Goldsmith removing Goldsmith signs

Written By: - Date published: 10:31 am, November 16th, 2011 - 80 comments
Categories: election 2011, national - Tags: ,

Most politicians crave attention, especially when they’re trying to win an electorate.  Not so National’s Paul Goldsmith!  A Standard reader (ht Jaynam) snapped these pictures of Goldsmith removing (apparently “unofficial”) Goldsmith electoral signs.  It’s almost as if he doesn’t want to get elected!

80 comments on “Goldsmith removing Goldsmith signs ”

  1. Craig Glen Eden 1

    Thats sad, or should that be sharfted, for John Key’s Gimp no less!

  2. Uturn 2

    I have to stand up for the principle here. Today, photos taken of National party candidates removing signs – without their knowing – getting into their cars and driving away. Tomorrow, photos of everyday people getting into cars, being taken without their knowing, with possibly some of those cars having a road accident. Would you really want that on your conscience? I’m calling the cops.

    • felix 2.1

      I agree.

      I’m not at all bothered about these photos, but what if a married couple were out one night setting fire to trees and you snapped a picture of them and then their children were burned at the stake as heretics?

      Eh? What about that?

      • Uturn 2.1.1

        It would be unethical. I have it on good authority that the person who took these photos lay in wait. Yes, it’s true. No accident at all. Not only are they linked to a left-leaning website, but they actively encourage further incidences. When will the Left decry this vicious behaviour?

        • Ari 2.1.1.1

          I’d be perfectly happy for a right-leaning journalist or citizen to engage in similar behaviour against a left-wing politician who was doing something I consider unethical, so I don’t see why it should be decried. Paul Goldsmith doesn’t have an expectation of privacy when he’s doing things that relate to his campaign or policies.

          Now, I’m all for leaving people’s love lives out of the media when they don’t show family values types up as hypocrites, but that’s a different thing from saying that we shouldn’t have citizen journalists snapping photos of politicians doing idiotic things.

      • Blighty 2.1.2

        This is just like when the paparazzi took photos of Princess Diana dying in a Parisian tunnel.

        • mickysavage 2.1.2.1

          Well I guess perversely this will result in the death of Goldsmith’s desire NOT to be elected.

          In a really weird way this photo of his removing his advertising may INCREASE his chances of being elected the MP for Epsom.

          My head hurts … 

      • Lanthanide 2.1.3

        It’s all a terribly slippery slope.

        What happens next when two politicians in a marriage of convenience talk about doing away with their doddery old godfather, only for that to be published in the Sunday news paper and then the doddery old godfather was done away with?

        h/t: boyfriend.

        • lprent 2.1.3.1

          Terrible invasion of privacy. Even more since those dastardly politicians put in laws that could make you a criminal for not reporting such conspiracies to break the law…

          Terrible how they insist that you do the right thing… (while doing something different).

          It’s all just so BORA

    • fmacskasy 2.2

      Heh heh heh… I missed your satire at first… I need more coffee in my bloodstream…

  3. jaymam 3

    The signs are identical to his official business card here:
    http://i44.tinypic.com/6tkcr5.jpg

    There’s a valid authorisation statement, and Goldsmith was handing out smaller versions last week to anyone who wanted one.

    I think we could all help Paul Goldsmith immensely if thousands of those were printed out and put everywhere around Epsom, Remuera, Mt Eden and Parnell. And in letter boxes. We don’t want him to lose the seat do we? And National must be running out of money if they don’t have any Goldsmith signs up. I’ve not seen any election pamplets from National in my letter box. How will the Epsom voters know who to vote for?

    There is a precedent for these small signs. Last election Rodney Hide had lots of them around Epsom and the Council didn’t remove them after being asked to several times.
    http://i42.tinypic.com/2rpuvld.jpg

    National also had similar small signs. So, it’s obviously OK to put little signs everywhere.

  4. Oh that is cruel.  Pauley was only wanting to make sure that his signs did not get wet and I am sure that he will put them back up.  He does want to get re elected, doesn’t he?

  5. randal 5

    when is kweewee going to start whingeing about this.
    call the cops immediately.

