Hate Speech Coalition Cans Canadian’s Crusade

Written By: - Date published: 2:02 pm, July 25th, 2018 - 102 comments
Categories: accountability, activism, don brash, International, Politics, racism, workers' rights - Tags: ,

The coalition of old white men that was sponsoring the speaking tour of Alt Reich racists Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux has pulled the pin on the provocateurs.

The Hate Speech Coalition, whose members include right wingers Don Brash, Lindsay Perigo and Chris Trotter, says that the tour has been cancelled “because time had run out”. Indeed. Time actually ran out for Southern and Molyneux about 73 years ago in a besieged Berlin bunker but never mind.

The legal case against Phil Goff appears to have collapsed as well, with the court hearing scheduled for next Monday now due to be heard later this year. Bizarrely, the hate group is now claiming in a self justifying and unintentionally funny press release that the fact that Goff had no direct role in stopping the fascists from appearing at a council venue was a “partial victory”.

Huh? The penny finally dropping for these racists that Goff is governance and the council officers are management merely shows just how dim Brash and his mates are. Idiots.

On the upside, they’ve raised $90k to take the case, so they can now use that money to spend up large on Nazi memorabilia or ‘ironic’ T shirts saying how cool it is to be a racist.

Congratulations to everyone on the left who took a stand against bigotry. This is a small, but important victory.

And well done, Phil Goff. That’s leadership, mate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

102 comments on “Hate Speech Coalition Cans Canadian’s Crusade ”

  1. OctusSpherus 1

    I’ve definitely seen more considered takes on this issue, but well done nevertheless.

  2. McFlock 2

    The timeframe was too tight to arrange their event? How fucking difficult is it to arrange accommodation and a venue for a couple of speakers? Did they need special hoists and fifty lighting cues?

    What a bunch of crap. I’ve literally seen well-attended events booked and advertised and well-attended with only a few days notice. TED talks, motivational speakers, stand-up comedians and suchlike have minimal logictical overheads.

    • Stuart Munro 2.1

      Yeah but these are the Right. They spent nine years in government and the only thing we have to show for it is stuff they were gonna do but never got around to.

    • paul andersen 2.2

      brash, being a man of the people(yeah right) could have let them use his lounge for a public meeting, williams could have picked them up from the airport in his people mover, and trotter and franks could have sprung for the lamingtons(no black ones). what a shower, trying to play the victim but just looking like phuckups. sad, no whats the word ,hilarious. now ,there will be a b*tchfight behind the scenes as to where the $90,000 has gone (never existed, mostly promised, by sad old buggers ). and who has control of whatever was actually raised.

      • McFlock 2.2.1

        Hell, Trotter might still have a loudhailer from his left wing days that they could borrow.

        • dukeofurl 2.2.1.1

          That would be great if Trotter replaced Southern for all those who bought tickets.

          They must , must be sold out to hear Trotter on Freedom of Expression…a history

  3. Robert Guyton 3

    Farrar’ll be spewing!

    • dukeofurl 3.1

      hes only a ‘supporter’ not one of those behind free speech coalition RunoutofTime Coalition . After all he has to think of his business credibility.

  4. Dennis Frank 4

    I suspect the visit has just been postponed – their scheduling may have become problematic. The free speech issue will need to be tested in court eventually regardless, due to being too important to keep fudging. Meanwhile, the space we ought to watch is the empty one in which architects of hate speech legislation avoid their task of creating a suitable law…

    • ianmac 4.1

      Tested in Court but later in the year, they said. Maybe.

      • Dennis Frank 4.1.1

        Would be good. I’m a member of the Council for Civil Liberties so I did wonder if that group would engage the issue. Haven’t been contacted so not enough relevance I suspect. The issue would only go to court here if the Free Speech Coalition identifies relevance to our citizenry.

        I’m still feeling quite neutral personally. I was curious to see how the couple would try to establish common cause with kiwis. I’m still intrigued & hope they try again later on. I get why some here are intent on demonising them but haven’t seen evidence to ban them (not interested sufficiently to go looking for it either).

        “Is it likely that the court will decide that clause 5 applies and the council decision is justified as a reasonable limit on the Bill of Rights? Effectively, that would mean all those who have argued that the right of free speech is limited by social sanctions have their view supported by the court’s decision. Could the council legal team ask the court to throw out the case on the basis that our laws do not apply to citizens of foreign countries? If so, would the court automatically then refrain from judgment on the previous question?” Eight days since I put those questions on law prof Andrew Geddis’s blog but no response.

        • dukeofurl 4.1.1.1

          Especially when Lauren Southern has so many times called for chaos at her venues .

          Your legal reasoning is all jumbled, the cause of action wasnt connected to Southern at all but two dudes who were ‘denied their right’ to hear her in a public forum. I understand even Logan Campbell Center at Epsom Showgrounds turned them away – but not certain of this.
          Trying to use a procedural booking of venues as a vehicle for court review of denial of rights of expression wasnt a robust method and likely to have the wheels fall off- as has happened

          • Dennis Frank 4.1.1.1.1

            Yeah, that’s because the FSC case seemed jumbled & I’ve been trying to sort it out. If they take the case to court on behalf of those two dudes, fair enough. I’d like to see them identified in the media & hear their views. Not the Canadians. That’s the relevance I’ve been fishing for. I didn’t see any media report mention that the FSC were acting on behalf of two kiwis.

