Hide’s dilemma

Written By: - Date published: 6:31 pm, September 15th, 2010 - 102 comments
Categories: act - Tags: ,

So David Garrett stole the identity of a dead child.

Normally that would be political suicide.

But the next up on the ACT list is Hillary Calvert. She’s a resolute neoliberal and would be likely to back Heather Roy as leader.

That would make it three votes to two against Hide.

So Hide has a choice:

Either he ditches Garrett and loses his leadership.

Or he backs a man who stole a dead child’s identity for another year until the election – a move which would likely destroy the ACT party for good.

This should be interesting.

102 comments on “Hide’s dilemma ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Anne 1
    15 September 2010 at 6:44 pm

    Hide’s “dilemma” is greater than you know.

    Anti-spam: SPEAK.
    I wish I could.

  2. RedLogix 2
    15 September 2010 at 6:54 pm

    That barely suppressed and faintly deranged snorting sound you are hearing …. is Winston.

  3. ghostwhowalksnz 3
    15 September 2010 at 6:55 pm

    Say hello to the next National MP for Epsom.
    His own career will come first

    • felix 3.1
      15 September 2010 at 7:09 pm

      Hmm.

      Is he any use to National on his own though?

      His only value to the Key govt that I can see is
      a) the extra bonus MPs he delivers to the right, and
      b) his function as a stalking horse outside of National for far-right policies

      Without these functions, isn’t he just an embarrassing pain in National’s arse?

      Besides, is he even electable any more? He’s been revealed as a hypocrite of the worst order, and now as a deceitful and spineless leader who used the votes of the people of Epsom to slip the crooked thug Garrett into parliament.

      I think the Nats can probably come up with a more reliable candidate for Epsom.

      • Simon 3.1.1
        15 September 2010 at 7:49 pm

        Yes, perhaps a more reliable candidate, in a more reliable vehicle. Maybe someone like Don Brash in a ‘new’ Act Party. A true Liberal party.

    • Rex Widerstrom 3.2
      15 September 2010 at 10:20 pm

      My immediate thought was the same, GWW.

      If Hide dumps that detestable little man now, he’ll be seen by the public to have acted nobly and rightly. If he’s then rolled as Leader as a result of “doing the right thing”, Act will effectively have committed suicide.

      As the only “saleable” MP in their line up, Rodney would be welcomed into National and would avoid accusations of waka jumping because of the way in which he’d been treated by Act.

      In his shoes I’d dump Garrett and dare the plotters to roll me. They’re probably stupid enough to do it anyway, but does he really want to be Leader of what Act has become? He can make just as much impact as a Nat Minister… more, without the millstone of Garrett et al.

  4. Schrodigers cat 4
    15 September 2010 at 7:01 pm

    More people need to meet Garrett. I met him at a “debate” between him and Kim Workman.

    We are talking a completely delusional man here. A few minutes with anyone and they will know.

    Paranoid too.

  5. bobo 5
    15 September 2010 at 7:02 pm

    No contest, Rodney wins every time vs the ACT party. Surely Garrett has to resign over this and would be interesting why he got acquitted without conviction and name suppression at the time. He joins the self righteous Rev Capill club…

  6. ron 6
    15 September 2010 at 7:13 pm

    He won’t resign. They’ll keep their heads down and the media will let them be after a couple of days. Come the next election stupid Tory voters will have forgotten all about it.

  7. ghostwhowalksnz 7
    15 September 2010 at 7:17 pm

    Is Garrett his real name ?
    Whats to say he didnt do it before and this was the second act, the passport was ready just in case he needed it, but never was.

    • Outofbed 7.1
      15 September 2010 at 7:31 pm

      Yeah but you would have thought he would have stolen a better identity this this one This one’s fucked

    • pollywog 7.2
      15 September 2010 at 7:31 pm

      This just in…

      Garrett admits to be being a reptilian shapeshifter hiding out on Earth and wanted for charges of ‘alien intervention with a minor’ on his native Theta

      captcha : hiding

      • travellerev 7.2.1
        15 September 2010 at 8:30 pm

        ROFL.