  6. lprent 6

    Amusing. While I was looking up goldsmiths elected record, I saw that TV3 picked up the story.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Nationals-Epsom-candidate-removes-National-billboards/tabid/419/articleID/232913/Default.aspx

  7. ghostwhowalksnz 7

    Even his standard candidate signs of the normal size , have been changed in the last weeks to only be a picture of Key and party vote national.

    Reminds of the old war story : The Man Who Never Was. But this is the reverse,
    The Man who no longer isn’t

  8. Craig Glen Eden 8

    John Key: Ok enough is enough first the left put the correct and truthful wording on our billboards now the left are choosing to help our candidate win Epsom, morally Im outraged our paid contractors get paid good money to put up signs the left have like volunteers like free volunteers who do it for political reasons.How can we compete with that? Don’t ask me about this tomorrow because I wont remember and no I don’t want to see the transcript of what I just said Duncan!

  9. Rodel 9

    I don’t vote for Winston but he summed it up. (Stuff.co.nz)

    ‘Peters said it was “bizarre” that Key was “telling” people of an electorate to vote for another party.
    “It is bizarre for a candidate to campaign for an opponent,” he said. ‘

    When you think about it it really is bizarre behaviour…almost…unstable?

    • Nick C 9.1

      Bizzare that they are campaigning for an opponent?

      By that I assume you mean it is bizzare that left wing activists are sticking up hoardings of Paul Goldsmith?

      • Ari 9.1.1

        No more bizarre than National saying they wouldn’t be undisappointed if you don’t vote for John Banks in Epsom.

  10. jaundiced 10

    Is the left so short of policy that we resort to these sorts of tactics to get to the voters?

    • Lanthanide 10.1

      I’m not sure if you noticed, but the photo is of Goldsmith, the National candidate, removing signs for Goldsmith.

      This post is about National’s candidate deliberately trying to lose the electorate he’s contesting. It has nothing to do with “the left” “[trying] to get the voters”.

      • jaundiced 10.1.1

        I did notice this, but also noticed the “apparently ‘unofficial'” comment in the opening sentences that indicates Goldsmith is removing something that is not his publicity material, plus what seems to be paparazzo-like stalking to get photos, plus Jaymam’s comments @10:06am, plus the work of the Green Party activists revealed yesterday.

        It all adds up to a rather poor showing. I can’t help thinking that if this were happening to Labour’s campaign then the cries of outrage would be deafening

        • jaymam 10.1.1.1

          The signs were merely a copy of Goldsmith’s publicity material that he was handing out last week which were authorised by him.
          Goldsmith was not being stalked. The photographer was merely photographing who was removing the signs. Now that it looks like it’s Goldsmith removing them, that is perfectly fine. If he doesn’t want to publicise his candidacy in Epsom that is his choice. But that makes the Epsom election look like a sham.

          • Andrew Scobie 10.1.1.1.1

            question … why would you say: “The photographer was merely photographing who was removing the signs” in this reply, and then say … “I lay in waiting to see who it was and took a lot of photos” 

            So when you say, “the photographer”, were you actually talking about yourself?  

          • Andrew Scobie 10.1.1.1.2

            I also note that you have this to say: “Goldsmith was not being stalked”. But then in your comment on the other post, you say “I lay in waiting to see who it was and took a lot of photos”

            I don’t know about you, but if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then ………  

      • Andrew Scobie 10.1.2

        “I’m not sure if you noticed, but the photo is of Goldsmith, the National candidate, removing signs for Goldsmith.”

        I guess the question i want answered is: were they his own signs, or had someone else made them up and put them everywhere, in which case he should be removing them. 

        • McFlock 10.1.2.1

          Why?

          If they are NOT his signs, then surely they belong to someone else? Is he stealing signs?! Egad!
          If they are copies of his publicity material, then they are hardly misleading.

    • Ianupnorth 10.2

      What tactics? Goldsmith is removing HIS signs to encourage his electorate to vote in Act!
       
      At least left leaning parties actually have new policy and have attempted to debate these, except the Nats fail to front.

      • rosy 10.2.1

        I did wonder why he was doing this and not some supporter. Surely Goldsmith something better to do with his campaigning time… and then I remembered he doesn’t.

  11. jaymam 11

    The sign that Goldsmith removed was in an area authorised by Auckland Council for election billboards. It was not under the dripline of a tree. The sign was not put there by Labour or Green members or supporters but by someone who has been a long-time National supporter who is disgusted by the tactics of Brash and Banks and doesn’t want them in Parliament again.

