Gumming up the works

Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, August 28th, 2021 - 53 comments
Categories: act, chris bishop, covid-19, health, jacinda ardern, labour, national, Parliament, parliamentary spending, same old national, trevor mallard - Tags:

There was some activity on Twitter on Thursday night.  A record of Chris Bishop saying that the job of the opposition was to gum up the works to stop Governments from governing was posted.

There were claims the comment was taken out of context and predated the Delta outbreak but the comment did display a spectacularly narrow minded approach to leadership,

Then last night Trevor Mallard chose to release details of negotiations for the resumption of Parliament in a digital form after some details had been leaked to the media.

In subsequeent tweets he laid out the proposed structure of the Parliament and it is clear that a great deal of work had been done by Parliament’s Business Committee.

National and Act chose to veto the idea and in leaking details to the media and trying to put their particular spin on the proposal wanted to play political games with the issue.

This is bonkers.  Who in their right mind in the middle of a pandemic would insist on MPs and staff from throughout the country gathering together on a regular basis and then dispersing when a properly run zoom meeting can achieve the same?

Yet it is exactly what National wanted and if you need confirmation this article from Thomas Coghlan at the Herald provides it:

National leader Judith Collins was not happy with the idea and wants MPs to meet in person.

“Let’s see what happens out of the business committee but our view is that needs to happen, we need to have a physical sitting of Parliament,” Collins said.

Collins wanted to have Parliament return as well as the Epidemic Response Committee, which she would chair.

“It is very important that we accept that Parliament is an essential service,” Collins said.

And Chris Bishop perhaps unwittingly laid out the real reason for National’s stance, pure political jealousy:

National’s shadow leader of the House Chris Bishop said that if Ardern could hold press conferences each day during the pandemic, then Parliament could meet.

“But if the Beehive theatrette can be full every day for a press conference, then Parliament can meet in person,” Bishop said.

He said that Parliament had met before under level 3, using social distancing to reduce the number of MPs in the chamber.

The press conferences clearly irk National.  Wellington based Ardern gets the chance to calmly explain to a limited number of Wellington based reporters and to the country what is happening, why decisions have been made and urges the team of five million to keep going.  This is political leadership as good as I have ever seen.  Comparing this to the full blown return of Parliament and the regular travel of a third of the country’s MPs from a Covid hotspot is complete and utter bonkers.

National had been insisting on the Epidemic Response Committee being resurrected and the Government had not agreed.  But why this would be a better response to a digital version of question time has not been explained.

Meanwhile the select committees have continued to meet and Ministers have made themselves available for questioning.

In a time of crisis some form of bipartisanship leadership is important.  But National’s clear intent to gum up the works of Government and the functioning of Parliament during a covid pandemic clearly signifies that the Government may as well continue to do what it is doing now, and that is fighting rather successfully a pandemic that has laid waste to most of the advanced world.

53 comments on “Gumming up the works ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Tiger Mountain 1
    28 August 2021 at 9:15 am

    This is one post that just needs a “like button”. Totally agree with Micky’s view.

    Mr Bishop’s obstructionist attitude is straight from the US Republican manual.

  2. Patricia Bremner 2
    28 August 2021 at 9:31 am

    Micky, there is according to rumour a big split in National? Is Bishop positioning? This is pathological behaviour and indicative of a "win at all cost" mentality.

  3. Morrissey 3
    28 August 2021 at 9:38 am

    National: Not Fit to Govern.

    • Ross 4.1
      28 August 2021 at 10:15 am

      Now, now, Mike. You need to read the memo – be kind.

    • Morrissey 4.2
      28 August 2021 at 10:48 am

      I miss this old fellow's semi-deranged, choleric takes on RNZ's light chat show The Panel. Why is he never on any more, I wonder?

    • Anne 4.3
      28 August 2021 at 10:55 am

      Oh, you got in before me. Right on cue eh? Daddy and Chris got together and produced one of the crappiest 'opinion' pieces I've ever seen.

      And talk about re-writing history:

      "They accept (because there is no current counter-narrative) that the Dawn Raids were handled badly. They are old enough to remember that, in the 1970s, the thousands of overstayers were regarded as law-breakers, because they had promised to leave after a period stated on their entry visas and then didn’t.

      The Bewildered wonder why those actions are now praiseworthy, and why the prime minister delivered such a cringing apology at a well-choreographed ceremony. . Is New Zealand really on the right path, they wonder?"