          • paul andersen 4.1.1.1.2

            yes, they have been desperately trying to be the victims of nasty leftwingers, but as the nasty left has given them permission to enter the country and speak, . the wind has been taken out of there sails. you would think, that if they can be promised 90 grand for a court case, that they could have found a private venue and stumped up $89,500 for hireage and used the rest for hiring rent-a-nob, sorry mob, to help get tv time.

    • Carolyn_Nth 4.2

      Well there are plenty of hate speech laws internationally to use as a guide:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech#Hate_speech_laws_by_country

      • Dennis Frank 4.2.1

        Yes and comparative analysis shows us some commonalities but not enough to generalise easily.

        “New Zealand prohibits hate speech under the Human Rights Act 1993. Section 61 (Racial Disharmony) makes it unlawful to publish or distribute “threatening, abusive, or insulting…matter or words likely to excite hostility against or bring into contempt any group of persons…on the ground of the colour, race, or ethnic or national or ethnic origins of that group of persons”. Section 131 (Inciting Racial Disharmony) lists offences for which “racial disharmony” creates liability.”

        Can’t recall any citation of relevant case law in any blog commentary of this issue so far. Lack of a specific definition of hate speech seems a flaw in the HRA. Leftists seem to use the lack to claim a breach of the law in advance of any evidence being presented by the Canadians in a venue here. Claiming that a crime has been committed on the basis of no evidence doesn’t normally work.

        Note that the section of the HRA quoted implies that parliament operates in breach of the legislation continuously. Media stories featuring MPs insulting each other, bringing opposing parties into contempt, are an unending stream. All we need is a court to use the definition of ethnic (a group with a common culture) to decide that political culture is included as part of culture. Having the Supreme Court decide that the term culture does not exclude political culture (so therefore parliament is continuously breaking the law) would be amusing.

  5. Cynical Jester 5

    They are bigots but Nazis? I think not.

    I’ve had many debates over this visit and one thing that really bugs me is liberals seem to now be defenders of religion.

    People who called for Southerns banning who I’ve spoken to say they would ban Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher because of their intolerance towards religion.

    They are also apparently nazis because people disagree with them. These people have nothing in common with Southern, so what worries me is that we are reaching a point where you can’t say anything bad about anything even hateful intolerant oppressive institutions like religion.

    You can speak all the hatred and intolerance you want in this country as long as you do it under the guise of religion

    I remember them coming into my public school in the 2000s and preaching homophobic rhetoric, destiny’s church still uses public schools as venues and if anyone doubts religion (all religion yes including bhuddists who are currently as we speak attempting a genocide in Myanmar) is hateful try growing up lgbt+ so if speaking out against Christianity,islam, and anyone with an imaginary friend is the new definition of facism then I’m a proud facist because I tell you what I’ve known many lgbt+ including a boyfriend who killed themselves because of religion.

    So in closing dear left,stop calling everyone you disagree with a nazi cos there are actual Nazis out there and the word will lose any meaning and secondly screw religion. Tax them and ban them from public places if you’re serious about fighting intolerance.

    • dukeofurl 5.1

      Do the facists come back again with jackboots and swastikas – I dont think so.

      And talking of Hitler, he DID spend his time on multiple occasions in the 20s suing for libel and damages from anti nazi newspapers.
      So yes it is part of their methods against liberal democracy, and later in the 1930s they just smashed the offices of newspapers they once just sued.

    • One Two 5.2

      Buddhists are certainly not involved in Myanmar genocide…

      Yes I am familiar with the events in that country…

      Agree with the core premise of your comment.

    • Cynical Jester 5.3

      I didn’t even finish high school so I’m making a very dumb comment here obviously but it does worry me that people are starting to take a stance where you can’t criticize religion.

      I think Southerns involvement in blocking refugees should be enough to block her from NZ. I don’t care about her idiotic beliefs that’s enough for me… she has the right to speak but I have the right to tell her shes a phalice head.

  6. dukeofurl 6

    Even funnier the Chairman of Regional Facilities Auckland, and the one with direct oversight of large venues is Don MacKinnon

  7. Sanctuary 7

    Game, set and match to Goff.

    My biggest takeout of this whole issue has been the vox pops and the realisation that the more white, well off and high status you are – that is, the more freedom of speech and racism are abstract concepts to a privileged group who never suffer racism and whose voice is always heard – the more likely you are to be hardline supporters of “freedom of speech”.

    Brown people, minorities, gays – you know, the targets of these racist neo-fascists – were a lot less likely to be upset about them being banned.

    • Jenny 7.1

      Monetarised Hate Speech Coalition.

      What if Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern can’t get into New Zealand or can’t get visas?

      We will continue anyway. We want a legal precedent that, except in cases of genuine ‘hate speech’ (such as calling for violence), the Mayor and Council should not be the arbiter of what views can and cannot be expressed on public property.

      https://freespeechcoalition.nz/

      Revise that.

