How not to handle a rebel

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, February 16th, 2011 - 38 comments
Categories: democratic participation, maori party, Media - Tags: , ,

The Maori Party handling of rebel MP Hone Harawira has been a complete mess. Harawira and the Party leadership have been fighting a public war for the heart and soul of the party, a struggle which the Party now portrays as Harawira’s “incidents of ill discipline stretching over the past five years”. During this gradually escalating process the Party has looked indecisive and ineffectual, has alienated much of its activist base, and has managed to risk alienating its strongest electorate.

The latest bizarre chapter in this story is the brute force gagging of Harawira by forbidding him to talk to the media. This has apparently now been extended to “a complete media ban will be strictly observed by the Maori Party including Hone Harawira on all aspects of the disciplinary disputes process until the formal hearing into the complaint has been concluded.”

A complete media ban? An MP forbidden from representing the views of his constituents? I’m trying to recall any precedent for such an extreme gagging of free speech by a political party. In recent memory the Nats’ rebel MP Brian Connell was suspended from caucus, but never prevented from speaking. Labour’s rebel Chris Carter received the same treatment. In fact, as Matt McCarten points out, Tariana Turia herself enjoyed even greater freedom:

If you read Harawira carefully, all his criticisms are not about policy differences but are based around tactics and strategies. What’s the crime in that?

Ironically, what Tariana Turia did when she was in the Labour Party was far worse. As a Cabinet minister, she actively opposed her government’s policy on the seabed and foreshore legislation. Was she expelled or even sanctioned? No. In fact, she was granted permission to speak and campaign against it. She eventually resigned to form the Maori Party but Labour never stopped her saying what she thought.

I’m sure that during this time Tariana Turia valued her ability to speak her mind and do her best to represent her people. She of all people should know better than to remove the same rights from Hone Harawira.

In short, this media ban reveals a nasty authoritarian streak in the Maori Party. It is at odds with the principles of the Party’s constitution and it is at odds with the expectation of free speech in a democracy. Does anyone in what is left of the Maori Party care enough to resist?

38 comments on “How not to handle a rebel ”

  1. Colonial Viper 1

    Labour’s lovin’ it. Oddly enough, I think John Key and his crew will also be appreciating their role in irritating for this successful implosion.

    On a more serious note, Hone represents the kind of independent voice that our MPs have lost over the year to a stricter and stricter party line system. That loss over the years has reduced the vigour and colourful nature of political debate in NZ And we are all worse off for it. Best wishes to him.

  2. lprent 2

    It is very weird. Offhand I cannot think of a precedent or even a justification to try to order an electorate MP muzzled. This should make reading the links (and comments) interesting to see if anyone can figure out a justification (that doesn’t engender a thought pattern past a belly laugh)

    • lprent 2.1

      Matt McCarten has the whole thing well bracketed. It is a policy debate similar to those I hear all of the time inside Labour, amongst the MP’s, and between activists and their MP’s.

      I spent about 20 years actively supporting Helen Clark whilst actively disagreeing with her on many policy areas, our strategies and tactics, or her interpretation of public mood in LEC or directly.

      I would have expected the same respect if I’d had ever been dumb enough to go into caucus. By the sound of it, the Maori Party leadership has long stopped listening to Hone in caucus – which speaks volumes about their inability to run the parliamentary party. So Hone inevitability speaks out inside the party and in the media.

      The point about politics is everyone disagrees with almost everyone else. You work together on what you agree with and argue on the rest. But you always get a voice inside the forums set aside for it. You look at behavior rather than policy disagreements as being the dividing line.

      The current leadership in the MP clearly don’t like being questioned. They should be bloody glad I am not in it.

  3. ianmac 3

    Reports say that Hone “burst into tears” over the “pressure of the conflict.”
    What actually happened was when starting to speak about the support from his wife and from his electorate, he bowed his head and tears fell. I took that to mean that he was humbled by the support.

    And yes Tariana should feel the weight of her hypocrisy. A bit like Bennet receiving help from the Benefit then diminishing it for others in need now.

    • Mac1 3.1

      I agree with your reading of those tears, ianmac, and it gives me some sympathy and respect for Hone Harawira as a man, especially since he has way off target over other matters. What lprent says about working within the tent gells with my near forty years experience in the Labour Party.

