How Slater manufactures smears

Written By: - Date published: 9:45 pm, October 14th, 2014 - 55 comments
Categories: blogs - Tags: , , , , , ,

One of the interesting things that came across my desk today came from Matthew Blomfield. It was a PDF of a letter from the IPCA chair Judge Sir David Carruthers.

It shows pretty clearly the way that the “journalist” Cameron Slater makes up a theory out of nothing much. Then he routinely distorts whatever is written about it to carry on the fantasy. This works on the foolish and credulous, but fortunately not on the courts.

It relates to something pointed out to Mr Blomfield last week. That was a tweet that read…

The link was to a image of a letter from the IPCA on June 13th that said (my bold):-

You believe that the incident Matthew Blomfield claims to be his reporting of a burglary was in fact reported by Warren Powell. You further state that Matthew Blomfield filed an affidavit in the High Court which referred to his reported burglary, and he stated that he laid the complaint. This is an act of perjury. However, the Police advise that Warren Powell made a report of burglary on 21 April 2010, and Matthew Blomfield made a complaint to Police on 9 May 2012. They are two separate Police files.

That seemed clear enough to me – there were several complaints. The writer at the IPCA had spent the entire email repeating Cameron Slater’s assertions back to him. That was most likely because it was the usual incoherent and illogical drivel that Cameron does whenever he has to write something with some logic in it. The writer needed to clarify what Cameron Slater had attempted to write, and then concluded with the clear statement:-

You also say that Constable Guest was acting on two false complaints. The Police state that while Matthew Blomfield’s initial statement lacked information, his second statement outlined a number of possible offences. These were all investigated by Police.

The Authority accepts the explanations provided and is unable to identify any clear situation where there has been a neglect of duty or misconduct by the Police. The Authority will therefore take no further action in the matter and in the absence of any new and compelling evidence; your file will remain closed.

However it wasn’t clear enough. It seems to have been the basis of a number of subsequent questionable statements by New Zealand’s most inept “journalist”. Specifically the statement in the tweet that the hard drive “wasn’t stolen” and the Blomfield had perjured himself. In both cases Slater cited statements in the letter.

I queried Mr Blomfield about it. After the swearing had subsided, Mr Blomfield said that he’d already followed up on it after Slater had repeated the perjury allegation in court after this letter.

Mr Blomfield had a email clarifying it on the 26th of June from the IPCA. It clarified that it was actually Cameron Slater who had asserted that it was perjury not the writer, Mr Blomfield also sent the email to Cameron Slater, who curiously has never bothered to publish it. In my view, this is probably because he’d look like the inept delusional fool even to his own readers.

However Slater has continued to promulgate his assertions about perjury and other matters drawing on his own strange but probably deliberate misinterpretations of the IPCA letter. Apparently this has drawn other credulous fools of “journalists” such as Larry Williams from Radio Live into allowing a repetition of Slater’s defamatory “facts” about the IPCA letter.

To cut a long story short, Mr Blomfield sent off another letter to the IPCA outlining this continued smearing by Cameron Slater using the name of the IPCA. He rapidly got the following most unusual response letter from the IPCA Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers.

It reads in part (see the link for the full letter).

I am sorry that in our earlier letter to Mr Slater, which was subsequently made available to you, it was not made clear that the comment “This is an act of perjury” was part of Mt Slater’s allegation to the Authority”.

He then quotes part of the quotation above from the letter of the 13th of June.

In context it is clear that all of that is part of the assertion made by the complainant and is not a finding made either by the Police or by us after investigation.

In other words, it was Cameron Slater assertions, not those supported by the police or IPCA about “perjury”.

I can confirm that Police had reported to us that their investigation had “found the missing hard drive to have never been stolen”.

I can however now also confirm to you that Police are currently reviewing the investigation and that finding.

So the Police are now trying to decide if a junior officer got that decision right.

My personal guess in the wake of the Police’s raid on Nicky Hager for the same kind of allegedly stolen material is that Cameron Slater is going to wind up in court. Either facing charges on receiving stolen goods or as “witness” like Nicky Hager. Somehow I think that trying to cover himself with a figleaf of being a “journalist” is going to be less successful in court than a action of a real journalist like Nicky Hager is likely to be.

Unlike other recent cases about data copying that Slater’s legally ill-educated wits have been quoting, this would be a criminal matter rather than a civil or privacy case with a quite different burden of proof. We await the long and tortuous processes of the police thinking when they don’t have Ministers doing it for them.

I do not intend writing to Mr Slater about such an obvious matter and you may of course use this letter for whatever purposes suit you.

Since I’d queried Mr Blomfield about it, it was sent to me among others. I really couldn’t resist pointing out the lessons in it.