        Captcha: solved. LOL

      • Dave 7.2.2
        16 September 2010 at 10:19 am

        HA! Now that is humour on the whole episode, not the disgusting questions Phil Twyford has posted over on Red Alert. Given Act’s antics, and the Canterbury Recovery blah blah put Gerry in charge bill, every MP should be treading lightly and reflecting on why we elect them into these positions, they seem to regard us as peasants… Not impressed

  8. bobo 8
    15 September 2010 at 7:44 pm

    What a weak limp interview from Labrador Sainbury with Hide in HK, talking as if the identity fraud case was decades ago as if it was some teenagers prank. Then making out that name suppression was forced on Garrett by the courts while preaching there shouldn’t be name suppression for others, doesn’t one have to apply for permanent name suppression?

    • bobo 8.1
      15 September 2010 at 8:12 pm

      I’m just confused over the reporting, so Garrett did the “prank” in 1984 but was only found out in 2005 along with the Israeli spy scandal investigation, so does that mean Garrett had the dead child’s passport sitting in bedroom side-table drawer all that time as some kind of in-house joke ?

  9. Rharn 9
    15 September 2010 at 7:50 pm

    Rharn calling Winston. Are you receiving? Over.

    Come in Winstone. Copy? Over

    • bobo 9.1
      15 September 2010 at 7:57 pm

      Just think of all the months Winston was pursued and attacked savagely by the media,Act, National Mps, over what in comparison to stuff like this pales into insignificance..

  10. Tanz 10
    15 September 2010 at 8:23 pm

    It smells like a media beat-up to me. This was wrong of Garrett but it did happen many moons ago. Espiner seems to really loathe Garrett and is oh so gleeful about it. What about the other lead story tongiht, a P Lab with young children in the same as the dealers, drugs, cash, stolen goods – what a great start for them. Where is your post on that? Too hard basket?

    • felix 10.1
      15 September 2010 at 8:27 pm

      MPs dealing meth? Tell me more, Tanz.

    • RedLogix 10.2
      15 September 2010 at 8:39 pm

      t smells like a media beat-up to me.

      I can empathise with the idea that minor indiscretions from years prior to public life are of no public interest. There are no perfect people and I’d pick redemption over retribution every time.

      But Garrett’s offense is kind of weird, it’s not a youthful bit of stupidity, a moment of rashness or distressed emotion overriding common sense. The man deliberately misued the name of a dead child to forge a vital document. Won’t be a good look….ever.

      But Garrret of all people fails the hypocrisy test. This is the man who has campaigned on zero tolerance of crime, has voted repeatedly against clean-slate legislation, and promoted a three-strikes legislation that explicitly removed from the Courts exactly the kind of discretion he has benefited from himself.

      Impossible. The man must resign Parliament.

    • Dianne 10.3
      17 September 2010 at 6:45 am

      I agree with you Tanz. Espiner looked like a kid with a new toy.I know something you don’t.
      Tell us where you got your information little Mr Espiner. I smell a BEAT UP. TVNZ love drama, otherwise they have NO news.

  11. Logie97 11
    15 September 2010 at 8:27 pm

    Hide said on Close Up that Garrett’s failing was 26 years ago. He wasn’t able however to square that with his party’s arguments against the Clean-Slate bill in the last parliament.

    And wasn’t it in the last parliament that Hide and Collins unceasingly ripped into Benson-Pope about things that had happened in that MP’s distant past – tennis balls and other minor misdemeanors… nothing to do with his ability as a member of parliament (as Hide would now maintain.)

    If we didn’t know it already, I think we are really seeing the character of this rather nasty little opportunist who is leading the ACT party.