  12. In Vino Veritas 12

    What a crock of shit (and apologies for the language). This is just a beat up by some LLWT who has blown up a copy of Goldsmiths business card. Have a look at the sign he’s taking away (which he is legally obliged to do, but that’s also probably escaped everyones attention as well).

    I guess desperate times call for desperate measures jaymam, don’t they?

  13. randal 13

    ghost who walks.
    the wairarapa national candidate wont even put his piccy on his billboards.
    he has become repugnant to the whole electorate.

    • Hami Shearlie 13.1

      Don’t blame them – what a twit!! Ever seen him on BackBenchers? JK talks about old people – John Hayes looks about 90!

  14. So its come to this huh.

  15. As a relative new comer to NZ political machinations, can anyone explain to me why Banks has to win and why voting for Goldsmith who obviously does not want to be elected would be a bad thing for National. I’m flumoxed!

    • Ianupnorth 15.1

      Because Banks would win an electorate seat which means Act would be entitled to list MP’s comparable to the total party vote they gain. If they fail to get 5% of the party vote and do not win an actual electorate seat they would be out of government.

    • Uturn 15.2

      It’s a bob-each-way bet from National. Earlier internal National Party polling showed their support dropping below what they’d need for a majority government, so they needed an ally like ACT to make certain. ACT of course would disappear if they didn’t get a seat handed to them, because their support is projected at below 5%. So everyone was waiting for Key to have the now infamous tea party to tell Epsom National supporters to hand ACT a seat in the form of electing Banks.

    • Carol 15.3

      The Nact coalition would get more MPs. If the National candidate for Espom gets elected, that’s one MP. If the Act candidate gets elected, being a small party, he can bring with him to parliament up to maybe 3 more MPs, based on the percentage of party votes that Act gets, even though it’s below the 5% threshold for party votes. Without an electorate candidate, Act would have to rely on getting over the 5% threshold of party votes to get any MPs.

      A loophole in MMP that needs to be fixed.

      • travellerev 15.3.1

        Thank you so much for the information. Now I get the hold the nose and vote for Goldsmith remark. National must be getting scared. Sounds to me like Epsom progressive voters are going to have to have to swallow a dead rat and vote for Goldsmith to get the racist bigoted bastards out of government.

        • Fermionic Interference 15.3.1.1

          Not so much holding the nose to be honest EV.
          Goldsmith will enter parliament next term off Nationals list.
          It’s that simple to anyone who abhors Act, vote for Goldsmith hell be there anyway.
          What could be so hard about voting for a candidate who will be in parliament next
          term no matter what.

          As I have always understood the way to vote (this was especially true under FPP)
          has a major structural point in regard to voting for the least evil option in a two
          horse race.

  16. The past voting records of the majority of Epsom,voters show they are a lot of Tory sheep. The majority are a lot of rich selfish die inthe wool Tories. They deserve a prick like Banks and they are welcome to him.

  17. jaymam 17

    It has been suggested in replies to news stories elsewhere that there is no evidence that Goldsmith was actually removing the sign.

    Here he is striding towards the inoffensive sign:
    http://i44.tinypic.com/2vns0p3.jpg

    Is he taking a cellphone picture of it, or just telling HQ “we have a problem”?

    Here he is taking the sign away to put into his 2009 Toyota Highlander:

    http://i40.tinypic.com/2u3xenl.jpg

    • r0b 17.1

      Jaymam – Radio NZ wants to interview you – see comment here: http://thestandard.org.nz/a-wee-reminder/#comment-401617

    • Uturn 17.2

      Ah, I see where the misunderstanding has occurred. In the first photo he is merely taking an innocent lunctime stroll. It’s election time and grass is scarce in Epsom. Why wouldn’t he pass one of his own signs?

      In the second photo he is actually walking from his car, to place the sign… backwards… for efficiency’s sake. It’s clear he did not have relations with those signs.

      You don’t need to search the vehicle. These aren’t the signs you’re looking for. Move along. MOVE ALONG.

  18. Michael 18

    Forgive me, but a question, did not those photos provide clear evidence of an act of theft by a prospective member of parliament?

