the potential for this to be a flash point for change.

                Is Key really allied to sport, or does he just use it politically? I’ve been assuming the latter.

                • Tracey …
                  10 September 2015 at 1:11 pm

                  I think his desire to be near celebrities and famous sportspeople is genuine. Have seen him turn into a 10 year old boy around athletes at functions…

                  LOTS of business people can’t get enough of sportspeople like blackcaps and All Blacks. Maybe cos they weren’t very athletic themselves? That whole living vicariously thing?

                  • weka …
                    10 September 2015 at 1:15 pm

                    the celebrity thing definitely makes sense. I’m rolling my eyes now at how vacuous we’ve become.

                    I probably don’t want to speculate further about Key’s deeper psychology 😉

                    • Tracey …
                      10 September 2015 at 1:22 pm

                      understood. Just relating my observation of chaps I know and see at functions and how they change around people like All Blacks and Black Caps.

                      I also share your despair at how shallow we have become and how little we now expect from our leaders.

                      I also think people are confused about what a flag actually is meant to depict/represent etc.

          • Smithers 12.1.1.1.2
            10 September 2015 at 4:55 pm

            Personally, this was the case for me. I didn’t engage with the meetings because I had nothing solid to get behind. I started to get excited once the long list was released – this was where I was able to visualise what a new flag could look like. I waited patiently for the next round of consultations to begin and was shocked when the shortlist was announced.

            I’ve looked at the long list with fresh eyes and realised that many of the designs are mirror images, colour variations or minor changes to symbol placement. The lack of imagination in the shortlist was foreshadowed in the longlist.

  13. JanM 13
    10 September 2015 at 11:59 am

    It’s going to be a fascinating process – if he wants his fern (or needs it if the TPPA stories are anything to go by) he won’t have finished with us yet. It’s going to be like a slow motion horror movie seeing how he manipulates the populace to get his own way

    • weka 13.1
      10 September 2015 at 12:01 pm

      what are the TPPA stories?

        • Tracey 13.1.1.1
          10 September 2015 at 12:30 pm

          Hmmm, I dunno.

          “new US styled NZ supreme Court”

          I disagree. It is not US styled at all. Anymore than the Privvy council was.

          It is a group of Judges with NZ legal backgrounds, experience and context.

          Due authority is not JUST the flag. Changing the flag does not change the things listed in that article.

          I thought you meant the TPP in terms of it being about corporatising countries and making a branding exercise via a flag the corporate thing to do?

      • Pasupial 13.1.2
        10 September 2015 at 9:04 pm

        1. The DUE AUTHORITY conspiracy theory conflates and confuses the idea of the British Crown and the notion of the Crown itself… As it stands, when we refer to the “Crown” in New Zealand law, we are not referring to the British Crown. Rather, we are referring to Parliament.

        2.The DUE AUTHORITY conspiracy theory takes it that changing the flag changes our constitutional conventions.

        Given that Parliament is sovereign, if Parliament changes the flag, then nothing really changes… a change in flag will not make it easier for the government to sign the TPPA. That is because – at the moment – all Cabinet need do is agree to the text of the TPPA, and sign it for it to come into effect. For sure, Parliament will then need to pass laws which take our new international agreements into consideration, but even if we keep the current flag, the British Crown (via the Governor General) will not be stepping in to say “No!”

        http://all-embracing.episto.org/2015/09/07/with-due-deference-the-due-authority-flag-conspiracy-theory-is-rubbish/

        Also:

        When the key concept referred to throughout the theory – DUE AUTHORITY – is capitalised, you can be pretty sure there is a reason the person writing it feels it necessary to lexilogically shout at you. Because what they are shouting means nothing.

        And when you are told that the effect of this change will be to overide key constitutional legislation that doesn’t even exist – the purported Bill of Rights Act 1981 – you can be pretty sure the person writing doesn’t know what they are talking about.

        http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/my-sole-contribution-to-the-great-flag-conspiracy

    • JanM 13.2
      10 September 2015 at 12:02 pm

      In fact, just a thought, but if all he wants is a change, maybe he will concede a ‘generous’ inclusion of the red peak, and we will all be so pathetically grateful we will vote for it. Change of flag – JD!