This is classic Cameron Slater. Make up a headline friendly fantasy. Go and wave his dick around dispatching letters off to all and sundry complaining about the actions he has had a fantasy revelation about. Take whatever comes back as a result, deliberately misinterpret it and then puff it up. All the time bullshitting to all and sundry (especially credulous and foolish shock-jocks like Larry Williams) and try to get them buying into getting involved. Getting paid for attacking someone else’s enemies.

You can see this vividly in “Dirty Politics”. Which is probably the reason that there appear to have been many journalists like John Roughan who appear to have not read the book in case they have a crisis of conscience.

Fortunately in the case, a victim of Cameron Slater’s obnoxious and probably paid for bile has chosen to push it through the courts.I am aware of many other people and companies who (to date) have not. Fortunately I think that is changing. It appears that many others are starting to use the slow processes of the courts to deal with this arsehole “journalist” and “blogger”.

55 comments on “How Slater manufactures smears ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. mickysavage 1
    14 October 2014 at 10:09 pm

    Gee with Cameron you have to check every freaking thing.

    I saw his tweet and the letter and thought “I must have a look at this at some stage when I have time”. I am not surprised that things are not the way he presented them.

    It is like when he tried to spin the High Court decision that he was a journalist as a success but forgot to mention that the Judge thought he was a piece of slime and did not deserve the protection that real journalists get.

    • Chris 1.1
      15 October 2014 at 12:51 pm

      “I am not surprised that things are not the way he presented them.”

      I have to say, MS, that this is some understatement. I’m now never surprised to see the amount of shit that comes out of his mouth. The guy’s a cartoon character. If I go to his site it’s for light relief. Never cease to get a smile. He’d be good material for a Bro’ Town episode. This is how we need to treat him.

    • Lan 1.2
      15 October 2014 at 4:41 pm

      Definitely not “twinkly” eyes, or even face if one looks carefully! Does Mike Smith comment?

  2. adam 2
    14 October 2014 at 10:48 pm

    I hope more people take this blight to court. What a truly despicable turn of events -again – and of course members of the the corporate media lap it up.

    We have fallen into a nightmare, where the vicious and the villainous are treated like winners, and worshiped like heros. Has liberal economics and its penchant for obduracy written all over.

    • AsleepWhileWalking 2.1
      14 October 2014 at 11:23 pm

      Burying the guy in legal action and making his “occupation” cost prohibitive in terms of time and money might be the only way to shut him down. Unfortunately most people would be unable to afford to defend themselves in this manner so would never get to a courtroom.

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1
        15 October 2014 at 9:59 am

        Unfortunately most people would be unable to afford to defend themselves in this manner so would never get to a courtroom.

        And that is the major failing of our justice system – it’s only available to the rich.

        • Tracey 2.1.1.1
          15 October 2014 at 11:05 am

          or those with rich helpful friends. it is only the wealthy who get to defend their reputations, the rest can be shat on from a great height with impunity.

          • minarch 2.1.1.1.1
            15 October 2014 at 2:54 pm

            personally I prefer to hand my own punishments rather than rely on the state when i have been wronged

            and you can guarantee mine is a lot more “working class’ than the courts would hand out 😉

            and i dont care if your rich or poor, its all the same to me !

            (actually I prefer the rich as they are usually soft as F#$k ! )

            • karol 2.1.1.1.1.1
              15 October 2014 at 2:57 pm

              And that works really well for most women, elderly, children, etc….?!

              • Tracey …
                15 October 2014 at 3:22 pm

                i was wondering how that would work for me too karol. i cant afford to take someone to task for their lies and know they will do it to others but cannot afford to pursue it. this person is a lawyer, knew better, knows better, and tgrough their behaviour is charging peolle way more than they should be, but i can do nothing. law society is not an avenue… i wouldnt revert to violence anyway, not sure what that achieves in terms of changing the persons future behaviour

    • greywarshark 2.2
      15 October 2014 at 2:12 pm

      adam
      +1

  3. Northland 3
    14 October 2014 at 11:37 pm

    If I may be allowed to provide some pertinent background. This whole perjury thing got started in 2010 when an office Matt shared with a then Director of Hell Pizza was the subject of an alleged burglary. His office mate made a complaint to the Police. When the hard drive was later found to be missing, Matt deduced it had gone in the burglary.

    In May 2012 when Matt initially complained to the Police about Slater having his hard drive, he opined it had gone in the burglary and stated that the said office mate had reported it to the Police at the time. In an affidavit to the [District] Court, he said “and it was reported to the Police at the time”.

    In the meantime, Slater knew this was not true because he (as he has subsequently disclosed) had received the hard drive from the very same office mate, via an intermediary.

    Exactly as you have suggested, Slater used his devious inside knowledge to manufacture, not just a slur, but a further allegation of serious criminal offending, suggesting that Matt had lied on oath about what was reported missing and who reported it.

    When the IPCA, in a letter dated 13 June 2014, whilst repeating the gravamen of Slater’s complaint, carelessly said “This is an act of perjury.” without attributing that statement back to him within the same sentence, Slater thought he had hit pay dirt.

