Going too far

Written By: - Date published: 9:37 am, February 23rd, 2016 - 254 comments
Categories: Dirty Politics, making shit up - Tags: , , , ,

I’m all in favour of robust political debate, and letting the world know that all too often the tories are greedy, useless and unethical. But this is going too far – Arrest after foul smelling muck tipped over Gerry Brownlee

Chirstchurch Police confirmed the charge this afternoon after Mr Brownlee had an ice cream container filled with what he described as “pretty mucky stuff” tipped over his head.

No one should endorse such an attack.

These excessive acts are the responsibility of the individuals that commit them, not representative of organised political thought, left or right. The guy who attacked Brownlee wasn’t representing “the left” any more than Brownlee was representing “the right” when he assaulted an environmental activist at a National Party conference – Top 10 Gerry Brownlee gaffes.

What does represent the political left or right is organised and systematic action – such as the Key / Ede / Slater / Farrar / Hooton dirty politics machine. Most of them are still out there playing their dirty games. Most recently, after Slater / Farrar had a self-righteous whinge about some vile comments left on an RNZ Facebook page, it seems likely that most of the comments were a “false flag” astroturfing campaign set up by gosh I wonder who – see DimPost for the story – The mysterious case of the hate speech comments on the RNZ Facebook page. Going too far indeed.

254 comments on “Going too far ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. shorts 1
    23 February 2016 at 9:56 am

    I don’t know why everyone has come to the conclusion that these protests are left or right – other than those whose agendas and world view are so clear cut

    While I can’t condone the act in question I totally support non violent protest

    I certainly won’t be calling the person here a scumbag like Andrew Little – wtf is with that, can’t Labour leaders call people just that, the use of scumbag shows more about Little than anything else, he’s about to go down the rabbit hole and join David Shearer painting roofs

    • Rosie 1.1
      23 February 2016 at 10:40 am

      “I don’t know why everyone has come to the conclusion that these protests are left or right – other than those whose agendas and world view are so clear cut”

      I have no idea either. Yesterdays incident was about an individuals pain and their expression of that. Identifying the attack as a left or right motivation is irrelevant.

      • shorts 1.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 11:29 am

        irrelevant but very politically motivated – i.e. govt wants to paint lefties as rent a mob et al as that plays well with their core and left (labour) just seems to not have a f__king clue other than to play into govt hands every bloody time

        very few kiwis identify themselves as left or right

        • Rosie 1.1.1.1
          23 February 2016 at 12:12 pm

          Oh, the Government is all too quick to politicise and create division. Emphasis on Government. Not population.

          I missed the bit about Little referring to the thrower as a scumbag. I take it this was after his buddy buddy pat of solidarity on Brownlees shoulder, which Brownlee being the arrogant rude prick he is, virtually ignored anyway.

          • greywarshark 1.1.1.1.1
            23 February 2016 at 5:45 pm

            Rosie
            I would think that Little was making a statement that this type of thing is not acceptable for any politician or public leader. Anything else and the result would ricochet right back.

          • ropata 1.1.1.1.2
            23 February 2016 at 10:09 pm

            Maybe Little was rubbing it in, and said to Brownlee: “Ha ha, scumbag!”

        • Doogs 1.1.1.2
          23 February 2016 at 5:42 pm

          Hang on minute mate. I call myself left, and relatively left of left, and will do so anyone who asks. Proud to be so. Left is about people and right is about fucking money and stuff all else. Get it right!

        • Rodel 1.1.1.3
          23 February 2016 at 9:12 pm

          Shorts-“very few kiwis identify themselves as left or right”
          That’s your view but I think you’re mistaken.

        • Matthew Whitehead 1.1.1.4
          24 February 2016 at 12:51 am

          You may possibly be correct that very few kiwis would use those words, however in my experience most kiwis have opinions that place them in those categories pretty recognisably, it’s just one of those things that ordinary people in NZ don’t view themselves as very political, even when they obviously have quite a few political opinions once you engage them in discussion.

    • aerobubble 1.2
      23 February 2016 at 1:03 pm

      Tories do anything to look like victims. Just make sure the idiots whothrow dilldos, sling actual mud, ans attacked Banks before court are haulled up and punnished. The rest is nonsense as nobody except other idiots would think the individuals involved were emblematic, as that would only reward politicians for being offensive enough to cause retaliation, or worse stage victimhood events. This thread is a counter productive waste.

  2. Sabine 2
    23 February 2016 at 9:59 am

    rotten eggs and vegetables were thrown at actors during Elizabethan times if the play did not please the crowd. Considering that Brownlee is no more then an actor masquerading as an MP who cares about his work/constituency/country/ and CHCH, it might have been deserved.

    It is a time honored fashion to make clear about ones unhappiness, and i prefer dildos and dirt over bullets and knives.

    In saying that the person who did throw the bucket of muck should be charged with something, maybe assault with mulch.

    Karma, what goes around comes around, and pride always goeth before the fall.

    I would also like to point out that Respect is something that is usually given free of charge, but once that respect has been lost it is very hard for it to be re-gained. Maybe Mr. Brownlee has used up all his respect given by the community and has now reached the point where people are so desperate, so angry, so hurt, so over it, that throwing a bucket of liquefaction might be the only way left to make a point. Because clearly, the National led Government is not listening to the people of Christchurch.

    • Puckish Rogue 2.1
      23 February 2016 at 10:56 am

      The problem is Sabine that it might not end with just dildos and dirt, it will probably escalate as people get more emboldened

      Hopefully this guy gets a stiff sentence because, as of late, theres been a worrying trend in protestors crossing the line and getting at most a wet bus ticket slap on the wrist

      and all it will do is increase in intensity and seriousness until someone gets hurt

      • Sabine 2.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 11:17 am

        ask yourself just once why do people do what they did.

        and maybe start changing that.

        I have posted the clip of the guy below. Have a good loock at him. He is no revolutionary, he is no lefty / righty conspiracy guy. He is pretty much Joe Ordinary Blokes.

        He did not cause the earth quake, he did not cause the misery with the Insurance companies, he did not cut the funds to Mental Health Care in CHCH.

        So why do you think he threw a bucket of (please let it be) shitty compound chocolate at a shitty minister not doing his job, but showing up to get accolates.

        Why do you think over a thousand people – must be a rent a crowd – showed up to voice their unhappiness?

        Why do you think this is happening?

        Ask yourself, and if you are afraid of this unhappiness becoming more and more intense leading to something else, you might want to right a Letter to your National MP, or a letter to the National led Government and ask them to do better by the people of CHCH and of New Zealand so as to not provoke people into desperate measures.

      • Skinny 2.1.2
        23 February 2016 at 11:19 am

        Let’s have abit of balance here, read one of the former woodwork teachers antics here;

        “Brownlee grabbed him by the belt, thrust his knee “up my backside”, and manhandled him from the venue. He said Brownlee then threatened to throw him down a staircase, and that he feared for his life during the scuffle.”

        People have long memories and Gerald’s behaviour is nothing short of a thug. The poor bloke feared for his life as Brownlee was bearing down on him. Disgraceful conduct from a Minister none the less.

      • Doogs 2.1.3
        23 February 2016 at 5:47 pm

        it will only increase in so far as those dildos who call themselves Naczi MPs continue to act like wastes of space – in Brownlee’s case, a lot of it. You don’t have much respect for NZ citizens, do you? Accusing them of expected escalating violence.

  3. jono 3
    23 February 2016 at 10:04 am

    Having just read the brief Stuff article about the assailant it sounds very much like he is a victim too. Of the Quakes, of Government indifference, potentially of squeezed mental health services. I think nothing has angered me more about this government than the treatment of a large segment of the citizens of Christchurch, and before that the cuts to sexual abuse services via ACC in the first term. This is a Government with no moral imagination and its MPs and. Ministers seem collectively to have never, ever walked in any other person shoes.

    • GregJ 3.1
      23 February 2016 at 10:42 am

      Apparently his 14 year old son died in the quake the day before his 15th birthday. I think there is some suffering there.

        • BM 3.1.1.1
          23 February 2016 at 10:52 am

          Shame about his boy, having said that, this individual is scum.

          • McGrath 3.1.1.1.1
            23 February 2016 at 11:00 am

            The man has has a conviction for possessing child porn. Shame about his son, but dad is an A-Grade scumbag.

            • Pasupial 3.1.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2016 at 11:06 am

              McGarth
              Link please.

                • Pasupial …
                  23 February 2016 at 11:25 am

                  BM

                  I certainly don’t defend him on that score, though it seems his wife does for some reason. Child pornography may seem harmless because; “the images are already on the internet”, but you are enabling the pedophiles who put it there. Unless the participants are underage, then I guess it’s more complex…

                  But it seems more likely that it was the death of his son, rather than interest in porn that lead to him assault Brownlee. I still contend that he is a person in distress who has committed crimes, not scum to be ignored.