      The Free Speech Coalition have decided to preserve their principal not their principle.

      • Paul Campbell 7.1.1

        from what I read today the judge awarded costs against them, they’ll be paying Auckland’s costs, I wonder how much they will have left

        • Carolyn_Nth 7.1.1.1

          The judgement posted today by the High Court: Applicants are the freeze Peach group. Respondents are Auckland Council.

          The applicants seek that the proceeding be set down for a further case management conference in approximately a month’s time, so that they can have further discussions with the respondents and/or refine the pleadings.

          Given that the applicants have now abandoned their request for urgent interim
          orders, I vacate the fixture scheduled for Monday 30 July next.

          The respondents are entitled to seek costs consequent on the abandonment of
          the hearing scheduled for Monday next. Any memoranda seeking costs are to be filed and served within 10 working days of the date of this minute. Any memorandum in response is to be filed and served within a further 10 working days.

          The substantive application for judicial review is adjourned for call in the judicial review list on Thursday 6 September 2018 at 9am.

          • Jenny 7.1.1.1.1

            What do you think Carolyn?

            In your opinion, should the respondents seek costs?

  8. AsleepWhileWalking 8

    Mehbes the timeframe issue translates to legal advice suggesting thus case is not going anywhere. Its not like they can’t be found on YT.

    So do they return the donations? I reckon it should go to a virtually identical cause (apart from color of the victim) https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/legal-fund-for-renae-maihi

    • Carolyn_Nth 8.1

      Yep. this is much more a case testing freedom of expression for Kiwis, than that of the Canadian propagandists, dog whistlers and provocateurs.

  9. Ross 9

    The coalition of old white men

    Oh dear. We get it you hate old white men. Ain’t free speech grand!! No doubt the irony will be lost on you. 🙂

  10. Chris T 10

    What a load of bollocks

    Trotter right wing?

    Saying people with views you don’t agree with shouldn’t be banned makes someone a nazi?

    Lol

    • dukeofurl 10.1

      She doesnt want to ‘say her views’ , she actually wants to have a riot.

      As she has said “I want chaos”
      ‘CONTROVERSIAL right wing YouTube star Lauren Southern has warned Australians that she will cause “chaos” when she touches down in the country next month..’

      Undercover video on Melbourne streets backfires for alt-right provocateur Lauren Southern
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12092445

      • Dennis Frank 10.1.1

        A pitch to get more anarchists to attend. Old white control freaks are so tedious. If she said “I want order” the audience would be full of them & too boring. Chaos is sexy to younger folk.

        • dukeofurl 10.1.1.1

          Thats the difference – chaos isnt free speech

          • Dennis Frank 10.1.1.1.1

            Most people think chaos enables anyone to do anything: no limits on free speech. So why do you think that?

            • dukeofurl 10.1.1.1.1.1

              In her case Southern had nothing to say – it was all out of the Agit-prop playbook with speeches as performance art.

          • OctusSpherus 10.1.1.1.2

            “…chaos in a good way…” – so upsetting established beliefs and orthodoxies. Which I think CAN be a good thing to do.

      • Chris T 10.1.2

        And how does that make people who don’t want them banned Nazis…..?

        Actually how does it even make her a Nazi?

  11. Anne 11

    The Free Speech Coalition said on Wednesday time had run out for arrangements to be made for the pair.

    “Everything would have to happen in such a tight timeframe, it’s just not going to be possible,” said spokesperson Jordan Williams.

    Oh dear, Jordan Williams – of Dirty Politics fame. That was a recipe for disaster for starters. Reality dawned and they knew there would be far more people outside the venue than inside.

  12. Grantoc 12

    Te Reo Putaki

    Your diatribe is a great example of hate speech in action. But I guess the irony of your rant is lost on you.

    • Anne 12.1

      So common sense and reality is hate speech now is it? Time and again, right wingers demonstrate they can’t cope with the truth.

      • Grantoc 12.1.1

        The problem is Anne, there ain’t no common sense and reality, let alone truth there

        Except that its just a hard left rant by a left wing bigot, who, himself, is a threat to free speech if he gets his way.

      • Ross 12.1.2

        So common sense and reality is hate speech now is it?

        My common sense might be your hate speech and vice versa. Louisa Wall went to court because two cartoons so outraged her. The rest of us probably thought meh, they’re not great cartoons, and left it at that. But a politician of the Left wanted to ban the cartoonist…or something.

        “We [protect speech critical of religion not] because we support hateful speech, but because our founders understood that without such protections, the capacity of each individual to express their own views and practice their own faith may be threatened. We do so because in a diverse society, efforts to restrict speech can quickly become a tool to silence critics and oppress minorities. We do so because given the power of faith in our lives, and the passion that religious differences can inflame, the strongest weapon against hateful speech is not repression; it is more speech.” ~ Barack Obama

        • Anne 12.1.2.1

          I don’t disagree with a word you have printed Ross.

          Grantoc was claiming Te Reo Putaki’s post was hate speech. There was nothing in it that could be designated hate speech.

          Criticism presented in a truthful manner is not hate speech.

          • Brutus Iscariot 12.1.2.1.1

            He pejoratively singled out the race and age of a group of people.