    Slater tried unsuccessfully to produce the letter to the High Court, with the assertion that, shorn of any context, those words meant the IPCA believed Matt had committed perjury. Matt wrote immediately to the IPCA and obtained a letter of clarification dated 26 June 2014 stating that they meant nothing of the sort. Slater received a copy.

    Rather disingenuously, Slater following last weeks extremely enlightening NZ Herald article, and much to the delight of his online army of trolls, published the original letter, ignoring the clarification.

    Sir David Carruthers has now weighed in, apologised to Matt (not that he would have needed to but for Slater’s deceit), and put this matter to bed once and for all. In doing so he has confirmed that the Police are re-investigating the untutored opinion of the junior Constable who initially investigated and who was able to conclude that, as what was taken was a copy, nothing was stolen. That daft notion did rather ignore the hard drive, the filing cabinet, the paper, staples, paper clips and the fact that copied data is indistinguishable from the original and is certainly capable of being stolen.

    Check with Matt if you like and he will confirm the truth of this. I only wrote this because he is sick of talking about it and wants to move on. When he gets this guy to Court, I think the judgment will be very damning indeed. Really this little shenanigans does represent Slater’s last stand.

    • Lanthanide 3.1
      15 October 2014 at 9:14 am

      It’s almost as if Slater behaves as if there aren’t any consequences for his actions.

      • Tracey 3.1.1
        15 October 2014 at 11:10 am

        and others happily feed that tiger for their own purposes while pretending they have ethics. i believe farrar and hooton, amongst others fit this analysis. they happily feed and encourage slater at times and then falsely believe that distance from the resulting act leaves them clean. they and all those pulling slaters strings are complicit. imo.

    • Tracey 3.2
      15 October 2014 at 11:07 am

      thanks for this.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 3.3
      15 October 2014 at 11:07 am

      What is the quality of police college training if there seems to be a grey area over what constitutes ‘stolen’.

      Contrast the treatment of Don Brashs emails, which were eventually classed as ‘not stolen’, because partly the police knew from security services that Nicky Hager had them long before Brash was aware something was missing.

      Of course Brash jumped before he was pushed, as police tipped him off there was much more material to come ( which didnt eventuate).

      • Tracey 3.3.1
        15 October 2014 at 11:18 am

        it can be difficult in a company situation where directors act on behalf of the company… if a director takes a computer have they stolen it from the user or taken property of the company. not saying this is the situation but just giving an example of grey.

    • grumpyrawshark 3.4
      15 October 2014 at 2:53 pm

      Thanks for your summing up.
      Basically:
      It doesn’t matter if the physical drive was stolen or not. The recipient of the data new they weren’t authorised to have it and under NZ law that is a crime.

      • lprent 3.4.1
        15 October 2014 at 4:57 pm

        Yep. The only real defense is public good (ie like Hager looking at dirty politics) or ignorance.

        It has been clear for some time (dirty politics merely the latest) that Slater doesn’t do much out of the goodness of his heart.

        He appears to be in it for making money off others in his dirty PR business, which seems to let the ignorance bit out (unless he wants to claim he is a lousy businessman (as the IRD looks at his tax payments perhaps)).

        Plus it is hard to see a public good in a dispute between a few business people.

  4. Rob 4
    14 October 2014 at 11:55 pm

    Is this the same person who John Key is on the phone to very often?

    • the pigman 4.1
      15 October 2014 at 1:40 am

      Look at where the other members who made their table reservation at Wildfire under the name “VRWC” have ended up.

      Then-blogger Nikki Kaye is a 3rd term MP and the Minister for (Crypto-Privatisation of) ACC.

      David Farrar is probably the National Party’s highest paid consultant (he maintains an entire polling agency on almost exclusively their business) and gets (*whoops*) thank you dedications from Keys on election night.

      Prodigal son Slater is definitely doing the worst of the lot, but I don’t see the National Party allowing him to finish in deep(er) disgrace given his importance to their two-track politicking and candidate selection processes.

  5. ropata mako shark 5
    15 October 2014 at 12:55 am

    lprent, instead of linking Roughan directly I suggest you direct readers to this comprehensive takedown of the “complacent braying dunce”.

    • lprent 5.1
      15 October 2014 at 7:59 am

      Nice. I knew I had read that somewhere…

      • Tracey 5.1.1
        15 October 2014 at 11:21 am

        dont mean to be picking but using “a” before a word begining with a vowel should be “an”. you dont usually do it but this post seemed riddled… i wondered if you were typing fast through red mist?

        thanks for the post and the reaction of his sirship is quite astounding.

        • lprent 5.1.1.1
          15 October 2014 at 1:06 pm

          I was doing it whilst also doing several other things at the same time..

          No the red mist one was about shearer yesterday. The one that I didn’t put up.

          I will try to find a few spare mintutes to tidy it .