  14. AmaKiwi 14
    10 September 2015 at 12:07 pm

    “Process.”

    Anthony, you have identified the tragic flaw in our governmental problem solving model, the process by which decisions are made.

    Social scientists long ago proved the best solutions are developed by group problem solving. Inclusive problem solving. EVERYONE impacted is part of designing a solution, not just the dictator and cronies, all purchased with campaign bribes.

    The winners write history so our heritage praises “strong leaders,” i.e. petty dictators, usually from the nobility. “We remember our honored dead” whose self-serving dictators sent them to the slaughter to maintain the wealthy class. I’ll support a war on ISIS when Max Key joins the infantry and risks his neck on the front line.

    They couldn’t include us in the flag process because they don’t anything except top-down problem solving. Can a wolf herd sheep?

  15. James 15
    10 September 2015 at 12:13 pm

    I think you will find it far less popular than you think:

    http://umr.co.nz/sites/umr/files/umr_flag_referendum_full_edition_-_aug_2015.pdf

    with the Lockwood designs being by far the most popular.

    • weka 15.1
      10 September 2015 at 12:16 pm

      those are set questions that don’t really apply to this thread though. Plus the polling period was before the Red Peak thing really took off.

      • Lanthanide 15.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 12:43 pm

        “Plus the polling period was before the Red Peak thing really took off.”

        Yeah, so it’s a reflection of what people actually think about it as a flag, and not all the hype and bluster that has built up (like people who want to ‘stick it to John Key’ etc).

        The UMR poll breaks it down by political affiliation as well. Green party voters actually disliked Red Peak and the close variant of it more than Labour or National voters did.

        Maori also disliked it, presumably because they thought abstract triangles don’t represent them.

        • Naturesong 15.1.1.1
          10 September 2015 at 2:13 pm

          I think the popularity of Red Peak is largely because when you place it next to the other 4, it’s the only one that looks like an actual flag.

          If Red Peak was a member of the final four I would vote for it. Not because I like it (I’m completely ambivalent about it), but simply because it would be the least worst option.

          So far the only upsides to this whole debacle have been:
          1. On a personal note, it’s made me go back and reacquaint myself with core design principles. Yay personal growth!
          2. It reveals in a very public way the inability of this government to engage with and represent New Zealanders.
          We’ve seen this before with the Christchurch rebuild, the creation of the Auckland super-city, the removal of democracy from Canterbury, the corruption of process around the conference centre in Auckland … the list goes on.

        • Pascals bookie 15.1.1.2
          10 September 2015 at 7:45 pm

          Funny thing is the number of people who say they lie it who say they didn’t like it before reading about it.

          This is really common. It’s how abstract designs work.
          If you know nothing about what it can mean, it means nothing. They dont; shout their meaning.

          Like the Irish, UK, French, South African, and US flags. All abstract, all imbued with meaning though.

          If you knew nothing about Ireland, or it’s history, their flag would need to be explained to you. Would take about 20 seconds tops. Complaining that it would be better if had pictures of things that symbolised Belfast and Dublin shaking hands or whatever would completely miss the point, and not detract from the fact that Green orange and white has meaning.

          It only takes a few seconds to read what the code is, or a bit longer to create one for yourself. After that, if you still maintain it has no meaning then seriously, it’s you that is being the dick.

          It’s not pointy headed intellectualism either. The meaning is no less abstract than the symbolism behind the Silver Fern, for example.

          So the sneering about triangles and what not is just snobbery of a different type.

          You don’t have to like the flag, like whatever you want. But sneering that it’s meaningless, or implying that people who have changed their mind about are lying to themselves, is just bullshit.

    • Tracey 15.2
      10 September 2015 at 12:34 pm

      48% wanted to keep the current flag…

  16. James 16
    10 September 2015 at 12:20 pm

    Of course it does.

    It shows that it was not a preferred option for most people.

    Just because a a petition and a facebook page of self selecting people does not actually mean that the majority of people like it, nor that the very clear process should be changed.

