Fletcher-Key meetings: networks of influence

Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, April 24th, 2013 - 90 comments
Categories: accountability, class war, john key, slippery, Spying - Tags: , ,

Well, now it comes out that Key met with Ian Fletcher on several occasions before and immediately after Fletcher was appointed to the top job at the GCSB.  As I argued previously, in “Networks of influence”. Key works to make the most of the (not unusual) strategy of cultivating networks.  For Key, he cultivates certain kinds of networks related to wealth, power, the entertainment industry and intellectual property.

Yesterday, as reported by Andrea Vance, the State Services Commission released information about some meetings between Key and Fletcher, and they are significant in how they slot into the timeline of the appointment of Fletcher to the boss of the GCSB.

  • March 12, 2010 - breakfast Hyatt Regency in Auckland. *
  • June 14, 2011 - Key signed off interview panel
  • June 17, 2011 – Key and Fletcher ate together at Auckland’s Stamford Plaza Hotel

“Three days earlier, Mr Key had signed off on an interview panel for the job, which included then Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet boss Maarten Wevers. Mr Fletcher was the only person to be interviewed for the post, after a shortlist of four other candidates was rejected”

  • May 2011 - GCSB job advertised
  • June 2011 – Key pulls plug on appointment process
  • July 2011 - Key calls Fletcher to tell him about the GCSB job
  • August 3, 2011 - Key phoned Fletcher Rennie phoned Key to update him after his Fletcher's interview
  • September 2011 – Fletcher appointed to GCSB
  • October 3, 2011 - Key and Fletcher both attended dinner at the residence of the British High Commissioner

So, this reinforces just how much Key took a special interest in appointing a crony and a person who had specialised previously in intellectual property and commerce, as well as intervening in the appointment process.  Now Key wants to legalise surveillance of New Zealanders by the GCSB.  The proposed changes to the intelligence services have been criticised by a professor of cyber security and forenics as being “a step towards totalitarianism” and “comparable to Big Brother.”

The Andrea Vance article ends with a list of all the times Key had changed his story over his meetings with Fletcher and his intervention in the appointment process.  Key was clearly covering up the extent of his friendship because of what it reveals about the cronyism, the unusual prime ministerial intervention and Key’s preoccupation with intellectual property, commerce, and the refocusing of the GCSB on such matters.

* And for those that claimed I was making dubious and fictional connections by saying that Key had almost certainly met Fletcher in Auckland around 11 March 2010 – I said it was logical based on the evidence, and so my “almost certain” turns out  to be proved certain.

90 comments on “Fletcher-Key meetings: networks of influence ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Tigger 1
    24 April 2013 at 8:32 am

    The reputations of Fletcher and Rennie have both been irreparably damaged by Key’s lies.

    Vance has done a pretty good job of letting the facts speak here.

    More to come? How soon before Collins uses this to roll Key?

  2. felix 2
    24 April 2013 at 8:46 am

    And before all the wingnuts turn up to say ‘So what? Nothing wrong with having breakfast’ the significance is that he has lied about it at every turn.

    • wyndham 2.1
      24 April 2013 at 8:52 am

      And he always looked as though he was lying!

      • Jim Nald 2.1.1
        24 April 2013 at 9:21 am

        All along, it was obvious he was lying.
        It has been a matter of pinning down the bastard.

        • Vagabundo 2.1.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 8:44 am

          And the fact that he’s lied about it from the get-go raises the question of “Why?” Why is he lying about it? Is he trying to hide something? What might that be?

          I hope the irony of the fact that had Key been a little more upfront about his role in the selection process, a lot of this would have quietly blown over isn’t lost on him.

    • Mary 2.2
      24 April 2013 at 10:57 am

      That’s right. When I saw Andrea Vance’s article I thought the media would be all over it, for the lying alone.

      • karol 2.2.1
        24 April 2013 at 11:04 am

        Yes. I can’t make any sense of the NZ Herald article on it that headlines: No mention of Key recommendation/shoulder tap in papers on GCSB appointment. I guess it says the details of the meetings don’t explicitly say that Key intervened in the appointment process:

        None of the historic documents released today by the State Services Commission on the appointment of Ian Fletcher as director of the Government Communications Security Bureau indicate that Prime Minister John Key knew him or shoulder-tapped him for the job.

