Greens allow split vote on online speech bill

Written By: - Date published: 3:35 pm, June 30th, 2015 - 87 comments
Categories: greens, human rights, law - Tags: ,

It is likely that the Harmful Digital Communications Bill will receive its final reading today (for background see Bryce Edwards today).

The Greens are allowing a split vote:

…The Harmful Digital Communications Bill seeks to protect those being “harmed” by material on the internet and act as a remedy for those being cyber-bullied.

“Most of the Green Party caucus is supporting the harmful Digital Communications Bill caucus due to our concern for New Zealanders’ rights to personal security and the right to be safe from cyber-bullying,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.

“This legislation has received strong support from organisations such as the Human Rights Commission.

“However, there have been strong submissions from media organisations who are concerned that this legislation may have a chilling effect upon freedom of speech.

“Four Green Party MPs will be opposing the final reading of this legislation. Gareth Hughes, Russel Norman, Julie Anne Genter and Steffan Browning have concerns about the possibility this legislation impact on New Zealanders and their right to freedom of speech.

“While a relatively rare occurrence there is provision for split voting in the Green Party caucus on various pieces of legislation….

Update:

87 comments on “Greens allow split vote on online speech bill ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. mickysavage 1
    30 June 2015 at 3:39 pm

    Good on them. The bill is full of fishhooks and I am certain there will be a whole lot of unintended consequences.

  2. Charles 2
    30 June 2015 at 3:48 pm

    I’d agree with Gareth Hughes. If it becomes law it would force me to get creative. Don’t make me get creative. You won’t like me when I’m creative.

  3. Sable 3
    30 June 2015 at 4:01 pm

    Good to see some Green MP’s saying no but disturbed that other members of the party support this veiled attempt at stifling freedom of speech. Not sure I’ll be voting for them again after this but but then are are all happy to play along so maybe I’ll just not bother in future….

    • Charles 3.1
      30 June 2015 at 5:33 pm

      I always knew whoever I decided to support going into 2017 would try hard to stop me voting for them, but how bad could it get, I thought? How stupid could anyone be this early, not even in an election campaign period?

      Well, I’ll not be swayed… you hear me Greens! You’ll have my vote, and you’ll like it!

  4. Kiwiri 4
    30 June 2015 at 4:20 pm

    Interesting that the Greens allow split vote and, with the red team, does anyone know if that is ever possible?

    • Tracey 4.1
      1 July 2015 at 9:20 am

      It never used to be. Marilyn waring said having to vote on party lines at all times is one reason she joined the National Party. I understood that changed in the Labour Party about 20 years ago? Or more?

  5. Clean_power 5
    30 June 2015 at 4:21 pm

    Mr Hughes (Greens) and Mr Seymour (ACT) are on the right side of the ledger. Good on them.

    • Kiwiri 5.1
      30 June 2015 at 7:24 pm

      ACT .. ho ho ho.

      ACT can afford to take that position because Nats will have the numbers for many MPs who are supposed to be in opposition, like NZ First, Labour and many of the Greens.

      If Nats haven’t got the numbers in the House, you can bet your last dollar that they will put a quick word to ACT and ACT will play compliant puppet.

  6. Matthew Whitehead 6
    30 June 2015 at 4:26 pm

    While I support more split votes, I am pretty curious as to why the remaining MPs are supporting the bill- will have to check in on that! 🙂 I expect it’s probably a split on the goal of the bill being commendable vs the freedom of speech consequences. (I’m pretty sure ALL parties on the left are supportive of what the bill’s trying to do, and like some of the provisions for instance preventing revenge porn)

    • Naturesong 6.1
      30 June 2015 at 5:26 pm

      The Greens normal approach to badly drafted legislation is to fully document their dissent in committee, explicitly state why they cannot vote for it during the third reading, and then vote against.

      I’ve not seen them vote no for reasons of political expediency or tribal affiliation. It’s one of the reasons I became a Green party member.

      That said, and having read the bill (v. 168.3; Post committee, 23 June 2015), I’m expecting any and all Green MP’s that vote for this to explain their reasoning.

      • weka 6.1.1
        30 June 2015 at 8:13 pm

        Thanks Matthew and Naturesong. I’m also disappointed about the Greens who voted yes, and would welcome any explanation you can find out.

        • Naturesong 6.1.1.1
          30 June 2015 at 9:11 pm

          I imagine Metiria Turei will say something. I’m prepared to stomach it if a compelling argument can be presented. So far I’ve not seen one.

          I’m also interested in Kennedy Grahams reasoning as well. He’s usually very thorough.

          So I’ll wait for a bit. Then email them and ask.