  6. Scott1 6
    15 October 2014 at 6:53 am

    Do any normal people read Slater’s blog?
    I thought it was just bots and media circle j*rking and maybe Slater and his friends under 50 different pseudonyms.
    Simply it just isn’t very interesting site with all the click bait paid articles and whatever.

    • CnrJoe 6.1
      15 October 2014 at 7:41 am

      Scott1 6
      15 October 2014 at 6:53 am
      “Do any normal people read Slater’s blog?” –

      And one John Phillip Key – regular reader.

      • les 6.1.1
        15 October 2014 at 10:00 am

        might not bother reading these days.Superego will want to undermine Key now hes been marginalised,and keep spruiking Collins.

      • ianmac 6.1.2
        15 October 2014 at 10:48 am

        One of the reasons people go to the Slater blog is because it has allegedly a very high hit rate. Double what any other blog gets. I am not technically computer literate but it is possible that the hit figures are hugely inflated by the use of “bots” whatever they are. Good place for advertisers then? Newspapers used to publish the number of papers sold but now it is the number of people who read the paper which is a hypothetical figure.
        So Whaleoil under false pretences? Surely not!

        • Tracey 6.1.2.1
          15 October 2014 at 11:24 am

          well carrick graham posts as several different peole, as do others, so the actually contributing comments may be much fewer than many think. if slater can be paid to pretend he wrote stuff, why not pay the slave wages to those parts of tge world that will do clicks for hire?

    • Tracey 6.2
      15 October 2014 at 11:22 am

      the point is many in the media read him, his and farrar’s press releases and make them into apparent factual stories for tv, radio, and print, which “normal” people use to get their knowledge of the political situation in nz

      • srylands 6.2.1
        15 October 2014 at 12:29 pm

        Can you point to any such “press releases” by David Farrar? He wil issue press releases on public interest stories by Curia. What political press releases does Farrar issue? The answer is “none” You are making things up as usual.

        • framu 6.2.1.1
          15 October 2014 at 12:48 pm

          ok then

          the point is many in the media read him and his press releases and make them into apparent factual stories for tv, radio, and print, which “normal” people use to get their knowledge of the political situation in nz

          DPF then comes along and plays “reasonable cop”

          happy now?

          does that make what ede, slater, key, collins, graham, odgers, DPF et all get up to any better?

          • Tracey 6.2.1.1.1
            15 October 2014 at 3:28 pm

            slylands cannot know what press releases farrar makes unless he is farrar. slylands gets very defensive about farrar… running quickly to his defence, seeking to defend him here, seeking to defend him there. its a kind of hero worship. i think he, farrar, probably parks his car in the building where slylands is a parking attendant.

        • Tracey 6.2.1.2
          15 October 2014 at 3:26 pm

          taxpayers union and farrar on wrongly stating that kill the pm was funded by nz on air. i am sure you will split hairs and say farrar isnt the taxpayers union, but as you state he does issue press releases so you yet again make a confused posting defending your hero… you really do seem fixated with him… rose tinted glasses and all that

          swoon slylands swoon.

      • boldsirbrian 6.2.2
        15 October 2014 at 1:48 pm

        @ Tracey (6.2)

        Nicky Hager predicted that Whaleoil will go on, but will become far less significant. I think that is already happening. Whaleoil readership was high for two reasons
        (a) Slater manipulation of the number of “hits”
        (b) The *power* that he had … to receive inside information that was not available elsewhere.

        Slater will continue to do the same hit manipulations. But the main ingredient of his “success” has been taken away. The ‘inside’ knowledge from his friend, the Dishonourable Judith Collins

        Mr. Botany (B.)

        • Tracey 6.2.2.1
          15 October 2014 at 3:30 pm

          i disagree. the msm have used him as a source for articles since dirty politics was published. collins is not his only inside source, and the kinds of people who use people like slater dont disappear overnight. dirty politics publication may even have scored himself new clients.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 6.2.2.2
          15 October 2014 at 3:37 pm

          Collins was never the only one pulling his strings, the market for his services has probably increased if anything.

          The Blomfield case may be the end of Slater and it will be business as usual for the National Party abuse of power machine.

        • ropata mako shark 6.2.2.3
          15 October 2014 at 8:31 pm

          it’s relatively easy to fake your blog traffic stats but i doubt whale’s technical competence extends that far. perhaps his national party handlers are taking care of that.

          with fawning MSM coverage whale is bound to have some legit traffic, but i am frankly shocked to see that according to open parachute, whaleoil’s traffic was through the roof last month.

          # Blog Visits PageViews
          1 Whale oil 3716364 5309045
          2 Kiwiblog 695190 1093806
          3 The Daily Blog 504304 813779
          4 The Standard 429438 868342

  7. Jrobin 7
    15 October 2014 at 6:53 am

    Slater should begin a new career as a fiction writer as this appears to be his only talent. He appears to exist in his own private reality. Fortunately we still have a Justice System and thanks to Nicky one which is now minus the dishonourable ex Minister who was doubtless protecting this insect.