        So the fact that Key met Fletcher for a breakfasts etc prior to his phone call notifying Fletcher of the job vacancy, is not evidence that Key knew Fletcher?

        • RJL 2.2.1.1
          24 April 2013 at 11:15 am

          The point is that the documents should have mentioned Key’s involvement, if he was being clear and transparent during the appointment process about his supposedly entirely legal and innocent involvement. It’s like declaring a conflict of interest — the declaration should actually be properly documented.

          • karol 2.2.1.1.1
            24 April 2013 at 11:20 am

            Yes that’s the point Robertson is making, as quoted in the article. Yet the article obscures that, and manages to bury it in the middle of a confusing report.

            I think many readers will read the article as saying the newly released papers exonerate Key.

    • TheContrarian 2.3
      24 April 2013 at 11:06 am

      Don’t you mean ‘forgetting’?

      My 90 yr old grandmother has a better memory track record than Key

      • felix 2.3.1
        24 April 2013 at 11:20 am

        No, I mean lying.

      • freedom 2.3.2
        24 April 2013 at 11:58 am

        On this declaration alone, In the House, Key has flat out lied about [breakfasts/lunches/dinners/petanque games/spabaths and who knows what else] with regards to Fletcher on three separate occassions that I have witnessed, and I have not seen every sitting this past month

    • QoT 2.4
      24 April 2013 at 6:05 pm

      Only because he knew us lefties hate breakfast and would turn an innocent act of hash browns against him.

  3. Lanthanide 3
    24 April 2013 at 9:14 am

    In politics it’s always the coverup that gets you.

  4. ghostwhowalksnz 4
    24 April 2013 at 9:50 am

    Interesting that Key denies ‘discussing the interview’, which could be strictly correct.

    As by now it was obvious to both men that Fletcher was going to get the job – the only applicant- and more important was what happens afterwards.

    Im sure they discussed GCSB matters in general and maybe more specific items we dont yet know about

  5. ianmac 5
    24 April 2013 at 9:57 am

    Put this in wrong place:
    I’ve been thinking. Let’s assume that Mr Key believed at the time that he was acting unlawfully in his recruitment. He would feel obliged to duck and dive to avoid scrutiny. And did so until a week after the question was raised, he discovered that what he did was actually legal. Oh the agony! Oh the irony!
    All that ducking for nothing. Fire that PR man and lick your unnecessary wounds.

  6. Linz 6
    24 April 2013 at 10:27 am

    •June 2012 – Key pulls plug on appointment process
    Shouldn’t that be June 2011?

  7. One Anonymous Knucklehead 7
    24 April 2013 at 10:34 am

    In the whole Army none should be closer to the commander than their spies.
    None more highly rewarded. None more confidentially treated.     Tzun Tsu.

    What rewards has Key offered? What confidences?

    • freedom 7.1
      24 April 2013 at 11:23 am

      “Sadistic crap legitimized by florid prose” Simon Tam -Firefly

      yeah Key is probably a fan

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 7.1.1
        24 April 2013 at 1:11 pm

        “Sadistic”? I suppose someone who hadn’t read it might think so.

  8. Logie97 8
    24 April 2013 at 11:01 am

    So Key in all probability also knew that the agencies of a “friendly-foreign-power” were interested in someone residing in New Zealand and wanted to conduct a secretive raid on this individual. It just beggars belief that the leader of a sovereign nation would not be briefed on such a situation.

    Anyone giving odds that this will also be exposed sooner than later?

    • Red Rosa 8.1
      24 April 2013 at 12:11 pm

      +1. Onto it. Key has been following orders from Washington on DotCom, right from square one.

      • Colonial Viper 8.1.1
        24 April 2013 at 12:12 pm

        And not just Dotcom I’ll wager. This security and surveillance expansion too, most likely.

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    24 April 2013 at 11:01 am

    At this point Key should either be resigning in shame or being fired. Neither will happen because Key doesn’t feel shame for lying to NZ and because National have no principles.