    • Dianne 11.1
      17 September 2010 at 6:49 am

      There are a lot of nasty little opportunists in other Parties, that seem to go into hibernation. Where is the Fairy, that ran down the corridors avoiding the reporters, who stole from the Tax Payers and went home sick. I notice he was holidaying whilst being sick. Using our money probably. Dam cheat.

  12. comedy 12
    15 September 2010 at 8:30 pm

    He’s a egotistical troughing little git of a politician therefore his only allegiance is to what will keep his nose in the trough.

    • felix 12.1
      15 September 2010 at 8:37 pm

      He’s what his own constituents in Epsom (or perhaps their forebears) might refer to as a “bounder”.

  13. Macro 13
    15 September 2010 at 8:40 pm

    Garrett’s behaviour displays a complete lack of Ethical Judgement – a quality that should be axiomatic for an MP.
    Hide has consistently campaigned on “high standards”, why we had one of his ilk commenting (trolling) here, using that very id! (where is Higher Standard when the going gets tough?). Using his own standards Hide has no option but to ask Garrett to remove himself. But of course – what I say, and what I do, are completely different things to him.

    • Draco T Bastard 13.1
      15 September 2010 at 11:01 pm

      (where is Higher Standard when the going gets tough?)

      IIRC, he got banned for his low standards.

      Using his own standards Hide has no option but to ask Garrett to remove himself. But of course – what I say, and what I do, are completely different things to him.

      You shall know them not by their words, which will be as honey to the ear, but by their actions which will be as ashes upon the tongue.

  14. Tanz 14
    15 September 2010 at 8:43 pm

    Very funny, Felix. The media and the Left just have it in for Garrett, Act and Hide, as does that Espiner fellow. Such a duplicitious media, it’s a wonder National managed to win the last election at all. Sure as heck wasn’t because the MSM was of any help.

  15. Tanz 15
    15 September 2010 at 8:56 pm

    Key is not of moral ineptitude, and he is in power, not Garrett. Try reading Investigate magazine to find out how the Left work, operate and cover up major unsavoury issues. Wish there were more Wisharts out there, the MSM is so hard Left, even now. They don’t just report the news/issues, they spin it towards their own Leftward view.

    • KJT 15.1
      15 September 2010 at 9:25 pm

      Wishart is an F wit. Anyone who quotes him shows a total lack of understanding of the real world.

      Key is a charismatic figurehead put in place by the bankers when Brash proved to be so dopey as to be un electable.

      • mcflock 15.1.1
        15 September 2010 at 10:12 pm

        KJT, have to call you on a serious issue there.
        I’m making no judgement as such at this stage, but feel that clarification is warranted:

        Should it not be “Wishart is A F wit”, not “an F wit”?

        • Billy Fish 15.1.1.1
          15 September 2010 at 10:20 pm

          Fair point mcf
          Maybe KJT was intending to start saying “Wishart is an A Hole” and changed it at the last i
          minute
          Or possibly “an A R S C B D T Pant”
          KJT you need to withdraw and apologise

        • KJT 15.1.1.2
          15 September 2010 at 11:26 pm

          I stand corrected.

        • Daveosaurus 15.1.1.3
          15 September 2010 at 11:35 pm

          No, “an F wit” is correct. The name of the letter “F” is normally pronounced “eff”, and most words beginning with an initial “e” sound take “an” as the singular indefinite article.

    • Blighty 15.2
      15 September 2010 at 9:36 pm

      Um. Tanz, we have a parliamentary democracy, not a presidential system. The National Party, supported by the Maori Party, United Future, and ACT – one of those votes is Garrett’s.

    • mickysavage 15.3
      15 September 2010 at 10:37 pm

      Tanz

      As soon as you suggested we should read Investigate magazine for, I presume, information I lost interest.

      Wishart is as able to talk about the left as I am qualified to talk about the benefits of Sarah Palin’s links to the Tea Party.

      If there were more Wisharts there would be more confusion.

      So Wishart tells it as it is and the left spin it??????