    • Tracey 7.1
      15 October 2014 at 11:26 am

      isnt woodhouse now minister of police? remember him, the guy who lied about his liu/cunliffe involvement and personally met with liu after he was charged with domestic violence on two women?

  8. les 8
    15 October 2014 at 7:49 am

    I wonder if the ‘spanish bride’ will now appear to defend the Slug…somehow I doubt it.

    • veutoviper 8.1
      15 October 2014 at 11:57 am

      The Spanish wife has been commenting on Herald opinion pieces relating to her husband regularly over the last few weeks as Juana Atkins. The nature of the responses led me to google the name which revealed who she was.

    • Tracey 8.2
      15 October 2014 at 3:31 pm

      who is the spanish bride?

  9. SHG 9
    15 October 2014 at 12:24 pm

    Slater’ll be the first to admit he’s not the world’s most handsome fellow, but did you have to photoshop together a FAKE picture of him to try and make him look less appealing?

  10. Halcyon 10
    15 October 2014 at 8:37 pm

    I would suggest that neither Slater nor Hagar are good examples of Investigative Journalists. Both use the peer of sensationalism to seek their products.

    A good Investigative Journalist builds a strong case founded on irrefutable evidence and not on opinion or conjecture.

    • Tracey 10.1
      16 October 2014 at 8:00 am

      i guess you havent read many of hagers books. ive read three. the first two were about a third of references to his direct evidence. the last was backed by the subsequent release into the public arena of tge emails he referred to. subsequently the owner of those emails demanded them back suggesting they were not fake. i believe the later term was invoked by way of defence by the then minister of justice.

      slater doesnt write books. its even open to conjecture if he writes posts because it has been proven he posts the writing of others under his name. he hammered the last nail into a coffin of a newspaper once, but to even compare the two is ridiculous.

      hager was awarded the bruce jesson lecture, has won an overseas award and is described universally as an investigative journalist.

      slater calls himself a journalist ONLY when it suits his legal argument.

      lastly, the media including herald, tv news and sst ascribed the following to hagers book,

      namely that slater had forced hide to resign with bribery.

      in fact the book made no such assertion. it, relying on the email exchanges, stated they were ready to bribe hide, planned to bribe hide, but states that hager had no idea if they carried it through…

CommentsOpinions

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

FeedsPartyGovtMedia

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #37 2024

    Open access notables Early knowledge but delays in climate actions: An ecocide case against both transnational oil corporations and national governments, Hauser et al., Environmental Science & Policy: Cast within the wide context of investigating the collusion at play between powerful political-economic actors and decision-makers as monopolists and debates about ‘the modern ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 hour ago
  • What it is

    I liked what Kieran McAnulty had to say about the Treaty Principles bill this morning so much I've written it down and copied it out for you. He was saying that rather than let this piece of ordure spend six months in Select Committee, the Prime Minister could stop making such ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • A government-funded hate campaign

    Cabinet discussed National's constitutionally and historically illiterate "Treaty Principles Bill" this week, and decided to push on with it. The bill will apparently receive a full six month select committee process - unlike practically every other policy this government has pushed, and despite the fact that if the government is ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 hours ago
  • How Substack works to take (some) craziness out of America’s elections

    I spoke with Substack co-founder yesterday, just before the Trump-Harris debate, about how Substack is doing its thing during the US elections. He talks in particular about how Substack’s focus on paid subscriptions rather than ads has made political debate on the platform calmer, simpler, deeper and more satisfying ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    8 hours ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    8 hours ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    8 hours ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    8 hours ago
  • David Seymour is such a loser

    For paid subscribersNot content with siphoning off $230,000,000 of taxpayers money for his hobby projects - and telling everyone his passion is education and early childcare - an intersection painfully coincidental to the interests of wealthy private families like Sean Plunkett’s1 backers, the Wright Family, Seymour is back in the ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    8 hours ago
  • Cross-party consensus: there’s no pipeline without good faith

    There’s been a lot of talk recently about a cross-party agreement to develop a pipeline for infrastructure, including transport. Last month, outgoing CRL boss Sean Sweeney talked about the importance of securing an enduring infrastructure programme. He outlined the high costs of the relentless political flip-flopping of priorities, which drives ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    12 hours ago
  • Voters love this climate policy they’ve never heard of

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The Inflation Reduction Act is the Biden administration’s signature climate law and the largest U.S. government investment in reducing climate pollution to date. Among climate advocates, the policy is well-known and celebrated, but beyond that, only a minority of Americans ...
    Skeptical Science
    13 hours ago
  • ACC wants to administer inflation at more than double the RBNZ’s target rate

    ACC levies are set to rise at more than double the inflation rate targeted by the RBNZ. Photo: Lynn GrievesonKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 12:The state-owned monopoly for accident insurance wants ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • Harris vs Trump