    C

    • Tracey 16.1
      10 September 2015 at 12:36 pm

      The poll you quoted seems to suggest that the process should have begin a different way;

      Do you want to change the NZ flag

      Yes or No

      • Lanthanide 16.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 12:46 pm

        Which is also not a fair question, because asking “do you want to change the flag” without giving an alternative choice is, by it’s nature, going to lean heavily towards keeping the current flag.

        Just the same as someone mentioned here yesterday, the average NZ when asked who they would like to be the PM, just say John Key because it is literally the only leader whose name they know.

        If people only know what the current flag is, they’ll just say they want to keep it.

        • Tracey 16.1.1.1
          10 September 2015 at 12:49 pm

          The poll suggests it is 50/50 (with another option), so my point is that until we know why we want to change it, have that discussion/debate the rest has been futile and is just becoming a big mess.

          However, I know many people who prior to Key even bringing this up did want to change the flag. Including me. Some of them now don’t.

        • Psycho Milt 16.1.1.2
          10 September 2015 at 1:09 pm

          Which is also not a fair question, because asking “do you want to change the flag” without giving an alternative choice is, by it’s nature, going to lean heavily towards keeping the current flag.

          Nothing unfair about it all. If the PM gets it into his head that the country should have a new flag and he’ll use our money to hold a referendum on the subject, the fairly obvious first question to ask is whether anyone else thinks the country should have a new flag.

          Answering that question first would quite likely spare us the expense (and the opportunity for international ridicule) of paying a bunch of people to travel the country drumming up ideas for what could replace the existing flag that we haven’t agreed needs replacing yet.

          • Tracey 16.1.1.2.1
            10 September 2015 at 1:12 pm

            I agree (obviously). It’s no more unfair than asking me to choose between the existing flag (which I want changed) and 4 designs which I think suck.

            • Clemgeopin 16.1.1.2.1.1
              10 September 2015 at 4:39 pm

              (Assume every one has a partner and have not shown a desire to separate)

              Referendum one : Which of these four new individuals, three of whom are triplets and one other is weird, do you like?

              Referendum Two : Do you want a divorce?

        • GregJ 16.1.1.3
          10 September 2015 at 5:44 pm

          Or they could have chosen 4 designs (or even up to 9 designs) – included the current flag and then had one referendum where you simply rank the flags and the one that reaches over 50% is the flag.

          Or they could have started with a referendum on whether we want a flag at all.

          Simpler of course to have a Yes/no vote though on the current flag and then to have had a design process (& spent the additional money) if the Yes (Change the flag) vote won followed by a 2nd referendum.

          Key (I struggle to think it was actually the National Party in its entirety) just misread his sport (rugby?) loving supporters though – thinking that as they were happy waving Adidas branded All Black Silver fern flags at test matches they would also be happy to have the fern as a new National Flag to add to his political legacy along with his Knighthood. He seems to have forgotten their inherent conservatism, their bordering on jingoistic nationalism, and the emotional attachment they have to the flag, war, ancestors, British colonial heritage, and anything that doesn’t embrace the more “dangerous” aspects of biculturalism (Haka – OK; Bilingual National Anthem – sort of OK now; Te Tiriti (ToW), Te Reo in other contexts, ToW claims, Tikanga – not)

          Farce. Expensive farce. Divisive, expensive farce. Distracting, divisive, expensive farce.

    • weka 16.2
      10 September 2015 at 1:01 pm

      “It shows that it was not a preferred option for most people.”

      The poll was asking questions for a specific purpose. It’s certainly useful in that sense. But it’s not really relevant to what this post is about.

      “Just because a a petition and a facebook page of self selecting people does not actually mean that the majority of people like it, nor that the very clear process should be changed.”

      AFAIK no-one has claimed that Red Peak is prefered by the majority of people. Lots of people have been really exicted by it though, which isn’t something that the poll measured.

      If you have some actual argument about the process and why it was good, why not post those thoughts? That’s what the thread is about and r0b makes some quite specific points.

  17. Majic Mike 17
    10 September 2015 at 12:30 pm

    James all the right wing nut jobs including the National front want to keep the existing flag.
    So I am betting $26 million for John Keys vanity project .
    Wasted.

