Hand in the till

Written By: Tane - Date published: 6:51 pm, September 22nd, 2008 - 189 comments
Categories: corruption, john key - Tags: tranzrail, tvnz

One News has just run the revelation that John Key lied to the public and to Parliament about the extent of his shareholding in Tranzrail while using his position to ask questions about the Government’s intentions for rail.

More importantly, it seems he met with Rail America in his capacity as National’s transport spokesperson to encourage the company to go ahead with its intention to purchase Tranzrail. He said in a newsletter that he hoped:

the interest shown by Rail America will be picked up by others.

Having pumped the sale without declaring his interest, he then divested of 50,000 Tranzrail shares, doubling his money within five weeks.

The public needs to know what went on during that meeting with Rail America. We also need to know the full details of all Key’s holdings and an investigation needs to be held into whether he has misused his position for financial gain anywhere else.

Given one of National’s favourite taunts over the last three years has been ‘corruption’, one can only hope the media will see real corruption for what it is.

189 comments on “Hand in the till ”

Comments are now closed

Monty 1

22 September 2008 at 6:56 pm

Overall John Key lost money on his share holding in Rail, he sold them early any information he had was in the public areana. Is this the neutron Bomb? is that all you have. This is an old story and there is no news. Any information Key may have had was already in the public areana.

Is this the reason why Cullen bought the train set?

I personally do not give a stuff over his share holdings 5 years ago.

Is the diversion that Labour so desperately need as the Privilages committee reports back tonight?

Irishbill: Monty, that’s the worst attempt at misdirection I have ever seen.
LAX 2

22 September 2008 at 6:57 pm

Corruption?

Are you talking about Winston or Helen?
Carol 3

22 September 2008 at 7:00 pm

It’s not so much the fact he did it, so much as that he fudged it and was less than open when talking about it until directly challenged on the amount.’

Shows he can be devious & not as forthright and open as he has been claiming he is.
Monty 4

22 September 2008 at 7:00 pm

No LAX – this is the diversion to hide the corruption of Winston and Helen – and what she knew and hid for 6 months in relation to Winston’s $100,000 donation. This is Clark’s Neutron fizzer!
Pat 5

22 September 2008 at 7:03 pm

Tane – tell the truth. He did not double his money. He lost money.
LAX 6

22 September 2008 at 7:07 pm

Monty

Do you think the hosts here really want a debate about corruption?

Somehow I doubt it.
Inventory2 7

22 September 2008 at 7:07 pm

The real story here is why is TVNZ running interference for the government by running stories at the behest of the Labour Research Unit?
Concerned of Tawa 8

22 September 2008 at 7:08 pm

Labour has blown it again!

A chance to land a blow to Key and what do they do, cynically release the bomb to divert from the Winston-Helen Cash-for-Honours rort and then allow Cullen to front the story with all his huff and puff.

Any doubts about Key diminish as NZ is reminded about how awful Cullen is. The man should wear an EFA authorisation as a vote to National.

Key -3, Cullen -10
Oliver 9

22 September 2008 at 7:09 pm

Tane,

When one takes the time to read the article properly and skip past the headline it becomes clear to see that this is one tenth the issue that you’tr trying to build it into at a time when the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prme Minister are busy trying to undermine a law-enforcement body that’s working hard to hold criminals and suspected criminals to account.
gobsmacked 10

22 September 2008 at 7:10 pm

Almost all the media took Key’s word when he was accused by Clark in the House of failing to disclose his rail share interest, a couple of months ago. They believed him. He misled the media, and the House. Key’s got some grovelling to do now.

What a priceless moment in the interview, when he answered “50,000”, and then only after being challenged, decided to tell us it was “100,000”. No wonder he spends all his time campaigning with cute kiddies and sycophants – as soon as a journalist gets near him with a real question he falls to pieces.
LAX 11

22 September 2008 at 7:12 pm

Come on Oliver, you should know by now that Clark and Labour are above the law.

It’s called courageous corruption.
roger nome 12

22 September 2008 at 7:13 pm

Monty: As carol has said, the issue is Key’s sustained deception regarding his ownership of shares in a company which has involved the possibility of a conflict of interest.

Also, if he had nothing to hide and nothing to gain, why wasn’t he just open and honest with the public from the start?
Brett Dale 13

22 September 2008 at 7:16 pm

So lets see here, John Key and his family bought and sold some shares and he got no more information than the average member of the public, I dont think that is a crime.

Although I got a good giggle, when the socialist reporter on TVNZ, asked him, “Did you sell your shares for a profit?”

Believe it or not, that is the general idea of sharetrading.
Pat 14

22 September 2008 at 7:19 pm

I agree it was not a good look when he fudged the amount. But he got there, in the end. At least he didn’t hold up a “No” sign.
gobsmacked 15

22 September 2008 at 7:19 pm

“A spokesman for Key told The Press that Key’s family trust had bought 30,000 shares in TranzRail in 2002 but sold them before Key began commenting on the company.” (03 July 2008).

Now we know that statement is false, or at best is lying by omission. Key deliberately misled the media, and they took his word. He’s got some explaining to do.
Monty 16

22 September 2008 at 7:21 pm

Roger – if you want to talk about deception then you must talk about Clark not saying she knew about the $100,000 gift to Winnie that she knew about (and probably a whole lot more) back is February. She says she was never asked. This issue is five years old, and at the time Key was a new green back bencher.

This is not a story – it is another desperate beat up by Labour. – The left will try and milk it (especially as they are desperate for a diversion with the privilages committee report into the corruption of Winnie now due). When you wantt o talk about honesty – you really must get your home office in order first.

Should we talk about deliberate fraud (paintergate) honesty – What did Clark know in Feb 08. What is the Vegas trip for Winston all about? There is so much that we do not know – that this issue about John Key does not rate.
gobsmacked 17

22 September 2008 at 7:23 pm

Stuff.co.nz reports:

“When John Key’s shareholding in Tranz Rail was first revealed by Prime Minister Helen Clark in July, Mr Key claimed he entered Parliament as an existing shareholder through his family trust and then sold the shares when he wanted to speak out against the government’s buyback of the rail track.

Reports at the time said Mr Key’s shareholding was limited to 30,000 shares within a family trust. Mr Key did not correct these reports at the time.”

And he didn’t want to correct that number today either – until he had to.
barnsleybill 18

22 September 2008 at 7:29 pm

Why pravda would beat up a story like this is beyond belief.
Unless they were trying to demonstrate that he would continue the golden run of losing money on rail transactions just like Cullen has done.
roger nome 19

22 September 2008 at 7:30 pm

Brett – as with the Peters issue, it’s the deception involved in his actions which matters, not the legality of them. Actually, considering he has shunned peters, ostensibly for deceiving the public over issues invoving his personal finances, he commes out of this looking an complete hypocrit.
Robinsod 20

22 September 2008 at 7:31 pm

F*ck you righties are funny – Monty – you win for most desperate but… but… but comment up front.

So he lost money? Even while cheating and lying? What a loser…

I also see none of you are commenting on the pump and dump he carried out on his first 50,000 shares…
Anita 21

22 September 2008 at 7:36 pm

Inventory2,

The real story here is why is TVNZ running interference for the government by running stories at the behest of the Labour Research Unit?

I doubt anyone’s going to agree with you.

No-one ever seems to agree with me that who is feeding information to the media about Peters is a real story.

How about you and I band together to start a trend of reporting on media’s unwillingness to report on the media being used as a tool of the political spin machines?
vto 22

22 September 2008 at 7:36 pm

oh deary, not a good look first up. be interesting to see what the story is. 2c thinks oh my giddy aunt he has made a balls-up – for the simple reason that he had already made his moola and why would he waste time and take such politically massive risks on an outfit like this at this time? he is smarter than that (true. one hopes).

but you know – perception and reality and all that.
LAX 23

22 September 2008 at 7:38 pm

Robinsod

What is desperate about asking a simple question?, you guys have raised the issue of corruption and therefore it is reasonable for the numerous cases of Labour party corruption to be brought into the discussion.

Or are you another left wing hypocrite?
IrishBill 24

22 September 2008 at 7:42 pm

vto, I’ve known a few traders in my time and they would all take risks that seemed ridiculous considering their financial and social status. I suspect it’s an addiction to the game. I must admit I thought JK was a bit less of a cowboy than that but then again I’ve seen enough of them play nice straight lads when they had to.
Robinsod 25

22 September 2008 at 7:45 pm

LAX – what Irish said about monty but with less respect…

I love the tenuous logic you are using to talk about anything other than the fact your mate John Key is a dodgy bugger – it makes me laugh. In an at you kind of a way of course…
Pat 26

22 September 2008 at 7:47 pm

Best thing JK could do is open the books to the media. If he is smart he would have exited any controversial shares once he become Nat Leader. He would also show he has nothing to hide and difuse the whole story.
Quoth the Raven 27

22 September 2008 at 7:48 pm

why would he waste time and take such politically massive risks on an outfit like this at this time?

Greed
Robinsod 28

22 September 2008 at 7:48 pm

Oh and I’m f*ckn lovin the fact DPF has a piece up correcting the use of a phrase by TV3 – I guess he’s in a holding pattern until the lines come through from Kevin…
coge 29

22 September 2008 at 7:49 pm

Key used his own money in Transrail. Cullen used the taxpayers, & was roundly ripped off by the Aussies. Incompetance beyond belief.
Macro 30

22 September 2008 at 7:50 pm

“So lets see here, John Key and his family bought and sold some shares and he got no more information than the average member of the public, I dont think that is a crime.

Although I got a good giggle, when the socialist reporter on TVNZ, asked him, “Did you sell your shares for a profit?’

Believe it or not, that is the general idea of sharetrading.”