      One of the benefits of MMP has been that those within the Party who really did take different stands on pretty big issues have now sloughed off into other minor parties like ACT and the modern Party is much more philosophically united. Other small parties seem to have trouble with their philosophical roots, their selection procedures and the disadvantages of a small activist base – perhaps the Maori Party is too broad a church for Hone Harawira.

      I still predict and await with some satisfaction a post MMP shift and split within the National Party. There has been some already for example with the religious Right and ACT, but the urban/rural, liberal/conservative, traditional/neo-con divides are held together with the glue of office and opportunity. One or two good electoral reverses and who knows what will happen………

      Capcha ‘positions’. Ha!

      • lprent 3.1.1

        The point of having a party is to have the opportunity to argue. If there isn’t an opportunity to do that, that is when you get the type of mess that the Maori party (and for that matter the recent debacle in Act) shows – a ‘leadership’ that cannot get people moving forward in a common direction.

  4. Jum 4

    The Maori party have obviously never heard of personal sovereignty, or even all Maori sovereignty, but only elite Maori sovereignty; JKeyll and the business rotundtable have been pulling the strings on this, promising Turia, the biggest control freak of them all, some carrot which will eventually go rotten on the Maori party.

    Never mind Labour loving this implosion; I’m loving it. Karma to a party that refused to acknowledge the good things that Labour/Greens even New Zealand First did for Maori as Aotearoans/New Zealanders. The number of Maori I met up with around the 2008 election that had been filled with such venom against Labour/Greens by Turia and NAct was huge. At a protest march against the previous Auckland Council for refusing to follow through with the Otahuhu swimming pool Maori were even blaming Labour for that! John Banks, previous Auckland mayor, a Labour supporter – I don’t think so!

    • Adele 4.1

      Teenaa koe, Jum

      If Labour was as good as you say towards Maaori than there would be no Maaori Party.

      There is this huge assumption by Paakeha New Zealanders that what is good for Maaori is to be ‘white-minded.’ Think and be like the average Paakeha and ‘she’ll be right.’

      We have our own views on what is right for us as separate identities in this country – and Labour never bothered to listen or was too arrogant to take heed of these views.

      If the Maaori Party implodes that will not be the end of Maaori politicism. One final point, taangata whenua is a better term to describe the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, Aotearoan sounds like a waka from Mars.

      • Of course Maori have a different outlook on philosophy and living than Pakeha ,and so they should. However in Aotearoa we need to live in partnership with each other. Most would agree that Labour has done more to achieve this than National .I do not think Labour has ever run a campaign like Iwi/Kiwi. Just as it was Labour who condemned apartheid (although Bolger was first in line to take credit.),
        The Maori Party should acknowledge this ,but this will not happen under Turia. The hypocrisy of Turia is sickening . I expect this is inherited from her GI.Joe father .Its certainly not the way I have noticed among the Maori people I know .

        What I am hoping for is that Harawira will become the Leader of the Maori Party and then support Labour as the government whilst maintaining its independence/

        • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1

          And LAB needs to understand the spirit of MMP and treat the Mp as true coalition partners in all issues. (Mind you Turia needs to be gone for any of this to happen).

          NAT in contrast have been treating the Mp has a disposable political tool and that has become more than obvious 2 years in.

      • Jum 4.1.2

        Nonsense, Adele,

        Tariana Turia had an agenda; Labour did not agree that her agenda was for the good of All New Zealanders. Also, whenever I talk about Maori being people just like whites are people – good or bad and often both, I am accused of racism. That’s nonsense too. People are human beings first, their colour and culture second. Humans hold their humanity in common.

        After that commonality every person is different. Every person has a different view. Why do you mention a group of Paakeha New Zealanders – that is lumping them together. You also have the right to take me to task for writing about Maori as a group when it is quite obvious they are certainly not a group of people. They are individuals and they are letting their Maori party know that they are not happy about Hone Harawira’s treatment.

        By your use of the ‘aa’, you are not in either of those groups either. You are in a group of your own, Adele.

        • Adele 4.1.2.1

          Teenaa koe, Jum

          The double ‘aa’ is correct form in the absence of the macron – and the double vowel also denotes meaning as in wahine = woman, waahine = women. The group I represent is quite large.

          To extrapolate the commonality we share as humans to an overriding ambition towards oneness is such a steaming mass of tuutae – a waste product of last century thinking.