    • freedom 9.1
      24 April 2013 at 11:26 am

      can the GG can sack him for failing in his duties to protect the sovereignty of New Zealand and the integrity of the Office Of Prime Minister? If not why not! 🙂

      • ghostrider888 9.1.1
        24 April 2013 at 11:48 am

        from a poll reported on ONE;
        Trust in the GCSB;
        -NOT=32%
        -in the middle =33%
        (now, combined, for ya average New Zealander, that is quite significant mistrust)

        • karol 9.1.1.1
          24 April 2013 at 11:56 am

          The report on the poll is here:

          Security expert Paul Buchanan said the proportion who do not have full confidence in the intelligence agencies is quite extraordinary.

          “It shows a degree of skepticism on behalf of the New Zealand public,” Buchanan said.

          Labour deputy leader Grant Robertson said there is no doubt that the Kim Dotcom affair “and all of the things that have followed with that” has damaged New Zealanders’ confidence in the GCSB.

          Buchanan said that lack of confidence could have a flow-on effect.

          “It is very possible that we will not see our allies share sensitive intelligence with us in specific instances,” he said.

          The poll also shows a political divide. Those who tend to trust the intelligence agencies are more likely to support the National Party, and those who are more suspicious tend to vote for Labour or the Greens.

          That last sentence could be indication of a chicken-egg situation – support of the National Party may have been eroded by the GCSB revelations.

      • Red Rosa 9.1.2
        24 April 2013 at 4:35 pm

        The GG? Mataparae was director of the GCSB himself for a while, in 2011, before resigning to take up the GG position. The whole thing gets murkier and murkier….

        Key has been twitchy every time DotCom questions are raised, and no wonder. He has to tell a complex and barely credible story which would test the best actor’s memory.

        Key should never have denied knowing DotCom to begin with. Half the Helensville schoolkids could have given him chapter and verse on the man, his cars and his mansion. After that porkie, has credibility just keeps winding down.

      • Anne 9.1.3
        24 April 2013 at 6:35 pm

        Gough Whitlam was sacked by the Aussie GG – Kerr. His crime? He upset the Yanks but we never did get to find out why…

        • prism 9.1.3.1
          24 April 2013 at 8:03 pm

          Anne
          Wasn’t there a plan for some very large investment in developing rice growing in the north of Australia, very ambitious – think-big stuff – and to be funded by borrowings from Pakistan or such? Anyone who knows better can put me right if they want. Could have been that this didn’t show the proper orientation which was to the friendly USA ally.

          • Anne 9.1.3.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 9:29 am

            @ prism
            I don’t think there was much love lost between the USA and Gough Whitlam. A bit of research has brought it back to me. Whitlam was trying to cool relations with the USA and he was also wanting to reduce the power of the Australian Senate and (perhaps) get rid of them altogether. The Senate got wind of it and voted down the Whitlam govt’s money supply thus preventing them from being able to govern. The G.G. stepped in and sacked Whitlam.

            The irony is: according to one recently ‘leaked document’ the Americans predicted Whitlam wouldn’t last long which is code for saying… we told Kerr and his mates to get rid of him.

  10. Penny Bright 10
    24 April 2013 at 11:39 am

    How can ANYONE believe a word this ex-foreign exchange dealer /
    derivatives market gambler / Prime Minister of New Zealand – shonky John Key says?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8588475/Key-met-spy-candidate-for-breakfast

    PS: I was contacted by the Counsel for the GCSB on Friday 19 April 2013, and told I would get a reply to my Privacy Act request within 20 working days.

    So – by 9 May 2013 – I expect to know whether or not I an one of the 88 New Zealanders whom has been unlawfully spied upon by the GCSB.

    Good enough for me – good enough for others.

    Remember – if YOU want to know if you are one of those 88 New Zealanders, send
    a Privacy Act request directly to the GCSB – Information@gcsb.govt.nz

    You can phone the GCSB directly – (04) 472 6881

    Cheers!

    Penny Bright’
    ‘Anti-corruption/anti-privatisation’ campaigner

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

  11. Chris 11
    24 April 2013 at 11:56 am

    Just a point the article doesn’t say that Key called Fletcher on August 3. It says that Rennie rang Key to update him.

    • karol 11.1
      24 April 2013 at 12:01 pm

      Thanks, Chris – my error and it has been corrected.