      You really need to work on objective analysis.

    • Draco T Bastard 15.4
      15 September 2010 at 11:03 pm

      Yep, another delusional RWNJ that’s working hard to disbelieve reality.

  16. Tanz 16
    15 September 2010 at 9:05 pm

    No idea on who leaked the story, my point is, the media is like a wolf-pack when it comes to án Act MP, but are soft towards the rest.

    • Daveosaurus 16.1
      15 September 2010 at 9:30 pm

      Would you care to give an example of the media being “soft” to any MP with an undisclosed conviction for dishonesty similar or worse than Garrett’s?

    • Billy Fish 16.2
      16 September 2010 at 10:10 pm

      Coming across a tad “persecution complexy” there tanz.
      Soft on the rest and only pick on ACT huh?
      Yeah they probably all get together each week, every editor, TV Anchor, Journalist, Radio news gatherer, blogger etc and plan how to attack ACT
      Or maybe they just get the orders beamed directly to them from the Illuminati

      C’mon dude meadia conspiracies are dead – media is mostly about ratings, ratings = sales = profit
      and what headline is ever better than “MP steals dead babies identity”
      Get real

    • Dianne 16.3
      17 September 2010 at 8:53 am

      Tanz, you and I see things the same. ABSOLUTELY agree with you.

  17. Loota 17
    15 September 2010 at 9:05 pm

    Now, why is Red Alert so cautious about telling this story (something about a name suppression order) yet The Standard and the NZ Herald seem not to mind in the slightest.

  18. Tanz 18
    15 September 2010 at 9:08 pm

    Because Red Alert is run by MPs, written by MPs, maybe they are friends with Garrett, or some of the more right-leaning ones are? Perhaps they all have morning tea together, at the end of the day, they are all doing a similar job, even if they come from differing viewpoints.

  19. Adrian 19
    15 September 2010 at 9:58 pm

    Hide knew, therefore did Key know. What about the ‘no surprises’ clause or did Hide lie to Key ?. Oh, dear John, it’s called a moral dilemma, bet you don’t know what one of them is. captcha… standards…..how do they do it?

  20. Mac1 20
    15 September 2010 at 10:49 pm

    “captcha… standards…..how do they do it?”

    Adrian, wear an aluminium saucepan on your head…… it stops them from knowing……

    My captcha “areas.” See!

    Key must be getting worried to see the flakiness of his support parties, and indeed of some of his own members. Did he know about Worth beforehand? or Garrett?

    And then there’s the other rorters. English. Roger McClay. Finlayson.

    Bet Key wishes he had an aluminium saucepan on his head, sometimes, so we wouldn’t know.

  21. Dan 21
    15 September 2010 at 10:59 pm

    I reflect on a report on Beson Pope’s demise, and there must be a few lessons within !! What goes around….!!!!

    “But he’s drowned out by Rodney Hide’s sneering laugh. Hide brands Benson-Pope a pathological bully, liar and pervert. The “pervert” tag is adopted by Collins as Williamson brandishes the humiliating cartoons

    …………But Benson-Pope is a complex character who polarises, as the conflicting memories of former pupils suggests. It’s not the allegations themselves, but his inability to extricate himself from them, the suggestion that he misled Parliament, and the implications for a Government with a knife-edge majority.
    ……………….
    Nigel Roberts, associate professor of political science at Victoria University, says it reinforces the view that when faced with a scandal it’s best to act quickly and decisively.
    “I think if you had said to the Government in May last year this would still be going in February 2006, they would have looked at you and said ‘you are bonkers’. It’s death by a thousand cuts.”

    The occasional tennis ball pales into insignificance with this slimeball.

    The hypocrisy of perk-buster Rodney, the hypocrisy of three strikes Garrett; the fact that Act leads Key by the nose in Supercity, employment law, education policy, etc; the fact that the coalition with the Maori party is on liquefaction-prone ground…. interesting times.