  19. Herodotus 19

    Should Lab or a left leaning govt be formed, that the election campaign encompasses 1st April. Then this, the stickers, a rumoured walk out would be appropiate. We could co-ordinate them all to fall on the 1st, I would how many people would get the jokes- perhaps even the leaders debate could be scheduled. Especially with the seriousness of students these days 1st has lost alot of its lustre. Anyone remember the mickey mouse add ons to the town clock in Jafaland?? 😎
    Even the seriousness of an election can have lighter hearted moments

  20. anne 20

    You can bet that he has been ordered to by the head honcho’s,we may just get a ‘Im out of the
    race statement’ but would those souls in epsom want to see act,brash,banks in parliament?
    I doubt it,but who knows.

  21. Carol 21

    Goldsmith, on National Radio, has accused a Standardista as being complicit in a dirty tricks campaign:

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/election-2011/91233/epsom-candidate-says-party-sign-incident-a-set-up

    Mr Goldsmith was campaigning on Shore Road in Remuera on Wednesday morning when he says he discovered five purported National signs, that did not carry party authorisation as required by law.

    He said photographs of him removing the signs and putting them in his car were put up a short time later on a left-wing blog.

    “Clearly someone was lying in wait with a camera, and I’m not interested in those sorts of silly games.

    “It’s quite a serious matter to stick up signs in an unauthorised manner, and it’s dirty tricks.”

    At least this time an MSM article has referred to The Standard as left wing, and not associtated it with “Labour”.

    • jaymam 21.1

      “National signs, that did not carry party authorisation as required by law”
      Well that’s not true, because the signs all said “Authorised by Paul Goldsmith” with his address.

      Here’s a copy of the sign that I found on the web:
      http://i44.tinypic.com/6tkcr5.jpg
      See the authorisation at at bottom left.

      However the whole point is that he appears to not want any signs promoting him as a candidate.
      There are all these National people out here who want to vote for him, and they should at least know his name. We might accidentally vote for the wrong person.

    • Ianupnorth 21.2

      I heard him, sounding like a little cry baby – just like his cry baby, dummy spitting, bully boy boss.

    • ianmac 21.3

      Well there you are. The Standard will be referred to the Electoral Commission and the Police as clearly it is a conspiracy of the Standard organisation.
      Actually is it unlawful to put signs out for a candidate, as opposed to removing a candidate’s signs?

      • lprent 21.3.1

        Yeah right. One of the authors (not even an aucklander) sees a link to newsworthy photos in the comment stream and pops them up as a post. Goes up as The Standard since it wasn’t material from the author.

  22. Paul Campbell 22

    It seems to me that it’s Mr Goldsmith who needs to be referred to the police, he’s stealing other people’s signs.

    (as are the greens who are removing other people’s paste ups from the nat’s signs)

  23. I thought the object of the exercise was to get elected?

  24. Jenny 24

    It’s almost as if he doesn’t want to get elected!

    Of course he doesn’t.

    As ACT and National are both party to a conspiracy to get an unelectable extremist (Don Brash) into parliament through back door methods.

    Don Brash seized control of the ACT Party leadership while still a member of the National Party. On replacing Rodney Hide as the leader of the ACT Party, Don Brash then went on to sack Hide as the Epsom candidate.

    Despite taking Hide’s leadership role and sacking him as the candidate for Epsom. Brash as the new leader of ACT chose not to stand in Epsom himself, deciding instead to get into parliament by putting up a front guy, (John Banks) to run for him.

    The inescapable conclusion is that Brash knows that his views are considered to extreme even in the most conservative electorate in the country.

    However it seems that the voters of Epsom can’t be taken for granted after all. All polls show that Paul Goldsmith is leading as across the board the people of Epsom are wisely rejecting this stitch up.

    The canny voters of Epsom are wary of letting an unacountable extremist who seeks no mandate, even from them, into parliament.

    • Mac1 24.1

      Especially one who was out-performed as he was in the minor party’s leader debate- by all.

      • Jenny 24.1.1


        The only ones mad keen on seeing Brash in parliament are his billionaire paymasters.

        When Brash, after being pitchforked into the leadership of the National Party by this lobby, proved to be a disaster for all. Brash’s backers then used their money and power in a raid to take over the ACT Party.