          However, if the hegemony all decide to become Maaori – I will gladly admit to wrong thinking, and will even volunteer to assist in performing the circumcisions.

          • Jum 4.1.2.1.1

            Adele,

            Why is it you cannot stand the fact that all inhabitants of this land are people? There is nothing inherently special about Maori. There is nothing special about you, except that you are a human being. Live with that.

            More importantly, if you seriously imagine I personally would want to be anything even remotely like you in your thinking and your racism, you are imagining shxt. You’re certainly blogging it. So, extrapolate off.

            • Adele 4.1.2.1.1.1

              Teenaa koe, Jum

              This country, the world, needs less ‘people’ like you, How can you possibly even think to imply that your humanity is somehow greater than mine when you refuse to acknowledge that ‘people’ are not all the same.

              Instead, you would rather obliterate difference, to skin the animal and reduce humanity to flesh and bone only – to make it less cumbersome, less trying for you, than to actually attempt to understand and celebrate the uniqueness of others.

              Also, Maaori have never claimed to be ‘special’ that word is usually used by the haters and wreckers to fuel anger ad nauseum. Maaori, as taangata whenua, however, do have rights as afforded by Te Tiriti o Waitangi. I know, you would rather that document was obliterated too.

              • neoleftie

                I think Phil Goff Could / might have said it right “two people, one nation”
                It not really white new zealanders fault for being misguided or not understanding maori it simple ignorance. Gosh the next ten years for this country are going to be so pivotal on the formation of what our nation really is and stands for.
                Unity or seperatism
                Bi cultural understanding and intergration of valued cultural impactors or a cleaved society.
                Gosh bring on the open and honest debate about our connected future in all facets.

              • Jum

                The world needs less divisive ‘people’ like you Adele, who deliberately set out to obfuscate what other people are saying. I will repeat it. “Maori being people just like whites are people – good or bad and often both”. In trying to deny that simple statement about people as a whole you are implying that Maori are special and that they have never committed any wrong in the past, at present or in the future.

                Again, “People are human beings first, their colour and culture second. Humans hold their humanity in common.”

                Again, “Humans hold their humanity in common. After that commonality every person is different.” You mislead when you try to imply I said my humanity is greater than yours. Get rid of the poison invading your system, Adele. On this thread you are the hater and wrecker.

                As for the treaty, that will play out in New Zealand in its own time, with or without your input or mine. We will also get to see how Maori deal with the power and influence they get from the resources that they are steadily gaining through the treaty process.

                ‘Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely’.
                (Origin

                Lord ActonThis arose as a quotation by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (1834–1902). The historian and moralist, who was otherwise known simply as Lord Acton, expressed this opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887:

                “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.”

                Another English politician with no shortage of names – William Pitt, the Elder, The Earl of Chatham and British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778, is sometimes wrongly attributed as the source. He did say something similar, in a speech to the UK House of Lords in 1770:

                “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it”)

                • Adele

                  Teenaa koe, Jum

                  To follow your logic to its rightful place in absurdity I could very well make the statement ‘all dogs are the same’ – as they share common ancestry in the wolf.

                  Now have a fully-grown Neapolitan Mastiff sit on your lap in place of a Chihuahua, and then try to blithely say, “difference doesn’t matter – a dog is a dog.”

                  I find it ironic that you choose to quote to me the words of a dead white man (Google this) to further your pious cause. Moreso, since the dead one (Acton) is of the nobility, wealthy, an imperialist, and supported the confederacy in the American civil wars. Now which one of these virtues points to a man in sympathy with the commoner, or the slave?

                  It is presumptuous to lecture Maaori about the exercise of power especially as power corrupted first arrived here with the Endeavour and remains visible today in the power structures that are parliament, policy, finance, corporation and the media – an ocean of whiteness, and in comparison, Maaori are but flotsam and jetsam, caught in ocean currents.

                  Your type of thinking is the death of humanity not its salvation.

                  • Jum

                    Finally, you get it – a dog is a dog. A person is a person. A human is a human. Then you move on from there. You can be the Chihuahua if you like…

                    Your rant is a perfect example of why I am concerned that you have got so lost in your hatred of anyone who doesn’t agree with you, it is obviously clouding your logic.

