Goff: Collins planning her move

Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, September 28th, 2015 - 75 comments
Categories: Judith Collins, leadership, national, phil goff, uncategorized - Tags: ,

Judith Collins probably felt pretty pleased with her Sunday opinion piece:

Judith Collins: Centre voters just the core, the action is on the fringes

Thanks to Jeremy Corbyn’s staggering rise to the top of the ranks in the British Labour Party, all I am hearing from pundits, commentators and ‘political strategists’ these days is that elections are won and lost in the centre. If they keep on saying it, it must be true, right?

Pah. What rubbish. Elections are never won or lost in the centre. Yes, the vast number of voters are in the centre but they won’t bother to change their vote (much less get out to vote) unless they actually have something to vote for. Mobilising the centre to move to the left or to the right, is what wins elections. If you want to stay in power, then the centre is what keeps you there. …

It goes on in much the same vein, with a focus on Jeremy Corbyn. But when it came to Phil Goff’s reply, Collins probably got a lot more than she expected:

Phil Goff responds

Judith’s column this week is the opening shot in her campaign to succeed John Key as National’s leader.

Her unlikely praise for Jeremy Corbyn being “a breath of fresh air” and fearless in expressing an opinion is about positioning herself to replace Key.

It’s a not-so-subtle attack on the well-known fact that John Key is not driven by strong values but rather the results of weekly polling and focus groups. Judith is inviting you to contrast Key’s soft positions with her post-demotion outspokenness on issues. …

Insightful analysis from Goff. Wonder if Collins is going to leave her run too late?

75 comments on “Goff: Collins planning her move ”

  1. BM 1

    More chance of Robertson knifing Little than there is of Collins doing a number on Key.

    It’s a not-so-subtle attack on the well-known fact that John Key is not driven by strong values but rather the results of weekly polling and focus groups

    Seriously, what the fuck is it with you lefties and the need to have some all powerful dictator who decides what’s right for every one.

    I for one am glad we’ve got a PM who keeps an ear to the ground and stays informed about what the voters and population are thinking and then acts accordingly.

    Christ, no wonder Labour can’t get elected.

    • infused 1.1

      Wouldn’t worry too much. Labour are done for. Little is fucking hopeless.

      • BM 1.1.1

        I agree about Little, he’s got about as much appeal as a dirty nappy for dinner.

        • Sabine 1.1.1.1

          Why are you so bothered by what is the Labour Party and Andrew Little as the Head of the Labour Party?

          considering that you would not vote for them, why not just focus on your party?

          • Enough is Enough 1.1.1.1.1

            Probably the same reason that r0b has an interest in the leader of the National Party

            • Sabine 1.1.1.1.1.1

              well the leader of the National Party is the “leader” of this country, so as citizens we might have an interest in the Leader of the National Party.

              But Mr. Little is the Leader of the ineffectual and useless, and out of touch and insert what ever else the Labour Party is, and is not wielding any power at the moment, nor writing any legislation, nor pushing through any policies etc etc.

              So why the outcry of wanting a new Labour Leader.

              Personally I think Dear Leader, his most exalted self should stay Leader of the National Party for many many more years to come, with a serving of freshly washed ponytails every day to keep him happy.

              • dukeofurl

                careful what you ask for , next youll be saying down the track, how did he turn into Mugabe?

              • savenz

                Can the crusher crush Key?

                They are both so driven by money and power and devoid of morals, it is hard to know which one is worse.

        • Bearded Git 1.1.1.2

          @BM You must be worried. 25% a year ago, 33% now, 37% in a year’s time…with the Greens that’s 50%………My guess Key resigns in Sept 16.

        • North 1.1.1.3

          Bugger ! Thought I’d have a quick squizz at The Standard before dinner……what do I get ? BM (acronym for……) talking “dirty nappy”. “Glad-Wrap that Beef Wellington dear, I’ll have it for lunch……”

        • les 1.1.1.4

          is that a shit eating grin in your avatar…Brian?