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    23 February 2016 at 11:28 am

                    How about hes a piece of scum in distress?

                    • Pasupial …
                      23 February 2016 at 11:52 am

                      PR

                      Was there some kind of memo that went around trolltown? We have; you, BM & McGarth, all within 10 minutes of one another able to reference a Press article from 2013 about a then obscure man’s arrest for possession of child porn. Anyway, this NZH piece is creepier in its description of the images, have to agree with the judge’s comments at the end about it being; “not a victimless crime. The demand for images drives the proliferation of the production of images of the exploitation and defilement of children”:

                      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10859562

                      I still contend that he was, in this instance; firstly a human being acting in distress. The earlier child-porn possession was certainly pretty scummy, but doesn’t make him scum (an important distinction that seems to elude you).

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      23 February 2016 at 12:37 pm

                      The earlier child-porn possession was certainly pretty scummy, but doesn’t make him scum (an important distinction that seems to elude you).

                      Yes it does actually, that’s exactly what it makes him

                    • Richard McGrath []
                      23 February 2016 at 10:50 pm

                      The guy apparently had images of toddlers being sexually abused by adults. That makes him scum in my book.

                    • the pigman …
                      23 February 2016 at 8:39 pm

                      Unless he’s a prominent New Zealander from the Northland region, right PR? Or a right-wing morals campaginer like Graham Capill? You righties do righteous indignation like no other, it is a tragic, withered fig leaf for your hypocrisy.

                • Skinny …
                  23 February 2016 at 11:33 am

                  Oh dear I wonder what other additives were in the chocolate icecream? Poor old Gerry literally got creamed.

                  What a creep alright!

          • Pasupial 3.1.1.1.2
            23 February 2016 at 11:03 am

            BM

            This individual is a person driven to assaulting someone at a time of grief. The scum are those politicians who chose to exploit the event as an occasion for a pompous photo-op. Given how thoroughly he has failed the city, for Brownlee to even show his face at this occasion is one of the scummiest things conceivable.

            • BM 3.1.1.1.2.1
              23 February 2016 at 11:09 am

              Ravings of a lunatic.

              • Pasupial …
                23 February 2016 at 11:13 am

                Sentence fragment of an idiot.

                • Naki man …
                  23 February 2016 at 4:47 pm

                  Apparently if your a raving lefty nutter its ok to have thousands of images of children, including toddlers, performing sexual acts with adults on your laptop. You guys have no morals at all.

                  • Gangnam Style …
                    23 February 2016 at 5:01 pm

                    He’s a raving lefty nutter? What the fuck does that mean? Coz he doesn’t like the Nats therefore raving lefty nutter?

                    • Naki man …
                      23 February 2016 at 11:23 pm

                      “He’s a raving lefty nutter? What the fuck does that mean? Coz he doesn’t like the Nats therefore raving lefty nutter?”

                      No,Pasupial and the other raving lefty nutters on here defending the scum.

                  • McFlock …
                    23 February 2016 at 5:17 pm

                    apparently, if you [LALALALALALALALA] you can still get through candidate selection for a right wing party.

                  • Pasupial …
                    23 February 2016 at 6:06 pm

                    NakiMan

                    Learn to read before typing:

                    [I] have to agree with the judge’s comments at the end [of linked NZH article] about it being; “not a victimless crime. The demand for images drives the proliferation of the production of images of the exploitation and defilement of children”

                    http://thestandard.org.nz/going-too-far/#comment-1137654

                    It is not okay, but it is also a three year old crime for which he has served his sentence. It has nothing to do with his assault on Brownlee. The dredging up of past criminality seems an attempt to discredit his actions yesterday through an ad hominum character assassination.

                    If; you and BM and PR and McGarth, are so very upset about his past crimes (say due to the leniency of the sentence), then why were you silent on them until today?

              • Ffloyd …
                23 February 2016 at 9:09 pm

                Bm For goodness sake will you stop taking up space!

            • Macro 3.1.1.1.2.2
              23 February 2016 at 11:23 am

              Well said Pasupial. The only lunatics raving here are the BM’s and other RWNs showing their “righteous indignation”, and little compassion. Brownlee has consistently failed the people of Chch. Someone was bound to give him the message eventually.

          • Tautuhi 3.1.1.1.3
            23 February 2016 at 11:15 am

            What a lovely troll you are !!!

          • Stuart Munro 3.1.1.1.4
            23 February 2016 at 12:53 pm

            It’s true – Brownlee should never have been let near public office – he is beneath contempt.

      • Ennui 3.1.2
        23 February 2016 at 10:55 am

        I wondered what would drive somebody to do this? Sounds to me the act of somebody who has been driven to distraction by tragic events. One wonders about the “system” adding to these woes by going judicial. Cannot some sanity prevail and some balance be achieved?

  4. travellerev 4
    23 February 2016 at 10:09 am

    Here is a quote that comes to mind and just in case anyone is wondering, I totally condone dildo, shit and egg throwing at the scumbags running this country into the debt ridden ground.

    “Expecting marginalized people to disregard their own emotions to calmly educate you is the epitome of entitlement and privilege.”

    Especially when the listener is not at all interested in actually listening and prepared to cooperate and negotiate a reasonable solution to a problem the marginalized people in question have to live with day in day out!

  5. Anne 5
    23 February 2016 at 10:16 am

    Three important tweets in response to the abusive comments on the RNZ facebook page:

    1. Yes. It is not really John Campbell’s fault but he has become the pin-up boy of hateful people on the left.

    2. And all under real names. This is what the NZ left’s hate campaigns have led ppl to think it’s acceptable comment.

    3. (in bold by author of tweets)
    No! Do not delete. It is in the public interest for people to see what left wing social media activists really think.

    The author of those tweets? Matthew Hooton.

    It is now obvious this was a right-wing attack organised by individuals associated with Cameron Slater to:

    a) Belittle and discredit John Campbell.
    b) Falsely represent their remarks as coming from left wing commentators.

    Now we know what lengths Matthew Hooton is prepared to go in the name of Dirty Politics!

    • Roflcopter 5.1
      23 February 2016 at 12:46 pm

      Really? 99% of the posters of the filth have been on Facebook well before Campbell even went to RNZ.

      How do you reconcile that?

      • Et Tu Brute 5.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 4:18 pm

        Exactly. If this was a massive conspiracy it was years in the making and to discharge it on such a small scandal seems a complete waste of time. That and they all seem like real people. Sorry but I think they were just people acting inappropriately.

    • marty mars 5.2
      23 February 2016 at 12:54 pm

      wow I didn’t think i could think any less of the hollowboy – but i can. He hasn’t changed a bit – still slimey, still squirmy, a slug covered in sticky mucus with a name.

    • Tc 5.3
      23 February 2016 at 1:10 pm

      Matty is a snake who slithers where hes told to for a paycheque and loves his work.

      Rattling JC’s cage isnt something he is unlikely to choose on his own so lying down with dogs may give him some long term scratching with JC on the case.

      Bring it on JC.

      • Anne 5.3.1
        23 February 2016 at 2:15 pm

        I’m not suggesting Hooton was complicit in the organising of the comments, but that he used them to cast vicious aspersions on all left wing commentators including Standardistas. In the 7 years I’ve followed this site I have never seen anything that came remotely near the severity of abuse seen on the RNZ Facebook site.

        • Lucy 5.3.1.1
          23 February 2016 at 8:40 pm

          Or the abuse that is allowed on Kiwiblog – Farrar should look at his commentators venom and bile before he does the righteous indignation about RNZ. Some of the comments are vile.

          • reason 5.3.1.1.1
            24 February 2016 at 12:35 am

            +100 Lucy ………. Farrar runs a lynch mob ….. or a modern day equivalent of the ‘brown shirts’……….. It should be called ‘dung beetle blog’.

            I’ve always rated Farrar as worse than slater in their Dirty politics Duo role.

            They played the good cop/bad cop routine on things like the smearing of Amanda Bailey,the Cunliffe hit job or whatever other shit throwing and misinformation the nats were running out of the Beehive…..

            The good cop is always the bigger arse-hole because he pretends to be nice….

            And that is the horrible, sleazy, dangerous and dishonest Farrar …..

        • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrel 5.3.1.2
          23 February 2016 at 9:32 pm

          Under what circumstances is Mr Hooton allowed to point out bad behaviour, Anne? Are you similarly disqualified, or is there a special rule for him?

        • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrel 5.3.1.3
          23 February 2016 at 9:32 pm

          Under what circumstances is Mr Hooton allowed to point out bad behaviour, Anne? Are you similarly disqualified, or is there a special rule for him?