AND That Brett is where the corruption – yes it is corruption! – others in similar positions have been accused and found guilty as such – lies. You see J Key asked questions in the house concerning the matter – he also held discussions with other interested parties as well. He should have declared all his interests here – particularly as he was the spokesperson for transport and he didn’t.

You can spin it all you like! but quite frankly the “holier than thou” stance of the National Leader is rather hollow.

We have been consistently lied to by J Key – his credibility gap is in deep overdraft.
Pat 31

22 September 2008 at 7:51 pm

“Why would he waste time and take such politically massive risks on an outfit like this at this time?”

By “this time” do you mean 2003?
IrishBill 32

22 September 2008 at 7:54 pm

coge, he used his money but then he didn’t tell us and than he used the access New Zealand voters bequeathed him as a parliamentary representative for his own pecuniary gain. Please explain why that is not corrupt.
mickysavage 33

22 September 2008 at 7:54 pm

Good post and a big issue.

Winnie may or not have told lies, it appears that Key may have used information obtained through his job as an MP, bought shares, talked them up, sold them for a profit and then did not tell the truth/avoided answering a correction correctly. Privileges Committee hearing anyone?

Forex Traders tend to take short term decisions with total indifference to the moral complications involved in the decision or the long term implications. Do we really want this man as our PM?
Pat 34

22 September 2008 at 7:54 pm

If it is corruption, then charge him. But you better hurry, cause the SFO has only 7 weeks to live if Labour gets back in.
vto 35

22 September 2008 at 7:56 pm

QtR and IrisBill perhaps, but I would be surprised. He seems so ridiculously driven to achieve whatever goals he chooses that this sort of risk/mistake would never even be remotely approached.

But we should remember (except when applied to Peters) “a judgment based solely on the prosecution is a worthless judgment” (that’s one of my own, coined during a recent domestic downpour he he)
gobsmacked 36

22 September 2008 at 7:58 pm

John Key, 3 weeks ago:

“The appointment of a minister to Cabinet has to be done on the basis that as Prime Minister I can look that person in the eye and have confidence that I can rely on their word.”

Hmmm.
Brett Dale 37

22 September 2008 at 7:58 pm

mickysavage

There is no evidence whatsoever that he used inside information.
LAX 38

22 September 2008 at 8:00 pm

Sorry to disappoint all of you but this is not the silver bullet.

The next lot of polls are going to show the gap widening, it is time that you faced the fact that John Key could shoot somebody right in front of the TV camera’s and he will still be our next PM.

Remember the days when Clark could sack police commissioners unjustifiably and it would not affect here rating?
Remember the days when Clark could lie about art work and it would not affect her rating?
Remember the days when Clark could speed across the Canterbury plains and it would not affect her ratings?

Those days have gone chaps, there is a new man in town and the public of NZ want this man to run the country for at least the next nine years, I suspect they also want him to bring an end to the high level of govt corruption and they also want him to get rid of MMP.
Trader 39

22 September 2008 at 8:01 pm

I think you’ll find that his smallish profit came VERY early in the sequence and that his rather large loss came later. There’s nothing to suggest he used his position to pump and dump. Even MC says it falls short of insider trading. (CAPTCHA: Lippman overcame )
Robinsod 40

22 September 2008 at 8:02 pm

There is no evidence whatsoever that he used inside information.

Brett – I’m super pleased you are also calling for an investigation into this murky situation – especially as I had you picked as a one-eyed retard…
coge 41

22 September 2008 at 8:03 pm

Irishbill, what you are suggesting does not make sense. It appears you are inexperienced in share market matters. Why not talk about stuff you understand?

IrishBill: I think you would be surprised to know how much experience I have in the market. Why don’t you talk about the matter at hand?
higherstandard 42

22 September 2008 at 8:03 pm

Snore
Robinsod 43

22 September 2008 at 8:07 pm

Hey LAX – I see you’ve fallen back on the “perception is the only issue” defense. Didn’t take long. It reminds me of a particular style of line run by an old mate of mine… You’re not blar are you? ‘Cos if you are you’re messing with our deal…
LAX 44

22 September 2008 at 8:09 pm

Robinsod

“especially as I had you picked as a one-eyed retard ”

Where you born a jerk or is it something that you have had to work at?

There is no need to be so abusive, yes you might be getting stressed our at the imminent demise of Clark but that is no reason to abuse anybody.

Or perhaps you are really Trevor Mallard?
gobsmacked 45

22 September 2008 at 8:09 pm

LAX

It’s not about silver bullets and smoking guns and other cowboy cliches. It’s about the public interest (and so are the Winston Peters allegations). It is in the public interest to know if John Key has deliberately misled us, and if so, why.

Nobody has come up with any reason why this is not a legitimate issue, only “look away! over there!”, which is feeble.
ghostwhowalks 46

22 September 2008 at 8:13 pm

Brett ask your selves why he was buying shares in a ‘dead end’ business like rail any way. Was there a big technology breakthrough !

Where they going to be a new google.
hell no , some one gave him a tip.
Now we want all his phone records at the time he bought and sold the shares so that that the same inquisition that Peters has gone through is used on him. After all we cant trust his memory can we.

Key is the guy who lied in a statuary declaration about his place of residence for the previous month all so he could win National preselection for a hick place.
All ready this year we have seen another case of corruption in the preselection process in Rakaia. Yes carter we are talking about you

BTW , I thought the original issue raised by Cullen was to get his denials on the record.
Robinsod 47

22 September 2008 at 8:14 pm

LAX – I was born that way and then I honed it some…

You’re not the first to call me Trev but I like to think of myself as much much smarter than that.

Oh and just because you’re desperately wishing the demise of Helen ain’t goona make it so. Y’konw – kinda like how you wish you were good-looking, clever and worth talking to at parties…
LAX 48

22 September 2008 at 8:16 pm

gobsmacked

It may surprise you but I agree, the public interest has not been served for the best part of nine years and it is a bit rich for the left to demand that it become an issue at the 11th hour in a vain attempt to save the dieing and corrupt Clark govt.

Key has not deliberately misled anybody at worst we have a “conflict of evidence” or Mr Key “does not have a memory of that”, hell he may even use the line made popular by Helen Clark “well you never asked me”.

Either way it is not going to hurt National one little bit.
higherstandard 49

22 September 2008 at 8:17 pm

I heard Key sold his shares in rail so he could invest in baby eating futures.

Interesting that the EPMU and Labour would like the public to believe a person who gives away his parliamentary salary because he clearly doesn’t need the money has committed some sort of heinous market manipulation with a small shareholding of rail shares.

captcha Jeanette amounts (to the balance of power post election … maybe)

IrishBill: EPMU? Labour? That’s a week long ban.
Monty 50

22 September 2008 at 8:21 pm

Aahhh – so I was right – this non-story is a beat up and a desperate diversion – the real story is the privilages committee report – Kiwiblog reports it is 200 pages long. Roll up roll up Privilages committee report out – that is real news –

this is a desperate attempt by Labour to divert attention away from how Clark has aided and abetted corruption by one of her senior ministers.
Robinsod 51

22 September 2008 at 8:22 pm

HaHa! – Suck it up HS – you’re looking more and more like a National hack/troll every day…

It’ll give you some more time to focus on your “surgery” tho…

IrishBill: unless you settle down and stop pushing for a flame-war you’ll be following HS and you are looking at at least two weeks next time.
coge 52

22 September 2008 at 8:23 pm

Irishbill, since you claim to have involvement in equities, you will understand how it is often impossible to provide an accurate answer as to how many are held. As the very nature of trading & the different vehicles used means the numbers held varies over time. Beneficial or non-beneficial? It’s not the sort of question easily addressed on the hop, as you no doubt already know.
Anita 53

22 September 2008 at 8:25 pm

I don’t understand the way Key has played this.

A number of years ago he did something incomprehensible with shares. He could have fessed up to the full extent of this weeks/months ago and it would have made no difference to anyone’s perception. Everyone knows he used to work with markets and trading and stuff, and whatever he did it was incomprehensible, and Cullen got worked up, but he always does.

This year, only a few weeks ago, Key chose to (at least) mislead the public. People will care, how many is not yet clear.

Why didn’t he just admit to the incomprehensible share thing way before the election campaign? Are his political advisors incompetent? Did he hide the truth from them? Does he lie by habit? Is the issue worse than it appears? Any other explanations?
Trader 54

22 September 2008 at 8:25 pm

rotfl, would be sheer bathos if it turned into an “a pox on both your houses” sort of thing. Problem is, there’s nowhere else to go – certainly not the sycophantic Greens or theatrical Act, not over something like this. But, still, the title of this thread is way over the top. If you guys could just stop trying to turn every little thing into a king hit, you’d have a lot more influence.
Bliss 55

22 September 2008 at 8:25 pm

Trader

Pump and dump?

As reported by TV3, not illegal (I think, IANAL) but very dodgy

Then on May 7, 2003 Key bought another 50,000 shares – this time under his own name – for an estimated $22,500.

A couple of weeks later he met with Rail America, which was considering a bid for Tranz Rail.

“I hope that the interest shown by Rail America will be picked up by others,” he said at the time in his newsletter, but he still did not say he was a shareholder.

On June 10, 2003 Key sold his personal parcel of 50,000 shares for about $51,000, doubling his profit in just five weeks.

He held for a month, over that month he met with a potential buyer and published material that (could be construed to have) promoted the idea that TRANZRAIL was going to be bought. Then he sold.

IMO it was a foolish thing to do.

peace
W
mickysavage 56

22 September 2008 at 8:26 pm

Brett Dale

What Key has done is not insider trading in the legal sense. But if any MP was using the knowledge they obtained during their job as an MP to make money then I would be awfully p***d off with them. I would never elect them and I would certainly not want them in charge of my country, to put it frankly I just could not trust them …

LAX the important poll is the one in about 7 weeks, plenty of time for the Trust theme to have been well and truly established.