      • Chris 11.1.1
        24 April 2013 at 4:45 pm

        After looking around a bit more doesn’t look like it was your error. According to Whaleoil it did use to say that Key rang Fletcher (including in the print version of the article) and was later updated to say Rennie rang Key

        • felix 11.1.1.1
          24 April 2013 at 5:46 pm

          Bit shit of a newspaper – who’s job it is to hold power to account – to change the record when the PM changes his story.

        • karol 11.1.1.2
          24 April 2013 at 6:04 pm

          Ah, thanks, Chris. I just checked with the scan of the hard copy on Press Display. It does indeed say:

          “Mr Key again telephoned phoned Mr Fletcher after his interview, on August 3, to offer an update.”

          I’ve printed that version of the article out for future reference, in case anything else changes.

          I thought I must have misread it this morning before I had enough coffee to focus my brain.

          • Alanz 11.1.1.2.1
            24 April 2013 at 7:37 pm

            Download Cute Pdf and use it to save electronic copies of webpages for the record?
            I have been finding some NZ news or government pages very difficult to locate and have been saving them for future reference.

  12. travellerev 12
    24 April 2013 at 1:35 pm

    That is funny I was sure I posted something here on the subject of Key’s networking and how he has used it before to his advantage. Is this the silent treatment by just removing it without any explanation as to what I did wrong?

    It has happened before and it seems to me that while you do correct others if their behavior displeases you so why not deal the same way with me?

    [lprent: We do. You have to be banned before we silently kill comments. But check in OpenMike if they are off-topic then we sometimes shift them there. If we don’t want them for whatever reason then we put [deleted] on them.

    However a commonish problem when the server is sluggish (as sometimes happens when lots of comments are flowing), you have to wait until the page comes back after you punch in the comment. I’ve lost a few messages on various sites by jumping off elsewhere. These days I tend to duplicate the page (chrome) to work on next before pressing Send. ]

    • karol 12.1
      24 April 2013 at 2:53 pm

      travellerev, are you talking to me? I haven’t removed anything of yours. You assume The Standard posts and moderations are the work of one person.

      • travellerev 12.1.1
        24 April 2013 at 3:48 pm

        Hi Karol,

        No, I don’t assume that at all Karol. I just made a general approach because I don’t know who was moderating today, ‘s all.

        If you were the moderator and did not remove anything of mine I’m stumped. Anyway let me grab this opportunity and tell you I think you’re doing outstanding work here at the Standard!

        And I’ll just post the stuff I posted before (Or thought I did) again in the hope I just made a stupid mistake!

        • karol 12.1.1.1
          24 April 2013 at 4:08 pm

          OK. I wasn’t sure if you meant you’d posted something on this thread, or on what day, travellerev. I just checked in the spam folder and the trash, and can’t see any post from you that had been removed today.

          Thanks, travellerev & Paul.

      • Paul 12.1.2
        24 April 2013 at 3:52 pm

        +1 Karol. Your posts are outstanding.

  13. North 13
    24 April 2013 at 2:23 pm

    We are witnessing a spectacle which must be unprecedented in NZ politics.

    Today we find there is yet ANOTHER jigsaw piece in the Koy Felcher Affair. “Breakfast”.
    Oh well if you insist, mundane enough, a superb, pushing 30 bucks breakfast at the Stamford I guess. They probably only talked about how the Warriors were doing in the NRL. That’ll seem quite sensible when next week Shonkey Python lets it out that also at the breakfast was knight of the realm Sir The Mad Butcher.

    But taihoa. It’s further proof, absolutely conclusive since it’s from the man himself, that his first claims were designed to cover-up/deceive. He’s had weeks to get it right. Incredibly he still hasn’t achieved that. Still coughing up yet new pieces of the puzzle.

    What can that mean ?

    (1) The question of prime ministerial infirmity is a live on ?

    (2) There’s still (much bigger) stuff he’s hiding which he won’t let out unless forced to ?

    (3) As hinted by Logie97 above, breakfast chat between Chief Spy in waiting and the
    PM/Minister/MP included chat about Helensville electorate resident Dotcom and
    foreign friendly power interest in him ?