      • rhinocrates 5.3.2
        23 February 2016 at 9:16 pm

        So oily it’s wonder America hasn’t invaded him.

  6. Sacha 6
    23 February 2016 at 10:19 am

    Time and place. Assaulting someone during a solemn ceremony commemorating the dead is never going to get good political results. Plenty of other times to douse the feildmarshall with muck if that’s the best form of protest you can organise.

    • Sabine 6.1
      23 February 2016 at 10:25 am

      so essentially you would be ok with Brownlee getting a bucket of much thrown at him today?

      And if the man has lost his son in the quake, than he has a right to be there at the ceremony that National is using to make themselves look good, and he has a right to be upset at the man who is part of a government that has not done the best it could in regards to CHCH and that to boot has cut health services to those that need it in that City.

      Maybe he should just have written a sternly worded letter to the editor? Or maybe a letter to Paul Henry and Mike Hoskins?

      Sometimes people protest the way the can, and I hear there is a lot of liquefaction in that city, nothing easier and cheaper to get then a bucket full of that.

      • travellerev 6.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 10:28 am

        Turns out it was a chocolate and flour concoction.

      • Sacha 6.1.2
        23 February 2016 at 10:29 am

        If you want political action to be effective, you don’t do it at the equivalent of a funeral. If you just want to let off some steam, go right ahead – but expect political opponents to use it to demonise others as you have noted below. Thanks a bunch, angry dude.

        • Pasupial 6.1.2.1
          23 February 2016 at 10:44 am

          Sascha
          You seem to be assuming that the person had political affiliations. There was obviously some small degree of planning in making the concoction and turning up on time, but it seems likely he acted alone. And it seems more of a lashing out than a deliberate political action.

          I agree with Sabine that the occasion was already politicized by a; “ceremony that National is using to make themselves look good”, which was already showing disrespect to; “the equivalent of a funeral”.

          • Sacha 6.1.2.1.1
            23 February 2016 at 10:48 am

            Not assuming anything about affiliations. When you attack a politician, it will be painted as political no matter what you intended.

            I feel sorry that the lack of effective organised opposition over the last 5 years couldn’t provide this man with more meaningful vehicles for his anger.

            • Rosemary McDonald 6.1.2.1.1.1
              23 February 2016 at 10:59 am

              “I feel sorry that the lack of effective organised opposition over the last 5 years couldn’t provide this man with more meaningful vehicles for his anger.”

              You make a good point Sacha…but methinks this angry man has the right to express his grief as he sees fit. It’s not as if he threw an obnoxious substance….it was just uncooked batter.

              Give him a more appropriate platform…? How?

              How about get him and Jayden’s Mum to write their rage in chalk upon the ground….?

              Gerry Brownlee quite rightly deserves to be the focus of rage from the Christchurch disaffected.

            • Sabine 6.1.2.1.1.2
              23 February 2016 at 12:04 pm

              but you see this might just be the thing.

              he is not politically affiliated at all, and as such did this not as a political opposition, but as a personal thing.

              While a thousand other demonstrators went there as an effectively organised opposition and are not talked about it at all. T’is must be the National Rent – a – crowd thing. It can’t be named, because it is effective it is organised, and they look like they gave their Party Vote to National in 2014.

              And we all know that in this country, no National Voter would ever be unhappy with National?

              • Et Tu Brute …
                23 February 2016 at 4:28 pm

                Well considering everything I’ve read about him it seems to be more the case of a very troubled man who lost his son, has fast criminal convictions, who has trouble with people around him and he did something stupid. He sort of needs support as much as anything.

                As for motives I don’t think you can ascribe rational thought to someone who acts irrationally. He never owned property in Christchurch and his son didn’t like with him at the time of the earthquake (the son had been given to an aunt). He never struggled with EQC or insurance companies or the rebuild. He didn’t even stay in Christchurch after the earthquake. He moved to Greymouth.

                So I think we can point the finger as much as we like but sometimes we just have to accept irrational people do irrational things and they need help.

                • Gangnam Style …
                  23 February 2016 at 4:31 pm

                  And where should he get help Et Tu Brute?

                • Sabine …
                  23 February 2016 at 4:41 pm

                  As i said above, i think he did it out of his own personal reasons. I have no issue with that.

                  However, i think the thousand odd people that showed up to demonstrate and hold placards and the likes, were politically organised and motivated.
                  And looking at the results of the last election, even if some of these protesters may have voted for a Labour Candidate (3 Labour MP’s vs 2 National MP’s) they most will also have voted Party Vote National.

                  That is what we are not talking about here, the protesters that are equally unhappy with National MP Brownlee and the National Party led Government of NZ and their handling of CHCH.

                  As for the guy throwing the chocolate batter at Mr. Brownlee MP National, one can have an affinity to a City without having to have a property there, one can be touched by human suffering without having to witness that suffering, one can love a son like one should love a son even if he does not live with his father, and one can move from the city after the quakes, and I know a few who did, mainly out of frustration of having to deal with an administration that seems to only care about convention centres and sports stadiums, and those who did moved away today consider themselves lucky, and one can suffer pstd long after having moved away from a disaster zone etc etc etc.

                  Fact is, Brownlee and his National led Government were given the stinky finger in CHCH. After some MP’s and the PM were booed at a family friendly street party, after some National MP was having a dildo thrown at him.
                  Maybe the National MP”s and their National Party led government would care to think about why these things are happening to them.

        • Venezia 6.1.2.2
          23 February 2016 at 4:24 pm

          That throwing muck episode was not done ” at the equivalent of a funeral” – it was after the commemorative event.

      • Rosie 6.1.3
        23 February 2016 at 10:41 am

        +1 Sabine

    • Anne 6.2
      23 February 2016 at 10:31 am

      In agreement Sacha @ 5

      Physical attacks on politicians no matter how well deserved are totally counter-productive. That doesn’t mean one can’t feel sympathy for the assailant who had clearly reached the end of his tether. I am reminded of the occasion when someone tried to jump off the parliamentary debating chamber gallery. I suspect a similar sad scenario.

      For lprent or moderator:
      I left a comment about the RNZ face book comments which has disappeared into oblivion. I would appreciate someone digging it out of the spam hole?

    • Venezia 6.3
      23 February 2016 at 4:21 pm

      No – it was not ” during a solemn ceremony commemorating the dead” Sacha, it was after the said ceremony had ended, as people were dispersing from the event.

      • Sacha 6.3.1
        23 February 2016 at 6:24 pm

        If he had waited until Brownlee was at his next engagement, fine. Having a crack when the guy has just left his seat and is walking past yours will be reported by any media outlet as *at* the event. Damage done.

  7. marty mars 7
    23 February 2016 at 10:25 am

    the stretch has stretched and when it cannot stretch anymore it breaks – don’t blame it for breaking rather blame those pulling and pulling and stretching it too much

    I won’t condemn these actions – it is a natural consequence of how desperate and severe people feel and a reality we will have to live with until we actually address the real issues.

    • McGrath 7.1
      23 February 2016 at 10:35 am

      So you condone assault?

      • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 10:38 am

        No, he doesn’t. He points out that it’s a forseeable consequence.

        Remember that rich guy who wrote the article expressing his concerns about pitchforks? Was he condoning lynch mobs?

      • Macro 7.1.2
        23 February 2016 at 11:32 am

        Your comment is an assault to my sensibility.
        Brownlee’s inaction has been a constant assault on the people of Chch.
        So he gets a litre of chocolate batter back in return?
        Got off lightly imo.

        • Don't worry. Be happy 7.1.2.1
          23 February 2016 at 8:29 pm

          What will John Oliver say? Loathed over weight politician has chocolate batter thrown at him…oh you Kiwis….

          • Macro 7.1.2.1.1
            23 February 2016 at 9:10 pm

            Yes I have been wondering what John Oliver would (or will) make of it! :)We seem to be supplying him with a good lot of material lately. Maybe this could be a new export enterprise? Idiot politicians to be lampooned unmercifully.

            • Stuart Munro 7.1.2.1.1.1
              24 February 2016 at 5:54 pm

              If Trump wins the political idiot market will go the way of dairy – lots of stink but no profit.

              • Macro …
                24 February 2016 at 6:16 pm

                hehehe
                MInd you the other two on the right aren’t much better!
                The one thing Trump has going for him is that he is not in the pocket of the Koch Bros.

      • Ffloyd 7.1.3
        23 February 2016 at 2:17 pm

        McGrath. Did you condone key’s 10 assaults on a waitress in her place of work who was not protected on any of the occasions by either her employers or the police who PROTECT key. How is that tickety boo?