          Oh, and I haven’t read the comittee hansard yet. Hadn’t really been that keen. So it’s probably in there and I’m just too lazy to look.
          I want #shorterHDCBcommittee.

          Disclaimer; I have no inside greens knowledge. I’m a member only, have volunteered a couple of times and my attendance to local meetings and events is best described as somewhere between rare and occasional.

          • Tracey 6.1.1.1.1
            1 July 2015 at 9:22 am

            But gut is telling me they want something to stop cyber bullying and this is the best they would get.

            I wish the legislation were retrospective, then Ms Collins could be one of the test case for the police…

            • Naturesong 6.1.1.1.1.1
              2 July 2015 at 9:45 am

              I am hoping that when Green MP’s voted for this they have set up the processes to initiate a campaign to target MP’s who bully citizens and journalists.

              While I would like to see the Greens use this flawed piece of legislation as a club to beat the worst offenders in Parliament (Collins, Tolley, Bennett …. hmm, why are female National MP’s the worst offenders here? (Or their behaviour in this regard gets more coverage?)

              The males tend toward schoolboy behaviour, insults and “banality of evil” type stuff. Whereas the women tend to get really personal and nasty.
              Do they feel the need to overachieve within the National Caucus culture?
              To prove themselves to the puffed up peacocks?

              • Naturesong …
                2 July 2015 at 9:51 am

                While I would like to see the Greens use this flawed piece of legislation as a club to beat the worst offenders in Parliament (Collins, Tolley, Bennett …. hmm, why are female National MPs the worst offenders here? (Or their behaviour in this regard gets more coverage?) …

                … the culture within the caucus would likely prevent this sort of targeted approach to attacking individual MP’s no matter how richly they deserved it. (It’s all about the policy)

                This is laudable behaviour, and they are right to act in this way – they are MP’s representing a constituency.
                But the baser part of my nature does wish so see the worst offenders hoisted by their own petard.

              • Tracey …
                2 July 2015 at 9:52 am

                that would be very cool but Ms Collins seems to have learned not to be directly in the line of fire…

      • Tracey 6.1.2
        1 July 2015 at 9:30 am

        “”Most of the Green Party caucus is supporting the Harmful Digital Communications Bill due to our concern for New Zealanders’ rights to personal security and the right to be safe from cyber-bullying,” co-leader Metiria Turei said

        “This legislation has received strong support from organisations such as the Human Rights Commission. However, there have been strong submissions from media organisations who are concerned that this legislation may have a chilling effect upon freedom of speech.” herald this morning

  7. Sylvia 7
    30 June 2015 at 5:55 pm

    Russel Norman is a cool dude! He understands balance, logic, practicality and common sense! He seems to have an excellent mind! He ‘should’ be Prime Minister!

    In a ‘fair’ world he would be!

    • Stuart Munro 7.1
      1 July 2015 at 12:21 am

      By fair you mean meritocratic. In a meritocratic world half of the Gnats would be in prison and the other half in remedial education.

      • mary_a 7.1.1
        1 July 2015 at 8:11 am

        Spot on there Stuart 🙂

      • Gosman 7.1.2
        1 July 2015 at 12:10 pm

        Yes you lefties are so very clever. So clever that you can’t be bothered to actually use your collective brain power to develop independent left wing alternatives to all those institutions that right wingers control and instead whine about it like little toddlers who want a sweetie.

  8. Sylvia 8
    30 June 2015 at 6:39 pm

    Well I am completely offended by Stephanie Key, I was exposed to her online grotesque soft porn photos and I was greatly upset by them, it was so disturbing to me, that she was the daughter of our Prime Minister! Her offensive conduct is therefore, I believe, a great harm to the reputation of our country!

    Being a Prime Ministers daughter, this repulsive material should not be online, and ruining the reputation of our beautiful country, and making us sick in the process!

    • BM 8.1
      30 June 2015 at 7:07 pm

      Are you being facetious?

      • Sylvia 8.1.1
        30 June 2015 at 7:32 pm

        Yes I am actually, but I do believe her photographs are repulsive, and I think the fact ‘she’ is in all of the photos is egotistical and narcissistic, she is truly symbolic of ‘young people’ today, obsessed with themselves, in this instagram-celebrity culture, of loving themselves! All she is doing is what everyone else is doing, hardly unique or innovative! Self-centred attention-seeking poppy pink slutty photographs is not art; the only reason Jeff Koons got anywhere was because he was basically the first to represent modern ‘porn’ as art! It was his ‘idea’ not his ‘art’ per se that made him famous! He even admits his art has ‘no meaning’!