  22. peterlepaysan 22
    16 September 2010 at 12:32 am

    Hey! Bobo back off. Labradors are useful, intelligent, loveable.
    Saintsbury is none of the above. He is a total unmentionable..

  23. bobo 23
    16 September 2010 at 12:52 am

    David Garret in question time gets up to ask a question, someone yells out “Look whos talking!” his awkward look – priceless, anyone catch who yelled it out ?

  24. M 24
    16 September 2010 at 1:22 am

    What a gift to the opposition – this should be milked for all it’s worth until election day.

  25. ron 25
    16 September 2010 at 7:24 am

    The FIRST thing to do is keep repeating that Garrett’s “indiscretion” is not 26 years old. he was busted in 2005. So he continued to offend until then. That’s years of offending.

  26. Jim Nald 26
    16 September 2010 at 7:27 am

    Rodney Hide, David Garrett & ACT: The Party of Integrity

  27. exbrethren 27
    16 September 2010 at 7:42 am

    Identity theft is not something that you would do for a prank or to see what happens. It would only be done by someone with criminal intent.

    Options would be selling to an overseas group (less likely in 1985?) or for personal use for serious criminal activity such as drug running or gun smuggling.

    Using the Capill principle that right-wing extremists usually loudly condemn others doing what they do, I’d be unsurprised if Garrett was unmasked as a career criminal of the 80s.

    Hide and Key allowing this murdered baby abuser to stay in parliament shows a complete lack of morality.

  28. Outofbed 28
    16 September 2010 at 8:54 am

    If it was my poor dead baby whose identity he used. He would be “hearing” from me big time
    Make no mistake this man is a fucking low life and has no part to play in the parliament of NZ
    HE HAS GOT TO GO

  29. BLiP 29
    16 September 2010 at 9:18 am

    Speaking of Rortney, where is he at the moment? Oh, yeah, that’s right – he’s in Hong Kong for a family birthday party. Wonder who paid the airfare and whether his girlfriend is with him. And, what’s this about his chief press secretary walking out of his job yesterday as well? Not a good look, ACT.

    • Jim Nald 29.1
      16 September 2010 at 9:23 am

      Desperately Seeking Hide?

      Rodney Hide, David Garrett & ACT: The Party of Integrity – Madly Seeking Your Vote

  30. tc 30
    16 September 2010 at 9:58 am

    Gotta love the timing……all distracting from the very serious issues around SCF, Blindtrustgate, everything else that’s got to be more important than the many unsavory incidents of another of the ACT circus clowns.

    It’s well known garretts a very unpleasant character with a murky past isn’t that a prerequisite to be an ACT MP ?…..what about some real news on real issues.

  31. Wattie 31
    16 September 2010 at 10:06 am

    I too have a confession to make. I once worked on an oil rig. In fact, I worked on an oil rig in the North Sea at roughly the same time as did Garret and Hide (dates, anyone ?).

    What I find objectionable was that Hide used their oil rig experience *three* times on RNZ this morning to excuse Garret’s foibles and his conviction for drunkeness at Heathrow (details, anyone ?).

    Oil rigs are a very disciplined environment which attract a variety of people. After a shift, I remember crews relaxing in quiet little circles in Aberdeen’s “Star and Garter” hotel.

    Hide’s suggestion that this environment had something to do with his behaviour in Heathrow can only be treated with the contempt it deserves.

  32. tsmithfield 32
    16 September 2010 at 10:23 am

    The comedy that is ACT and was NZ First in the last government provides powerful arguments for terminating MMP. Under MMP it seems that the loonies end up running the asylum.

    • felix 32.1
      16 September 2010 at 10:49 am

      Nah, what you really have there is a strong argument for getting rid of NZ First (pretty much done) and ACT (not long now).

      Your “loonies running the asylum” bit applies equally to FPP, STV, and any other form of democracy you care to name.