      • plumington 7.1.4
        23 February 2016 at 6:52 pm

        Getting splashed with a bit of “kitchen products” assault?
        Better watch out for an influx of kitchen Wizz before the courts ,might help sercos profit margin as well

  8. Sabine 8
    23 February 2016 at 10:27 am

    What i find most interesting in all of this throwing business is that it is coming from the People in CHCH.

    So essentially those that want to paint the demonstrators with the left brush, is saying that CHCH is full of lefties? However in the last election CHCH went National?

    Could it be that there might be some disgruntled National Voters in CHCH. Clutch yer pearls, and say it ain’t so, and Labour did it too also!!!!

  9. One Anonymous Bloke 9
    23 February 2016 at 10:32 am

    Poverty is violence.

    It’s hypocritical to condemn the National Party for attacking New Zealanders and then condone assaults on politicians.

    …and then there’s this little gem… we don’t know how lucky we are, apparently. Be grateful for your overlords.

    • Sabine 9.1
      23 February 2016 at 10:40 am

      Maybe the assaults on politians would not happen if the daily attacks on New Zealanders, in form of budget cuts, reduced services, out right lies, a not listening government etc etc etc would not happen in the first place.

      Again, as I said above, and as others have said aswell, eventually the fabric that holds us together breaks, and when that happens it is going to be unpleasant for all not just the poor.

      So maybe, maligning over half of the country is not a good idea, maybe only ‘affording a brighter future” for the ones that are like them is not a good idea, maybe cutting Mental Health Care in a city full of survivors is not a good idea, maybe maybe maybe.

      Who wuld’ave’thung, apperantly not the National Party.

      Ever wondered why Marie Antoinette lost her head?
      Not because she expected people to eat cake in absence of anything else to eat,
      Not because she had the only cake in town,
      but because she insisted in eating that cake all by herself.
      This I was told by a french person a few years back, and this is still as true as it was when Marie Antoinette lost her head.

      Our current National led Government does well to remember that it also represents the people that it tends to not give a shit about. So when that not giving a shit comes back at them they only have themselves to blame.

      In saying that, maybe you are snarking, and I just don’t see it 🙂

      • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 10:51 am

        The original violence: the poverty, as well as being a direct assault in itself, fosters further violence along the way.

        Schadenfreude is inappropriate: we’re all diminished by this.

        • Sabine 9.1.1.1
          23 February 2016 at 11:08 am

          i don’t even have Schadenfreude about this.

          But I can understand where the anger comes from. And if nothing is done about this (and i don’t think doing something by throwing the book of law against this guy or the chick that threw the dildo is gonna do anything good), it will get worse.

          The people booing, the people turning their backs, throwing dildos and bucket loads of chocolate are not revolutionaries, they are not militants, they are citizens, taxpayers, consumers, kiwis, parents etc etc that are fed up with an elite who gives not a shite about them.

          And when that sentiment about having no value to the elite becomes mainstream shit is gonna hit the fan.

          And no, i don’t feel diminished by the guys that boo and throw dildos and buckets of chocolate. I feel sadness that this is the last thing these people have left in their arsenal, to get a reaction from a government that literally for the last 8 years has thrown anybody who does not tow the line, or who has become expendable under the bus, calling them moochers, loosers, abusers, thiefs, etc etc etc.

          • JonL 9.1.1.1.1
            23 February 2016 at 11:32 am

            Just be thankful it’s not bullets or bombs being thrown. Just look at world history and ignore it at your peril….

        • McGrath 9.1.1.2
          23 February 2016 at 11:41 am

          Your’s is the voice of reason as there are no winners in all of this.

          • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.2.1
            23 February 2016 at 11:48 am

            Not surprised that the ruling establishment find the fact that there can be real, physical pushback rather uncomfortable.

            But as someone already mentioned, history is a teacher, and the examples in history are there for the ruling establishment to learn from – or not – as the case may be.

            Frankly I am pleasantly surprised that they are not charging this guy under anti-terrorism legislation. And that’s what the ruling establishment put it in place for: to crush democratic dissent.

  10. One Two 10
    23 February 2016 at 10:35 am

    It is not about condoning, condemning or endorsing

    It is about human beings reacting to the situations they are being forced into causing stress and endangerment to their, and their family, friends, community well-being

    Those who seek to label and name people who react, are the ones who should be observed most closely

    For they are the allies of those who are responsible for the causes of stress, suffering and endangerment to human life

  11. Rosie 11
    23 February 2016 at 10:50 am

    Some are concerned not so much with stuff being thrown at Brownlee but the fact that it happened during (during?) a remembrance ceremony. Grief has many facets, not just a sense of sorrow and loss and can’t always be contained and held by society’s protocols.

    Here’s my explanation to Karen on Open Mike, yesterday/today regarding time and place;

    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-22022016/#comment-1137574

  12. Sabine 12
    23 February 2016 at 10:50 am

    actually i would ask people to watch this clip on the Stuff Page.

    Go guess if this guy is a left or a right winger, go guess if he is a National/Labour/Non voter.

    But then ask yourself if he does not have a point or two, and ask yourself if the National Party in its arrogance did not ask to be treated that way.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/77169484/Gerry-Brownlee-protestor-lost-son-in-quake?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

    • Rosie 12.1
      23 February 2016 at 11:16 am

      “Go guess if this guy is a left or a right winger, go guess if he is a National/Labour/Non voter.”

      Exactly. He’s a person whose fatigued, exasperated and grieving. A person.

      • Magisterium 12.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 1:44 pm

        …a convicted paedophile who hasn’t lived in Christchurch in five years.

        • joe90 12.1.1.1
          23 February 2016 at 1:59 pm

          convicted paedophile

          AFAIK he isn’t.

          He knowingly possessed objectionable material, for which he was convicted.

          • Magisterium 12.1.1.1.1
            23 February 2016 at 2:59 pm

            And why was the material objectionable? It displayed sex acts involving children and toddlers.

            What do we call people who have a sexual attraction to children? Paedophilia.

            • weka 12.1.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2016 at 5:39 pm

              It’s not illegal to be sexually attracted to children.

              Sexually abusing children, and using child porn are two different crimes.

            • Ffloyd 12.1.1.1.1.2
              23 February 2016 at 9:14 pm

              Magi blah blah blah, What do we call people who have an attraction to running their fingers through little girl’s pony tails?

        • plumington 12.1.1.2
          23 February 2016 at 7:11 pm

          Paedophile in actual act or having images on a computer
          All the same soul destroying stuff
          Brownlee has actually affected lives in Christchurch with inaction and sheer incompetence
          Let him without sin cast the first kitchen products (stone)

  13. Puckish Rogue 13
    23 February 2016 at 11:08 am

    My sympathy for the guy has just dimmed a little:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8192821/Child-sex-acts-were-on-computer

    • mac1 13.1
      23 February 2016 at 11:39 am

      So, an issue peripheral to his act of desperation is used to denigrate all that has happened to this man; and is used to obscure why he has acted as he did.

      Meanwhile, a man in Northland still walks free and untainted by his offending, protected by court order…………………..

      Remind me again please why people are angry?

      • Puckish Rogue 13.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 11:51 am

        He hasn’t lived in Christchurch for five years yet hes still carrying a grudge against someone who clearly isn’t to blame for what happened and add in the fact he enjoys watching child porn I don’t mind suggesting hes probably not in the right frame of mind

        As for whats happening in Northland I don’t know what you’re talking about, do you have any more information or link perhaps?

        [lprent: I’d point out that I also target people trying to instigate violation of suppression orders on this site. ]

        • Sabine 13.1.1.1
          23 February 2016 at 11:59 am

          i think the Northland thingy pertains to …..Voldemort – :).

          I think he is something akin to a National disgrace, but one can never really know what a is a National disgrace and b. if he is not a National stereotype. You know that is the thing with Voldemort, while many find him abhorrent, many also like him and become death eaters.

        • mac1 13.1.1.2
          23 February 2016 at 12:12 pm

          There is still an interim court order for name suppression of the man until trial in April 2016. I found the links. So can you.

          [lprent: That is getting close to the bounds of the detail I’d permit before I start banning people for endangering this site.

          For everyone’s information. I really wish the bloody courts would give us the details of suppression orders so we knew what they are and what is permissible. As it is we’re subject to rumor. So my instinct is to just ban anyone who appears to be talking about violating a suppression order. I think a year is a good period of time. ]

      • Rosie 13.1.2
        23 February 2016 at 12:25 pm

        +1 mac1.

        I’d add the difference between the way we view the crimes of men like John Howland and the “Prominent NZer” is to do with their status in society, and how we perceive one persons offending to be more acceptable, or of a type that we can make excuses for is because of that status.

        Prominent NZer’s victims have had their justice delayed for years now because of status, yet who does PR make more noise about?