      And lets be clear… the embedded clip is wrong. The writer claims both Labour and National targeted Pasifika overstayers. “Homes were raided late at night and people were stopped in the street.” Yes, it is true the third Labour Govt. did start the targeting of overstayers but it was not until the Muldoon govt. came to power that the late night raids and appalling treatment of Pasifika peoples began.

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 4.4
      28 August 2021 at 6:02 pm

      Shadow Kiwiblog writer and Taypayers Union éminence grise

      Previously Prebbles chief of staff for Act.

  5. Ross 5
    28 August 2021 at 10:01 am

    Who in their right mind in the middle of a pandemic would insist on MPs and staff from throughout the country gathering together on a regular basis and then dispersing when a properly run zoom meeting can achieve the same?

    The House is slated to be sitting from August 30…right in the middle of a pandemic!! But Micky, I take your point about zoom meetings. Can we expect MPs – especially Government MPs – will travel less often in the future, now that they've discovered the benefits of such meetings? That'll be a win/win as it will save money and lessen our carbon footprint.

    • nzlemming 5.1
      29 August 2021 at 9:21 pm

      Schedules are set down well in advance. That is why the government sought an alternative, because the schedule is not easily changed.

  6. Gabby 6
    28 August 2021 at 10:13 am

    No how can the nats spin themselves into the harddoneby victims in this?

  7. peter 7
    28 August 2021 at 10:34 am

    Stuff carries an article about the reshuffle of portfolios in the National caucus. Muller having roles taken from him features.

    Interesting to reflect that since Muller hasn't been attending caucus meetings he could not have been the one behind the leak which was the basis of Coughlan's piece earlier in the week which talked of Collins going off her head.

    Woodhouse the shadow leader of the House? Lovely, given his record with shadowy people getting into inner city MIQ. 😊

    • Graeme 7.1
      28 August 2021 at 11:15 am

      Interesting in that Stuff article, the interviews for the re-shuffle were undertaken by Zoom

      Collins has met with her caucus one-on-one via Zoom in the week leading up to the announcement to discuss their contributions.

      My ironometer is making strange noises

    • Patricia Bremner 7.2
      28 August 2021 at 11:40 am

      Shadow mandevil

      Well shadow… !!

  8. Bearded Git 8
    28 August 2021 at 10:39 am

    “But if the Beehive theatrette can be full every day for a press conference, then Parliament can meet in person,” Bishop said."

    I read the other day, I think somewhere on The Standard, that the press now are social-distance seated (so the theatrette is not full) and must wear masks at these Jacinda press conferences.

    • Marcus Morris 8.1
      28 August 2021 at 10:57 am

      While the cameras were waiting for the Prime Minister to appear at the daily press conference recently, they panned the audience. It was clear that the reporters were social distancing and I think most were wearing masks.

  9. Ad 9
    28 August 2021 at 10:43 am

    If you can't hold a serious conversation in Teams, you're not going to win business in this world.

    Every major contract bid in this country that requires an interview is done on Teams.

    National need to catch up with how business is done here.

  10. Incognito 10
    28 August 2021 at 11:02 am

    Collins has reshuffled Bishop. Check, mate.

    • mac1 10.1
      28 August 2021 at 11:22 am

      The thing with bishops is that they can't change colour. They're for the length of the game confined to being black or white. That means they can't even see things in black and white- life and vision is monochromatic.

      They can't take players on a different coloured square- all they can do is block a file to impede progress.

      An analogy of some merit regarding Bishop's political moves.

    • Bearded Git 10.2
      28 August 2021 at 12:45 pm

      What happened to "keeping your friends close and your enemies closer". Its a mistake by Collins….her days numbered.

  11. Adrian 11
    28 August 2021 at 11:11 am

    The fundamental so-called christians not happy with Bishop so you have to protect the income stream.

  12. Janet 12
    28 August 2021 at 11:57 am

    Did the New Zealand government parties work this way through the two world wars too ? I liken the Pandemic to a war and this warring between the parties at a time when we all need to work more together has greatly disappointed me .

    • fender 12.1
      28 August 2021 at 12:13 pm

      Yes it's a shame the opposition are so immature, spiteful, self-absorbed and unprofessional.

      • Drowsy M. Kram 12.1.1
        28 August 2021 at 12:53 pm

        …the opposition are… unprofessional.

        Spot on. Our opposition National party MPs are politicians by profession, yet their individual and collective behaviours are unprofessional, and recent poor leadership (English, Bridges, Muller, Collins) has a lot to do with it.