      • scotty 1.1.2

        Is that your daily affirmation Infused?

        Do you recite it just the once – or is it on permanent loop?

        • infused 1.1.2.1

          Pretty sure everyone knows it. No need to repeat it. His performance last week in the house was pretty dismal to say the least.

          Before that I really hadn’t commented on him much.

    • tracey 1.2

      ROFLMAO @ “Seriously, what the fuck is it with you lefties and the need to have some all powerful dictator who decides what’s right for every one.”

      yeah cos When a Labour leader “changes their mind” you squeal about how weak and wobbly they are, but when John “where are my clothes” Key does it, you swoon like a victorian lady.

      • BM 1.2.1

        Nonsense, I’d prefer a leader who adapts and changes to situations as they evolve.

        Last thing you want is some ego- driven, tunnel visioned numpty who can’t admit they’ve made a mistake and ends up getting every one slaughtered.

        That type of thinking finished after WW1.

        • tracey 1.2.1.1

          Keep it coming BM, you are hilarious this morning.

          The funniest thing about what you have written is that I bet you cannot find 10 instances where Key has publicly admitted he made a “mistake”.

          • dukeofurl 1.2.1.1.1

            Its too funny. “As situations evolve”- that must be the interest rates, housing prices, unemployment, the usual things that interest busy people like a PM.

            But no its a flag that isn’t part of a fern leaf.
            There was supposed to be a meeting with farmers last week, and Key spouted on about ‘the flag’

        • Enough 1.2.1.2

          “Last thing you want is some ego- driven, tunnel visioned numpty who can’t admit they’ve made a mistake….”
          Couldn’t phrase a more apt description of Key if I tried.
          Really, mate, take a break. You’re becoming ever more ridiculous.

          • tracey 1.2.1.2.1

            snap!

          • Akldnut 1.2.1.2.2

            “Last thing you want is some ego- driven, tunnel visioned numpty who can’t admit they’ve made a mistake….”

            Bahaha “Fucking A” BM you nailed it! But you better watch out bro, the PM’s office will have you tossed out of the party – you’ll have to join Colon’s Crew but you’ll be saying the same thing there too.

          • marty mars 1.2.1.2.3

            “Last thing you want is some ego- driven, tunnel visioned numpty who can’t admit they’ve made a mistake….”

            lol a BM own goal – loving it

        • ankerawshark 1.2.1.3

          Umm….BM at 1 “I for one am glad we’ve got a PM who keeps an ear to the ground ……about what voters are thinking and acts accordingly”.

          Do you mean like with Assets sales? Or maybe you were meaning re changing the flag, where the polls show a clear majority don’t want to change it

        • maui 1.2.1.4

          In other words a leader who doesn’t know what they should do, has no vision and is generally clueless. Probably someone who shouldn’t be in a leadership role. im sure lots of successful businesses are run by these non-leaders.

          • Sabine 1.2.1.4.1

            You should not say that, Dear Leader is very clear what he likes and knows.
            He likes pulling the ponytails of young waitresses, he likes fondling the hair of very young girls, he likes pandas and that All Black Captain (he likes him a lot!!), he likes his wife under a burka, he likes his sons girlfriend, he likes money, and beer, and rugby, and the silver fern, he likes Hawaii so much he is there every five minutes.

            However he does not seem to like a sovereign New Zealand, that is economically doing well, with a well educated populace, with all the kids being fed, with a green economy that will provide future jobs, he does not like asset sales referendum, but he likes tea towel referendums, he does not like affordable houses for all of the citizens of NZ, he does not like building new houses, he does not like to invest in public transport infrastructure, he does not like rebuilding christchurch, he does not like keeping the Farmers on their lands and out of usurious debt.

            I mean, i might be forgetting things that he does not like, but one could say he has a vision, or fetishes, or something.