            Conjure up a scenario where an agitator says something about “little brown boys” causing crime or similar, then see if you’d be happy.

            • McFlock 12.1.2.1.1.1

              Yes. Let us remove all context in a desperate ploy for equivalence. That is sure to work. /sarc

              • Brutus Iscariot

                Your appeal to context basically amounts to “i can say it, but you can’t”, Hardly makes for an enforceable or universal principle.

                • McFlock

                  Your refusal to acknowledge context is pretty funny.

                  It actually more comes down to “the victim can call the perpetrator ‘weak’ and not look like a piece of shit, but the perpetrator calling the victim ‘weak’ makes the perpetrator look like even more of a piece of shit than they did before”.

                  Eating human flesh is understandable in extreme survival situations – people tend to not be judged too harshly for doing so.
                  Walking down the street eating someone’s arm, on the other hand (lolz), tends to draw the interest of the constabulary.

                  Context really is quite important.

          • Grantoc 12.1.2.1.2

            I disagree with you Anne

            Te Reo Putaki’s reference to “old white men” now being able to buy “nazi memorabilia” sounds to me to be pretty extreme – and would probably fit any working definition of hate speech.

            Further Its blatantly untrue to imply that the “old white men” being referred to here are nazis. If you can prove otherwise produce the evidence.

            I imagine that if Te Reo Putaki was referred to as a nazi or a facist, you, he, and your fellow travelers would be apoplectic with rage, and claim that that he was the victim of hate speech.

            Frankly I don’t care that much about what TRP said – it just seemed to me to be arrant nonsense, in which any reasonable argument he was trying to put forward got lost in the rant.

  13. veutoviper 13

    Its a But But day.

    This But is that RNZ news is reporting that Pellowes, the Australian organiser of the Southern/Molyneux travelling circus is now saying that he is still looking for a private venue in Auckland and that Southern and Molyneux will still be coming to NZ, if even as just tourists.

    This article is about 45 mins old but RNZ is still reporting the above on the 5pm news on RNZ National/Checkpoint.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/362611/free-speech-coalition-withdraws-urgent-legal-action-over-goff-s-southern-molyneux-decision

  14. Jenny 14

    Monetarised Hate Speech Coalition.

    What if Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern can’t get into New Zealand or can’t get visas?

    We will continue anyway. We want a legal precedent that, except in cases of genuine ‘hate speech’ (such as calling for violence), the Mayor and Council should not be the arbiter of what views can and cannot be expressed on public property.

    https://freespeechcoalition.nz/

    Revise that.

    The Free Speech Coalition have decided to preserve their principal not their principle.

  15. Carolyn_Nth 15

    Villainesse says free speech laws are designed to protect privilege – i.e. those who can afford to go to court.

    She says uch laws focus on individual rights, and don’t protect oppressed groups from the impact of hate speech.

  16. Dennis Frank 16

    The Thug Veto thing seems juvenile, but consider this part of the FSC press release:
    “The Council Response concedes:
    1. Mayor Goff did not make the decision;
    2. He had no right to intervene or make the decision;
    3. Regional Facilities Auckland made the decision;
    4. RFA would not have acted on the Mayor’s instructions if he had given them;
    5. He did not influence the decision-makers;
    6. RFA do not and will not discriminate among users on grounds of political preference or concern about causing offence;
    7. The decision was instead based on security concerns;
    8. Ultimately it was due to fear of what protesters could do;

    So Goff was merely posturing. Pretending he was responsible for the decision in order to demonstrate fake leadership.

    And the RFA, the council group who decided not to allow their facilities to be used by the Canadians, acted out of fear. We could call this the Fear of Sue Bradford stance. Establishing that protestors are a sufficient basis to be a threat to security allows any event using their venues to be cancelled if a protestor threatens the venue. An email saying “I’m gonna show up, huff & puff & blow your house down” would suffice.

    • SPC 16.1

      Police are also banning (where alcohol is involved) events by impositon of regulations, even moving to block licensing to bowling clubs in Wellington.

      And police will provide free security to some events, such as venues hosting promotion of weapons and security technologies.

    • Carolyn_Nth 16.2

      Did Phil Goff ever say he was responsible for the event being cancelled? or was it some media reporting that conveyed that?

      RNZ on 6th July:

      headline: “Far-right pair banned from speaking at Auckland Council venues – Phil Goff”

      Some extracts from the article:

      A public talk by two controversial Canadians accused of hate speech has been cancelled after Auckland’s mayor Phil Goff banned them from all council venues.

      However, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff tweeted that venues should not be used to stir up ethnic or religious tensions and that Ms Southern and Mr Molyneux would not be speaking at any council venues.

      This is followed by a copy of a tweet from Goff that doesn’t say he had banned the pair:

      Phil Goff

      @phil_goff

      .@AklCouncil venues shouldn’t be used to stir up ethnic or religious tensions. Views that divide rather than unite are repugnant and I have made my views on this very clear. Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux will not be speaking at any Council venues.
      2:13 PM – Jul 6, 2018

      This is followed by a copy of Auckland Live’s tweet saying why the pair had been banned.