    We’ve been selected to rock your asses 'til midnightThis is my term, I've shaved off my perm, but it's alrightI solemnly swear to uphold the ConstitutionGot a rock 'n' roll problem? Well we got a solutionLet us be who we am, and let us kick out the jams, yeahKick out ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    14 hours ago
  • Treaty Bill “a political stunt”

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appears to have given ACT Leader David Seymour more than he has been admitting in the proposals to go forward with a Treaty Principles Bill.All along, Luxon has maintained that the Government is proceeding with the Bill to honour the coalition agreement.But that is quite specific.It ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    15 hours ago
  • An average 219 NZers migrated each day in July

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 11:Annual migration of New Zealanders rose to a record-high 80,963 in the year to the end of July, which is more than double its pre-Covid levels.Two ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • What you’re wanting to win more than anything is The Narrative

    Hubris is sitting down on election day 2016 to watch that pig Trump get his ass handed to him, and watching the New York Times needle hover for a while over Hillary and then move across to Trump where it remains all night to your gathering horror and dismay. You're ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • National’s automated lie machine

    The government has a problem: lots of people want information from it all the time. Information about benefits, about superannuation, ACC coverage and healthcare, taxes, jury service, immigration - and that's just the routine stuff. Responding to all of those queries takes a lot of time and costs a lot ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Christopher Luxon: A Man of “Faith” and “Compassion” Speaks on the Treaty Pr...

    Synopsis: Today - we explore two different realities. One where National lost. And another - which is the one we are living with here. Note: the footnote on increased fees/taxes may be of interest to some readers.Article open.Subscribe nowIt’s an alternate timeline.Yesterday as news broke that the central North Island ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Member’s Day

    Today is a Member's Day. First up is the third reading of Dan Bidois' Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the committee stage of Deborah Russell's Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. This will be followed by the second readings of Katie ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Northern Expressway Boondoggle

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has been soaring high with his hubris of getting on and building motorways but some uncomfortable realities are starting to creep in. Back in July he announced that the government was pushing on with a Northland Expressway using an “accelerated delivery strategy” The Coalition Government is ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago
  • Never Enough

    However much I'm falling downNever enoughHowever much I'm falling outNever, never enough!Whatever smile I smile the mostNever enoughHowever I smile I smile the mostSongwriters: Robert James Smith / Simon Gallup / Boris Williams / Porl ThompsonToday in Nick’s Kōrero:A death in the Emergency Department at Rotorua Hospital.A sad homecoming and ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Question Two of The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50)

    Kia ora.Last month I proposed restarting The Kākā Project work done before the 2023 election as The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50), aiming to be up and running before the 2025 Local Government elections, and then in a finalised form by the 2026 General Elections.A couple of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Why is God Obsessed with Spanking?

    Hi,If you’ve read Webworm for a while, you’ll be aware that I’ve spent a lot of time writing about horrific, corrupt megachurches and the shitty men who lead them.And in all of this writing, I think some people have this idea that I hate Christians or Christianity. As I explain ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Inside the public service

    In 2023, there were 63,117 full-time public servants earning, on average, $97,200 a year each. All up, that is a cost to the Government of $6.1 billion a year. It’s little wonder, then, that the public service has become a political whipping boy castigated by the Prime Minister and members ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • New Models Show Stronger Atlantic Hurricanes, and More of Them

    This is a re-post from This is Not Cool Here’s an example of some of the best kind of climate reporting, especially in that it relates to impacts that will directly affect the audience. WFLA in Tampa conducted a study in collaboration with the Department of Energy, analyzing trends in ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Where ever do they find these people?

    A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, is how Winston Churchill described the Soviet Union in 1939.  How might the great man have described the 2024 government of New Zealand, do we think? I can't imagine he would have thought them all that mysterious or enigmatic. I think ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Motorway madness

    How mad is National's obsession with roads? One of their pet projects - a truck highway to Whangārei - is going to eat 10% of our total infrastructure budget for the next 25 years: Official advice from the Infrastructure Commission shows the government could be set to spend 10 ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Our transport planning system is fundamentally broken

    Ever since Wayne Brown became mayor (nearly two years ago now) he’s been wanting to progress an “integrated transport plan” with the government – which sounded a lot like the previous Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) with just a different name. It seems like a fair bit of work progressed ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago
  • Thou Shalt Not Steal

    And they taught usWhoa-oh, black woman, thou shalt not stealI said, hey, yeah, black man, thou shalt not stealWe're gonna civilise your black barbaric livesAnd we teach you how to kneelBut your history couldn't hide the genocideThe hypocrisy to us was realFor your Jesus said you're supposed to giveThe oppressed ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • How mismanagement, not wind and solar energy, causes blackouts

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections In February 2021, several severe storms swept across the United States, culminating with one that the Weather Channel unofficially named Winter Storm Uri. In Texas, Uri knocked out power to over 4.5 million homes and 10 million people. Hundreds of Texans died as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • The ‘Infra Boys’ Highway to Budget Hell

    Chris Bishop has enthusiastically dubbed himself and Simeon Brown “the Infra Boys”, but they need to take note of the sums around their roading dreams. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Media Link: “AVFA” on the politics of desperation.