It is irrelevant that another share trade may have resulted in a loss. This is only evidence of incompetence. Key doubled his second (or third?) investment in a short time, this is cause for investigation.
Macro 57

22 September 2008 at 8:27 pm

hs _ I thought you set higher standards than that! – you obviously approve of lying to the public by National MPs?
IrishBill 58

22 September 2008 at 8:27 pm

coge, it is expected that a full declaration of interests is offered by all MPS. If Key could not provide a full declaration to parliament how was he able to do so so quickly to a reporter once he realised he’d been busted?
higherstandard 59

22 September 2008 at 8:28 pm

One week ban for what ??
LAX 60

22 September 2008 at 8:28 pm

Robinsod

” Y’konw – kinda like how you wish you were good-looking, clever and worth talking to at parties ”

Is there something you want to share with the group Robinsod?, if I had to read between the lines here I would suggest that you are suffering from a rather nasty social disease or perhaps severe acne.

When one constantly talks ones self up in the fashion you do it often hides a rather disconcerting and frankly worrying level of hopelessness and inadequacy, I might go as far as to suggest that you are one of those chaps who suffers from incredibly small penis syndrome.

The symptoms are obvious, your high level of abusive behaviour and your constant boasting about your abilities, of course you take solace that nobody (or at worst very few) actually knows who you are in real life so you enjoy (even if it is only for a fleeting moment) the anonymity that the Internet affords you.

Do not worry about it young man, one day you will find a girl that does not mind that you have a one inch penis, until then you might try and be a little bit nicer to those who disagree with you, it really will help the feelings of inadequacy you so obviously suffer from.
vto 61

22 September 2008 at 8:30 pm

how did hs get to say that at 8.28 when he’s banned?
Robinsod 62

22 September 2008 at 8:32 pm

LAX – I’ve had a warning so I’ll go no further but it is becoming apparent to me you are insolent prick. In which case – get over it dear…

Oh and stop talking about my genitals – you ain’t getting any no matter how much you want it…
higherstandard 63

22 September 2008 at 8:34 pm

Indeed !!
higherstandard 64

22 September 2008 at 8:35 pm

Do you only bestow your favours on peers of the realm then ?
Pascal's bookie 65

22 September 2008 at 8:37 pm

How soon will Key be holding a presser to announce that he will under no circumstances have that man, John Key, in a governemnt led by him.

LAX gets my vote for lamest new talking point emitter. Upgrade please.
Macro 66

22 September 2008 at 8:38 pm

Anita

Perhaps J Key is someone who finds it difficult to be generous with the truth. We have a number of instances of this. The “unopened e-mail” really are we expected to believe that!, the difficulty of remembering Lord whatsisname, the raising /lowering wages saga, The troops to Iraq – no I didn’t! etc.
LAX 67

22 September 2008 at 8:38 pm

Robinsod

Touch a raw nerve did I?

I have no idea who insolent prick is nor who this blar person is.
Pascal's bookie 68

22 September 2008 at 8:40 pm

vto, I think it runs on the honour system. Which doesn’t work for some.
coge 69

22 September 2008 at 8:41 pm

Irishbill for reasons I’ve already outlined. I could ask you how many XXX did you own in 2006? You could answer say, 25k, 50k or 100K & be correct on every count. I could disagree with any of those figures & be correct as well.
LAX 70

22 September 2008 at 8:42 pm

In the mean time the privileges committee has voted to censure Winston.

Is this finally enough evidence for Clark to sack the man or is she still determined to hold on to him lest he turn ferrell.
Trader 71

22 September 2008 at 8:43 pm

Bliss – Any evidence that TR shares improved because of Key’s meeting with Rail America? Or that anything he did influenced the market value of the shares? If fact, after Rail America tendered its 75 cent per share offer, the stock dropped to below 50 cents. This is not typically what you think of as pump and dump.
Pascal's bookie 72

22 September 2008 at 8:43 pm

Seeing (most of) the righties are just frothing, I’m guessing thi thread ain’t gonna get much better..

We’ll have to wait till kiwiblog gets the approved lines out sometime in the next 24 hours.

Laters.
Quoth the Raven 73

22 September 2008 at 8:45 pm

Roll up roll up Privilages committee report out – that is real news –

Roll up Roll up for the mystery tour…
randal 74

22 September 2008 at 8:45 pm

his flickering tongue gave him away.
ghostwhowalks 75

22 September 2008 at 8:46 pm

AS we have seen in the last week Wall St has allways been Bullshit Alley.
You dont think slippery got to the top of the pole by fair dealing and integrity.

Even if his mates in the tory press boardrooms paper over the cracks for him tomorrow morning its only going to bring the whole national party crashing down around him over the next few years
toad 76

22 September 2008 at 8:49 pm

Monty said: …the real story is the privilages committee report -Kiwiblog reports it is 200 pages long.

Oh, move on Monty. This is all about Peters, and it is, if anything, gaining him votes and increasing the chances of NZF getting back into Parliament.

Sure, we all know Winston is corrupt, but from the minimal $20K+ rolling donation returns from Labour and National declared last week, I suspect he’s not the only one. The Greens have by far the most donations declared in this category, and they don’t generally have those with money to burn on their side.

No-one can convince me that the Greens have received more $20K+ donations than Labour or National – well, unless the Greens poll 3-% at the election, in which case I’ll eat my words.

Anyway, Monty, let’s get over Winston. He should be dog food at the election, but I fear the more we and the MSM attack him, the more he will gain politically as the victimised underdog.

I would hate to see him and NZF get back, but I think the likes of you and David Farrar are playing nto his hands.
Macro 77

22 September 2008 at 8:49 pm

coge
“you will understand how it is often impossible to provide an accurate answer as to how many are held. As the very nature of trading & the different vehicles used means the numbers held varies over time. Beneficial or non-beneficial? It’s not the sort of question easily addressed on the hop, as you no doubt already know.”

The number is irrelevant – as is whether or not he made money out of the trading – its the fact that he lied about it, and he never declared his interests in the first place!
Robinsod 78

22 September 2008 at 8:53 pm

LAX – you’re never touching any part of me…

Back on topic – I reckon this will be the tip of the iceberg. How many other investments d’yah think Key hasn’t declared?
Danny 79

22 September 2008 at 8:54 pm

This is not corruption, not even close.

However, we should all have a serious issue with an elected official commenting in their public professional capacity on something they have an direct pecuniary interest in – without disclosing that interest. Regardless of how big or small the interest is.

After all, this joker is there as a representative.
Robinsod 80

22 September 2008 at 8:57 pm

This is not corruption, not even close.

We don’t know that unless we know what was said in Key’s meeting with rail America – especially seeing as they were dealing with him in his capacity as an official representative of New Zealand’s parliament and not as a shareholder in Tranzrail….
Macro 81

22 September 2008 at 8:59 pm

Danny
Please explain how not declaring a financial interest in a portfolio you are spokesperson for, is not corruption?
coge 82

22 September 2008 at 9:00 pm

Macro you have not addressed the issue. In matters of equity trading it is not often possible for any individual to provide an answer that satifies every question. Had Key invested in bonus bonds(& I believe he hasn’t as he is an intelligent man) it would be much easier for him satisfy such questions. This hardly represents lying or corruption, & is more likely another Labour beat-up to cover Winston.
Trader 83

22 September 2008 at 9:05 pm

Key was out of TR completely by June 2003. In order to get out, he took an earnings bath on his holdings. Hardly “corruption” in any known sense of the word.
ghostwhowalks 84

22 September 2008 at 9:06 pm

Here is the timeline from NZPA as reported by TV3
ebruary 15, 2002 – Mr Key’s family trust buys 30,000 shares in Tranz Rail for $108,000;

* February 19, 2002 – the trust purchases 20,000 more Tranz Rail shares for $72,000;

* July 27, 2002 – Mr Key is elected to Parliament;

* October 30, 31, 2002 – Mr Key asks parliamentary questions relating to Tranz Rail and the future of the rail track without disclosing his shareholding;

April 9, 2003 – in Parliament, Mr Key questions Finance Minister Michael Cullen about secret meetings between the Government and Tranz Rail;

* April 14, 2003 – Mr Key seeks dates and details of government meetings with Tranz Rail in written parliamentary questions;

* April 23, 2003 – Mr Key seeks copies of minutes from Government meetings with Tranz Rail from Dr Cullen, but is declined on commercial secrecy grounds;

* May 7, 2003 – Mr Key purchases 50,000 more Tranz Rail shares in his own name for $22,500;

* May 20, 2003 – in his role as National’s associate transport spokesman Mr Key meets Rail America to discuss its views on Tranz Rail;

* June 10, 2003 – Mr Key sells the 50,000 Tranz Rail shares he purchased in May for $51,000;

* June 11, 2003 – under questioning by Mr Key in Parliament, Dr Cullen expresses his view that Tranz Rail is carrying hundreds of millions worth of liabilities;

* June 13, 2003 – Mr Key’s family trust sells its 50,000 Tranz Rail shares for $48,000 — a loss of $132,000.

* June 18, 2003 – Mr Key again attacks the Government’s plans to buy back the rail tracks.

* October 16, 2003 – Mr Key makes an apparent hypothetical reference in the debate over Pecuniary Interests Legislation to a possible shareholding in Tranz Rail.

NZPA

Funny how some claim he wasnt sure of his exact holdings at any time, but wanted the minutes of government meetings
Who do you think is the detail man

Remember too Key never dreamed in 2003 he would be catapulted into the leadership so quickly – to replace a discredited Brash
Robinsod 85

22 September 2008 at 9:07 pm

But coge – if it’s so hard to tell these things how could he answer Fran so fast?
Pat 86

22 September 2008 at 9:08 pm

So we can all agree that Peters, Clark and Key have either lied or misled the public.