      On the same day, Newshub reported:

      An ‘alt right’ speaking event planned to be held in Auckland has been cancelled by the venue operators.

      That comes as Mayor Phil Goff sent a clear message that the pair are not welcome at Auckland Council venues.

      “I just think we’ve got no obligation at all – in a city that’s multicultural, inclusive, embraces people of all faiths and ethnicities – to provide a venue for hate speech by people that want to abuse and insult others, either their faith or their ethnicity,” Mr Goff told Newshub.

      “These individuals who want to incite hatred against others are, in my view, not welcome here,” he said.

      But, I don’t really think this Canadian pair and their promoters care that much about free speech. They are propagandists, and thrive on being banned – they can then get publicity from it, and stir up their followers by claiming victim status.

      I think it’s a mistake to take them too much at face value. Goff just played into their hands by giving them a chance to claim victimhood, and get publicity.

      Free speech is only one aspect of participation in a democracy. It usually refers to freedom from government censorship. What this pair want is a platform, and mainstream media attention. Many others don’t get so much attention for their views.

      Freedom of speech usually also includes the right to be heard. But that is not distributed equally.

      Renai Maihi has not had anywhere near as much attention for being sued by Bob Jones for calling him a racist. And Jones has always had more of a public platform for his views than Maihi is getting. Meanwhile, the FSC seem to have little interest in making this a test case.

      • Dennis Frank 16.2.1

        Goff’s okay with me. Back when he was in the PYM with shoulder-length hair I recall thinking “hmm, hedging his bets”. Mine was a good six inches longer at the time. When he was a Rogernome I thought, “hmm, running with the hares, then hunting with the hounds, he knows how to be a shapeshifter”.

        But I did see him being interviewed about the decision, coming on as if he produced that result even if he never actually claimed he did. I’m saying he deliberately chose to create that impression in the public mind. Understandable that the media reported their perception accordingly (rather than investigate the reality).

  17. Well apart from anything said here or elsewhere ,… have you seen the vid on you tube when she was in Australia?

    Aside from being a complete empty headed egotist shes also a self parody of stupidity.

    Have you seen it?

    Quite a stupid woman.

    Seriously !

    • Pat 17.1

      so no threat then?

      • WILD KATIPO 17.1.1

        Depending how you look at it.

        Personally if I had my way we wouldn’t have shit stirrers here. We have banned a lot of people from business people to leaders of the Hell’s Angels. And my thought is that perhaps our right to say NO is OUR freedom of speech.

        But that’s just my opinion.

        Perhaps if it was someone who had a swastika tattooed into their foreheads and was the leader of an organization known to foment violent social unrest it wouldn’t have been an issue banning them.

        But here is Southern , all manicured up complete with hair straightening to present a pleasing sight to the public. She was chosen by her backers anyone can see that.

        But she is stupid. Quite bat stupid. In a very dipshit kind of way.

        And she is only a threat if we allow her to. IE: If we give unwarranted attention to her diatribe. There could of been an academic debate , sure,.. but why should we let these outsiders upset our way of life? This is not Canada or the USA. It is New Zealand.

        • Pat 17.1.1.1

          if we stopped people from speaking in public because they were stupid at least half of parliament would have to stay stumm

          • WILD KATIPO 17.1.1.1.1

            No but at least we have control over them on local issues. Southerns are an import. One that (indirectly ) also backs up in certain areas the 5 eyes agreement on particular foreign policy’s issues that don’t really pertain to us.

            We do not want her stupidity coming here and stirring up what could become a dangerous precedent with social unrest.

        • Brutus Iscariot 17.1.1.2

          You’re wrong on at least one count.

          Southern/Molyneux don’t have “backers”, at least in the sense that you’re implying. The global moneyed conspiracy, if there is such a thing, is firmly on the neoliberal side, where global open borders and “free trade” coalesce to form opportunities for maximum profit (and maximum exploitation). “Blood and soil” nationalism of any form, is an inconvenient impediment to the flow of capital and profit.

          Like it or not, Southern/Molyneux and the alt-right are an organic movement, and those who equate them with a nefarious elite pulling the strings, are taking their analysis from a different time and a different world. The left/right dichotomy of 50 years ago is breaking down, and there’s a new axis that is more relevant now – localist vs globalists.

          • corodale 17.1.1.2.1

            Develop organically, correct. But once existing they are a funding option for geo-political interests, who generally hedge with support on both sides.

            Globalists/Localist important, agreed. Us socialists are pushed globalist by this hate-speech debate. So desperate to avoid the words “national” and “socialist” being shortened to the reduncent insult of nazi, that we offer support to the dangerously totalitarian but inter-national concept of The UN, which is only local to New York, (and perhaps Rome 😉

  18. peterlepaysan 18

    Nobody stopped them from speaking.

    It was always about where they could it.

    I am surprised that Brash, Trotter and various media denizens did not offer alternative sites.

    Sigh. It is always easier to yell from the sidelines and get someone else to engage and arrange a venue rather than get off their posteriors and do something for themselves.
    Sorry if that sounds like “intellectual bashing” but there seems to be some rather precious egos involved here, parading themselves, yet again.