  18. Ilicit 18
    10 September 2015 at 1:52 pm

    This whole flag is a debacle of the highest order, it pulling us apart instead of uniting us.

    Is there not one legal mind out there that can bring this whole thing to a stop ?

    If we want to change the flag, let’s do it by proper process, not like a JK kangaroo court.

    Makes me feel ashamed that we even have to follow such a shoddy process !!!

    • Tracey 18.1
      10 September 2015 at 2:06 pm

      We don’t need legal minds, we need people to stop thinking about themselves only.
      We have slowly but surely moved to a place in NZ where judging dn condemning others is as close as we get to “community”. What’s best for me? What will I get out of this?

      It’s not about communism or socialism it is about understanding interdependence and community. Through which we all thrive. We are selfish and the flag debate has exposed us for what we are, a bunch of individuals who don’t know what the whole stands for anymore.

    • James 18.2
      10 September 2015 at 2:24 pm

      They have a proper process.

      Just a lot on here dont like it and now want something else.

  19. JanM 19
    10 September 2015 at 1:57 pm

    Like lemmings we go, bless us!

  20. Wayne 20
    10 September 2015 at 2:13 pm

    I can only assume that you have collectively decided that the best way to get Red Peak included as one of the four is to spend your time insulting the person who you are seeking to persuade.

    Or is it the case that the Red Peak campaign is not really about trying to get it included in the four, but is simply another means of generally attacking John Key. Usually by finding different ways of saying how shallow he is/how lacking in empathy he is/how money grubbing he is/how shoddy he is/how much he is unsuited to office/or any of a hundred other variations on this theme.

    • Clemgeopin 20.1
      10 September 2015 at 2:20 pm

      Will you vote to retain the current flag, Wayne? If not, which of the four flags do you prefer?

      • Wayne 20.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 2:36 pm

        I will be going for the Kyle Lockwood flag (red white and blue), though I can live with the black and blue version. In short I support change.

        But I do hope the silver fern can be redesigned in the final version. The Kyle Lockwood one is just not quite right.

        I would have preferred a choice with the fern going the full diagonal as in the black and white flag among the final four. But that option (black and white) just does not do it for me.

        I personally would be quite happy to see the Red Peak replace the least popular of the existing four choices.

        Incidentally I have been wearing the silver fern on the lapel of my suit jacket for 15 years, usually the WW1 NZ Rifle Brigade version.

        So yes, I prefer the fern to the Union Jack. And it works on a flag, just as the maple leaf does on the Canadian flag.

        • BM 20.1.1.1
          10 September 2015 at 3:09 pm

          Good idea.

          Keep it at 4, but replace the koru flag with the red peak flag.

          I’m sure all the lefties would be happy with that

          • Clemgeopin 20.1.1.1.1
            10 September 2015 at 3:55 pm

            “replace the koru flag with the red peak flag.”

            But that is the only one with a Maori theme and you want to discard it?
            Racist much?

            • Lanthanide 20.1.1.1.1.1
              10 September 2015 at 4:52 pm

              How is a fern frond unfurling a “Maori theme”, yet a fern frond itself is not?

              • Clemgeopin …
                10 September 2015 at 5:51 pm

                THE KORU MEANING IN MAORI DESIGN

                In Maori design, the koru has a dual meaning. It is commonly used in Maori art as a symbol of creation because of its fluid circular shape. Based on the unfurling fern frond of the native New Zealand silver fern, the circular shape of the koru conveys the idea of perpetual movement, while it’s inner coil, the corm with rolled up inner leaflets, suggests a return to the point of origin. In the larger scheme, this is a metaphor for the way in which life both changes and stays the same.

                Harmony

                Between the chaos of change and calm of the everyday, there is a point of equilibrium, a state of harmony in life. In its balanced shape the koru represents this.

                New Beginnings

                The koru is also said to represent new life. Literally speaking, the baby fern frond slowly unwinds over its adolescent lifetime as it grows into a mature frond. It then opens into a brand new leaf on the silver fern plant where it ages and then dies. This is the fern fronds life cycle. When the silver fern leaf is a frond in its lifecycle, it’s a baby; therefore people associate the koru design with new life.