Therefore, to teach all MP’s a lesson, the only logical option is to make Russell Norman the next Prime Minister.

(I declare my pecuniary interest as owner of a bike shop).
Trader 87

22 September 2008 at 9:10 pm

If he continued his line of questioning after he’d sold off his holdings, what make you suppose his line of questioning was inspired by the desire to pump and dump?
Macro 88

22 September 2008 at 9:11 pm

No coge it is YOU who is not addressing the issue! You are offering every excuse you can dream up but quite frankly it doesn’t wash. Just take a look at the facts above. HE KNEW alright!
coge 89

22 September 2008 at 9:13 pm

‘Sod, dunno. Why don’t you ask JK?, either way it is hardly an issue. Trading stocks is very different to buying half-arsed unit trusts. Bank unit trusts are not a thinking persons investment.
ghostwhowalks 90

22 September 2008 at 9:14 pm

Tarder the timeline shows he loses interest in the details after selling ALL his shares and get back to his day job of attacking the government over TR
Robinsod 91

22 September 2008 at 9:16 pm

coge – that should be “person’s” (the apostrophe signals possession). I would very much like to ask John Key. I’m glad you have also decided an investigation is necessary…

Oh and it’s definitely an issue.
mickysavage 92

22 September 2008 at 9:18 pm

Ghostwhowalks

Wow.

Key asks a question, possibly gets some sort of advanced answer that there are lots of liabilities prior to the official answer and dumps his shares? If I was a shareholder and one of my directors did this I would want his head on a spike and then go after his personal assets.

And when he is asked 5 years after the event it takes 2 seconds for him to remember that he actually did own the shares that he previously denied owning??

Wow.

This is really big.

Who do we want as our PM, Helen who has given us 9 good years, or JK who promises more of Helen but has some memory/ethics difficulties and the forex trader instinct to maximise the next 3 months profits against the future of the country …

If it is a matter of trust then I know who I am going to vote for …
Trader 93

22 September 2008 at 9:19 pm

Given the likely size of Key’s portfolio and the fact that the TR shares were being handled by a broker, what makes you imagine that any of this was ever front of mind in those days?
Macro 94

22 September 2008 at 9:20 pm

“Bank unit trusts are not a thinking persons investment.”
But SIV’s are?
Hey don’t try to play the big knowledgeable financial manager guy thingie – we all know they know sweet fannie may.
Danny 95

22 September 2008 at 9:21 pm

Macro, Robinsod,

“Please explain how not declaring a financial interest in a portfolio you are spokesperson for, is not corruption?”

Corruption requires public power and the intentional use of that power for personal gain.

Applied to Key:

Firstly, he was a spokesperson, he was not a member of the Government. He was not a decision-maker deciding in his own favour. It was not public power being misused, as such.

Secondly, there is no evidence of an intention to personally gain. And given the amount in question being small (relatively), that intent is unlikely.
Pat 96

22 September 2008 at 9:22 pm

“If it is a matter of trust then I know who I am going to vote for ”

Russell Norman!

(Great sale on 10 speeds this week BTW)
ghostwhowalks 97

22 September 2008 at 9:23 pm

This series of events blows holes in the argument that the information he was after was in the public domain

April 9, 2003 – in Parliament, Mr Key questions Finance Minister Michael Cullen about secret meetings between the Government and Tranz Rail;

* April 14, 2003 – Mr Key seeks dates and details of government meetings with Tranz Rail in written parliamentary questions;

* April 23, 2003 – Mr Key seeks copies of minutes from Government meetings with Tranz Rail from Dr Cullen, but is declined on commercial secrecy grounds;
illuminatedtiger 98

22 September 2008 at 9:27 pm

What punitive measures can be taken against Key if it turns out he has misled the New Zealand public?
ghostwhowalks 99

22 September 2008 at 9:27 pm

Plus there is the likely hood Key was passing on information he was privy to ( in the time lapse between receiving the answers to his questions and them being published in hansard) to others in his share trading ring
toad 100

22 September 2008 at 9:28 pm

Pat said: Therefore, to teach all MP’s a lesson, the only logical option is to make Russell Norman the next Prime Minister.

What a brilliant idea!

A BIG Party Vote GREEN, and it could happen. Come on folks, let’s have a Prime Minister with some principle and integrity!
Robinsod 101

22 September 2008 at 9:29 pm

It was not public power being misused, as such

He would not have been able to meet with rail america in the capacity of a public official if he did not have that position (provided for him by the public). If he represented himself as an public official (and not a shareholder) in that meeting and then gained information which he used for gain then he abused his public position and that is an abuse of power.

Let’s see the minutes of the meeting…
Danny 102

22 September 2008 at 9:29 pm

Ghost,

The information he sought was not in the public domain when he sought it. Why would he need to “seek” it if it was public info?

If he had received it then it would have become public at the point of receipt, putting him in no better position than any other individual who wanted it.
Pat 103

22 September 2008 at 9:31 pm

Ghost – “passing on information”, “share trading ring”? Don’t start making things up. You were going well up until that point.
Janet 104

22 September 2008 at 9:33 pm

JK’s behaviour over these shares, and some of his actions in his money trader days, may have been legal but they are certainly not ethical. His attacks on Helen and Winston etc have left him open to accusations of hypocrisy. ‘Let he who is without sin cast the first stone’ (that’s from the Bible for you young atheists – but it still useful guidance for today).
Robinsod 105

22 September 2008 at 9:33 pm

Danny – that’s the theory of it but there is a delay in getting that information out and by asking the questions Key puts himself at the front of the queue for the information. Other traders (y’know those who don’t have a seat in parliament) don’t have the chance to get in first…

Remember a week is a long time in politics but an hour is a longer time in the market…
ghostwhowalks 106

22 September 2008 at 9:34 pm

Danny dont be a stupid dick–….”no evidence of an intention to personally gain”

Buying any shares is ALLWAYS an ‘intention to personally gain’

Thats what they are for, it doesnt quite go to plan but the intention is clear
Macro 107

22 September 2008 at 9:35 pm

“were being handled by a broker, what makes you imagine that any of this was ever front of mind in those days?”

You still have to tell the broker to buy/sell.

Get over it guys! He shouldn’t have been doing this – he’s been found out – he’s NOT holier than Winston.
Trader 108

22 September 2008 at 9:37 pm

Following on Danny’s astute point, he actually got NO inside information and influenced NOTHING. The story seems to be that if Key (or any other MP) invests in any NZ company, they’re suspect. If they don’t, however, they’d be reviled for not doing so on other grounds.
Pat 109

22 September 2008 at 9:37 pm

Macro – let’s be honest. Everyone is holier than Winston.
Danny 110

22 September 2008 at 9:41 pm

Robinsod,

I accept that Key should have disclosed his interests, both before Parliamentary questions and at the start of the RA meeting. That much is beyond argument.

However, it is a far cry from corruption. At best it was an oversight on his part, at worst he thought being privy to such a discussion was a perk of the job (I doubt he thought this). Each is less than manipulation for personal gain.
Robinsod 111

22 September 2008 at 9:41 pm

Hey Trader – I’ve already pointed out the problem with that argument. But what about rail america – what if duing the meeting he found out they were not interested in buying and so he comes home, pumps the shares a bit, and then sells his before people tumble? ALl speculation but when he’s meeting with these folk and we don;t know what’s going on it all a bit…

murky…

don’t y’ think?
Trader 112

22 September 2008 at 9:42 pm

Macro: To quote from a statement issued tonight “The shareholdings were managed on my behalf by my broker who had the authority to act on individual share parcels without referring back to the trust.”
Anita 113

22 September 2008 at 9:43 pm

My vague memory of the process is that if Key submitted a written parliamentary question he would get the response before it was made public. That is as an MP asking a written PQ he has better and earlier access to information than other New Zealanders.
Robinsod 114

22 September 2008 at 9:46 pm

at worst he thought being privy to such a discussion was a perk of the job

Oh nohz – poor naive John! Get real Danny – Key was a hard-nosed trader who would know the value of inside information and would be well aware of the conflict of interest. The idea he just mistook it for a “perk” is absurd. Are you running an absurd argument Danny?
ghostwhowalks 115

22 September 2008 at 9:48 pm

Trader, like the TV quiz master who has to know the answers to the questions before hand, Key knew the answers to his questions some times days before they became public.

SO he was seeking to profit ( shares are an investment class , Ferraris arent)
He was seeking confidential information using the resources of the Parliament to do so.

THus he was seeking to profit from his job as a Member of parliament
Macro 116

22 September 2008 at 9:48 pm

lol! However, I’m sorry to disagree Pat but we are all like Winston. And we should never set ourselves up as if were were anything other. We are likely to be found out, for one thing, and if we think we are different we deceive no one but ourselves.
Trader 117

22 September 2008 at 9:48 pm

Robinsbod: RA did make an offer. It was not compelling to the market and the share price fell.
Danny 118

22 September 2008 at 9:50 pm

“Danny dont be a stupid dick .’no evidence of an intention to personally gain'”

Hi Ghost. There is no evidence of an intention to personally gain from the any alleged misuse of public “power”. There is no evidence that the questions he asked were personally motivated. Of course he intends to gain with his share trades, as do all MPs.
Robinsod 119

22 September 2008 at 9:50 pm

“The shareholdings were managed on my behalf by my broker who had the authority to act on individual share parcels without referring back to the trust.’

Yeah – that’s right up there with “I was talking about Australian wages”

He’s not much on personal responsibility is he? Not when it’s his…
Robinsod 120

22 September 2008 at 9:52 pm

Robinsbod: RA did make an offer. It was not compelling to the market and the share price fell.