    • Pat 18.1

      As its turned out no one has stopped them from speaking…not that there wernt plenty trying…as to”Brash,Trotter and various” theyve made quite plain their issue wasnt specific but principle so it understandable they wouldnt involve themselves in the organisation of this particular event…intellectual or not.

    • Ad 18.2

      If anyone believed strongly in free speech they would have let them simply do it in Albert Park. That’s what they did in the late 1960s with Tim Shadbolt and his acolyte PYMs, who talked all sorts of crap about Mao.

      Instead anyone with any authority went running around looking for excuses to stop them. Even the very idea of contesting ideas was too hard to consider in plain sight.

  19. Ad 19

    Just look back at Labour’s history and consider how many of its initial leaders were foreigners who came to New Zealand and made militant speeches.

    – Michael Joseph Savage was rabble-rousing only a year after he arrived from Australia.

    – Plenty of unpopular Marxists came in before WW1 and caused trouble around the mines. Whether we agree with them or not, they were foreign extremists.

    – Harry Holland, straight out of jail and off the boat into causing serious activism in Waihi, talking tough and smacking heads

    – In fact all the early radical ideas that formed the Labour party’s ideals from the Socialist Party and the Independent Labour League were from revolutionary demagogues importing foreign radical ideas

    – And you don’t get a more filthy Labour foreigner socialist than Peter Fraser (and went on to be our very best Prime Minister).

    The government of the day was plenty pissed at all of them when they started, but didn’t stop them from speaking. If the the same “principle” of stopping these speakers were applied to the founders of the Labour Party, the Labour Party would not exist.

    And yet the great majority of the left I see commenting on this site refuse to hold the the principle applying to their own movement. Speech is only valuable when it’s objectionable: that value of speech is worth protecting not when you like it, but when you don’t. We should have had the same courage to hear objectionable speech now that the Reform/United/proto-National government showed to Labour activists then.

    • Yes but the examples you gave above all had one thing in common : they all saw an eventual better future for working people and improved Health and Safety , wages and conditions.

      In no way whatsoever could you compare that with political shitstirrers who obliquely encourage tacit racism by encouraging that in foreign country’s that are not so directly tied up with the wars in the Middle East as the UK, USA and by close proximity even Canada ( also a large nation in the 5 eyes agreement).

      We do not have radicalism in this country where people die from suicide bombings and the like because partly, – we are relatively isolated , our presence in the Middle East is limited, and we have a more inclusive society where divisiveness is not encouraged.

      Why do so many from the 5 eyes partner nations seek NZ as a bolt hole?

      Because of the preceding paragraphs very reasons.

      So WHY WOULD WE want someone coming over here from another country , another hemisphere even , – and stirring up their bullshit here?

      Do we have no say? Of course we do.

      And our free speech was to disapprove of what they were trying to achieve here in our country..

      And for very sound reasons as events overseas have proven.

    • adam 19.2

      Well said Ad.

      Many of those activist you mentioned were locked up for speaking out as well.

      Harry, Peter and Michael all took blows in the head and/or body by the farm boys who came to town as cops in the general strike.

      Funny how many on the left conveniently forgotten history to score some cheap points – or feel good that they somehow stopped fascism.

      Tell you what folks, when you been stab by a skinhead, you come tell me what it like to fight fascism. Or been in a house that been firebombed by neo-fascists. Or had to have weapons on hand daily to defend a squat against neo-nazi scum and their police supporter. Come back to me.

      Because at the moment, I just think your all just a bunch of armchair bullies who wouldn’t know a real brownshit, nor would you do anything about them, if you really had to.

      It’s been a sad couple of weeks.

      • WILD KATIPO 19.2.1

        Well no it wasn’t well said at all.

        For the points I outlined. One had a positive reason for activism citing Savage , Holland and the like , – and which became law in NZ.

        Southern by contrast , was wanting to incite in a very negative sort of way and inflame a social situation that is in no way comparable to the USA and NZ.

        As for the rest about Nazism , Fascists and Brownshirts, – fair cop.

        But those same armchair ‘ leftists’ you criticize haven’t had to put a brick in a sock and take it to a rally precisely because of the values – and laws – we have in this country.

        Which begs the question- should we really be encouraging what could develop into a potentially dangerous situation where people get hurt all because of an imported radical ? , – a radical whose message bears little in common with the reality’s of NZ society ? And don’t worry – plenty of people took a long baton in the head during the 1981 Springbok Tour. So the spirit of those early pioneers for social equity and justice still live on today.

        • adam 19.2.1.1

          The road to shutting down debat is a road pathed with good intentions.

          I found your argument weak. Laws, you get that nazis had laws, they believed in the rule of law , judges, trials even, the whole shabang right.

          That nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Franco’s Spain all relied on their unwavering belief that they we masters of the true values and righteous. That they were the bearers of that tradition and nothing should or could question them. Especially communist, socialist , anarchist and the like.

          But what the hell right, victory for the left and all that.

          Like I said it’s been a sickening couple of weeks.

          Someone wake me when the real fascist wave arrives, and I’ll show you how to fight them properly.