        • BM 13.1.2.1
          23 February 2016 at 12:35 pm

          The “Prominent NZer” has not had a trial, they could be innocent.

          • Colonial Viper 13.1.2.1.1
            23 February 2016 at 12:39 pm

            I have always liked your optimistic streak :mrgreen:

          • linda 13.1.2.1.2
            23 February 2016 at 5:57 pm

            they could be innocent thats not your take on David bain bm and he has been found innocent hypocrite!

            • BM 13.1.2.1.2.1
              23 February 2016 at 6:14 pm

              I’ve never commented on David Bains innocence or guilt.

              Scott Watson and Mark Lundy though, talk about getting stitched up.

              • reason …
                24 February 2016 at 1:26 am

                Mark Lundley is guilty as sin …………….

                The pathologist mucked up the time of death due to the lack of digestion of Mcdonalds ( is it real food ?), and the police built the first case around an impossible time frame ………..

                Regarding the chocolate attack on Brownlee ………… Scum attacks scum could describe it if we are going to attach pejorative language.

                I have very strong views on raising children and pedophiles need to be punished, rehabilitated or locked away forever if they are can not be rehabilitated.

                But personally I find war mongers with the resultant deaths, mutilations and destruction of children and families that war creates to be as bad as pedophiles….

                As bad or worse even …….. because the scale of misery can run into the millions with war ….. I think posters like Puckish Rouge instead of getting a hard on over the latest military hardware ……… should watch a video like this and look at what war is good for http://johnpilger.com/videos/vietnam-still-americas-war

                Back to the subject of this thread: ……could this bring our government down?? ………… “A political party dedicated to irresponsibility, and offering no promises” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/352559.stm

                custard pie terrorists …………… Dairy whip devils

        • Puckish Rogue 13.1.2.2
          23 February 2016 at 12:56 pm

          You want me to make noise about someone presumed innocent? How about we wait for a decision first?

          • mac1 13.1.2.2.1
            23 February 2016 at 3:03 pm

            Puckish Rogue, David Bain was acquitted of murder, and is therefore innocent. We waited for the decision and got it finally, but knowing that, you wrote the following in a comment on another thread.

            “and not explain why he washed his clothes after the paper run.”

            You’re still doubting a man found, note found, innocent by a court.

            • Puckish Rogue 13.1.2.2.1.1
              23 February 2016 at 3:29 pm

              I accept the courts decision he was found not guilty, I disagree with it but I accept it. I’m stating why he shouldn’t get compensation.

              • mac1 …
                23 February 2016 at 3:48 pm

                So he’s not guilty but doesn’t meet your standards of proof? You still doubt it, let’s face it, and you don’t accept it, because you won’t go the extra step of recognising an innocent man’s years of imprisonment. Not only that, but this government had to go shopping for another judge to get a decision that suited its purpose.

                It seems that only this government’s mates can get handouts, like South Canterbury Finance, Saudi businessmen and a PM desperate to get a flag change to give his tenure in office some lasting and positive recognition, instead of being booed, jeered and publicly scorned.

                As I asked above, “Remind me again please why people are angry?”

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  23 February 2016 at 3:53 pm

                  I accept that legally he was found not guilty but I still think hes a murderer.

                  He wants compensation then lets see him get in a chair and answer some questions first.

        • mac1 13.1.2.3
          23 February 2016 at 2:46 pm

          Yes, Rosie, my concerns as well.

  14. ianmac 14
    23 February 2016 at 11:21 am

    Really sad for this guy. Chocolate and flour. Lost son. Feeling helpless.
    The off shoot will be that Ministers will be escorted by guards like Key has. Be an excuse for MPs to not be in direct contact with the Public/US.
    All so sad.

    • Sabine 14.1
      23 February 2016 at 11:40 am

      they are already not in direct contact with the us the populace, not so sure about the US ( career options after teh middle management stint in NZ? )

      Going to a memorial service is not in direct contact with the public. it is a public appearance, carefully managed, with security details, a quick in and a quick out thank you ma’am. And Gone.

      No contact there with any of the public. Sound bites for TV. Sadly for them it did not work.
      And if we stopped focusing on this guy and actually mentioned the thousand or so other protesters that came to make themselves heard?

    • Sabine 14.2
      23 February 2016 at 1:02 pm

      ingredients for a chocolate cake that has not been baked for 5 years.
      yes, that is sad.

    • weka 14.3
      23 February 2016 at 5:42 pm

      I’m concerned about that too ianmac. I suspect that National will use this and the dildo throw as an excuse to overreact on personal security as well as security at public events. Not good.

      There was also the attempted firebombing of National Party offices.

  15. Tautuhi 15
    23 February 2016 at 11:24 am

    Obviously the guys rubber band has snapped, it is a mental health issue, extreme stress does strange things with the mind, especially when you have lost a loved one?

    I am definitely not a big fan of Jeremy Brownlee especially when he told us he could count to 10 in Maori, hopefully he has learn’t to count to 20 by now.

    Only in New Zealand would you put a Primary School Woodwork Teacher in charge of a rebuild of a major city?

  16. Bill 16
    23 February 2016 at 11:57 am

    Too far, my arse!

    What if it had been ice-cream? Or a dildo? Or a fake dildo?

    and what does it have to do with left/right? Answer = sweet fuck all.

    I’ll tell you what went ‘too far’ for me. Andrew Little’s expression of condolence to Gerry Brownlie was a step beyond. He could have continued his exchange with the woman he was speaking to, but it seems he felt a natural urge to reach out to ‘one of his own’ in a moment of discomfort…revealing.

    And that one he reached out to has taken decisions and contributed to decisions that have killed and maimed countless numbers of people. Just one obvious and concrete example is the numbers who’s lives will be blighted by asbestosis because he and his government wouldn’t take the necessary steps needed to safeguard society in the aftermath of the Christchurch quake. Of course, they’ll be out of office or dead by the time the effects of their actions and in-actions hit home.

    If he had been stabbed or whatever, then sure – different matter. But a guy throwing a pile of the shit (liquifaction?) he is forced to live in and has been living in for the past five years…whatever. That Brownlie feigns ignorance as to what the guys “gripe” might be? Sickening.

    In a sane world Brownlie wouldn’t be allowed within a hundred miles of Christchurch at any time…and would be fully aware of why.

    (rant over)

    • Roflcopter 16.1
      23 February 2016 at 12:54 pm

      In a sane world Brownlie wouldn’t be allowed within a hundred miles of Christchurch at any time…and would be fully aware of why.

      Why the fuck not? He fucking lives there, which makes the whole event even worse.

      During the event his house was wrecked, still isn’t fixed and is dealing with the issues just like others…. all the while he’s putting that aside and trying to deal with the bigger problem (even though it isn’t up to everyone’s expectations).

      Little’s response to Gerry shows that Little understands this…

      • Sacha 16.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 1:10 pm

        “During the event his house was wrecked, still isn’t fixed ”

        Really? Got any links to stories including that? Thought he owned multiple properties.

      • Bill 16.1.2
        23 February 2016 at 2:59 pm

        Wanna give me the names of the people who were responsible for there being no precautionary measures taken in spite of the huge amounts of asbestos post quake?

        Wanna provide the names of those who declined to put internationally recognised post quake health systems and measures in place?

        Wanna provide the names of those cutting mental health funding for Christchurch even as mental health issues spiral?

        Here’s a clue – “Henry of Christchurch” and his cronies plus, it has to be said, those in parliament who enabled them.

  17. Stuart Munro 17
    23 February 2016 at 12:14 pm

    Mob action against bad government is to be anticipated and, though it is deplorable it reflects infinitely worse on the bad government than on the people obliged to protest by other means by corrupt and unresponsive government.

    PR doesn’t consider the role of Brownlee’s failings because he is a traitor and an enthusiastic supporter of corrupt government. Dishonest? Inhuman? Stupid? Abusive? Join the Gnats, and PR will shill for you. Napier was rebuilt in two years – Gerry is only three years late with more than 40% not even begun.

    • Puckish Rogue 17.1
      23 February 2016 at 12:49 pm

      You can’t compare Napier with Christchurch:

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4811992/What-Napier-can-teach-Christchurch-about-earthquake-recovery

      and as for being a traitor well you really don’t know me at all 🙂

      • Stuart Munro 17.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 1:08 pm

        You uncritically support the dishonest actions of the extreme right in every circumstance – I know you well enough.

        • Puckish Rogue 17.1.1.1
          23 February 2016 at 1:26 pm

          No you really don’t 🙂

          • Stuart Munro 17.1.1.1.1
            23 February 2016 at 2:16 pm

            So what great purpose animates the empty husk of your humanity PR – and like MacBeth’s wife’s ambition somehow (in your crazy far right dreams) absolves you?