                Here, enjoy this:
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c9Zi3WFVRc&feature=youtu.be

                And this:
                http://www.mountainjade.co.nz/blog/the-koru-meaning-new-life-harmony/

            • James 20.1.1.1.1.2
              10 September 2015 at 6:26 pm

              Or – it might just be the one he likes the least?

              But – pull out the racist card if you think that helps your argument.

        • Naturesong 20.1.1.2
          10 September 2015 at 3:15 pm

          From a design perspective the maple leaf and the fern are completely different – the only similarity is that they are both leaves.

          The Maple leaf is never mistaken for anything other than a maple leaf. It is also devastatingly simple and symmetrical, in short, if you weren’t aware it represented a country it would still look iconic.
          The fern representation is asymmetrical and busy. It is also most often mistaken for a feather, and being white has a very specific meaning to New Zealanders.

          My preference is to have the flag debate once we become a republic. But, should a flag design appear that is as iconic as say, the La Albiceleste (Argentina), Saltire (Scotland), Hinomaru (Japan) or Maple Leaf (Canada) I would recognise the opportunity and support an earlier change.

          This government’s desire to change New Zealand’s flag has been poorly served by the process they implemented in order to make that change.
          As a result we have 4 poor designs offered to the New Zealand public.

          I think the only reason Red Peak is spiking in popularity is because when you put it next to the 4 designs that were selected by the panel, many people realise that Red Peak works better as an actual flag.

          • Lanthanide 20.1.1.2.1
            10 September 2015 at 4:54 pm

            And yet it was amongst the most unpopular out of the 40 flags in the UMR poll.

            • Naturesong 20.1.1.2.1.1
              10 September 2015 at 5:10 pm

              Yes.

              I don’t care for it either.
              But it does look more like a flag a country would have than the panel selected ones.
              And it’s less cringeworthy or outright bad (all hail @hypnoflag) than what’s on offer.

              I expect there is some opportunistic mischief making happening as well, but the current line of “it’s the crazy lefties trying to make poor John Key’s life harder” is plainly absurd.

            • Pascals bookie 20.1.1.2.1.2
              10 September 2015 at 8:08 pm

              So what Lanth?

              Do you actually think that’s an argument with any merit? Do you think it responds to what you were responding to?

              The Panel’s job was to select a range of choices for the public to rank. they eliminated choices of style, we get to choose which Fern design we want. If you like abstract designs and think they are fitting, you don’t get to say so. You have to rank a Fern at least 2nd.

              If you think the nz flag should have some green on it, out of luck. That choice has been denied to you.

              11/40 of the longlist were ferns, 3/4 of the shortlist. The Panel was explicitly tasked with not seeking public submissions on the long list. The choices were theirs to make. So popularity it is actually against this principle to weight the UMR poll heavily in making the choice about what was to go on the short list.

              The Panel was tasked with ensuring that deigns were not favoured by process, As part of that process they then went and chose three fern designs out of four. They say this doesn’t matter because the ferns are different. But they have stacked the deck in favour of ‘ferns’. You have to rank a fern second at worst. Cabinet then signed off on it with Key announcing it was a pretty ‘good mix’. I can only assume he meant a good mix of the design style he likes, because you cannot look at the long list and say it was a good mix of design styles submitted.

              The process has been a farce mate, the Panel fucked up when you look at what they were actually asked to do. they bottled it, and just went with white bread options so we literally have no input on whether or not we want white bread. There is no room for a debate or discussion, even though the fern would have probably won. It had a huge headstart, but nope no chance given. Three bloody ferns. It’s ridic.

              If you’re defending it, you’re ridic.

              • Lanthanide …
                10 September 2015 at 9:20 pm

                I’m sorry, but looking at the UMR poll – the only statistically significant and scientific poll I know of about the 40 flags – the panel got it about right. As UMR’s own press release says.