    My money has to be at least on (2). For the quinella I’ll toss in (3). And of course for the trifecta, well you never can overlook (1). I mean he’s said it himself – “I haven’t got a clue hahaha aren’t I funny ?”

    Knowledge of the whole Dotcom number months and months and months before he told Parliament he first knew, that makes so much more sense than anything we’ve been given so far. A mate, a safe and trusted pair of hands to run the whole show, an archetypal “Yes Minister” character able to control information flow to the boss and keep him in the dark as unilaterally deemed necessary by Sir Humphrey, well that wouldn’t be a bad thing now would it ?

    Hurry up Kim Dotcom, whistleblower or whomsoever. Just a hint please. I’m itching to place a solid Pick Four bet.

    • felix 14.1
      24 April 2013 at 5:49 pm

      There’s absolutely nothing wrong with me having breakfast with Fletcher, or for that matter with my appointing him.

      The reality is I’m genuinely clueless as to why I’ve been lying about it all along.

    • emergency mike 14.2
      24 April 2013 at 6:28 pm

      So he’s not bovvered. How wonderfully reassuring.

      “The breakfast meeting happened days before a panel to conduct interviews for the position had been selected, but at that stage Mr Fletcher had not been approached to apply.

      Mr Key says they discussed economic development in Australia, but the job at the GCSB did not come up.”

      Nah, and Dotcom didn’t come up in those 15 GCSB briefings either.

    • BLiP 14.3
      25 April 2013 at 1:08 am

      ‘

      How odd. That story shows in a google search as being on the radionz site but when you click through its gone? Sssup wid dat?

      • felix 14.3.1
        25 April 2013 at 7:16 am

        Down the memory hole.

        Becoming a bit bloody frequent, that. I think we need to force a conversation about bringing the msm players into line with the following internet protocols:

        1. Once something is published it stays published, and

        2. Alterations are clearly noted as updates rather than re-writes.

      • Colonial Viper 14.3.2
        25 April 2013 at 8:00 am

        Contact the webmaster might just be a broken link. Happens.

        • felix 14.3.2.1
          25 April 2013 at 8:11 am

          It also happens that stories get changed, sometimes entirely rewritten, with no indication given.

          Quite frequent on the Herald and Stuff sites. Not good enough.

  15. travellerev 15
    24 April 2013 at 3:53 pm

    My two cents on John Key’s idea of networking!

    To Conspire comes from the Latin word Conspirare which in its essence means: to breath together. John Key knows a lot about breathing together. Every time he meets his mates in back rooms at breakfast or tea tables ( here, here and here) they breath together and funny stuff happens such as this and this and perhaps this. So when John Key says they didn’t TALK about important stuff remember this: They did BREATH together and formed a united front and communal story and you and me are losing out because of it!

  16. BM 16
    24 April 2013 at 6:49 pm

    Did this make the TV news?

  17. RedLogix 17
    24 April 2013 at 6:50 pm

    The goss I got today was that even Key’s natural constituency … business people… know that he’s stepped over the line with this.

    Sure you can network and shoulder tap people you want for the job. But then at the very least you go through the appearance of fair process. You interview all the candidates, and you keep your man at arms length. If you decide halfway through the process that you want to change the criterion or the nature of the role, then you re-advertise and go back to square one. All this is basic Business 101 ethics.

    Six months ago I head-hunted someone for my organisation, and even at my dmrse level I knew what the boundaries were. And so does almost every other decent employer in this country. And now their man John Key has just taken the piss out of their values and by extension a mockery of what they believe in.

    It doesn’t really matter how much us lefties rant and froth about this … the real cost is the deep damage Key’s inflicting in true blue National territory.

    • BM 17.1
      24 April 2013 at 6:52 pm

      People seem to have very short memories.

      • karol 17.1.1
        24 April 2013 at 6:57 pm

        Yes, John Key and Banks have some difficulties with their memories.

      • RedLogix 17.1.2
        24 April 2013 at 6:58 pm

        At one level this is true BM. Key’s deal-making instincts have taken him a very long way. But you also know perfectly well that when Key betrays fundamental fair process values as he has done here, he damages just not his credibility …. but his trustworthiness with people who once trusted him.

        Once that is lost everything he does will be viewed through a different and much more jaundiced lens.