            • Puckish Rogue 17.1.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2016 at 2:28 pm

              Well heres the thing, I have three (entitled to wear four) medals from my service in the military that tells me I don’t need to answer to you or indeed justify why I’m not a traitor

              • integralenz …
                23 February 2016 at 2:40 pm

                Add another long service award for unthinking service to the National Party through thick and thin, right and wrong.

              • Stuart Munro …
                23 February 2016 at 2:46 pm

                Is any of them an Iron Cross?

                [lprent: Don’t godwin a debate even as humour. It just pisses me off. ]

                • Magisterium …
                  23 February 2016 at 8:30 pm

                  GODWIN’D

                  • Stuart Munro …
                    23 February 2016 at 9:31 pm

                    There are medals and medals – I don’t think we’re chatting with Willie Apiata here – but he is making a claim.

                    The Iron Cross has some respect in spite of the government of those days – like the VC, not many keyboard warriors would claim to have earned one.

                    From his denial we learn something about him – perhaps whether he is still serving – or where he served. Which may or may not affect the way we subsequently interpret his comments. It’s a long game strategy – but now he will clam up for a while.

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                23 February 2016 at 3:35 pm

                Do you acknowledge the possibility that your loyalty to right wing dogma is stronger than your loyalty to your country?

                If you believe the dogma you doubtless conflate the two, so you will find it difficult to answer the question objectively.

                It has to be considered though, especially in one for whom the chains of command feel so familiar.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  23 February 2016 at 3:42 pm

                  Do you acknowledge the possibility that your loyalty to right wing dogma is stronger than your loyalty to your country?

                  – I acknowledge there is a possibility but no it isn’t

                  It has to be considered though, especially in one for whom the chains of command feel so familiar.

                  – No it really doesn’t

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    23 February 2016 at 3:50 pm

                    …because if it were stronger, treachery would be just one reflexive justification away.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      23 February 2016 at 3:58 pm

                      Theres plenty of people on here that want violent uprisings and insurrections so I wouldn’t worry about me

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      23 February 2016 at 4:26 pm

                      “Plenty”.

                      🙄

                      Do homeless New Zealanders have anything to fear from you? Why yes, they do: that you’ll continue to prop up the party that blames them for their circumstances.

                    • vto …
                      23 February 2016 at 4:40 pm

                      “Do homeless New Zealanders have anything to fear from you? ”

                      Fuck yes.

                      They fear everything from this right wing bunch….

                      banned from public grounds
                      no private grounds to go to
                      removal of any state assistance
                      sale of state houses
                      opprobrium rather than compassion
                      anger rather than empathy
                      police doing the government’s bidding
                      government blaming the poor for being poor

                      The poor in New Zealand has everything to fear from National Party members

                  • Stuart Munro …
                    23 February 2016 at 6:02 pm

                    Soldiers – and sailors – tend to develop loyalty not so much to the chain of command or the country but to each other.

              • Sabine …
                23 February 2016 at 3:40 pm

                medals mean nothing, every country – no matter how good or bad – hands out medals to its soldiers.
                After all they need to tell them that they did the right thing by joining the army and being a good obedient soldier, going to war, killing heeps of other people, or saving a few of their own.

                Lot’s of medals given out in the world wars, lots of medal given out in Vietnam, Korea, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, etc etc.
                Often medals are the only thing a mother gets when the son has died.

                One can be buried alive under medals and still be a traitor. These two are not mutually exclusive.

                and all of this has got nothing to do with your service.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  23 February 2016 at 3:49 pm

                  Medals do actually mean something, whether for good or bad so you’re completely in the wrong.

                  It means something to the person awarded them, the family receiving them, relatives wearing them to feel a connection, it always means something even if what it means is sometimes negative

                  I’m truly sorry you can’t look past your own prejudices and see that, I really do feel sorry for you.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    23 February 2016 at 3:53 pm

                    They’re irrelevant to your capacity for treachery. Most of the people who’ve participated in military coups probably have them, for example.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      23 February 2016 at 4:00 pm

                      That’s true but speaking for myself then they mean something to me and my service to my country means something to me

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    23 February 2016 at 4:31 pm

                    So, we’ve established that your decorations are irrelevant to your capacity for treachery.

                    What about your familiarity with the chains of command and trained deference to authority?

                  • Sabine …
                    23 February 2016 at 4:59 pm

                    Considering that the ladies in my family had a lot of medals, (they got them for birthing sons for the father land) that eventually all got hung on the wall next to the picture of a dead son together with their medals, i can assure you that medals mean nothing – at least not in my family, and we have a few cool medals. But, They don’t bring back the son, they don’t alleviate the pain, but they do give someone something to hold onto, when they sit in their empty flats mourning the husbands, childrens and wifes who are not gonna come home anymore.

                    I was not implying anything about you and your service, hence my last line stating that. IF you care to actually read.

                    But i stand by what I aid, that medals have been given to traitors, and many times medal have been handed out by traitors. And that to receive a medal, one must be a obedient good soldier. Do they have meaning to you? Why not. You must have been a good and an obedient soldier to get them, you earned them.
                    But that is as far as their meaning goes.

        • Tautuhi 17.1.1.2
          23 February 2016 at 3:36 pm

          Professional Troll

    • Et Tu Brute 17.2
      23 February 2016 at 4:52 pm

      Stuart are you the same Stuart Munro that said on Facebook regarding Gerry Brownlee: “Frankly I’m surprised Brownlee hasn’t been axe-murdered – he hasn’t done his job and he is a singularly unlovely individual – a soulmate for Whaleoil.”?

    • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrel 17.3
      23 February 2016 at 9:42 pm

      That’s stupid.

      If I do a shit on Trevor Mallard it’s his fault? You drove me to it, Trev.

      There is the edge. And then there is the abyss. You guys are in it,

      • Stuart Munro 17.3.1
        24 February 2016 at 10:43 am

        You have to distinguish between actively causing harm or not.

        If Trevor’s stupidity and malice offends you that’s all on you – though you can blog about it.

        If his cloned moas wreck your house and the insurance companies won’t pay (cloned moa’s … yeah right they snigger) you have some justification.

    • dave 17.4
      24 February 2016 at 6:25 pm

      an mob doesn’t come with left wing or right wing p[political ideas there simply known as the mob they turn up and torch your car or business brown-lee got off l political leaders who piss the mob off can have a very bad day think of the day when it comes when the open bank resolution pol;icy is enacted

      • Stuart Munro 17.4.1
        24 February 2016 at 6:45 pm

        Agreed – mobs are somewhat dangerous – on the other hand they’re pretty good at cutting through the bullshit. And the bullshit around Brownlee is pretty much as thick as it gets.

  18. Gosman 18
    23 February 2016 at 2:13 pm

    I suggest that the majority of people who think the Facebook page abuse is likely to be a ‘false flag’ “dirty politics” campaign by right wingers are hard core lefties.

    However it does provide you a great opportunity to blow open the “dirty politics” tactics if true. Show these people are made up or at least plants and you will have proven your point.

    somehow I doubt this will happen.

    • Puckish Rogue 18.1
      23 February 2016 at 2:18 pm

      I wouldn’t hold your breath, easier to throw the smear out there then it is to go ahead and prove it

      • One Anonymous Bloke 18.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 3:21 pm

        Well that’s how it works: it isn’t as though Hooton is going to investigate his claims, eh.

        The fact that he’s making them at all is straight out of the ratfucking playbook.

        • Gosman 18.1.1.1
          23 February 2016 at 4:08 pm

          You have got to love how some of the left turn this around so that it is not beholden or even in their interests to show that this is a ‘false flag’ set up but just assume that it must be and it is up to others to show otherwise.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 18.1.1.1.1
            23 February 2016 at 5:36 pm

            You’re conflating me with some, unless I’m very much mistaken, and thanks for your concern all the same: it’s so shiny and sincere.

            No wait: you have exhibited the same pattern of dishonesty for the last eight years at least.

            I’m beginning to get the feeling that nothing you say can be trusted.

    • joe90 18.2
      23 February 2016 at 2:50 pm

      are hard core lefties

      Yeah, it’s quite the coincidence Cam’s involved.
      /

      http://thestandard.org.nz/dodgy-reviews/

      • Roflcopter 18.2.1
        23 February 2016 at 3:01 pm

        How do you reconcile that the posters of the filth have been on Facebook well before Campbell even went to RNZ?

        • Puckish Rogue 18.2.1.1
          23 February 2016 at 3:13 pm

          Doesn’t matter, the dirts been spread and that’s good enough

        • weka 18.2.1.2
          23 February 2016 at 5:48 pm

          “How do you reconcile that the posters of the filth have been on Facebook well before Campbell even went to RNZ?”