        Once they select a leader who can at least paper over, if not heal the deep rifts between party factions, they'll be back. Think 'male', 'rich' and relaxed/confident enough to lie without raising an eyebrow – that's the key I reckon.

    • Anne 12.2
      28 August 2021 at 1:31 pm

      Did the New Zealand government parties work this way through the two world wars too?

      My understanding in WW2: elections were suspended and the two parties formed a coalition government under the leadership of Peter Fraser who was Labour PM at the time war broke out.

      • Dean Reynolds 12.2.1
        28 August 2021 at 5:14 pm

        Janet & Anne, in WW1 there was a coalition government between the governing Reform Party & the Liberal Party opposition, (the Labour Party wasn't formed until 1916, half way thru WW1). In 1936, the remnants of Reform & Liberal became the National Party.

        In WW2, the National Party opposition was led by a bumptious Muldoon- like prick called Sid Holland who opposed everything the Labour Government did, so Peter Fraser, the Labour PM refused, correctly, to form a coalition government. He did however, form a War Cabinet which included 4 Nat MP's, including Holland & Gordon Coates, (Coates, an ex PM, was the best PM the Nat's ever produced). Holland was out of his depth in the War Cabinet, picked a fight & stormed out with 1 of his MP's. The other 2 Nat MP's stayed, including Coates & did useful work until the war's end. The election scheduled for 1941 was postponed until 1943 because of the war – Labour easily won re-election.

      • Ghostwhowalksnz 12.2.2
        28 August 2021 at 6:07 pm

        Earlier than WW2

        Election suspended during depression too ( mainly because they knew they would lose)

        1931 and then 4 years later in 1935

  13. Pete 13
    28 August 2021 at 12:05 pm

    Bishop saying that the job of the opposition was to gum up the works to stop Governments from governing reminds me of the famous radio panel with Michelle Boag the morning after National was beaten in an election.

    Boag was with Kerri Woodham and Oliver Driver. Boag said the opposition's role was to oppose.

    Driver kept on about the election being done was the time for everyone to work to make the country the best it could be. Everyone should be working together for that aim.)(paraphrased.)

    Boag was having none of it. Their job was to make everything not work. (paraphrased.)

    Driver was in, "I don't believe this!" mode with the implication that the seeming aim of a major party in Parliament was to undermine the country.

    It was the first time I'd heard "fuck' on air. Driver's exasperation at Boag's attitude had him say something like "How fucking stupid" or "I don't fucking believe this."

    Silence. Then gentle music, then apologies and an explanation that the time delay thing wasn't switched on.

    Step on down Chris Bishop. Just what we need cretins with that expressed attitude. The next chapter will be about how they can be, he can be trusted to do what is best for the country.

  14. Pete 14
    28 August 2021 at 4:42 pm

    Christopher Bishflap@bishflap

    When she summoned me and told me it was "her intention to strip me", I had most of my clothes off before she added "of my Shadow Leader of the House role"

    😊

  15. Stuart Munro 15
    28 August 2021 at 5:10 pm

    Old failed parties do not go quietly into that good night,

    But rage, rage, ineffectually against the media 'blight'

    that is the PM doing a better job than they could even imagine.

  16. Ad 16
    28 August 2021 at 5:49 pm

    Who's keen for Mark Mitchell as Auckland mayor?

    He's going for it.

    • fender 16.1
      28 August 2021 at 7:28 pm

      Thanks, but no thanks!!

      (A vote against from the Kapiti Coast)

    • Marcus Morris 16.2
      28 August 2021 at 7:43 pm

      David Shearer is being courted by the "other side". I would think that Shearer would win in contest between he and Mitchell.

      • Ghostwhowalksnz 16.2.1
        28 August 2021 at 7:52 pm

        I guess they are going for a Law n Order candidate, using an ex policeman and ex Iraq mercenary.

        The policing is a government issue- vaguely as the cops dont get dictated to by politicians but that doesnt matter as the wolf whistle is all they are after.

      • Ad 16.2.2
        29 August 2021 at 10:20 am

        Between Shearer and Mitchell it would certainly be a "no brainer" contest.

    • Patricia Bremner 16.3
      29 August 2021 at 10:16 am

      no

  17. Lindsay Algra 17
    28 August 2021 at 9:40 pm

    Its not just about members of parliment, there is an entire cohort of staff that support them, further more if you recall Simon Bridges during the intital lockdown complained about how poor his internet was. Now i know for a fact there are new devlopments in NZ inwhich the speed of the internet hardly performs better then dial up, but is still charged out at full rates.