                    Again, “People are humans first, their colour and culture second. Humans hold their humanity in common. AFTER that commonality every person is DIFFERENT.”

                    You really hate white people don’t you. Yet you forget in all of this that you are not the only person now, before and in future (brown, white, blue or black) that will suffer at the hands of the power structures of parliament, policy, finance, corporation and the media and if you weren’t so far up yourself, you would be viewing the future on behalf of everyone not just the ones you favour.

                    By the way, the mantra you’re spouting has no individual flavour to it, just what your ‘large group’ have instilled in you or you in it.

                    Maori speaking about the death of humanity forget their own past.

                  • Rosy

                    If we put our cultural differences ahead of humanity we’re lost, this does not mean we should ignore power relationships or work to recompense those who have been subject to injustices…

                    “To follow your logic to its rightful place in absurdity”… to put our cultural differences ahead of our shared humaness creates the sort of talk that justifies discrimination, if it is used by the powerful, and of course the extremes of discrimination – slavery, indigenous reservations & genocide. And it’s interesting through history to see the elite of complicit in the demise of their own through their support of the powerful. The elite in any culture have more in common with the elite in another culture than they do with the dispossessed in their own culture IMO.

                    • Locus

                      @ Adele. Who cares where a quote came from, it’s the idea that we should be debating. The idea that absolute power corrupts is worth thinking about.

                      Are Maori one type of dog and Pakeha another? What a strange analogy to use when you are trying (I think) to explain the primacy of historical oppression of a race and a culture over the ideas of human commonality.

                      I’ve lived my life all around the world, and been swamped in ocean of otherness (colour, culture, religion) in so many places. The fundamental learning is that we have more in common with others when we laugh and cry and debate together, and that our language and culture gives us a stronger sense of being part of a special family.

                      I will never know what it is like to be born into a minority in a culturally repressive society …. because I am from Aotearoa. As a New Zealander, I have the privelege of an education, clean water, sanitation, housing, a wonderful cultural heritage. Every day I wake up I am proud of our tikanga and our uniqueness as New Zealanders.

                      Maori have suffered and are suffering the results of colonialism, so we have to make things better and all play our part in creating a future where we can all delight in a kiwi culture that is a product of the best of Maori and Pakeha.

                    • Adele

                      Teenaa koorua, Jum and Rosy

                      The western tradition is vilified the world over because of the type of thinking that you both maintain. The blank state that you call ‘humanity’ is a total fiction perpetuated to alleviate any moral guilt associated with assimilating or making extinct the traditions and cultures of others.

                      Rosy, discrimination occurs when difference is denied, demeaned, and discounted.

                    • Jum

                      Adele …
                      20 February 2011 at 2:36 am ‘discrimination occurs when difference is denied, demeaned, and discounted.’

                      Ye Gods. Again, “every PERSON is DIFFERENT.” That is not denying any person, demeaning any person or discounting any person.

                      In Rosalind Miles book ‘Women’s History of the World, she writes about evidence of a single female having the gene which has flowed down through all the humans in the world, so whether you (and I) like it or not Adele, you, Rosy and I are a lot closer than you are trying to preach.

                      PS I’m not sure what colour or culture Rosalind Miles is.

                    • Rosy

                      @ Adele I won’t argue your definition of discrimination. I agree discrimination always occurs when difference is demeaned. I have no problem with acknowledging difference and I have no problem that discrimination and injustice resulting from difference needs to be resolved. My problem is when it is put ahead of acknowledging a common humanity first.

                      A very straightforward real world example: apparently there was (until yesterday) a facebook page called ‘I hate poor people’ It had post something along the lines of ‘poor people don’t have GPs they have veterinarians.’ IMO this is exactly what happens when people forget to their common humanity.

  5. tino rangatiratanga 5

    Will Sharples lose his seat to Shane Jones this year as the fallout to the Maori party taking orders from the Iwi Leadership Group and the National Party…

    Tamaki Makaurau Kaumatua call on all to “prepare to hikoi”
    February 14th, 2011

    http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/10140

    Elders from the National Maori Council have called for another hikoi from Northland to Parliament to oppose the new Marine and Coastal Area Bill.

    Kuia and Kaumatua of Tamaki Makaurau present at a Public Meeting held last week expressed their concerns related to the statements that have been made by the Maori Party co-Chairpersons, Dr. Peter Sharples and Tariana Turia.