          I’m done, people should stop and think why they think them acting like an authoritarian thug, makes them any better than the authoritarian thugs the say they oppose.

          • WILD KATIPO 19.2.1.1.1

            I think you might be over dramatizing the situation.

            And, we do not need in this country to be fighting anybody. This is not the 1930’s, and we are not experiencing a Europe overrun by far right street thugs after the first world war.

            In fact , this country has never been given to ideological extremes that led to butchery and extra judicial executions on the grounds of religion, creed or race. Though it could be said the last time we participated under the auspices of the British Empire regards mass genocide was in the NZ land wars.

            I would far rather discourage those who want to foment trouble here which can lead to people being harmed by simply denying them the opportunity to do so , rather than in having retrospective regrets after the fact.

            There are those already charged with domestic security including the Police, GSCB and the SIS. And although all three body’s have received bad press lately they are still charged with appraising individuals of interest. And the potential impact they may have on the peace.

            As such there is no need at all for you to have to ‘show anybody how to fight anybody else properly’. And that’s one of the great things about living in a relatively peaceful country , – another great thing is we do not have to accept those who would wish to upset that peace. And that is our freedom of speech to say no to that also.

            • corodale 19.2.1.1.1.1

              All good bro, (friends of D Brash will always be tools in divide-n-conquer…)
              only a few catches with austerity and our historic connections, from 5-eyes to Turkey.

              It’s important to note; under NZ law, the only way RBNZ can fund Treasury, to avoid austerity, is with fascist power from the Finance Minister, under a declaration of National Emergancy. (Please, correct if that’s wrong, but FIRE economy…)

              Turkey have recently re-structured their secret NATO army (just blood obviously). You know, that secret army network that sunk our RainbowWarrior, and endless other shit, probably including destablisation in Ukraine (unless that was a Mossad/Bolshevik collaberation), and logically including the Charlie Hebdo stunt (21sCenturWir altNews covered this) to directly smear against Islam.

              If they stir up more shit in Turkey (for the Balkanisation with Kurdistan etc) then Turkish President would be forced to declare an Islamic Constitution, to re-unit with Iran, Syria, probably even Saudi and others. This would trigger astronomical money into anti-fascist and politically-correct propaganda in MSM.

              I’ve personally lost a job last year in Germany, for simply not agreeing with anti-Trump hate-speech, and this sort of shit would be all-on in every-corner-of-the-world.

              But fully agreeing with your common sense post above. I would say, NZ can continue to show international leadership, by simply keeping calm and maintaining peace between the tools and puppets. The independant and Pacific foreign policy is well on track.

  20. North 20

    “Time actually ran out for Southern and Molyneux about 73 years ago in a besieged Berlin bunker but never mind.”

    Like your styles there TRP. However, contrary to your rhetorical “but never mind”……Oh yes I do mind ! I mind that rich, privileged, supercilious, hubristic white males feel competent to give lessons to every other bastard about fine principles as though they alone have a mortgage on mature discernment. Especially that fetid old racist dinosaur Brash of Kiwi/Iwi fame.

    Fuck Off Faux Champions of Freedom ! And while I’m here FO also to the Trumpettes making The Standard bloody near unreadable sadly.

  21. corodale 21

    Is this really a victory for the peace movement? Or just a victory in the dangerous game of divide-n-conquer?

    Anti-fascism is turning to racism and creating tension in German sport. A Turkish-German player has quit the national team, with hard criticism of the German Football Association and a racist German culture.

    With increases in both German military spending and weapons export, plus recent examples of censorship regarding Turkish nationalism, it is fair to say that the rise of political-correctness is not without it’s threat to world peace.

    • Gabby 21.1

      That’s the one who cosied up to secret NATO army boss Erdygurdy isn’t it corry? Showing awesome solidarity with the country he was representing wasn’t it.

  22. tsmithfield 22

    Here is what I think will happen.

    There has been a huge amount of public interest generated due to this controversy. The media will seek to milk that interest by having prime-time interviews with Southern as has been the case in Australia. Thus, she will get much more of a platform than she ever would have had if she had just been ignored.

    BTW, I agree to some extent on her views of how we treat multiculturalism in Western culture.

    I believe that those coming to NZ should be allowed to live their lives as they like so long as they understand they must conform to basic values that underpin our society such as women’s rights, respect for other minority groups, and understanding that their beliefs might be criticised, and that is OK.

    Where hate speech laws have been implimented that restrict the rights of others to be critical of minority cultures not conforming to basic principles , then there have been significant problems such as the sex abuse scandals in Rotherham and Telford in the UK where authorities were afraid to act due to being perceived as racists.

    https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201804091063289247-uk-muslim-grooming-gangs/

    Our own HRC is leading us down a similar path so we all should be concerned.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12063987

    • marty mars 22.1

      alt right rubbish.

      • tsmithfield 22.1.1

        Typical lefty labeling rather than engaging in debate.

        So, what part of my post do you disagree with?

        Do you disagree that immigrants should be expected to conform to basic societal values such as respect for women, respect for other minority groups, and understanding that their beliefs might be criticised?

        • marty mars 22.1.1.1

          yeah lets work as a team and do it my way – is not the way I think it should work.