      I’m sure you don’t want to do away with democracy altogether, do you?

      • tsmithfield 32.1.1
        16 September 2010 at 11:28 am

        I still support some form of proportional representation, perhaps with modifications to the MMP system.

        I guess what I was trying to say succinctly is that given that the discussion about MMP is to be had in the near future, there is now more fuel for those who dislike MMP.

        • Outofbed 32.1.1.1
          16 September 2010 at 12:34 pm

          Classic redirection Your Nat mates are in bed with some very unsavory characters and don’t seem to give a flying fuck, MMP has fuck all to do with it

  33. Rodel 33
    16 September 2010 at 10:56 pm

    Conspiracy theory 1.
    The plan:
    1. Someone leaks bad things about ACT MPs and Rodney fights with his colleagues.
    2. ACT implodes and no longer exists as a party.They are all now independents.
    3. Rodney distances himself from Roger, Heather, David and the others..
    4. Rodney becomes more moderate in his views accepting that ACT was too Right wing.(Crosby Textor helps with the image change)
    5. As the one remaining stable member of the essentially defunct ACT party (and nicer person-like John Banks) Rodney joins the National Party.
    6. The nicer more centrist Rodney is chosen as the National Party candidate for Epsom.
    7. Rodney is elected.
    8. John smiles and is relaxed.

    Question- who was the someone who began the implosion?

    • mcflock 33.1
      16 September 2010 at 11:21 pm

      So rather than the most likely suspect being an ACToid who wants the party to return to its unelectable neoclassical roots by supplanting pro-Hide Garrett with a neoclassical replacement, it could be Hide himself burning the party before he jumps ship?

      I think the problem for Hide, if that is the case, is that Anderton remained valuable after doing that by maintaining a separate “party” that helped prop up Labour. If Hide goes with the nats, he is just another nat politician fighting for a place. There is no honour among thieves, politicians or RWNJs, which makes any arrangement Hide makes somewhat precarious.

  34. Irascible 34
    17 September 2010 at 2:46 am

    Hide, Key & Garrett, along with the rest of the NACT Party despise the ordinary taxpayer so there will be no resignation as they all believe they’re above the law and do not have to answer to the taxpayer voter at all.

  35. sonic 35
    17 September 2010 at 8:30 am

    Only one problem Rodel, National needs ACT otherwise the Maori Party holds the balance of power.

  36. Xeno 36
    17 September 2010 at 10:42 am

    Rodel,it will be interesting to see which variant Key and his backers favour. In the end ACT and the Maori party are dispensible .. as are the Greens.

    Also, Christchurch has changed the political dynamic and its effect on Super City elections will be interesting with Jaffans slowly absorbing the climate of angst and vulnerability emanating from the south.

  37. Xeno 37
    17 September 2010 at 10:48 am

    Re. Rodel’s Question [“who was the someone who began the implosion?”]:

    A gentleman with experience of Scottish clan politics ?

  38. Yorick 38
    17 September 2010 at 11:18 am

    Rodel ..

    what is Conspiracy theory 2 ?

  39. Xeno 39
    17 September 2010 at 12:12 pm

    Update: RNZ reports that Garret has resigned from ACT, will take two weeks leave from parliament “to consider his future”.

  41. ruatorian 41
    17 September 2010 at 2:54 pm

    Garrett is gone. Hide claims he phoned him from Honkers to “remove his support”. Calvert takes his place. Life goes on. Or does it ? Hides’ position is threatened from within ACT. He may find an ally in Key who needs him for the ‘SuperCity’. For a while.

    Life goes on. Expect aftershocks.

    • Rodel 41.1
      17 September 2010 at 8:33 pm

      Sorry. forgot to mention an essential part of the plan. Subsection 3a.and b

      a.’John Key congratulates Rodney on his strong leadership.’
      b. Rodney and John are increasingly seen together.

      A bit of foreshadowing for Crosby Textor to build on later.

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  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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