So do we know whether he knew what that offer would be? It’d make sense to sell if he did. And he did come back and sell…
Trader 121

22 September 2008 at 9:53 pm

This discussion would make a lot more sense if Key had been Minister, rather than spokesman for the Opposition in the portfolio. As Minister, he would expect to get quite a lot. As an Opposition spokesman, he’d be lucky to get more than a vague and oblique response from the Government and something even less from Rail America or TR. Clearly, he got nothing. Look at the returns on his investment.
Macro 122

22 September 2008 at 9:56 pm

“were being handled by a broker, what makes you imagine that any of this was ever front of mind in those days?”

Yeah – that’s right up there with “I was talking about Australian wages’

He’s not much on personal responsibility is he? Not when it’s his

yeah I was about to say the same thing! AND even though the broker may have been handling the trust he is still able to direct the broker.
Trader 123

22 September 2008 at 9:57 pm

Sigh. Robinsod, most large scale investors use brokers who deal with the daily buys and sells. Broker performance is rarely monitored as closely as you seem to suspect. You’re probably a Kiwisaver guy. Do you know where your money is every day and do you move your portfolio around a lot? Your Kiwisaver agent is your broker. Do you know his/her name?
Danny 124

22 September 2008 at 9:58 pm

Robinsod,

Read my post again. “The idea he just mistook it for a “perk’ is absurd.” I totally agree.

Which leaves it as an error in judgement on his part.

Your logic chain that he had some type of public power which he may have misused therefore it may corruption is tenuous, and the allegation falls with it. On the other hand, if Cullen had an undisclosed share holding in TR, then …

Do you get my point?
RedLogix 125

22 September 2008 at 9:59 pm

Well I’ve just read all 280 pages of DBSCH_SCR_4211_6254.pdf… and in the end I find myself largely agreeing with Winston.

It all seems to hinge on Members chose to define “pecuniary interest” and the Committee itself firmly acknowledges that in the period concerned there has been a total lack of any authorative advice available to members. In general the Registrar has been telling Members to “seek legal advice”, and the advice Peters got from Henry was that the monies concerned were not declarable.

It is of course likely that Winston knew that Glenn had provided funding in a general way; but it is also clear that Henry and Peters had an arrangement that precluded Peters gaining specific knowledge of such a donation.

Most interestingly the Committee also states:

We have accepted advice that all distinct interests must be declared, regardless of whether they are channelled through a trust or third party. The fact that a third party is involved makes no difference to the member’s obligation to declare pecuniary interests.

The approach should be “If in doubt, declare it’. Arrangements that allow members to avoid the knowledge of pecuniary interests are no longer sustainable.

Time ALL the Trusts were opened up. National has nothing to hide behind any longer.
Pat 126

22 September 2008 at 9:59 pm

Meanwhile Cullen and the other Labour MP’s on the privilges committee have seen fit to vote on party lines, rather in support of the truth.

Cullen does himself a dis-service by calling John Key a liar, and in the same day endorsing the liar Peters.

Why won’t Labour take the higher moral ground and call them both liars? The NZ public can see through this inconsistency, and it hampers the Trust campaign.
ghostwhowalks 127

22 September 2008 at 9:59 pm

—-Heres the weasel words released by the Key or whoever is authorised to make up bullshit without reference to back to him

National Party Leader John Key tonight pointed out it has been public for months that his family trust had been shareholders in Tranzrail until the shares were sold in June 2003.

—-Not public he personally bought shares as well, is he still trying lie about this!!

“The point here is that I confirmed my family trust was a shareholder in Tranzrail when the matter was first raised.

—-Was that before or after he went on a fishing expedition for secret info

“The number of shares held by the trust varied at different times.

——I was trying to make a wad of cash the easy way

“The shareholdings were managed on my behalf by my broker who had the authority to act on individual share parcels without referring back to the trust.

—-really !! So hes the fall guy for this Im just a dumbass investor

“Early in June 2003 it became clear to me Tranzrail could be a major political issue and I instructed my broker to sell the shares, which were sold on 9 and 12 June 2003.

—–Early in June !!
—-Thats when I started to make political capital of this , previously I was trying to get secret info to make a pile of money

capcha money burglar
Anita 128

22 September 2008 at 9:59 pm

Danny,

An error in ethical judgement, followed by a mistruth.

Yes?
Matthew Pilott 129

22 September 2008 at 10:01 pm

So he’s asking for detailed confidential information and buying up, and pepole can claim, for example:

“There is no evidence of an intention to personally gain from the any alleged misuse of public “power’. There is no evidence that the questions he asked were personally motivated.”

Nothing even vaguely suspicious with asking for confidential information about the company in which you have a large number of undisclosed shares?

Not at all?

Well that’s fine, glad we’re sorted. That nice Mr Key. He’d never do anything wrong.

P.S righties – if you’re going for the misdirection, wait until you have your official talking points. The desperate attempts above actually make it look worse – if you’d just all waited until tomorrow to be told what to say, then I think a concerted effort would actually be more effective.
Macro 130

22 September 2008 at 10:03 pm

Trader

“Broker performance is rarely monitored as closely as you seem to suspect.”
I suppose you know all about SIV’s as well!

The simple fact is J Key has consistently been economical with the truth. This is just another in a series of lapsed memories. (a rather serious one at that!) Maybe he isn’t up to running the country.
Trader 131

22 September 2008 at 10:06 pm

Key’s holdings were hardly a large share of the company’s shareholdings. And the prospective gains from such a small shareholding would never have amounted to a “wad of cash” in any imagination but that of someone who hopes for the Lotto to come in.
RedLogix 132

22 September 2008 at 10:06 pm

Pat,

Read the report… fully and with an open mind.

And then try and explain to me exactly how National’s use of the Waitemata and Ruahine Trusts differs in any ethical way from the arrangements Peters and Henry were using.

If you want to argue that purpose the National Party Trusts was to protect the identity of big donors and shield Party leaders from allegations of being “bought”…. then you have no choice but to accept the same reasoning from Winston Peters.
Danny 133

22 September 2008 at 10:07 pm

Anita: “An error in ethical judgement, followed by a mistruth.”

Ha! Possibly, I suppose. Alternatively, he was acting at all times in the interests of the National Party and his constituents with little or no regard to what was essentially a small holding relative to his total worth. It was far from his life savings.
Macro 134

22 September 2008 at 10:11 pm

the PC states inter alia

“We have accepted advice that all distinct interests must be declared, regardless of whether they are channelled through a trust or third party. The fact that a third party is involved makes no difference to the member’s obligation to declare pecuniary interests.

The approach should be “If in doubt, declare it’. Arrangements that allow members to avoid the knowledge of pecuniary interests are no longer sustainable.”

You were saying Trader??
OH!! it doesn’t apply in this case! because J K HAD SO MUCH MONEY!!
Anita 135

22 September 2008 at 10:11 pm

Danny,

Which is why I asked, somewhere up there ^^^, why did he lie/conceal-the-truth?

It was a small holding (for Key) with which he did incomprehensible-share-thing and baffling-but-ok-sounding parliament-thing. Why not fess up to the whole holding, the true dates, and move on?
Danny 136

22 September 2008 at 10:13 pm

Matthew,

There can be more than one interpretation of the facts as stated. And in my view, neither interpretation bodes well for Key, however, I object to any accusations of corruption when the more plausible explanation points merely to an oversight on his part over a small shareholding.
Felix 137

22 September 2008 at 10:13 pm

Danny and Trader,

Are you trying to say that Key bought and sold shares with some intention other than to make money?
RedLogix 138

22 September 2008 at 10:14 pm

Danny,

I’m sorry but the “it was only a small amount” defense will not do.

One of the most basic obligations of public life is to rigorously declare all possible conflicts of interest, no matter how small or indirect, and to recuse yourself from any role relating to them. There are no exceptions to this essential standard at all levels.

More than few politicians have at one time or another fallen foul of this one; but few have wanted to be our PM.
Quoth the Raven 139

22 September 2008 at 10:15 pm

Danny – I’m sure you’d give winston such quarter.
Macro 140

22 September 2008 at 10:18 pm

Anita

why did he lie/conceal-the-truth?

I don’t think even J K could answer that. I don’t think he is that politically savvy.
Danny 141

22 September 2008 at 10:21 pm

Anita,

Yours is a valid question that only he can answer. Whereas we can only speculate. When we speculate though, we cannot lose sight of the fact that there may be a perfectly reasonable explanation.

The questions were put to him on the spot (as I understand it). I challenge anyone to recall specific details on matters that may not be important to them in such a situation.
Trader 142

22 September 2008 at 10:21 pm

You guys are making me want to listen to Bob Dylan. Ok, now that you’ve staked our a “must perform to perfection” position on ethics, explain Labour away. But even if you choose not to, please, try to grasp the fact that there’s no “corruption” involved here. No influence peddling, no profiteering, no insider information.
Anita 143

22 September 2008 at 10:23 pm

Macro,

I am tempted by the idea that Key is a habitual liar when asked a question his first reaction is defensive truth burying.

Not a great trait for political longevity. Maybe that makes him the perfect National leader from his colleagues’ point of view; he has a shot at a National victory, but odds are he’ll get caught out soon enough and they’ll get to replace him.
Felix 144

22 September 2008 at 10:30 pm

Trader, thanks for clearing that up.

“no corruption involved here. No influence peddling, no profiteering, no insider information.”

Glad you got that straightened out with your rigourous reasoning.