        Nude art is fabulous, but crap nudes are not!

        She is hardly the Mona Lisa and she will never be Leonardo da Vinci, will she?

        She needs to stop taking photos and find some depth!

  9. Sylvia 9
    30 June 2015 at 8:25 pm

    Anyone can say ‘anything’ is art! Art is “subjective” therefore anything can be “called” Art! Blah Blah!

    But true art is created, not through ego, but through the heart, sounds like a cliché but it is not!

    Art is not always about the end product; the whole creation process is a part of the art-piece itself! The mood you feel, the thoughts and emotions you have and the moments you encounter with yourself, when you create an art-piece, determine the final outcome, it isn’t all about technique, or new ideas etc…

    True art is when you ‘create’ in an alignment with your heart! It doesn’t matter what the art-piece is, it is where the inspiration comes from, that determines what is and what isn’t art! The artist and the art-piece are essentially ‘one’! The artist and the ‘art’ that he/she creates are as important as each other!

    • BM 9.1
      30 June 2015 at 8:37 pm

      Personally, I prefer the work of artisans to artists.

    • Tracey 9.2
      1 July 2015 at 9:26 am

      “But true art is created, not through ego, but through the heart, sounds like a cliché but it is not!”

      It sounds like an opinion.

      Not wanting to further derail the thread but really? You have found some human beings who have not a drop of ego in them? Further you found this rarist of thing amongst lots of artists?

      It always puts me in mind of Phoebe in Friends trying to do a genuinely altruistic act, and when she finally thought she had achieved it, one of the friends asked her if it made her feel good. She said yes, and then realised…. not 100% altruistic.

      • Sylvia 9.2.1
        1 July 2015 at 10:03 am

        I SAID “But true art is created, not THROUGH ego, but through the heart, sounds like a cliché but it is not!”

        I didn’t say people who create art automatically don’t have an ego, I said: to create art, the ego is not the mechanism used to achieve the goal, of creating an ‘art-piece’! You go beyond that!

        READ MY POSTS FIRST BEFORE YOU COMMENT, PLEASE!

  10. emergency mike 10
    30 June 2015 at 10:34 pm

    Well the good news is that Cameron Slater and Carrick Graham will be out of a job. And the National party will have to starting focusing on policy rather than dirt. Right?

    • esoteric pineapples 10.1
      1 July 2015 at 8:38 am

      That all depends on who is targeted by the new law

    • Kevin 10.2
      1 July 2015 at 8:54 am

      And Martyn Bradbury and others – left or right, doesn’t matter. Oh, and with regards to your comment – potentially at least although he wouldn’t because he’s not a whinger and can take as much as he gives – Slater could have you arrested using the Bill.

      • greywarshark 10.2.1
        1 July 2015 at 8:59 am

        So you like to be part of the sport of a war of words Kevin. It is a diversion you know from the real problem of the way our polity runs.

      • Tracey 10.2.2
        1 July 2015 at 9:28 am

        “Slater could have you arrested using the Bill”

        Lay it out for us Kevin. Quoting the Act and with evidence of alleged offending, please, I look forward to it.

        Was Ms Adams lying last night in the House?

        “Justice Minister Amy Adams has said the criminal provisions in the new law are there for only the most serious cases, and the threshold for prosecution is very high.”

        • Kevin 10.2.2.1
          1 July 2015 at 10:09 am

          I said he could he have the commenter arrested, not that the commenter would be successfully prosecuted. No doubt a judge would throw the complaint out.

          • te reo putake 10.2.2.1.1
            1 July 2015 at 10:37 am

            “I said he could he have the commenter arrested, not that the commenter would be successfully prosecuted.”

            But even that is wrong, Kevin. Slater can’t arrest anyone and the police aren’t going to arrest anyone on his say so. Dollars to donuts that the first prosecutions under this Act are going to be strong cases of harm and intended harm. Probably involving children, not a boofhead blogger.

            The prosecution are going to be keen to have the court set precedents that allow them to go after Roastbuster type cases, not ego spats between grown men.

            • Stuart Munro 10.2.2.1.1.1
              1 July 2015 at 11:29 am

              It’s funny – the police have been anything but keen to prosecute the roastbusters to date. I don’t think this act will change that.

              • te reo putake …
                1 July 2015 at 11:47 am

                True enough, but the copper’s reckoned they couldn’t be guaranteed a successful prosecution under current law, so they won’t have that excuse now.

                • Naturesong …
                  2 July 2015 at 9:34 am

                  Maybe its that threshhold that should be changed.

                  Instead of basing the decision to prosecute on whether or not the police believe they can win the case, maybe they should prosecute based on if they believe a crime has been comitted.

