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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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    21 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    22 hours ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    55 mins ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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