Nice to see all these new trolls here. Not expecting great things from any of them based on tonight’s performance but you never know.
Pascal's bookie 145

22 September 2008 at 10:30 pm

Who knows why he did it, but look at the dates:

A)* April 14, 2003 – Mr Key seeks dates and details of government meetings with Tranz Rail in written parliamentary questions;

B)* April 23, 2003 – Mr Key seeks copies of minutes from Government meetings with Tranz Rail from Dr Cullen, but is declined on commercial secrecy grounds;

C)* May 7, 2003 – Mr Key purchases 50,000 more Tranz Rail shares in his own name for $22,500;

D)* May 20, 2003 – in his role as National’s associate transport spokesman Mr Key meets Rail America to discuss its views on Tranz Rail;

E)* June 10, 2003 – Mr Key sells the 50,000 Tranz Rail shares he purchased in May for $51,000;

Go ahead and try and tell the people that items A, B, and D are unrelated to items C and E. Especially seeing he’s been so slippery about it.
Danny 146

22 September 2008 at 10:30 pm

Felix, please read the post. I did not say that.

RedLogix, I agree he should have disclosed. Where we disagree is as to the implications of non-disclosure for an opposition MP with little-to-no power at that point. Also, the size of a holding relative to a person’s total holding is relevant to the significance (and consequences) of non-disclosure in a public context.
Anita 147

22 September 2008 at 10:30 pm

Danny,

The questions were put to him on the spot (as I understand it).

I believe the issue of his shareholding was raised in Parliament a few months ago, he then responded a short time later. Someone (media? Labour?) went away and checked his response and found something dubious in it (dates?) he then had a while before responding (and had done his research in the meantime). A quick check in google news says that fuss stretched over more than seven days in early July.

There is absolutely no reason he could not have fully disclosed the situation at the time.
Trader 148

22 September 2008 at 10:31 pm

And in all of this is the overlooked fact that the Government made this story on the back of the share register it acquired by buying Tranzrail. If the Government is going to selectively release bits of that share register, it should release it all, actually. It’s pretty unethical to use company records in this way, another topic for another day, perhaps, but pretty distressing for those of us who buy shares in companies that the Government swallows up. Still, a good diversion from the findings tonight about WP. And if that isn’t trading on inside information (direct from the Deputy PM), nothing is.
Macro 149

22 September 2008 at 10:31 pm

You guys are making me want to listen to Bob Dylan

I AM listening to Bob! Just have to get the “30 year Celebration Concert” CD to complete the lot.

“try to grasp the fact that there’s no “corruption’ involved here. No influence peddling, no profiteering, no insider information.”

You don’t know that. But its kinda weird how he sold off all his shares just 2 days after asking a question in the house.

* June 11, 2003 – under questioning by Mr Key in Parliament, Dr Cullen expresses his view that Tranz Rail is carrying hundreds of millions worth of liabilities;

* June 13, 2003 – Mr Key’s family trust sells its 50,000 Tranz Rail shares for $48,000 â€” a loss of $132,000
RedLogix 150

22 September 2008 at 10:32 pm

But even if you choose not to, please, try to grasp the fact that there’s no “corruption’ involved here. No influence peddling, no profiteering, no insider information.

1. Failure to declare and recuse regarding a conflict of interest IS a form of corruption.

2. Without knowing exactly what was said when Key met with Rail America, knowing can say whether or not “influence was peddled” or not; but it was most certainly an inappropriate meeting given the actual conflict of interest.

Fascinating how the right has spent the last few years screaming fake outrage “corruption” at every opportunity…. and then they fail to recognise the most elementary form of it on their own doorstep.
Danny 151

22 September 2008 at 10:34 pm

Anita,

That’s a factual matter. If you are correct then yes, your question is more relevant and he best explain.
randal 152

22 September 2008 at 10:35 pm

keep a clean nose, watch the plainclothes, you dont needa weatehrman to tell which way trhe wind blows subterranean homesick blues
RedLogix 153

22 September 2008 at 10:38 pm

randal wins (again).

(I’m still chuckling over the “deleted cranimum” line mate. All is forgiven.)
Felix 154

22 September 2008 at 10:39 pm

Danny

“Alternatively, he was acting at all times in the interests of the National Party and his constituents with little or no regard to what was essentially a small holding relative to his total worth.”

I take it back, you were saying he only wanted to make a little money, relatively speaking.

“Also, the size of a holding relative to a person’s total holding is relevant to the significance (and consequences) of non-disclosure in a public context.”

So an MP with less money than Key should be held to a higher standard than Key?
Danny 155

22 September 2008 at 10:40 pm

Macro, you said: “its kinda weird how he sold off all his shares just 2 days after asking a question in the house …

* June 11, 2003 – under questioning by Mr Key in Parliament, Dr Cullen expresses his view that Tranz Rail is carrying hundreds of millions worth of liabilities;

* June 13, 2003 – Mr Key’s family trust sells its 50,000 Tranz Rail shares for $48,000 â€” a loss of $132,000”

On June 13 the information you allege he traded on was public. That trade is not the issue.
Macro 156

22 September 2008 at 10:40 pm

Anita

“Not a great trait for political longevity. Maybe that makes him the perfect National leader from his colleagues’ point of view; he has a shot at a National victory, but odds are he’ll get caught out soon enough and they’ll get to replace him.”

Yes I tend to agree – is this behind the leaks etc?

There doesn’t seem to be a great deal of cohesion in the National caucus. Too many people don’t seem to know what the policy is (or are they afraid to tell the truth?)
Macro 157

22 September 2008 at 10:45 pm

Danny
“On June 13 the information you allege he traded on was public. That trade is not the issue.”

I beg to differ! The question was to ascertain the liabilities of the company he had holdings in.. and when it was revealed hundreds of millions!! Well then! what would you do??? Hold on and possibly lose more?

Now if that is not an abuse of power then what is?
randal 158

22 September 2008 at 10:46 pm

capital dateline: today
mysterious chese like object first reported as an ice berg but later thought to be the nationals party policy on cheese washed up on wellington beach.
Danny 159

22 September 2008 at 10:48 pm

Macro, do you mean the question or the trade, or both (when you allege abuse of power)?
Pascal's bookie 160

22 September 2008 at 10:49 pm

Macro, National no longer care about policy, and they don’t know what they think. They simply want the baubles. It’s a bloody outrage that they should have to ask labour party types questions in the house in order to try and get some info to help with their portfolios.

Totally the sort of situation a Tory up with which, should not have to put.
Pascal's bookie 161

22 September 2008 at 10:53 pm

… thought to be the nationals party policy on cheese washed up on wellington beach.

… boffins from Te Papa say the resemblance to whale vomit is only possibly coincidental.
Trader 162

22 September 2008 at 10:59 pm

If only any Government policy was worth its weight in whale vomit. And so, goodnight. Have fun trying to shape the story.
Bill 163

22 September 2008 at 11:02 pm

“… Richard Prebble declared his own conflict as a director and shareholder of Mainfreight. John Key said nothing about his shareholding in Tranz Rail.”

So, maybe I’m being a bit slow here, but Prebble is able to see an obvious conflict of interest and declares it (presumably leaves select committee hearing.)

John Key, on the other hand “intensely questions Cullen about the TranzRail deal at (the same) select committee.”

Your not going to tell me that at the back of JKs mind he’s not jabbering to himself “Do I hold or dump? Do I hold or dump? Fuck. Gotta get more info to make the right decision!”

So, he sold two days later at a loss. Was it less of a loss than if he’d held on longer?

The bastard was sitting in a meeting where he had a clear conflict of interest and didn’t declare it because to do so might have meant even more pain for him in the only place he has that registers feeling….his grubby little pocket.

Fuck him.
Bill English 164

22 September 2008 at 11:18 pm

[lprent: deleted. I do not approve of attempts to hijack identities. It isn’t funny. ]
Pat 165

22 September 2008 at 11:21 pm

“Hand in the Till” doesn’t really work as a metaphor. It suggests stealing of money, from the taxpayer. By my maths JK lost $103,500 overall of his personal money in all his Tranzrail shares.

Cullen and Clark are not stupid. They know that the only legs in this story is one of credibility, not corruption. That is what they will try and attack Key about in Parliament tomorrow.
mickysavage 166

22 September 2008 at 11:29 pm

Pat

JK lost a lot less money because of his actions. He may have taken a bath but his use of his office as an MP and Transport spokesperson meant that he took less of bath than he would have otherwise. Nice smokescreen but legally and ethically it carries no weight.

Clark and Cullen will attack Key because he is better off than he otherwise would have been because of the use of his office as MP and spokesperson for Transport. How is this not corruption?

So what is the next Crosby Textor attack line?
Pat 167

22 September 2008 at 11:48 pm

No Micky, Clark and Cullen won’t take the corruption line becuase it is too tenuous. They will attack the trust/honesty issue of him not being up front about how many shares he had, and his botched answer today. This dovetails into the whole Trust campaign. All they want is to show Key up as evasive and untrustworthy.
appleboy 168

22 September 2008 at 11:51 pm

Did you hear key actually say ‘no one asked me” – what a classic – and what a hypocrit – exactly what he had a go at Helen over. The look on his face in TV tonite was priceless – see how the fake smile comes right up at first withthe beaming denial (lie) – but it slipped and he was shitting himslef….much much more to come…
Killinginthenameof 169

23 September 2008 at 12:17 am

“Janet
September 22, 2008 at 9:33 pm

JK’s behaviour over these shares, and some of his actions in his money trader days, may have been legal but they are certainly not ethical. His attacks on Helen and Winston etc have left him open to accusations of hypocrisy. â€˜Let he who is without sin cast the first stone’ (that’s from the Bible for you young atheists – but it still useful guidance for today).
”

Thats why Key left it to people like Farrar and Act to dirty themselves over.

Personally I’m looking foward to 10 posts a day every day for a month on why John Key is corrupt over at kiwi blog, not quite sure how hes going to smear Labour with it though.
Draco T Bastard 170

23 September 2008 at 12:24 am

Redlogix

Fascinating how the right has spent the last few years screaming fake outrage “corruption’ at every opportunity . and then they fail to recognise the most elementary form of it on their own doorstep.