        The hope was to parley ACT’s position as a support to party for the government, to get their ‘man’ into a cabinet position. (preferably finance minister)

        Greed and power and money and back door double dealing and insider trading, may be the normal mode of behaviour for the money traders.

        But under the antiseptic light of day, and under the public scrutiny of the democratic process it all looks sordid and grubby and corrupt.

  25. fender 25

    Nice work and keep on the trail jaymam, I want to see a photo of Goldsmith driving an ACT vehicle.

  26. Mike 26

    It is not the first time that National have shafted one of their own candidates to allow one of their rubberstampers to enjoy an easier ride to the top. Question is: do Epsom voters want someone in parliament to represent them, or just someone who is only interested in pushing his own extremist agenda with scant regard for any of the electors he claims to represent. Judging from the last election it seems to be the latter but there is wisdom in the old saying: be careful what you wish for, it might come true.

  27. In Vino Veritas 27

    How very funny. I see in the Herald this morning that Goldsmith says the signs were a sill stunt by left wingers and put out in an unauthorised and illegal spot. The dim witted moron that produced them, and put them up couldnt even get that right. Symptomatic.

    • jaymam 27.1

      Why would anyone trust anything that Goldsmith says? He’s wrong. The signs were in an area allocated for election signs. Rodney Hide had one there last election.
      They were not put there by a left winger.

  28. jaymam 28

    A new completely legal Goldsmith sign in Epsom:
    http://i43.tinypic.com/f3b3a0.jpg

    As we know, there is a surprising absence of billboards for the Epsom candidate who will almost certainly win the seat. This actual sign was given to me by Paul Goldsmith himself last week. It has an authorisation notice as legally required. It is installed an area designated by Auckland Council for election billboards. There are quite a few there already. There is allowed to be only the one sign per candidate on any one site. That’s fine because there are no others for Goldsmith anywhere. This is it! There’s a National Party sign behind it, plus the biggest Banks sign you’ve ever seen.

    That is the same actual site where Goldsmith was photographed removing a sign advertising himself that was not of legal height above the ground. You may have seen that photo in the Herald, TV3 etc. Feel free to use these photos anywhere, especially TV3 and the Herald (who already have my email address).

    This sign has 1500mm clearance above the ground, is securely braced with supports at 45 degrees to the sign etc.
    Here’s another photo of the sign.
    http://i40.tinypic.com/16jk32p.jpg

    It’s not very big is it? But it’s completely legal, so there is no justification for removing it. I think it would be nice to have one at all the other Epsom sites as well. Paul is not giving his cards away at candidate meetings any more so he has plenty to spare. And they are printed already! I’ll donate the timber.

    As I’ve said before, I am not a supporter or member of any left wing party. I’ve voted for National more than any other party, and I shall vote for Goldsmith this election. I think ACT have lost their way, even though I agree with a few of their policies.

    • lprent 28.1

      Ummm. This could be interesting to watch.

      • jaymam 28.1.1

        I meant to mention that there are 10 CCTV cameras in this area (that I am aware of), in order to catch taggers and vandals and thieves. This is now a lovely crime-free area.

        Thank you for allowing me to post at The Standard.
        Since Whaleoil changed his blog to a new layout, I have been unable to post there since my browser doesn’t work on the new layout. And I have trouble logging in to Kiwiblog so have not posted there in ages. My name is slightly different at those blogs.

    • fmacskasy 28.2

      Oh my gods – Jaymam, your sense of humour and ability to think outside the square make you one-of-a-kind…

      I hope you’ve sent these pics to TV3, et al. This is the kind of off-beat humour that the media luv!!

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    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    2 days ago
  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    2 days ago
  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago
  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago
  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    3 days ago
  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    4 days ago
  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    4 days ago
  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    4 days ago
  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    4 days ago
  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    5 days ago
  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    5 days ago
  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    5 days ago
  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    7 days ago
  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Cans of Worms.
    “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
    1 week ago
  • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
    1 week ago
  • Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is not even an entry in Wikipedia. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The New Government: 2023 Edition
    So New Zealand has a brand-spanking new right-wing government. Not just any new government either. A formal majority coalition, of the sort last seen in 1996-1998 (our governmental arrangements for the past quarter of a century have been varying flavours of minority coalition or single-party minority, with great emphasis ...
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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