    There are many many reason that zoom meetings are not suitable for extremely high level talks. Jacinda maybe fine with calling up international partners and collaborating but thats not parliment. Parliment is about challenging, and we just need to look at the likes of facebook who censors, bans and mutes any challenge to the accepted norm.

    I have watched the House of Lords in the UK and all the issues they have running Zoom call in, it wouldn't surprise me that if NZ resorting to governing the country with zoom meetings, we would quickly find members of parliment kicked out of the meeting, unable to join the meeting and arange of other issues like DDOS attacks and more.

    Keep in mind, Labour is in power, they are the authority for government departments including cyber operations. If the PM says to disable someones computer or deny them access, they would do it with no questions asked. What would they do then? further more whos to say that someones not just watching porn while they mute the meeting.

    There are too many variables to suggest this is a solution, the entire nation would be better served if the PM concentrated on dealing with the biggest threat to NZ, then trying to get her little pet projects through parliment.

    • mickysavage 17.1
      29 August 2021 at 8:40 am

      You do understand she is responding to National’s complaints for Parliament to resit. From your logic you seem to be saying she should just ignore National.

    • Incognito 17.2
      29 August 2021 at 12:48 pm

      Yes, we all know how Simon Bridges toughed it out in Tauranga in the previous L4 lockdown: https://thestandard.org.nz/two-bubbles-bridges-big-day-out/.

      How many DDoS attacks has the House of Lords in the UK experienced? I think you made that up.

      If the PM says to disable someones computer or deny them access, they would do it with no questions asked.

      What kind of dictatorial fantasy world are you living in? Obviously, you don’t live in Aotearoa-New Zealand; perhaps stop watching those Netflix movies? I think you made this up too.

      I do like your little ‘porn’ dig though laugh Watching porn is more boring than being in Zoom meetings but maybe you have some tips for better porn?

      I cannot tell if you are just an ignorant simpleton or a troll. I have a feeling that your next comment here will be telling.

    • Pete 17.3
      29 August 2021 at 1:06 pm

      Simon Bridges complained about how poor his internet was during the initial lockdown? Yes.

      This man of influence, in the 5th biggest city in the country with all his connections in the business world, with Parliamentary Services no doubt teed up to help him do his job, could not find a good spot in some high-powered company's building.

      What happened to 'where there's a will there's a way'?

  18. JustMe 18
    29 August 2021 at 8:10 am

    Chris Bishop is doing an excellent job at demeaning the NZ National Party.

    But him threatening to 'gum up the works' just beggars belief that this person is an adult!!!!!

    Why can't during a time like this i.e the COVID pandemic National works in harmony with the government instead of serving ONLY THEMSELVES? Because all I notice is how self-serving National and its various MPs truly are.

    I can hardly take a lowly National MP of a now minor political party all that seriously. To me their negativity has become BORING, REPETITIVE, TIRESOME and OTT. And so because of their barrage of negativity I have completely switched off listening to anything any of them says in the media.

    It does seem a bad habit by National that everytime one of their MPs speaks or even posts on Twitter that 99.999% of their words are absolute rubbish. And because of that I view them as a gross waste of NZ Taxpayers money.

  19. Patricia Bremner 19
    29 August 2021 at 10:12 am

    Lindsay, what "little pet projects" do you have in mind? To suggest that Jacinda Ardern would interfere with a person's private internet says more about your morals than hers.

    Some of the allusions you make verge on trolling past events. ("watching porn') As for "removing people's rights and denying service" lol!! This Government has replaced rights and many services. Stop trying to paint Jacinda as Stasi (secret German Police).

    You are trying to say it is not the Pandemic forcing a rethink, but a desperate PM. Well to then say using Zoom gives the PM more powers is ridiculous over reach on your part, when it is to keep parliamentarians safe from a hugely infectious variant of covid.

    We have not reached the plateau of this curve yet, and you want people flying round NZ? Putting many others at risk. Or are you one of those "we have to live with covid" fools, who are comfortable for others to get sick and perhaps die? This may be 4 to 6 weeks of your time, then our fairly normal life could resume.

    So here is my take, which is about as valid as yours.

    You want parliament to convene, even if covid could spread, and you want the opposition to have more influence to undermine the current position. imo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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