        • Robert Guyton 22.1.1.2

          Smithfield
          Do you have the complete list of “basic societal values” that you require immigrants under your model to conform with? Please publish it so we can see what your values are. Also, please explain who and how the compliance to those values will be assessed and enforced. Thanks

          • tsmithfield 22.1.1.2.1

            I think that list needs to be determined. But obviously more significant issues that affect societal harmony. I am not concerned about issues such as dress, ceremonies, etc.

            But once known, it should be part of the selection criteria for allowing people in. Effectively what will be measured is their ability to integrate into our society.

            If we want to allow people in who don’t conform at present, then they should be required to undertake training as to the expectations of our cultural norms prior to being established formally in our society.

            • Robert Guyton 22.1.1.2.1.1

              Smithfield
              “I think that list needs to be determined”
              Well, if your idea has any merit, it needs to be truth-tested. Do you mind compiling the list so we can see if it’s doable. Otherwise, it might be just pie in the sky.

              • tsmithfield

                “Do you mind compiling the list…”

                No I won’t play that game. The examples I gave are clear enough without getting into the fine details.

                But will make the point that a lot of refugees etc coming to NZ are coming because they are fleeing societies that don’t abide by the sorts of values that we espouse as I mentioned earlier.

                So, if they are expecting something better in our society, then they should happily relinquish aspects of the culture they have come from that are largely reason they fled in the first place.

                I really don’t understand why the left would have an issue with this line of thinking.

                • Puckish Rogue

                  In some cases i just think its ingrained in them, like if someone on the right says something then, to someone on the left, it must be wrong and must be argued against

                  Not all lefties of course

                  • tsmithfield

                    I agree. So we need to help them adapt so they fit in better. This could involve more in depth counselling and training prior to fully integrating into our culture.

                    If they are simply bringing across the beliefs and attitudes that led to that are part of their problem, then we will just get similar problems developing in our culture. As has been clearly seen in Britain and Europe.

                    • Robert Guyton

                      What would have happened had Maori required the same of us tauiwi back in the day.

                • David Mac

                  When I landed in Sweden few employers wanted to know me until I had completed and passed a ‘Sweden for Immigrants’ polytech type course.

                  It wasn’t compulsory and the exam could be sat at any stage that the tutor deemed the student ready. It focused on learning the language but there was a lot of ‘How we do things in Sweden’ by osmosis. Those with a Germanic language mother tongue took about 6 months to complete the course. The Aussie, Thai brides and I, more like 12 months.

                  In the middle of the day we all selected a story from the day’s newspaper and wrote the lead paragraph up on the whiteboard. Great idea, it hit so many bases with learning the language and constantly updating our knowledge of ‘What matters in Sweden today’. We discussed the letters, words, grammar, pronunciation and content.

                  I think tsmithfield has a valid point because I think much of what ails Sweden now re: immigration friction, no go precincts etc is because ‘Svenska fer invandare’ isn’t compulsory. Immigrants are free to group together and create back home in their new home, minimal interaction with those they share with.

                • Robert Guyton

                  It’s the “fine details” that matter, Smithfield. It’s easy for you to nominate some easy examples but without the full proposal, a reasonable assessment can’t be made; the devil’s in the details, ‘parently. The reason “the Left” have a problem with your line of thinking, is that it’s selective and fails the test of realism. Would you, for example, be expecting cultures that circumcise their male babies to abandon that practice when they come to NZ? Where you say “…what will be measured is their ability to integrate into our society.” could you please define “our society” and it’s edges; there are a mix of cultures here, some of which have practices you might need to rank and possible disallow.

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    The nz bill of rights is probably not a bad place to start

                    • tsmithfield

                      I agree. That is probably the best option, and free from political points of view on the matter.

    • Gabby 22.2

      Surely we have local fascists that are qualified to rouse the rabble and incite violence schmiddy? Why should this foreigner come over ‘ere taking our jobs?

  23. Ross 23

    Israel Folau is pilloried for criticising gays and for potentially leading some gays to commit suicide.

    Yet, when Lauren Southern set up a stall in a public square in Britain in February with posters declaring: “Allah is gay, Allah is trans, Allah is lesbian…” to draw attention to Islam’s negative attitudes to the LGBT community, she was the one who was pilloried, especially by the political left. Her stall was shut down by the police because the constabulary feared violence might erupt. No word, then, about how Islam’s attitudes to gays might drive some of them to suicide.

    https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/social-issues/lauren-southern-criticising-religion/

  24. The Eagle has landed – More bloody foreigners – Full … – Godialy
    Video for The Eagle has landed – More bloody foreigners▶ 0:12
    http://www.godialy.com/…/the-eagle-has-landed-more-bloody-foreigners

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 hours ago
  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 hours ago
  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 hours ago
  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 hours ago
  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    14 hours ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    23 hours ago
  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    2 days ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    2 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    2 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago
  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    3 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    4 days ago
  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    4 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    5 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    5 days ago
  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    5 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    6 days ago
  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    6 days ago
  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago
  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    6 days ago
  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    6 days ago
  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    6 days ago
  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 days ago
  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-10-01T21:58:05+00:00