                Red Peak was 4th most unfavourable, and the very visually similar design was only a smidgen ahead at 2nd most unfavourable. That is out of 40 flags. The offensive re-rendering of the union jack was rightly judged least favourite – if you take that one off the table, then Red Peak and it’s doppelgänger held 2 of the bottom 3 positions.

                http://umr.co.nz/sites/umr/files/umr_flag_referendum_-_red_peak_-_aug_2015.pdf

                The top 4 most favourite flags were Lockwood’s designs, way out ahead of everything else, with the red/blue and black/blue being clearly ahead of the black/black and red/black combinations.

                The other two shortlisted flags, weren’t so highly ranked; the fern was at #15 and the hypoflag was languishing down at #33 – but still higher than Red Peak or it’s doppelgänger.

                Clearly the public like ferns and in particular Lockwood’s design.

                All of the “design combinations”, stars were the highest choice, followed by ferns. “Alternative / modern” was dead last at lowest preference.

                http://umr.co.nz/sites/umr/files/umr_flag_referendum_full_edition_-_aug_2015.pdf

                Do you actually think that’s an argument with any merit?

                It’s an argument with statistical backing behind it, so I think that makes it head-and-shoulders above anyone else’s personal opinions or ‘reckons’.

                • Lanthanide …
                  10 September 2015 at 9:36 pm

                  I should also point out, that had the FCP actually reflected the public mood, we’d now be picking between which of the 4 colour variants of Lockwood’s design was best, since they scored top 4 in the UMR poll – again clearly ahead of the rest of the pack. The least popular of Lockwood’s main design, the red/black variant, was still picked twice as much for first preference as the next most preferred flag.

                  Of course had the FCP done that, they’d be getting even more scorn levelled at them from a certain section of society that just can’t deal with others having opinions different to their own.

                  If anything, the FCP engaged in a bit of affirmative action – picking flags from way-down the popularity list, so as to avoid it looking like an All-Lockwood-All-The-Time Show, despite that clearly being the public preference.

                  • Pascals bookie …
                    10 September 2015 at 10:00 pm

                    Way to completely miss my point there Lanth, thanks.

                    The Panel was not supposed to take submissions on the long list. Determining the short list was not supposed to be a popularity contest. that popularity contest is the referendum. Certainly it should be A factor, but not so powerful. One of the Lockwoods should have been in. No one is denying that. No one. Using the UMR poll to so heavily guide their decision pre-empts the debate.

                    What was popular before the debate on the short listed option, may not be popular after it. That is why we have a debate, so that people can discuss a smaller number of options. Debating 40 options would be too many. they decided four would be a good number, It could have been higher (South Africa went with 6), but never mind.

                    The Lockwood designs are popular. No one is disputing that. No one is denying that the selected designs are the ones that are popular before the debate started.

                    What people are saying, is that doesn’t really matter. What we needed, or wanted, what the panel should have done (if you read the docs about what their job was) was to select a range of options. They have not, that have selected a range of one option.

                    As for discounting reckons, look at what you said about the Black Jack design, you find it offensive. So what? It was ranked low by many, it was also in the top four for many groups. Should not they, those who selected it into their top four, be given a chance to make their case for it? Even based on your weird idea that popularity before the debate should be the deciding factor?

                    Apparently not because you ‘reckon’ it’s offensive so you discard the part of the ‘statistics’ that don’t support your reckon.

                    • Lanthanide …
                      12 September 2015 at 12:11 pm

                      So lets look at two different alternatives for the flag committee, who were tasked with putting up 4 flags that people would choose from:

                      1. Knowing that the public highly prefer ferns and stars, they could put up 4 flags that all contain ferns and stars, so the best particular fern-star design could be chosen by the public.

                      2. Knowing that the public highly prefer ferns and stars, they could put up a single flag that contains ferns and stars, and then 3 other flags that don’t have ferns or stars.

                      Neither of the above actually happened in practice, which is good. You seem to be advocating they should have done #2, even though that would have meant putting in 3 sure-losers and ensuring that we got to choose only the single fern/star flag that they chose and nothing else. If they had gone with #2, then there would be even more howls of outrage that the process was being rail-roaded than there are at the moment.