    In this podcast Selwyn Manning and I talk about what appears to be a particular type of end-game in the long transition to systemic realignment in international affairs, in which the move to a new multipolar order with different characteristics … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    3 days ago
  • The cost of flying blind

    Just over two years ago, when worries about immediate mass-death from covid had waned, and people started to talk about covid becoming "endemic", I asked various government agencies what work they'd done on the costs of that - and particularly, on the cost of Long Covid. The answer was that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Seymour vs The Clergy

    For paid subscribers“Aotearoa is not as malleable as they think,” Lynette wrote last week on Homage to Simeon Brown:In my heart/mind, that phrase ricocheted over the next days, translating out to “We are not so malleable.”It gave me comfort. I always felt that we were given an advantage in New ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Unstoppable Minister McKee

    All smiles, I know what it takes to fool this townI'll do it 'til the sun goes downAnd all through the nighttimeOh, yeahOh, yeah, I'll tell you what you wanna hearLeave my sunglasses on while I shed a tearIt's never the right timeYeah, yeahSong by SiaLast night there was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Could outdoor dining revitalise Queen Street?

    This is a guest post by Ben van Bruggen of The Urban Room,.An earlier version of this post appeared on LinkedIn. All images are by Ben. Have you noticed that there’s almost nowhere on Queen Street that invites you to stop, sit outside and enjoy a coffee, let alone ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • Hipkins challenges long-held Labour view Government must stay below 30% of GDP

    Hipkins says when considering tax settings and the size of government, the big question mark is over what happens with the balance between the size of the working-age population and the growing number of Kiwis over the age of 65. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Your invite to Webworm Chat (a bit like Reddit)

    Hi,One of the things I love the most about Webworm is, well, you. The community that’s gathered around this lil’ newsletter isn’t something I ever expected when I started writing it four years ago — now the comments section is one of my favourite places on the internet. The comments ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Seymour’s Treaty bill making Nats nervous

    A delay in reappointing a top civil servant may indicate a growing nervousness within the National Party about the potential consequences of David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill. Dave Samuels is waiting for reappointment as the Chief Executive of Te Puni Kokiri, but POLITIK understands that what should have been a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36

    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 1, 2024 thru Sat, September 7, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is about how peopele are not born stupid but can be fooled ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • Time for a Change

    You act as thoughYou are a blind manWho's crying, crying 'boutAll the virgins that are dyingIn your habitual dreams, you knowSeems you need more sleepBut like a parrot in a flaming treeI know it's pretty hard to seeI'm beginning to wonderIf it's time for a changeSong: Phil JuddThe next line ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Six.

    The “double shocks” in post Cold War international affairs. The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the global geostrategic context. In particular, the end of the nuclear “balance of terror” between the USA and USSR, coupled with the relaxation … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Buried deep

    Here's a bike on Manchester St, Feilding. I took this photo on Friday night after a very nice dinner at the very nice Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, on Manchester Street.I thought to myself, Manchester Street? Bicycle? This could be the very spot.To recap from an earlier edition: on a February night ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

    If you’re going somewhere, do you maybe take a bit of an interest in the place? Read up a bit on the history, current events, places to see - that sort of thing? Presumably, if you’re taking a trip somewhere, it’s for a reason. But what if you’re going somewhere ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Home again

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    7 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    7 days ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live at 5pm

    Photo by Jenny Bess on UnsplashCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with special guests:5.00 pm - 5.10 pm - Bernard and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • A missed opportunity

    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

    Synopsis:Nicola Willis is seeking a new Treasury Boss after Dr Caralee McLiesh’s tenure ends this month. She didn’t listen to McLiesh. Will she listen to the new one?And why is Atlas Network’s Taxpayers Union chiming in?Please consider subscribing or supporting my work. Thanks, Tui.About CaraleeAt the beginning of July, Newsroom ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 week ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 week ago

  • New Bill to crack down on youth vaping

    The coalition Government has introduced legislation to tackle youth vaping, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) is aimed at preventing youth vaping.  “While vaping has contributed to a significant fall in our smoking rates, the rise in youth vaping ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed

    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have welcomed interest in the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review by the Ministry for Regulation is looking at how to speed up the process to get farmers and growers access to the safe, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government is moving at pace to ensure lotteries for charitable purposes are allowed to operate online permanently. Charities fundraising online, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and local hospices will continue to do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups

    Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say. Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it

    The path to faster cancer treatment, an increase in immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments and quick assessment and treatments when you are sick has been laid out today. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has revealed details of how the ambitious health targets the Government has set will be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Targeted supports to accelerate reading