            But at least, dear Leader is not the Labour Parties Leader, and he is not Andrew Little, and that makes Dear Leader so awesome, and handsome, and spiffy, and …………..oh dear, i feel like i have to clutch my pearls now.

        • Ant 1.2.1.5

          “Nonsense, I’d prefer a leader who adapts and changes to situations as they evolve” Great definition of a FOLLOWER. Leaders forge situations and implement changes.

        • leftie 1.2.1.6

          ” ego- driven, tunnel visioned numpty who can’t admit they’ve made a mistake and ends up getting every one slaughtered.”

          But BM, that’s exactly what you got with John key.

      • North 1.2.2

        Tracey……hope you’re running classes in “Swoon Like A Victorian Lady” ! Luv it ! Fabulous concept !

    • ankerawshark 1.3

      Umm….BM at 1 “I for one am glad we’ve got a PM who keeps an ear to the ground ……about what voters are thinking and acts accordingly”.

      Do you mean like with Assets sales? Or maybe you were meaning re changing the flag, where the polls show a clear majority don’t want to change it

    • leftie 1.4

      Worried much? Goff seriously rattled your cage didn’t he BM?

  2. I doubt very much John Key will contest the next election given his falling popularity. Upton appears the best female contender.

    • shorts 2.1

      I have feeling he might have to, even if he is over it all (as it seems) – there is no contender with anything close to the same appeal as Key… and the entire party has been focused around one single entity Key – to change that in any manner the public rallies around is, I think, more than Joyce could ever achieve… let alone the factions so ready to do battle in the party

      If labour can get its shit together they could easily take the next election, that too may be asking too much

      • tracey 2.1.1

        Well, it will be an opportunity to see if the machine is the reason or the man is the reason…

        I believe Key has been largely constructed, he has learned and been taught/trained. Of course he is able, and intelligent, which helps. You only have to study his off the cuff comments versus the 24 hours+ comments.

        I’m not sure of the basis for belief that Louise Upston is the next cab off the rank ahead of Bennett. Interestingly no one speaks of Bridges as any kind of contender these days….

        “Hon Louise Upston
        MP for Taupo

        In the National-led Government, Taupo MP Louise Upston is Minister for Land Information, Minister for Women, Associate Minister of Local Government, and Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment.”

        She is however in contact with Joyce as Associate Minister of TE… learning the dark arts perhaps?

    • Lanthanide 2.2

      Louise Upton is very capable, but clearly Paula Benefit has been groomed as his replacement?

      • dukeofurl 2.2.1

        gee , you have sucked in all the spin over ‘our Paula’ and turned it into a sandcastle on the beach.

        remember the spin about the ‘westie darling’ Paula- tiger skins and all- all washed away .

        Its all Crosby positioning with an eye on the women demographic- for now

        • Sabine 2.2.1.1

          in that case whoever taht Crosby is, should stay away from Pullyer. I have yet to meet a women who can stand that women.

      • Bennett is not popular with the female voters, too much baggage. Nats need a major lift in female votes. They would be wise to review their stance of 26 paid parental leave. Upston will front and soften their position. English was foolish in his bravado stand, alienating the women’s vote is a recipe for disaster, I’m sure Crosby Textor will advise accordingly. Watch this space on this, options are limited.

    • infused 2.3

      He will make it through, once done, retire.

    • tracey 2.4

      It’s Upston

    • North 2.5

      Upstart ?

  3. Adrian 3

    A couple of mates who happen to be Nat voters ( but who have voted Labour in the past ) asked me why I preferred my choice , Cunliffe at the time, over Key, my reply fucked them, I said ” You’ve worked for arseholes and I bet the worst arseholes were the ones who never took any responsibility and blamed everyone else including probably you. And you didn’t work for them for long”.

  4. ankerawshark 4

    Adrian 100+

  5. Puckish Rogue 5

    Nice attempt, full marks for trying 🙂

  6. Gabby 6

    I’d like to know who approached whom for the interview with the Eyebrows of Satan on Morning Report today. It had a whiff of patsy about it.