It’s not failing to recognise it – it’s failing to accept that one of their own got caught out doing it.
travellerev 171

23 September 2008 at 5:30 am

Hi RedLogic,

On which thread did Randal make the deleted cranium remark. I would like to have a good laugh too and I drool with anticipation as to whom he made that remark to(I can think of a few though. LOL)

To all of youse,

OK Here we have a “politician” who is apparently still very much trading in his “spare” time.
I didn’t think being a “passionate” politician coming back from the cold hard banking world to help your little country achieve “greatness” and a real family guy would leave you much but there you have it.

Doesn’t it make you want to know what other shares he has?

Perhaps (and this is pure speculation) a few thousand nice Haliburton shares or Boeing or Exxon or Raetheon or some other nice military industrial complex shares. Shares that need wars to make a profit.

Iraq anyone?
Andrew 172

23 September 2008 at 7:20 am

travellerev – what, you mean like shares in Cullens super fund?!?
Go The Right 173

23 September 2008 at 7:37 am

When you have over $50 Million Dollars it’s probably a little hard to remember exactly how many shares in what company you actually have.

If you come form a Position of Envy Politics unfortunately you will look for stories that aren’t there. Key lost $48,000 on his trans-rail shares big deal.
Can someone please tell me how that is caught with the hand in the till when you lose money. This story has no legs guys and definitely isn’t as big as Helen’s when she committed Art Fraud. Sorry to pee on your party.
Robinsod 174

23 September 2008 at 7:40 am

GtR – he remembered pretty bloody fast when he was asked by Fran…
Anita 175

23 September 2008 at 8:16 am

GtR,

When you have over $50 Million Dollars it’s probably a little hard to remember exactly how many shares in what company you actually have.

When you have already been questioned about it and already had to admit that you were a little less than fully accurate you’d expect that you’d’ve got on top of the detail.
Pascal's bookie 176

23 September 2008 at 8:33 am

Anita, the speed and clarity with which he answered and then revised his answer show that he was on top of most of the detail.

He just didn’t know how much others knew.
travellerev 177

23 September 2008 at 8:41 am

Johnny boy says he’s the victim of a smear campaign. LOL.
Yeah, I guess that having your lies exposed is smearing. Not.
coge 178

23 September 2008 at 8:56 am

Pascal, how about some facts instead of half baked assumptions.

I’ll give you some facts about bank unit trusts. They are crap instruments. The bank skims off various fees, they are too diversified & taking into account inflation they are utterly ineffectual at making profit (apart for the bank) Banks keep their customers in the dark about values & specifics of these funds, for good reasons.

Who would be foolish enough to have a unit trust as a main investment? Surely not your finance minister who is in charge of our nations finances? Frankly it beggars belief that he declared one at the BNZ. I have to wonder at the doctor’s financial acumen, does he believe in fairies? Or perhaps a shiny suited banker pulled one over him!

Perhaps it would be more sensible for Cullen to declare which stocks his unit trust were invested in. That’s if the bank would make that information available, which they wouldn’t. There is a chance Cullen himself had some Tranzrail at some point along the way, but had no idea.
Anita 179

23 September 2008 at 8:58 am

Depending on one’s point of view that National Party appears to have two main problems.

1) National MPs enthusiastic truthfulness when talking about National’s intentions. This is only a problem because of National’s game plan of hiding their intentions behind smiley empty words.

2) Key’s lack of truthfulness when asked questions for which he does not have a scripted answer. This is a problem because he keeps getting caught.

It’s not hard to see why Labour has decided to campaign on trust.

Sad tho, I would like NZ to have a genuine right wing party which was open about their intentions so we could actually have those discussions.
Phil 180

23 September 2008 at 9:02 am

Perhaps (and this is pure speculation) a few thousand nice Haliburton shares or Boeing or Exxon or Raetheon or some other nice military industrial complex shares. Shares that need wars to make a profit.

Iraq anyone?

Sure, because Boeing only make millitary hardware. And Exxon couldn’t possibly make a profit from emerging economies increased desire for energy.

Sometimes your speculation/theories are intriguing, sometimes they just embarass you. Pick which one I think this is…
Pascal's bookie 181

23 September 2008 at 9:07 am

Coge. Ummm ok. What’s that supposed to be in reply to, specifically?
travellerev 182

23 September 2008 at 9:51 am

Phil,

As I said it is pure speculation but the fact is that Haliburton is the biggest war profiteer, the fact is Exxon has made massive profits as a result of the prise rise that followed the wars and the fact is Raetheon is involved in spyware and other intrusive technology. You only point out that the military industrial complex is absolutely everywhere.

These companies have a huge interest in keeping the wars going and I was revering to John Key’s were missing in action remark.

Again what’s with the speculation/theories? Science has a funny bias and the links I give to quotes of John Key show him to be on Wall street when Alan Greenspan engineered the bubbles and the derivative bubble that is now deflating as the head of the debt department developing racy new derivative products.

Nothing theoretical about this. Just facts. Theories and Hypothesis have nothing to do with it but perhaps you don’t like the facts and it’s easier for you to condemn them to the Conspiracy bin.

Sorry mate, that says more about you than about me.

If you want to know more about the Money Masters and the history of our modern banking system than this is a goody to watch and if you want to know more about how money is created than this is a nice one.

Being intrigued by the way was the first step for me too. What a bunch of nutters I said to my husband after my first 911 google.
Took me a year of research and a frighting paradigm shift to admit that they were right. Or that I had gone as nutty as they. LOL.
travellerev 183

23 September 2008 at 9:56 am

Phil,

This is a good lecture on the nature of the Federal Reserve of New York. The Federal Reserve is a privately owned banking cartel.
Go The Right 184

23 September 2008 at 10:22 am

I love The Standard trying to claim the Moral high ground for this very corrupt Labour Government.

[lprent: You are talking about a program running on a machine. Programs don’t have morals or opinions. Address this to a person that can be expected to understand these things. I treat attempts to talk to the site as referring to me or an attack on the site. I take things quite personally especially about things I haven’t done. Do it again and I’ll terminate your access. Read the Policy about attacks on the site.]

Key had 100000 shares not 50000 who cares he sold them and made a $48000 loss I would want to forget about them to.

NO OTHER MP HAS DECLARED THEIR EXACT NUMBER OF SHARES IN THEIR DECLARATIONS SO NO STORY.

When you have 50 million bucks it probably a little hard to know exactly how many shares you have in what companies.He is a rich prick and good on him for being successful

The envy Politics that Labour use are what will pull our Nation down to our lowest level.
We are rapidly becoming the unachievers of the Pacific with so much potential next stop Banana Republic.

Where are the positive Economic policy’s from Labour to get people to invest in New Zealand. You got it there aren’t any.

Labour focus on negative politics all they are concerned about is fulfilling their Social Engineering experiment at what cost we all say.

They are the most non aspirational Government we have ever had.

What is of more concern to all of us is the Fact that Labour are using Government paid researches to try and dredge up dirt on John Key then get their State owned TV Station to ask carefully crafted questions.

No doubt given to them by Labours strategy team such as ‘ Can New Zealand trust you Mr Key’
RedLogix 185

23 September 2008 at 10:25 am

Key had 100000 shares not 50000 who cares he sold them and made a $48000 loss I would want to forget about them to.

Whether Key made a loss or a profit has NOTHING to do with:

1. The fact of the conflict of interest.

2. The fact that he failed to declare it.

3. The fact that he has lied about it.
Anita 186

23 September 2008 at 10:59 am

Go The Right,

When you have 50 million bucks it probably a little hard to know exactly how many shares you have in what companies.

Key’s shareholding was raised in Parliament, he responded a little while later, he response was challenged, he provided a clarification on his response and so on, for over a week only a few months ago.

There is no way it is reasonable to argue that he just didn’t know and didn’t bother to find out.

His answers at the time, despite saying he’d checked, were misleading (at best).

Whether his behaviour around shares and PQs and declarations of interested and so on was acceptable (wanna argue that it was?), giving misleading (at best) answers isn’t acceptable.

There are three issues; whether his behaviour was within the rules, whether his behaviour was ethical, whether he mislead the public and parliament.

Are you claiming he’s clear on all three counts?
Go The Right 187

23 September 2008 at 11:09 am

Anita

I believe he made an honest Mistake the shares have never been brought in his name as Michael Cullen is claiming that is factually incorrect.

Key has just been on One ZB talking about it he concedes he should have sold the shares earlier.

I believe he did very well in the interview. Good to know he donates most of his Salary to charities I wonfder how much Michael and Helen give away.

The shares have only ever been brought by the trust.

I thought it was refreshing to hear a leader in this Country saying I made a mistake we don’t hear that from Labour or Helen very often even when they have made some beauties.

I believe NZS warm to that.

At the end of the day this Election can be fought on Policy debate or personal attacks.

[Deleted]

That may be a good one for the right to let lose personally I don’t like that style of Politics.

[lprent: If you want to like doing defamation about people outside of the political sphere, then I’d suggest you do it elsewhere. The Wishart style of ‘journalism’ of attacking family members with smears belongs in the sewer and doesn’t belong here.

While you figure out the policy here, I’m strapping your training wheels on – you can go into moderation so I can check what you say before it becomes visible. I suggest you read the Policy. ]

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Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

6 days ago
‘Ideas Worth Saving’: A Call for Papers

Some years ago, I found myself pondering the power of literature to endure. Or at least the power of some of it to endure, while the rest vanishes in mere decades: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/look-on-my-works-ye-mighty-and-despair-the-literary-future/. I have similarly had fun with the subject in some of my short stories, such as Another Alexandria ...

A Phuulish FellowBy strda221

6 days ago
Corrections is torturing prisoners again

In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

6 days ago
HYEFU and BPS data shows New Zealand is way off track

New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

6 days ago
“Better economic management”

At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

6 days ago
Shameless, clueless

AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

6 days ago
Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

6 days ago
Crazy ’bout a Sharp-dressed Man

Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

6 days ago
How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson In this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...