                  The former ensures that stats produced are tidy, the latter would give a truer picture.

          • Tracey 10.2.2.1.2
            1 July 2015 at 11:39 am

            Are you saying that merely by Slatr saying to the police this online material offended me, the police will get in their cars and roll out to get emergency mike arrested? Wow, would still like your roof/evidence laid out Kevin.

            Start with the police protocol for arrest and lead us through that and beyond.

            TIA

            • Kevin 10.2.2.1.2.1
              1 July 2015 at 2:50 pm

              I’m saying it’s possible, we don’t know what would happen as the law is new and hasn’t been test. But as you know the person making the communication has to have intended harm and the victim must have been harmed.

              Here’s another example:

              Let’s say I do a parody ad saying that Brian Tamaki’s first sexual experience was with his mother in an outhouse. The ad is clearly labelled parody so he can’t sue for defamation. But would he be able to lay a successful complaint under the new law? If yes we no longer have the right to parody famous figures (unlike the US where the United States Supreme Court decided the opposite).

              What other rights has the new law taken away?

            • Kevin 10.2.2.1.2.2
              1 July 2015 at 3:15 pm

              Another example based on real life.

              Let’s say on a blog I say that the Church of Scientology is a dangerous cult. Would the Church of Scientology be able to lay a successful complaint under the new law?

              And yes, I am avoiding stating whether or not the Church of Scientology is a dangerous cult precisely because of the new law which is what people mean by the law stifling freedom of speech.

      • Tracey 10.2.3
        1 July 2015 at 9:33 am

        Seymour stood for something last night, with clarity. Agree or not, that is something to behold

        “Justice Minister Amy Adams has said the criminal provisions in the new law are there for only the most serious cases, and the threshold for prosecution is very high.

        Children under 14 can’t be charged with cyberbullying and those aged 14 to 16 will go into the youth justice system.

        Mr Seymour told the House that the bill was a “knee jerk” reaction that was a “case study in bad law making”, that would have a chilling effect on free speech.

        He said principles in the legislation – including that sensitive personal facts should not be disclosed and communications should not be indecent – were “appropriate if we were about to embark on a school camp”, but should not be written into law.

        “It says that you cannot offend somebody. So, for instance, would the Flight of the Conchords song Albie the Racist Dragon be offensive if it was communicated online?

        “Well, we are told…that of course this law would never be used in such a silly and unsensible way. That’s the problem with this law – it gives no protection. We are supposed to rely on the beneficence of the enforcers. Mr Speaker, that is bad law making.”

        Mr Seymour said the Independent Police Conduct Authority had examined the Roast Busters case and found that it could have been dealt with under existing law.

        Loopholes could be closed by amending existing laws, he said, including extending the intimate covert filming provisions in the Crimes Act to cover “revenge porn”. Mr Seymour said other online behaviour like sexual grooming was already illegal.”

        herald 1 July 2015

        • Macro 10.2.3.1
          1 July 2015 at 11:50 am

          Yes that is a very clear and well reasoned statement from him. I agree with his stand and the other 4 who voted against this appalling legislation for similar reasons.

        • emergency mike 10.2.3.2
          1 July 2015 at 2:15 pm

          Makes total sense. Of course, it’s very easy to be the token voice of reason when you know your vote won’t change anything. Smells a bit like an easy chance to push the illusion that ACT is separate from NACT. John Key spoke eloquently about principles of democracy when in opposition, now he ‘operates within the law’. If the vote was close I’m betting he’s be singing a different song.

          Still, Labour, NZ First, and most of the Greens didn’t oppose it. Not sure what their fucking excuse is.

      • emergency mike 10.2.4
        1 July 2015 at 2:38 pm

        @Kevin. I guess by your logic Martyn Bradbury could have you arrested for your comment. Or I could. And because I’ve said that you could have me arrested. Sounds a bit ridiculous, so I suppose you must find this new Bill just as stupid as I do.

        But nice effort trying to equate Bradbury with Slater and Graham. Bradbury might be a bit of a dick sometimes, but he’s not a dirty amoral sleaze like those two. There is no left equivalent of WO or the DP crew. Hager’s book was about National party slime. Maybe you and John Banks could team up and write a book about that vast leftie organized conspiracy theory that poor John Key was going on about after Dirty Politics came out. There’s a gap in the market there because, oddly, nothing like that exists.

        Plus you lost me at “[Slater is] not a whinger.” Every time is pretty face is on TV all he does is cry about how he’s not going to play because he’s not treated fairly and he’s the victim and wah wah wah.