                      I agree that the FCP should have shortlisted 6 flags and not 4, but we can’t blame them for operating under the legislation that they were formed under.

                      As for discounting reckons, look at what you said about the Black Jack design, you find it offensive.

                      Sorry, but that’s not “a reckon” on my part.

                      What are some offensive things you can do to another countries flag?

                      1. Deface it and fly it privately in your back yard where limited numbers of people would see it
                      2. Stand on it and scuff it
                      3. Heap manure on it
                      4. Set it on fire
                      5. Deface it and incorporate it into your countries official flag, where it will be flown on many public buildings up and down the country, and be used to represent the country in official diplomatic circumstances, as well as globally recognised sporting and cultural events.

                      It’s not my personal “reckon” that defacing another countries flag is offensive. It’s simply plain common sense. I’d be interested in your argument disputing that defacing another country’s flag is not widely seen as offensive.

                      It was ranked low by many, it was also in the top four for many groups.

                      Yeah, and so there’s you answer: a flag that is overwhelmingly ranked lowly by most groups, should *not* take up a spot in the top 4 to be voted on by the whole country, because it has *zero* chance of winning.

                      so you discard the part of the ‘statistics’ that don’t support your reckon.

                      No, it is YOU who is discarding the unfavourable ratings and saying that metric shouldn’t play a part in shortlisting the 4 flags – just as you’re saying Red Peak and it’s unfavourable doppelgänger should be shortlisted even though they’re overwhelmingly disliked. I am taking both the unfavourable and favourable ratings into account – pretty easy to subtract unfavourable ratings from favourable ratings and then decide what to include based on that.

                      The American’s know this – when looking at presidential candidates, they poll and gauge both favourable and unfavourable ratings for each candidate, and use this information together to predict their future performance.

                    • Pascals bookie …
                      12 September 2015 at 2:34 pm

                      It is ‘your reckon’ that Black Jack ‘defaces another country’s flag’.

                      You might think that was the intent, I think that’s pretty weird to think.

                      It’s clearly an evolution of the New Zealand flag. That’s our flag, not ‘another country’s’. the fact that the jack is on our flag currently seems to have slipped right passed you. How is that not defacement and offensive?

                      Or is the offensiveness that it has been adapted to include references to NZ?

                      And I didn’t ignore that many don’t like it. You however have still not really grappled with the fact that many do. Subtracting the haters from the likers is irrelevant.

                      The UMR poll is not supposed to determine the debate Lanth.

                      Why even have a referendum if the results of the UMR poll are supposed to be used to eliminate contenders?

                      Why even have debate, just do a poll, and declare the winner.

                      I repeatedly said that a Lockwood fully deserves to be in the shortlist.

                      You haven’t really explained why supporters of other styles of flags that made many ‘top fours’ have been denied the opportunity to make their case.

                      The supporters of the Lockwood fans have two, and probably three of their top four options. If they only had one, they may have been disappointed to a degree, but they would have one of their top four options, something they told UMR they would be happy with.

                      Do you think that they many people writing articles and blog posts saying they did like the fern, even submitted fern designs, but have come around to liking Red Peak are lying?

                      Or do you think it is just possible that debate can influence views, that people can actually change their mind based on someone making a case in a debate?

                      That’s what has been lost, and I’d still like to hear your thoughts on why that is a good thing.

                      More repetition of the tired point that ‘before the debate started the Lockwoods were the obvious winner, so we should only be allowed to choose between them’ not so much.

                    • Pascals bookie …
                      12 September 2015 at 2:39 pm

                      “Yeah, and so there’s you answer: a flag that is overwhelmingly ranked lowly by most groups, should *not* take up a spot in the top 4 to be voted on by the whole country, because it has *zero* chance of winning.”

                      This is just silly. For a start. I never said it should be in the top four, I said you had made a silly argument for excluding it.

                      But, say that flag is ranked highly by many groups, so they rank it 1, but the opponents of it rank it three because there is another flag they hate more, then it could make it through to the second round quite easily. The iterations can’t be predicted Lanth. especially before the debate takes place.