          Not all posters were part of Dirty Politics (yes, there are people who genuinely hate without being politically aligned).

          Bogus accounts have been set up ahead of time.

          RL people are happy to be part of the wider DP action.

          etc.

          Use your imagination, it’s not that hard.

    • Stuart Munro 18.3
      23 February 2016 at 3:39 pm

      Actually it’s not just the the false flag meme has been practically copyrighted by Cam Slater – it’s that anti-semite groups and the Left really don’t have much to do with each other. In fact the 88s tend to attach themselves to violent rightwingers. NZ doesn’t have much along the lines of the US neonazi crime gangs – for all that some violent types co-opt the symbols for scare value.

      If there are genuine hate attacks attacks targeting one of the PM’s facebook shrines, and the posters are NZ based, they are more likely the work of recent discoverers of conspiracy evidence than classical neo-nazis.

      Why Standard readers should care is hard to know, neither they nor Key visit those pages. Are we responsible for the graffitti under every bridge too? Besides which, under the extended powers of SIS & GCSB that Key has never failed to abuse, the identity of such people is no secret at all. If they are not charged or subjected to an illegal search and computer confiscations like Nicky Hager it is reasonable to assume that there is less than no substance in the whole affair.

  20. vto 20
    23 February 2016 at 3:52 pm

    Boos for Key

    Poos for Brownlee

    Dildos for Baggins

    Glitter for PM

    there is without doubt a movement going on.

    small

    but watch out or someone might cop a squishy banana for goodness sake

    karma

    • b waghorn 20.1
      23 February 2016 at 3:59 pm

      I wonder if the right wing brain at any point goes “hmmm it might just be something we’re doing that causes this reaction”

      • Puckish Rogue 20.1.1
        23 February 2016 at 4:06 pm

        Nice way to shift the blame, well done 🙂

        • b waghorn 20.1.1.1
          23 February 2016 at 4:08 pm

          Go fuck yourself PR I never shifted the blame .

          • Puckish Rogue 20.1.1.1.1
            23 February 2016 at 4:12 pm

            “hmmm it might just be something we’re doing that causes this reaction”

            – yeah you just did

            • b waghorn 20.1.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2016 at 4:37 pm

              As this country is becoming more divided , more people are on the skids , hate and anger coming from all directions do not think it would be good for those running the show to stop and have a little internal look around just in case its there actions causing it??
              As I’m moderately left (I guess) I have know idea how someone who thinks right sees these issues so I asked a question.

        • vto 20.1.1.2
          23 February 2016 at 4:09 pm

          No the blame hasn’t been shifted, it has always been with the subjectee.

          Do you expect that human beings will just keep being shat on PR?

          Can you tell me at what point it is ok to rise up physically against an oppressor?

          • Puckish Rogue 20.1.1.2.1
            23 February 2016 at 4:15 pm

            Theres a difference between being oppressed and thinking you’re being oppressed (and in some cases wanting to be oppressed)

            Can you vote?
            Are you entitled to welfare system the envy of most of the world?
            Public health system?
            Housing supplied?

            Yeah that’s real oppression, we (yes including you) are the 1% in comparison to the rest of the world

            • vto 20.1.1.2.1.1
              23 February 2016 at 4:21 pm

              answer the question chicken..

              or are you exhibiting the very characteristic of right wing idiots that b waghorn and I have just considered?

              • Puckish Rogue …
                23 February 2016 at 4:29 pm

                Let me guess how this would play out:

                I would say something like when the government acts in an illegal manner

                You would say haha the government is acting just like that and then give an example which shows the government isn’t like that but you’ll claim it is

                I mean really is that the best you can do?

                • vto …
                  23 February 2016 at 4:44 pm

                  it is an entirely reasonable question, especially in a forum like this. In fact to not ask it would be remiss in a forum like this

                  answer the frikkin question chicken …….. bok bok ,……

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    23 February 2016 at 7:47 pm

                    Theres a difference between being oppressed and thinking you’re being oppressed (and in some cases wanting to be oppressed)

                    Did you read that vto? According to PR some Kiwis out there just want to be shat on, impoverished and mistreated by the ruling establishment.

                    • vto …
                      23 February 2016 at 7:59 pm

                      Yep I did. What PR has done in this little mini-thread is provide ample evidence of the matter that b waghorn considered at the start….

                      namely wondering whether right wing nutters actually think properly

                      they don’t of course… unless it is in a very concentrated manner with no influences to complicate the whirring of such tiny cogs …. such as thinking about how to concentrate money exclusively in their hands.

            • Stuart Munro 20.1.1.2.1.2
              23 February 2016 at 6:39 pm

              Can you vote?

              National disenfranchises prisoners and expatriates

              Are you entitled to welfare system the envy of most of the world?

              Welfare system becomes dysfunctional to the point that staff are murdered and large numbers abandon the system for grey economy

              Public health system?

              Cut repeatedly and to deteriorate further under TPPA in preparation for sale for which no public mandate exists

              Housing supplied?

              Public housing not maintained and kept closed and empty awaiting foreign buyers.

        • Gosman 20.1.1.3
          23 February 2016 at 4:14 pm

          Oh my golly gosh!

          A lefty has actually accepted the possibility that another lefty might have done the things that they are accused of doing rather than it being some elaborate “dirty politics” tactic to smear the left in general.

          I think I need a sit down…

        • Ffloyd 20.1.1.4
          23 February 2016 at 9:25 pm

          PR. What do you mean by *shifting the blame* What blame?

      • vto 20.1.2
        23 February 2016 at 4:06 pm

        Of course not. They are like the gun lobby in the US – they think more guns will solve the problem of too many guns.

        They will unthinkingly double-down.

        Like tv3’s Story presenter (not Garner) who a few nights ago when pondering why NZers wont go and pick apples in Hawkes Bay came up with the answer that the dole must be too high….

        ffs, talk about ignorant…..

        they
        just
        can’t
        think

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 20.1.3
        23 February 2016 at 9:49 pm

        “I wonder if the right wing brain at any point goes”hmmm it might just be something we’re doing that causes this reaction””.

        Last time I heard that argument it was David Irving. About Jews.

        Ever tried using this argument on, say, a rape victim?

        • b waghorn 20.1.3.1
          24 February 2016 at 6:37 am

          You and PR have proved that the answer is no ,no they don’t.

          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrel 20.1.3.1.1
            24 February 2016 at 7:54 am

            Fucking Jews. Amiright!

            [lprent: You have worn that godwin style argument out since you were the one who raised it. It appeared to have nothing to do with the post or the comments you were responding to.

            Save it for when it is in context, otherwise I will demonstrate my distaste for that particular style of out of context commenting.

            While I’m on the subject. Most of your recent comments over several weeks appear to have no purpose apart from baiting and no real content to assist in the discussion. I’m starting to think that you are getting bored and need some time off to refresh your ability to argue. ]

            • vto 20.1.3.1.1.1
              24 February 2016 at 8:33 am

              Hey Gormless, your fellow rwnj Puckish Rogue chickened off yesterday when asked at what point heshe considered it ‘ok’ to rise physically against an oppressor.

              Do you have an answer to it? Maybe things need to get like Syria, or even 30’s Germany, or maybe just having a local Council dong you on the head with a parking fine… it is clearly a spectrum.

              At what point is it ok to rise physically against an oppressor?

              • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                24 February 2016 at 8:41 am

                Hey vto,

                At the point that you do not have the right every election cycle to convince a majority of your fellow citizens to vote with you and elect the “oppressor” out.

                I know you are all disappointed at your ongoing electoral failure but it just doesn’t give you the right to resort to violence.

                And to suggest that the victims of this childish, stupid behaviour have it coming to them is beyond the pale.

                • vto …
                  24 February 2016 at 12:30 pm

                  Hey gormless “At the point that you do not have the right every election cycle to convince a majority of your fellow citizens to vote with you and elect the “oppressor” out.”

                  ha ha ha ha ha ha ha …….. really ……..

                  like Mugabe and his elections
                  and 30’s Germany with their elections
                  and 10’s USA with their elections

                  your answer is shit

                  and wrong

                  so wrong

                  • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                    24 February 2016 at 12:52 pm

                    So, no value in elections, then?

                    You guys really do yourselves no good.

                    • vto …
                      24 February 2016 at 1:03 pm

                      Sheesh man, do you fools have nothing but shallow poorly thought out one-liners and assumptions?

                      Who said no value in elections?

                      You seem to think that if there are elections then all is good. Such a fool.

                      and ignorant

                      learn some history

                      it is a waste of time engaging with such an ignoramus

                      you come across as indoctrinated and unable to think for yourself. Just as b waghorn said at the start. The evidence in support of waghorn keeps piling up.