        • Kevin 10.2.4.1
          1 July 2015 at 4:18 pm

          “Sounds a bit ridiculous, so I suppose you must find this new Bill just as stupid as I do.”

          Yes, I do, and it is ridiculous.

          “Maybe you and John Banks could team up and write a book about that vast leftie organized conspiracy theory that poor John Key was going on about after Dirty Politics came out.”

          Yeah, nah. I’m not into conspiracy theories. And with regards to Hagar’s book – big yawn. Politics is dirty. If John Key could use a popular blog to attack his opponents then good on him. I would have in his position. The thing that got me about Dirty Politics is that he Hagar used stolen information.

          I wonder would have happened if Dirty Politics had been published after the new law?

          • emergency mike 10.2.4.1.1
            1 July 2015 at 5:56 pm

            According to DP Katherine Rich was sitting on health committees while paying Graham to attack health professionals with personal dirt. Big yawn? Did you read it? Whatever, who cares, have some more sugar.

          • Tracey 10.2.4.1.2
            1 July 2015 at 7:06 pm

            the book was… a book… so not online

    • Tracey 10.3
      1 July 2015 at 9:27 am

      except by now the evidence of past deeds is gone… but wait…. the police seized Hager’s computer the bullying evidence is there… I am sure they are drafting the papers for when the Act takes effect

  11. Stuart Munro 11
    1 July 2015 at 12:17 am

    I am reminded of the Ming’s Wedding scene from Flash Gordon

    A rocket flies past with a banner “all citizens will rejoice” no response…
    A second rocket banner reads “on pain of death” the crowd goes wild.

    I hate and despise this cruel and incompetent government, and I will call the treacherous weasel John Key anything I choose. If he tries to throw me in prison he’ll live to regret it.

    If he wants my good opinion all he needs to do is get off his useless bottom and do his job. His job is not stealing our assets, but representing us and working in our interests. Democracy is quite easy really – only crooks could get it so wrong.

  12. Psycho Milt 12
    1 July 2015 at 7:42 am

    So, there’s a total of four Green MPs who aren’t crap and zero Labour MPs who aren’t crap. I think it’s time to join the “missing million.”

  13. Puckish Rogue 13
    1 July 2015 at 9:55 am

    What kind of world is it when Cameron Slater, Martyn Bradbury, David Farrar and Gareth Hughes all agree…

  14. plumington 14
    1 July 2015 at 10:21 am

    2 years prison and up to a $50000 fine for children bullies ? I wonder who this legislation is really aimed for?

    • Sylvia 14.1
      1 July 2015 at 10:52 am

      The law is so open to interpretation, there are heaps of ways investigate journalists can produce their works; there are loopholes, just got to be a little more creative with the writing!

      And if the government want to prosecute a journalist, it will give the journalist more ‘credibility’ won’t it? And media attention!

      If the government openly want to censor something, there will be a reason why?

      Basically everything the government will try to censor in the public domain will be noticed, it will allow the media and people in-general to see the government scurrying around like rabid dogs trying to fix it!

      If the government want to hide something drawing attention to it, isn’t exactly the wisest move is it?

      But the government aren’t known for their ‘wisdom’, are they?

      • Ron 14.1.1
        1 July 2015 at 11:10 am

        Unless you are a Government Cabinet Minister accused of a serious crime and suddenly it is hidden away from sight as an election is coming up, then after election it is moved down the calendar so that by the time it comes to court (if ever) it becomes moot.

        Basically everything the government will try to censor in the public domain will be noticed,

  15. Sylvia 15
    1 July 2015 at 11:13 am

    Unless you are a Government Cabinet Minister accused of a serious crime and suddenly it is hidden away from sight as an election is coming up, then after election it is moved down the calendar so that by the time it comes to court (if ever) it becomes moot.

    Basically everything the government will try to censor in the public domain will be noticed,

    Yes but the ‘information’ wasn’t out in the public domain to begin with! It was already censored! I’m talking about ‘information’ out free……………………

  16. T Chris 16
    1 July 2015 at 1:18 pm

    This is what we call the Greens having their cake and eating it too.

    Sucking up to all sides

    • Colonial Rawshark 16.1
      1 July 2015 at 1:21 pm

      Only a true cynic who did not believe in the value of Parliamentary democracy or conscience votes would make such a statement.

    • Tracey 16.2
      1 July 2015 at 3:30 pm

      as opposed to the Labour and Nat MPs marching in unison to their own self interest… to be lauded of course by you

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • 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
    5 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
    17 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
    22 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
    23 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
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    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
    19 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
    20 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
    22 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
    24 hours 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 2024-07-26T23:54:47+00:00