                    • Pascals bookie …
                      12 September 2015 at 2:41 pm

                      I would also like you to explain why you think the Panels job was to predict what would win, rather than to do all the things listed in their various dox.

              • Clemgeopin …
                10 September 2015 at 9:22 pm

                +1. Well said! Wish I could say it that well.

        • Clemgeopin 20.1.1.3
          10 September 2015 at 4:18 pm

          @Wayne:
          But you must sense that this whole ‘un-asked-for’ manipulated exercise has been set up through the crooked machinations of one man, right?

          For that reason alone, we should reject this process for now and reconsider it at some future date when there is a wider public desire. This present shamefully shoddy scheme has only succeeded in dividing the country very badly.

          The way to conduct a fair, acceptable and binding referendum is the way Mr Jim Bolger went about the MMP electoral process. He took the public demand into consideration, secured broad agreements/understanding with the opposition for the process, was hands off after that, displaying honesty, integrity and statesmanship.

          Key, not so much. A disgrace.

          P.S:
          Your suggestion that if Lockwood’s logo wins, you would want the leaf structure changed may require another referendum! Cool bananas.

    • marty mars 20.2
      10 September 2015 at 2:21 pm

      “Usually by finding different ways of saying how shallow he is/how lacking in empathy he is/how money grubbing he is/how shoddy he is/how much he is unsuited to office/or any of a hundred other variations on this theme.”

      lol thanks wayne – can you put down at least 20 to show what you mean ta

    • Naturesong 20.3
      10 September 2015 at 2:26 pm

      I’m continually surprised that an ex-MP and cabinet minister displays such shallow thinking and indulges himself with conspiracy theories.

      Every time I read your comments here I think to my self that you’re just trolling the readers, and will later in the thread present a well-reasoned cogent argument with a sly wink as if to say “Ha ha, fooled you.”

      And every time I’m disappointed.
      I then remind myself that you were Minister of Defence, and Minister of Research, Science and Technology!?! and current member of the law comission.
      And I do wonder, did you lose your ability to reason before entering Parliament, or after?

  21. KeepLeft 21
    10 September 2015 at 2:36 pm

    So long as the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa remain disenfranchised changing the flag will be nothing but a farce. Only when there is Maori Upper House, created according to Te Tiriti of Waitangi, and giving power to Maori as the true custodians of the land, will a flag change be justified! Kia kaha!

  22. Ilicit 22
    10 September 2015 at 2:47 pm

    I wish your ideals well Tracey, but whilst our general population has been sucked in by a man who every day reveals his vanity, the hoards are not “yet” behind you.

    There simply has to be tiny bit of hidden law that can topple him, but I only worked for the law, doesn’t mean I had a library devoted to it.

    Apart from your suggestion that the community takes over, akin to some sort of anarchy (which I am happy to think is what is needed right now)……………..

    A bit of legal finesse could kill this issue right now, dead in the water so to speak….

    But you see, few with legal minds can’t afford to lose their “porridge” which is provided by our masters.

    Porridge is not even something I can afford, but dare take that away from the leeches, the bottom feeders, who survive on injustice !!

    May Chen, bury your head in shame, your PM loves you to bits, your tireless effort to keep the rich, rich, may well be your epitaph…..

    And Tracey will rest happy knowing that some bastard destroyed the country we both knew and loved……………………but. she’ll know his name…..

  23. infused 23
    10 September 2015 at 6:25 pm

    Get over it. People had their chance. It scored almost at the bottom.

    Red peak looks like shit.

  24. McFlock 24
    10 September 2015 at 6:42 pm

    I’m voting for the koru.
    Then in the next referendum I’ll vote for the one that doesn’t look like a monkey butt. 🙂

  25. rhinocrates 25
    11 September 2015 at 12:03 pm

    Conflict of interest in the flag panel – surprise!

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11511139

    One of the Flag Consideration Panel members who helped to pick the final four options sits on a government board where her job is to help promote the Fern Mark logo

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    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    14 hours ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    15 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    16 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    18 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    18 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    19 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    22 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    23 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    24 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
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  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
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  • Government backing mussel spat project
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
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  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
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  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
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  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
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