                    • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                      24 February 2016 at 1:18 pm

                      …and there I was thinking that you’d lost the plot at the point you compared New Zealand in 2016 to Germany in 1933, Zimbabwe in the 1990s and America in the Gilded Age.

                      As you apparently consider that an entirely valid comparison, and b waghorn considers victims to blame for crimes committed against them, I accept that engagement is pointless.

                    • vto …
                      24 February 2016 at 1:34 pm

                      Sorry no. I did not compare NZ to Zimbabwe.

                      Try reading again.

                      Neither did waghorn do what you claim, as he has explained.

                      …yet more evidence of the lack of thought

                      … leave you to your small thoughts. out

            • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 20.1.3.1.1.2
              24 February 2016 at 9:11 am

              Hey lprent. You are going to have to help me. b waghorn is blaming the vicitm for the attack. Is it not permitted to point to other historical examples of this behaviour to point out how horrible it is? The holocaust is obviously out of bounds. Blaming rape victims? In or out?

              • b waghorn …
                24 February 2016 at 12:21 pm

                No no your transferring , because you and PR are dishonest little word twisters you can’t for one second think that my question was an honest attempt to have a mature conversation.

              • lprent …
                24 February 2016 at 12:22 pm

                That was why there was a warning. You will see that I have done it about a godwin elsewhere…

                Why your warning was a bit more pointed? Because I was looking at your recent history of comments at that point in time as I do when I notice a comment at the out of context edge. You have a recent pattern of doing one line barbs that are classic flamestarters with no signs of any engagement.

                While I primarily look at local behaviour when moderating, I also look at recent behaviour patterns and try to deal with people who are doing nothing apart from trying bait people with comments that have bugger all to do with the post or conversation.

    • rhinocrates 20.2
      23 February 2016 at 4:21 pm

      Whoopee cushion on the Speaker’s chair…

    • Anne 20.3
      23 February 2016 at 7:28 pm

      I have had a comforting vision from time to time… a carelessly (?) dropped banana skin which happens to fall in John Key’s path and a disappearing figure flailing helplessly as he rapidly slithers away down a slippery slope. 👿

      • tinfoilhat 20.3.1
        24 February 2016 at 9:36 am

        That is a similar type of attitude to those who laughed at Helen when she tripped over during the election campaign. I found it distasteful then and I do know it is interesting that the levels of spite and vitriol that Helen suffered during her third term seem to be mirrored with those thrown at the Nats.

        • lprent 20.3.1.1
          24 February 2016 at 12:07 pm

          The question you should ask is if there is any benefit in staying aloof from the mud slinging, when all that does is to advantage the other side?

          Quite simply how are the dickheads in National and the right who were so intent on using these tactics from 2004- going to learn to desist is they never have it directed at them?

          • Anne 20.3.1.1.1
            24 February 2016 at 3:00 pm

            Hey lprent. Important point you make but in second to last line … if they have… makes more sense than ‘is they have… 😐

            • lprent 20.3.1.1.1.1
              24 February 2016 at 6:47 pm

              That will be a typo on a phone 🙂

              • Anne …
                24 February 2016 at 8:41 pm

                @ Iprent

                Tinfoilhat has made an insinuation relating to my identity. This person’s comment @ 20.3.1.2.1:

                I think it’s pretty obvious to anyone on the left of politics who you are Anne, it’s a pity your temperament and ability to communicate with others in a reasonable manner hasn’t improved over the years.

                This has no bearing on reality and suggests she (iirc she claimed once to be a she) is either under some misapprehension or has been ill informed. It’s likely to be the former. Is it acceptable that someone can throw remarks like that around and make negative connotations concerning my identity with impunity?

                Ok she doesn’t like me. That’s been clear for some time. I couldn’t care less. But she has no right to make inferences about my character and identity when she doesn’t know me from a bar of soap.

          • tinfoilhat 20.3.1.1.2
            24 February 2016 at 3:27 pm

            Even by your standards that’s a particularly silly argument.

          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 20.3.1.1.3
            24 February 2016 at 3:54 pm

            Quite simply how are the dickheads in National and the right who were so intent on using these tactics from 2004- going to learn to desist is they never have it directed at them?

            Well, I guess you deserve points for honesty, then. Not much else though, I am afraid.

            • lprent 20.3.1.1.3.1
              24 February 2016 at 6:44 pm

              Why? Are you condoning the vomit inducing trolls who used to pile in here from losing and whaleoil or the vile rumours that were their tools directed against every part of the 5th Labour government?

              At least the left generally save their bile for actual problems and policies rather than the right’s philosophy if just lying.

              • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                24 February 2016 at 9:01 pm

                I’m against behaving badly. You’re not and apparently proud of it.

                • lprent …
                  25 February 2016 at 7:28 am

                  I’m interested in demonstrating to fools that while bad behaviour is possible, it is a very bad idea to go ahead and do it. Except I do everything bounded by the legal system – a concept that you clearly don’t understand well, and long practice in the online communities on the net. I’m uninterested in your vague and probably self-serving ideas of what good behaviour is, because your ideas appear to be more about how to be a critic than doing anything effective.

                  I don’t turn the other check and I aim on this site to cause as much pain to bad behaviour offenders self-perception as possible to discourage future repetitions. Trolls find that I can both out-troll them and I deliberately make it very personal to have a go at their egos.

                  Outside of this site, I strategically help out wherever possible to make sure bad behaviour gets cleaned up.
                  Some of the more arcane parts of labour politics get opened to scrutiny.
                  The other side of industrial conflicts gets exposed.
                  Cameron Slater finds a steadily deepening morass forming around his past and present horrendous behaviour.
                  David Farrar and Jason Ede find that their roles are exposed.
                  Journalists who publish press releases or puff-pieces get criticised.
                  John Key and his minders in the National party find it harder manipulate an increasingly fractured media interface with rubbish information.

                  And I do these without pay and in my spare time despite having a rather heavy paid workload. All part of trying to make the world of my siblings and cousins children, grandkids, and probably great grandkids lives a bit better down the line.

                  But hey – you are a useless critic. I’m sure that you find all of that reprehensible.

        • Anne 20.3.1.2
          24 February 2016 at 2:54 pm

          Strewth you’re thoughtless and stupid tfh. I recall DTB saying something similar recently when you jumped on your moral high horse over something he said. I was responding in a light hearted manner to VTO @20. Please go get yourself a sense of humour or take your holier than thou attitude elsewhere.

          Btw, Helen Clark and I go back a long way… to the days before she became a member of parliament. I will say no more for fear of identifying myself but your attempt to create a link to the abuse Helen endured and my light hearted bit of flippancy is childish.

          • tinfoilhat 20.3.1.2.1
            24 February 2016 at 3:30 pm

            I think it’s pretty obvious to anyone on the left of politics who you are Anne, it’s a pity your temperament and ability to communicate with others in a reasonable manner hasn’t improved over the years.

            • Anne 20.3.1.2.1.1
              24 February 2016 at 6:46 pm

              I don’t believe you have any idea who I am. I’m not well known on the left side of politics – or any side for that matter – so do tell me please who I am supposed to be. 😀

              • Tinfoilhat …
                24 February 2016 at 7:00 pm

                The only person who has any right to out you on the internet is yourself.

                • Anne …
                  24 February 2016 at 7:12 pm

                  You’ve gone too far Tinfoilhat. Your comment:

                  I think it’s pretty obvious to anyone on the left of politics who you are Anne, it’s a pity your temperament and ability to communicate with others in a reasonable manner hasn’t improved over the years.

                  That makes no sense… as anyone who truly knows me would tell you. I have no public profile. Never have had a profile of any sort and strongly refute your claims.

                  So how about an apology or I shall have to place this matter into the hands of a moderator/sysop.

                  • tinfoilhat …
                    24 February 2016 at 7:37 pm

                    “I shall have to place this matter into the hands of a moderator/sysop”

                    Anne, feel free.

  21. Shona 21
    23 February 2016 at 4:15 pm

    Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke! Chur!

  22. whateva next? 22
    23 February 2016 at 7:20 pm

    Key’s gang are masterful at polarising the people, tends to work well for Tories

    • Tautuhi 22.1
      24 February 2016 at 2:34 am

      A lot of swerve balls being bowled at the moment by the Tories, confuse the opposition?

      • whateva next? 22.1.1
        24 February 2016 at 6:20 pm

        Spinning away as always, and “swerve balls” is an accurate way to describe how they operate

  23. pat 23
    23 February 2016 at 9:57 pm

    Iraq population 33 million, ISIS militants est 30,000

    Afghanistan population 32 million, Taliban militants est 20-35,000

    Nigeria population 172 million, Boko Harem militants est 7-10,000

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    55 mins ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    24 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

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

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

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

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

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

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T00:40:14+00:00