    • My thoughts as well.

      When Collins suddenly popped up because ‘she had something to say’ about the Chris Brown visa issue my eyebrows did a good impression of her own.

      And then when she used a voice so measured and calm – in an eerily Jenny Shipley kind of way – I thought the ‘run’ was beginning in earnest.

  7. Chooky 7

    I have to say I prefer Collins over jonkey…although I dont particularly trust her…I trust him even less

    So GO JUDITH COLLINS

  8. Mrs Brillo 8

    It’s bewildering, isn’t it?

    If polling the public tells the PM where to go on every detail,
    If the polls are a substitute for policy,
    If we can change direction on a dime according to what the polls dictate,

    WHY DO WE NEED A LEADER?

    Why, indeed, do we need a Parliament?

    All we need is a pollster attached to a Sorting Hat directing tasks towards various government departments. Local government will take care of any overflow.

    What a savings we could make.

    • Tracey 8.1

      yes. its the flaw in BMs notion that by following polling one is a great leader

      • North 8.1.1

        But the dork doesn’t follow polling……what poll told him to fuck round with a person’s hair……apart from his own ?

  9. Hopefully someone has garnered all of the footage of Collins’ lying and prevaricating in the various issues she has been involved in to churn out when she becomes leader.

  10. mpledger 10

    Collins should have gone sooner – too much is going to depend on what happens in the RWC. Key will hold on if the All Blacks win the RWC – everyone will be content – if the ABs lose, especially if they blunder badly, then it’ll be all on as people will have some bad feeling to work off.

    • Phil 10.1

      That’s hilarious. The world cup final is on 31 October 2015, a full TWO YEARS away from the last possible date of the next general election; 18 November 2017.

  11. Matthew Hooton 11

    “when it came to Phil Goff’s reply, Collins probably got a lot more than she expected”

    I reckon she got exactly what she expected (and hoped for) from Goff.

    • Tracey 11.1

      cos she is so clever… not clever enough to understand conflict of interest or cabinet manual rules… so hardly a ringing endorsement.

      • McFlock 11.1.1

        That’s the problem with Collins – she’s either obstinate incompetence masquerading as bravery, or barefaced tory corruption personified.

        Either way hurts the nation.

        • North 11.1.1.1

          She never was very competent. Ask any Auckland lawyer back in the day. No great shakes at all. Full of herself yes but no great shakes. Took the ‘Law Society route’ if you know what I mean. It’s aggrandised many snobs and fuckwits of modest talent…….

  12. Mike the Savage One 12

    Judith Collins will never appeal to the younger voters, hence the focus of her and other vested interest parties is on marginalising any potential opposition and endlessly go on about the supposed “centre”, being the well situated, property owning middle class in above all Auckland, who though only make up 50 percent of potential voters.

    The left will be well advised to connect with the many that do not belong to that class of people and start a movement of revolutionary capacity to change things. One Mr Hooton above is just perpetuating the stuff that he and his preferred parties want people to believe. Believe him not, I suggest.

    • marty mars 12.1

      + 1 Good comment. Anyone who trusts or believes our resident dirty spinner is a right fool.

      As for collins – promoted above her ability, her liability is that she thinks she isn’t.

  13. les 13

    Judith Collins didn’t come to Parliament to eat her lunch’ apparantly….her subtle campaign to cut Keys lunch has no chance of success…sorry about that ‘canvass kissing Cam’!

  14. Observer (Tokoroa) 14

    John Key will have to vacate his role as PM. The world wide publicity of his fixation with little girls hair and his creepy pleasure when tugging it, has made him a wholesale laughing stock.

    As a result he can never stand tall. New Zealand does not need a self made freaky dwarf as Prime Minister.

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    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Funding hole for tax cuts growing by the day
    The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s brave climate change promise
    The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles  and that ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
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    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
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  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
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