    The Kaumatua and Kuia of Tamaki Makaurau have moved a vote of no confidence in the Maori Party leadership.

    Selwyn Muru an esteemed Kaumatua of Ngati Kuri who resides in Tamaki Makaurau said, ‘we were very dissatisfied with the Takutai Moana bill as put out by the Labour Party and we are equally dissatisfied with the bill put out by the National Party,’

    The Kaumatua went on to say ‘how dare the Maori Party leadership trample the Mana of our Tupuna.’

    Mr Muru further stated ‘that as a result of this and our immediate concerns for the Mana of Maori we are calling for everyone to prepare to Hikoi (March) against the Takutai Moana Bill.’

    Networks have been alerted throughout Aotearoa to prepare for a Hikoi to oppose the Takutai Moana Bill.

    _____________________________________

    * Selwyn Muru – Ngati Kuri Kaumatua- [redacted]
    * Lillian Howe – Kuia o Te Whanau a Apanui – [redacted]
    * Ngaire Te Hira – Executive NZ Maori Council – [redacted]

  6. ak 6

    In short, this media ban reveals a nasty authoritarian streak in the Maori Party

    Mmmm….either that or a timely desire (by both parties) not to shatter the aspirations and blood-wrought toil of generations by self-imploding in a blaze of NACT-fed media hysteria.

    Labour’s lovin’ it.

    Got a link for that Colly? If they are, and are anything but deeply concerned and doing their level best to avoid another Alliancehilation, then the last shreds of political nous and progressive principle just left their building.

    • Colonial Viper 6.1

      Sorry mate just an educated stab, I am guessing that no one in LAB has sympathies for Turiana getting some of her own medicine back.

      But yeah its a bit like cutting ones’ nose off.

  7. Tony P 7

    This week’s Listener editorial has (surprise surprise) come down firmly in favour of the Maori Party in all this.
    http://www.listener.co.nz/

    • neoleftie 7.1

      actaully i wonder how much the MParty has been a brake on the tory far right faction on developing policy. If you weight things up not much really has happened in a radical sence given the power players within national. So maybe just maybe a blue rinse maori party caucus actaully modfied somewhat the extremes that could have happened.

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.1

        Interesting theory, but NAT also do not need the Mp, and its a question of who Key and English would prefer to placate – their own blue grass roots or the Mp. I pick the former personally.

        The far bigger motivating factor in being highly centrist this term – the shot at a second term in power that they do not want to waste.

        • neoleftie 7.1.1.1

          true true but the Tories arent highly centrised, they simple are precieved and have given the false preception the are more centre right this go around – the great hood wink.
          Sorry to say it but if the economy was in better shape the tories would have quietly gone about the far right agenda. They only brake is the they cant touch the State or its function cause this is holding the economy up. privatising = job losses, resizine the public sector = job losses.
          job losses = less tax and less spending.
          The maori party, in my opinion, is looking long term. look to the next coalition positioning to see the true spirit of maoridom, maybe they pick and choose micro level policies that benefit them but apart from supply and confidence as per the agreement they really fundamental back the left block.

  8. Adele 8

    Teenaa koe, Rosy

    Thank you for your rational response. The issue for me is that I do not believe that it is possible to appreciate the humanity of another without first acknowledging and appreciating the differences (culture and traditions) that construct their humanity. I say first understand the differences and then you may just arrive at the underlying agreement that is humanity.

    It is not sufficient in this day and age to depend upon the basic concept ‘we are all human’ to survive living amongst others. That is simply too arrogant (and lazy) an approach towards understanding the humanity of another.

    • Jum 8.1

      Adele,

      Culture and tradition come after birth. It is neither arrogant or lazy to state that humanity is a commonality of living creatures that take the human form.

      Maybe another word is in order – humanoid? humanist

      But possibly there is a place for you, Rosy and myself in the word ‘humanity’: 1.the human race, 2.the quality of being human, 3.kindness or mercy – which suggests one function of humanity.

      Still, Adele, with your arrogant replies, there is little chance of you and I ever reaching a stage of understanding, kindness or mercy, but I have no problem continuing the struggle.

      Unlike you, I certainly don’t want to ‘survive living amongst others’. I want to enjoy the process of living amongst others. Providing ‘others’ treat my opinion with the respect they expect from me with their opinions, there is more chance to do so.