Skeptical Science

6 days ago
8% ACT Party Creates One Ring To Rule Them All

In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour 1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

6 days ago
When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP

Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

6 days ago
Govt to double number of toll roads

On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...

Greater AucklandBy Matt L

6 days ago
Luxon’s pre-emptive strike

The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

6 days ago
Gordon Campbell On The Coalition’s Empty Gestures, And Abortion Refusal As The New Slavery

This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

6 days ago
More public service contempt of parliament

Back in 2023 the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties raised concerns about the inherent conflict of interest involved in public service agencies supporting parliamentary select committees. Our parliament is run on a shoestring, so depends on the public service for advice. But public service agencies work for Ministers, not ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

6 days ago
If There Is A God

And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

7 days ago
A Lipstick Government

Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

7 days ago
NZCTU open letter to Treasury on undue restrictions on restricted briefings

Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

7 days ago
Why you won’t hear me advocate for electric cars

This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate. I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...

Greater AucklandBy Guest Post

7 days ago
Coalition forced to back down on tolling Pahiatua track

A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

7 days ago
Thank You

Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50

A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...

Skeptical Science

1 week ago
Making Gravy

I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
Nothing here but the shadows

Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

1 week ago
The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia

The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
Showing the Americans how to do it

Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

1 week ago
2 Men, 1 Haircut

Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

1 week ago
Chris Penk’s Hate Parade

What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
Tell me a story

All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago

National’s Greatest Misses 2023-4

National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...

Labour Blog

3 days ago
Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step

Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...

Labour Blog

3 days ago
Release: National buries 1019 planned homes

It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...

Labour Blog

3 days ago
Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab

The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...

Labour Blog

3 days ago
Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...

Labour Blog

4 days ago
Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom

The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...

Greens

4 days ago
Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession

The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...

Labour Blog

4 days ago
Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis

Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
ECE no place to cut corners

The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...

Greens

5 days ago
Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders

A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects

Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects

The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...

Greens

5 days ago
Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity

The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...

Greens

6 days ago
Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less

The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis

With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’

Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...

Māori Party

6 days ago
Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again

For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards

The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...

Greens

6 days ago
Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes

All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again

The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...

Greens

6 days ago
Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers

The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...

Labour Blog

7 days ago
Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex

The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...

Greens

7 days ago
Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty

The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat

The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction

New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day

The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families

Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas

Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation

Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker

The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
One year on, still no progress on new ferries

Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more

After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban

The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare

After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh

In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation

The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech

Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...

NZ First Press Release

2 weeks ago
Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre

Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan

Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago

Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

19 hours ago
PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
New intelligence oversight appointments

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
New housing developments able to progress more quickly

Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Actions to speed up air travel delivering results

The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua

The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions

The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants

The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas

People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Appointments to the ENZ board

Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ

The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
More gangs added to Gangs Act list

Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Judicial appointment announced

Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
GDP data highlights importance of growth

The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Strengthening Free Speech in Universities

Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service

Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge

State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge

The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Government boosts support for avian influenza response

The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Levelling the playing field for media advertising

Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Inspector-General of Defence appointed

Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses

The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Hawke’s Bay Expressway moving at pace

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land

The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient

Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Diverse skills in community trust appointments

A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit

The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
A busy year in the House

It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Consultation opens on working with engineered stone

“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments

Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
New appointments to the Charities Registration Board

Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Building consent processing times improve

More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Faster access to support through Innovation Fund

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response

New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis

The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup

Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading

The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading

Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Gene Technology Bill passes first reading

New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago

Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December

Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles

8 minutes ago
Govt walks away from infrastructure alliance

The Government’s social housing agency has backed out of a billion-dollar infrastructure alliance that would have built about 6000 new homes in Auckland – less than 18 months after signing a five-year extension.Labour says the decision to rip up the contract and sell off existing state houses could lead to ...

NewsroomBy Sam Sachdeva

8 minutes ago
Daily crossword, Monday 23 December

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NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles

8 minutes ago
Vanuatu quake: Warnings as bad weather threat looms for Port Vila

By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

6 hours ago
Signs of the hīkoi: More than just ‘words on cardboard’

The placards seen at the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti conveyed "huge kōrero with immediacy", expert says: "People know the power of the word." ...

Radio NZ – political

15 hours ago
A final Ode to .. King Luxon

Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...

NewsroomBy Victor Billot

22 hours ago
A hater and an enthusiast review The Royal Free by Carl Shuker

Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...

The SpinoffBy Claire Mabey

1 day ago
Survive to 25 (December, that is)

Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...

The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell

1 day ago
All I want for Christmas is modern day slavery legislation

Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...

The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias

1 day ago
Israeli-American historian describes attacks on Gaza as ‘war of annihilation’

Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

1 day ago
NZ govt plans to make ‘heavy handed’ change to free speech rules for universities

The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

1 day ago
Caitlin Johnstone: Where does the aggression really begin?

Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...

Evening ReportBy David Robie

1 day ago
OECD Report Highlights That More Is Needed

This report reflects that gap in our dealings overseas, and it shows that legislators, the public sector and businesses need to walk the talk. ...

Scoop politics

2 days ago
Government quietly scraps waste minimisation policies

The government has quietly cancelled plans to improve recycling and roll out a kerbside food scraps composting scheme. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
MEAA welcomes News MAP funding ‘leg up’ for Australian journalism

Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

2 days ago
Transmission Gully partnership breakdown will not hurt future public-private partnerships, Infrastru...

The roads partnership unravelled under a confidential settlement this week, meaning NZTA will now finish off what it had said was incomplete work. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Funding cuts to charity particularly felt over Christmas period

The number of people seeking help from Lifeline is expected to increase by 10 to 20 percent over Christmas. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Nelson Hospital conditions ‘unbearable’ – staff

One worker says the building is decrepit and falling down around them. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
The Secret Diary of .. Luxon at Xmas

MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...

NewsroomBy Steve Braunias

2 days ago
Stand by for cricket’s Smash Palace

It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...

NewsroomBy Aiden McLaughlin

2 days ago
Early-onset dementia under the microscope

Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...

NewsroomBy Shruti Sharma and Dr Brigid Ryan

2 days ago
Keeping the pirates at bay: Should the Australian ‘Blocking Order’ case prompt a discussion in N...

Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...

NewsroomBy Tania Goatley and Oscar Zambuto

2 days ago
‘We were as famous as Tom Cruise’: Craig Parker on 90s Shortland St fandom

As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...

The SpinoffBy My Life in TV

2 days ago
‘I prioritise the mission, not my health’: Adam McGrath’s perfect weekend playlist

The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...

The SpinoffBy Weekend playlist

2 days ago
The rescue dog bringing joy to Christchurch retirement homes

Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes. Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...

The SpinoffBy Alex Casey

2 days ago
Fiji pro-Palestine nativity scene exposes Gaza as ‘hell on earth’ at Christmas

Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

2 days ago
Vanuatu quake: ‘Our shop was flattened like a deck of cards’

By 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver and 1News reporters A number of Kiwis have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake shook the Pacific island nation earlier this week. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

2 days ago
How diplomats have broken the law in NZ – and what happened next

A handful of foreign diplomats have misbehaved during their time here - and not all of them have been brought to justice. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Swim schools report sinking enrolments as downturn deepens

Being able to swim is often considered a life skill, but tough economic times are forcing many families to pull their children out of lessons. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
‘There will be deaths because of this’ – Warning over Health NZ IT cuts

A West Coast IT worker is warning patients will die as Health New Zealand aims to slash its data and digital staff. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Polytech sales possible but unlikely when Te Pūkenga disestablished – minister

In a surprise move, the sale of polytechnics will be on the table when the national institute of technology Te Pūkenga is disestablished. ...

Radio NZ – political

3 days ago
Parliament’s final sitting day an insight into party factions

On Parliament's last day of the year, there was a rare glimpse of the factions within the major parties. ...

Radio NZ – political

3 days ago
Former Labour MP, North Shore mayor Ann Hartley dies

Former Labour MP and mayor of Auckland's North Shore City Ann Hartley has died. ...

Radio NZ – political

3 days ago
The closest thing Australian cartooning had to a prophet: the sometimes celebrated, sometimes contro...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England Bunker. Image courtesy of Michael Leunig, CC BY-NC-SA Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

3 days ago
Labour moves Speaker from the ‘nice’ to ‘naughty’ list

Last week's fights with the Speaker over the Fast Track schedule may have changed the tone in Parliament. ...

Radio NZ – political

3 days ago
Govt ends pilot programme for Māori and Pacific, sparking outrage

The Government announced the end of the programme that allowed Māori and Pacific people to acess bowel cancer screening at 50-years-old. ...

Radio NZ – political

3 days ago
Parliament fits an extra morning into final sitting day

The House - On Parliament's last day of the year, there was the rare occurrence of a personal (conscience) vote on selling booze over the Easter weekend. While it didn't have the numbers to pass, it was a chance to get a rare glimpse of the fact ...

Radio NZ – political

3 days ago
The Friday Poem: ‘Bejeweled log’ by Holly Fletcher

A new poem by Holly Fletcher. bejeweled log i was dreaming about wasps / wee darlings that followed me / ducking under objects / that i was fated to pickup / my fingers seeking / and meeting with tiny proboscis’s / but instead / i wake up / roll sideways ...

The SpinoffBy Holly Fletcher

3 days ago
Sunglasses don’t just look good – they’re good for you too. Here’s how to choose the right p...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Versta/Shutterstock Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

3 days ago
How does franchising work?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation, University of Sydney Michael von Aichberger/Shutterstock Even if you’ve no idea how the business model underpinning franchises works, there’s a good chance you’ve spent money at one. Franchising is essentially a strategy for cloning ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

3 days ago

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