    The coalition Government is delivering targeted and structured literacy supports to accelerate learning for struggling readers. From Term 1 2025, $33 million of funding for Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support will be reprioritised to interventions which align with structured approaches to teaching. “Structured literacy will change the way children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology

    With two months until the national apology to survivors of abuse in care, expressions of interest have opened for survivors wanting to attend. “The Prime Minister will deliver a national apology on Tuesday 12 November in Parliament. It will be a very significant day for survivors, their families, whānau and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final

    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini kē - My success is not mine alone but is the from the strength of the many. Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young speakers are an inspiration for all New Zealanders to learn more about the depth and beauty conveyed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Driving structured literacy in schools

    The coalition Government is driving confidence in reading and writing in the first years of schooling. “From the first time children step into the classroom, we’re equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy. “From 1 October, schools and kura with Years 0-3 will receive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s misleading information is disappointing

    Labour’s misinformation about firearms law is dangerous and disappointing, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.   “Labour and Ginny Andersen have repeatedly said over the past few days that the previous Labour Government completely banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the Coalition Government is planning to ‘reintroduce’ them.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine

    The Government is taking immediate action on a number of steps around New Zealand’s response to mpox, including improving access to vaccine availability so people who need it can do so more easily, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. “Mpox is obviously a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill

    Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says Cabinet has agreed to the next steps for the Treaty Principles Bill. “The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for Parliament, rather than the courts, to define the principles of the Treaty, including establishing that every person is equal before the law,” says Mr Seymour. “Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government unlocking potential of AI

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced a programme to drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) uptake among New Zealand businesses. “The AI Activator will unlock the potential of AI for New Zealand businesses through a range of support, including access to AI research experts, technical assistance, AI tools and resources, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government releases Wairoa flood review findings

    The independent rapid review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has been released, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “We welcome the review’s findings and recommendations to strengthen Wairoa's resilience against future events,” Ms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Promoting faster payment times for government

    The Government is sending a clear message to central government agencies that they must prioritise paying invoices in a timely manner, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. Data released today promotes transparency by publishing the payment times of each central government agency. This data will be published quarterly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Acknowledgement to Kīngi Tuheitia speech

    E te māngai o te Whare Pāremata, kua riro māku te whakaputa i te waka ki waho moana. E te Pirimia tēnā koe.Mr Speaker, it is my privilege to take this adjournment kōrero forward.  Prime Minister – thank you for your leadership. Taupiri te maunga Waikato te awa Te Wherowhero ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Interim fix to GST adjustment rules to support businesses

    Inland Revenue can begin processing GST returns for businesses affected by a historic legislative drafting error, Revenue Minister Simon Watts says. “Inland Revenue has become aware of a legislative drafting error in the GST adjustment rules after changes were made in 2023 which were meant to simplify the process. This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Strong uptake for cervical screening self-test

    More than 80 per cent of New Zealand women being tested have opted for a world-leading self-test for cervical screening since it became available a year ago. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti and Associate Minister Casey Costello, in her responsibility for Women’s Health, say it’s fantastic to have such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document sets ambitious direction

    Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document, which sets out how the Ministry will carry out its work and deliver on its purpose. “I have set up the Ministry for Regulation with three tasks. One, to cut existing red tape with sector reviews. Two, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Māori Education Advisory Group established

    The Education Minister has established a Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group made up of experienced practitioners to help improve outcomes for Māori learners. “This group will provide independent advice on all matters related to Māori education in both English medium and Māori medium settings. It will focus on the most impactful ways we can lift ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government welcomes findings of NZ Superannuation Fund review

    The Government has welcomed the findings of the recent statutory review into the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis says. The 5-yearly review, conducted on behalf of Treasury and tabled in Parliament today, found the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • First of five new Hercules aircraft takes flight

    Defence Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the first of five new C-130J-30 Hercules to arrive in New Zealand at a ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base Auckland, Whenuapai. “This is an historic day for our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and our nation. The new Hercules fleet ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Have your say on suicide prevention

    Today, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, a time to reflect on New Zealand’s confronting suicide statistics, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “Every death by suicide is a tragedy – a tragedy that affects far too many of our families and communities in New Zealand. We must do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Action to grow the rural health workforce

    Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost

    Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians

    Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris.  “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

    5 September 2024  The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.  “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

    As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

    Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations.   “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • More choice and competition in building products

    A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

    On the occasion of the official visit by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to the Republic of Korea from 4 to 5 September 2024, a summit meeting was held between His Excellency President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Korea and New Zealand are likeminded democracies and natural partners in the Indo Pacific. As such, we have decided to advance discussions on elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • International tourism continuing to bounce back

    Results released today from the International Visitor Survey (IVS) confirm international tourism is continuing to bounce back, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. The IVS results show that in the June quarter, international tourism contributed $2.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy, an increase of 17 per cent on last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-09-12T08:23:07+00:00