        • BM 17.1.2.1
          24 April 2013 at 7:08 pm

          but his trustworthiness with people who once trusted him.

          They’ll still vote for him though.
          The biggest issue here is the sloppiness displayed by Key,he’ll be kicking himself for the way this has played out.
          He’ll come away from this a lot more focused and with a much harder edge, labour better be on its game otherwise hard times ahead.

          • RedLogix 17.1.2.1.1
            24 April 2013 at 7:22 pm

            Maybe. But look back at Key’s career before he came back to NZ. The way I read it this has happened to him before. He starts out the wonderboy… and then this kind of thing happens.

            • felix 17.1.2.1.1.1
              24 April 2013 at 7:31 pm

              vto once said of him “He will fail at the peak, it’s written in his character”.

              Or something like that.

          • felix 17.1.2.1.2
            24 April 2013 at 7:26 pm

            “a lot more focused and with a much harder edge”

            Ooh, careful. No-one likes that about him. Lovable dickhead, relaxed about it, that’s what people want to see.

            Hard-edged businesslike dead-eyed psychopath, not so much.

          • Matthew Whitehead 17.1.2.1.3
            24 April 2013 at 7:30 pm

            Neither the Labour Party nor the Greens need to be worried about Key, it’s what his marketers will do and how the right-wing media will try to spin their policies that they should be concerned with.

          • North 17.1.2.1.4
            24 April 2013 at 9:18 pm

            BM you didn’t even read what RL said.

            It’s about trust.

            Not about whether Shonkey Python will rise from the ashes.

            You say trust is ABSOLUTELY NOT a live issue right now ???

            Oh Kia Ora. The Earth’s flat too.

            Faith can be dangerous, as we know.

            • BM 17.1.2.1.4.1
              24 April 2013 at 9:32 pm

              Of course he will rise, he’s hardly even singed.
              Key is not a man to fuck with, he has barely had to get out of first gear in the last 4 years because the opposition has been so feeble.
              This GCSB beltway nonsense has given him the kick up the arse he really needed, expect to see a much tougher no nonsense persona from here on out.
              As I said earlier, labour and Shearer especially better be bringing their A game from now on out, otherwise expect to be slaughtered.

              • Colonial Viper …
                24 April 2013 at 9:45 pm

                no more prancing down fashion runways?

              • felix …
                24 April 2013 at 9:45 pm

                “he has barely had to get out of first gear in the last 4 years because the opposition has been so feeble.”

                Yeah that’s true.

                Actually I’d go further – he’s hardly had to get out of neutral. Trouble is when he did have to, he bunny hopped all the way down the drive.

                He’s been spinning his wheels ever since and has attracted the attention of all the neighbours.

                Unfortunately some of them seem to have noticed that he’s been drinking, and others are wondering if he really has a driver’s license.

                “expect to see a much tougher no nonsense persona from here on out.”

                Not smart. He was elected to be the country’s best mate.

              • North …
                24 April 2013 at 11:02 pm

                Aue !……….. Shonkey Python Rambo aye ?………..Where can I get the doll ?

                You sound like a punch drunk old boxing promoter going off at the sports editor of Truth.

              • kiwicommie …
                25 April 2013 at 3:13 pm

                National has done all the opposition’s work for them, probably if John Key’s croonies in the GCSB and intel agencies had done things legal then Dotcom would be facing court in the US right now. They do a great job of shooting themselves and their backers in the foot. 😉

              • Whatever next …
                27 April 2013 at 3:15 am

                BM is that for ” bowel motion” because that’s what you talk.

          • Colonial Viper 17.1.2.1.5
            25 April 2013 at 8:01 am

            They’ll still vote for him though.

            Uh, no, they might never vote Labour, but being busy on Election Day happens all the time.

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    10 hours ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    11 hours ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    11 hours ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    11 hours ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    11 hours ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    11 hours ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    11 hours ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    17 hours ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    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
    19 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
    20 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
    21 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
    23 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
    23 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    3 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

  • 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
    6 hours 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
    23 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
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  • 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 ...
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  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
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  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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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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  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
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    5 days ago

  • 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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  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
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  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
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  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
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    6 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
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  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
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  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
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