      Maybe, a compromise is in order:

      Humanity begins and ends at babyhood. Following that the personage is moulded and raised by other persons which is when the culture and traditions kick in.

      • neoleftie 8.1.1

        hmmm what is so wrong with one of a different culture wishing to celebrate and rejoice in the difference of that culture…The only seperatist we have are those locked inside the majority who dont want to even consider that another just maybe another culture might have some insight into ways that would bring the betterment to humanity.

        • Jum 8.1.1.1

          Neoleftie

          I suggest you read the whole thread, which was actually about the Maori Party. It ended up being an assault on me being white and for daring to quote a white person who talked about total power corrupting, which I thought was a good quote for anyone contemplating sovereignty. Adele and I have had this debate before and no doubt we will have it many times in the future.

          Then we moved on to what humanity meant. I’m quite enjoying it.

          I also had a wee chuckle because at some stage we were sort of agreeing but that had got lost, I think…

          I suggest Adele reads Rosalind Miles’ book that I quoted above. It talks about the female goddess who once ruled supreme. She had many names but she was the one true God and she was female. It ties in with Adele’s blurb on Deborah’s ‘Two World Views/In a Strange Land.

          Adele has an arrogance in that she believes everything she says but never accepts that other people, those bad white people, could actually have a view too.

          Adele is arrogant in that she seems to think Maori are the only ones who subscribe to the ways of women. I also mention that Maori men may not have her beliefs; I’ll stand corrected on that as regards marae, but not in the back streets of New Zealand.

          You are totally wrong in suggesting I don’t think Maori culture can offer insight into ways that would bring betterment to humanity. I just got pissed off about the way she talks down and decided to call her on it.

  9. Adele 9

    Teenaa koe, Jum

    My apologies for the delay in responding to your passive aggressive post.

    Because I live two worldviews I can articulate between the two with relative ease and a measure of expertise. You on the other hand are fixated in one – stuck in the crack of a broken-down CD – jum, jum, jum. Your ongoing rant about “humans holding their humanity in common” has grown from a steaming mass to a veritable maunga of manure. Let me once again attempt to explain why.

    Humanity in common has its roots in western philosophy and is not universally comprehended. From an indigenous perspective, to say “I am human” is a meaningless statement to make; it renders the person incomprehensible and without form. To say “I am Ngaati Awa,” on the other hand, adds flesh to DNA and whakapapa to bone. Thus, is your first conceit – to assume western ideology is meaningful to all.

    So now confronted with difference in social constructs we arrive at the next conceit of the western traditionalist (predominantly white but not necessarily so) and that is to assume the western worldview is the normative. Thus when divergence is encountered the difference is immediately translated as unimportant, a side issue, perverse.

    The third conceit is when the western traditionalist seeks to impose their worldview over others – to assimilate, obfuscate, render impotent, and when all else fails, to make extinct. This is the process of colonisation.

    I am fully aware of the views of white people as they are expressed as the majority opinion, and echo loudly in the auditoriums of power – parliament, policy, finance, corporation, and media (including the blogosphere). Not content with this much percussion, however, you then insist upon more white noise – how are the edicts of a dead white man and a non-dead white woman salient to me as an indigenous person practicing indigeneity. We like to rock to the sounds and rhythms of Oceania – yes, we have our own scholarship and philosophers.

    Finally, I am not talking down to you; I think that you are just having an issue measuring up.

    • Jum 9.1

      And in the end I will continue to hold my views and you yours and with your definite attempts at talking down, adding in your own ‘veritable maunga of manure’ laced thickly with conceited views of your own importance and using the very words of the traditional society you loathe so much, that is very unlikely to change.

      I’ll remain a human being; you can be whatever you like. And I mean that sincerely.

      I do have a question which no one else ever answers – did Maori colonise other earlier peoples in New Zealand, on the Chatham Islands for instance? Did they take slaves? Did they commit the same atrocities they always blame others for but never themselves?

      It’s fine to take the moral high ground now and utter fine big words and flowing bigotry, but under the skin colour the good and the bad still remains. And to quote your words “to assimilate, obfuscate, render impotent, and when all else fails, to make extinct” Maori certainly did that just as much as every other coloniser throughout history.

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    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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

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