Human rights, culture wars and the right

Written By: - Date published: 10:49 am, June 17th, 2022 - 39 comments
Categories: boris johnson, Christopher Luxon, human rights, immigration, International, law, law and "order", national, same old national - Tags:

This week National and Christopher Luxon have been talking publicly about which human rights they could trash for gang members.

Generally Luxon is pretty good at delivering the same old cliches time and time again.  But every time he strays into slightly more specific comments he puts his foot in it, or at least the left think that he does this.

Who can forget his description of helping poor people as bottom feeding or his insistence that public transport should pay its way?

This week he added another draw dropping example of some pretty crazy stuff by proposing that photos of gang member wearing bling should be banned from social media.

From Radio New Zealand:

Luxon told Morning Report National also wants gang activity to be restricted on social media.

He said police were telling the party that gang members were doing an effective job of selling gang lifestyle on social media to attract new recruits.

While it was a difficult area to navigate it had been used to control extremist material so the same approach could be tried with content promoting gangs.

Told that Internet New Zealand has dismissed the proposal as impossible to police, Luxon said it has been difficult to deter violent extremism and organisations and he could not see why it cannot be tried.

“Gang life is actually promoted with all the bling and all those presentations. That’s what we can have a crack at it.

“I appreciate it’s tough and it’s hard but we should try doing something and giving the police some tools to push back on.”

When Luxon was pressed on whether the party’s gang policy had been formed taking into consideration the Bill of Rights and the Human Rights Act, he countered that gang members wanted the rights and not their responsibilities.

So any gang member wearing bling will have their photos banned from social media?  And a picture of a Headhunter with a fancy watch is the same as the live video from the Christchurch Mosque massacre?

Any leftie or person who actually believes in human rights would think that proposing this would be crazy.  The attack of the freedom of expression would be so profound, with such limited benefits that it would have to fail.

There has been another example overseas which makes me wonder if this is not a random event but a feature of right wing politics.

In the United Kingdom the Conservative Government has its own egregious attempt to undermine human rights.  The Government has proposed that asylum seekers, no matter which country they come from, should be shipped off to a holding prison in Rwanda as a way to deter people smugglers.

The policy was announced with some fanfare by Boris Johnson who promised to dig in for the fight with leftie lawyers to make sure that the policy succeeded.

He said this:

There’s going to be a lot of legal opposition from the types of firms that, for a long time, have been taking taxpayers’ money to mount these sorts of cases, and to thwart the will of the people, the will of parliament. We’re ready for that,” he said.

“We will dig in for the fight and, you know, we will make it work. We’ve got a huge flowchart of things we have to do to deal with it, with the leftie lawyers.”

And dig in they did.  The Government resisted applications for interim injunctions through the English Judicial System but a last minute decision by the European Court of Human Rights stopped the flight.  The test case involved an Iraqi national who claim that he had been tortured has some support from medical authorities.  The Court ruled that the arrangement, involving a non legally binding promise to return refugees to England on request and the question whether Rwanda was actually safe deserved proper consideration.

The Government’s response was typical with deputy prime minister Dominic Raab claiming the Court had overstepped its powers.

Asked about death threats made on social media to human rights lawyers, he said they were unacceptable but then doubled down by saying that Britain’s Human Rights Act had led to an “industry” of lawyers promoting “elastic interpretations” of the law on behalf of their clients.

And pro Brexit backbenchers have gone to town and demanded that England withdraws from the ECHR, even though it was set up before the European Union primarily through English efforts to address human rights violations that occurred during the second world war.

The Rwandan policy has been heavily criticised not only by Human Rights lawyers but also by the Churches, Prince Charles, and even even some Tory backbenchers, including the former prime minister Theresa May.  It has all of the hallmarks of that other example of accelerated cruelty where the Australian Government transported refugees to a detention centre on Christmas Island.

I mention this because the UK policy and National’s anti gang rhetoric have some similar features.  Attack an unpopular minority with laws that breach their and our rights and get ready to blame the lawyers if the attempts fail.

And Luxon’s proposal that social media be scoured for Gang members wearing bling will have another feature that National normally repels from, a multitude of public servants will need to be employed to scour individual face book pages, and tick tock and instagram feeds.

Both attempts are crass and directly violate some fundamental human rights.  It is sad that there exists a political market for this sort of behaviour.

39 comments on “Human rights, culture wars and the right ”

  1. Matiri 1

    Boris Johnson’s grandfather Sir James Fawcett was knighted for his work for the European Commission of Human Rights. One of those leftie lawyers.

    His own family is more than critical of the Rwandan policy.

    https://bylinetimes.com/2022/06/10/dear-boris-your-nihilism-betrays-your-grandfathers-legacy-hed-be-appalled/

  2. Tiger Mountain 2

    The constant use of “woke” in a pejorative sense like “soy boy”, “snowflake”, and above all, the much earlier–Pee Cee “PC”–shows how people can get hooked into right wing and authoritarian narratives, framing and memes.

    Supporting various exploited and oppressed groups should be viewed as positive surely?
    Grumpy white blokes apparently are to be treated gently because they might vote Epsom Twerker or natzo–sod ’em I say.

    Luxon is a political lightweight, without massive media support he would be gone by lunchtime. “Take the bikes from the Bikies” “the public has had a gutsful” was a Norm Kirk policy at one time–not many if any were ever taken! Boy racer crackdown said Bentley and Harley owner Banksie, same result, Crusher Collins did not crush many either, though Anne Tolley stood on the hood of one allegedly about to be crushed…about as believable as her office “firebombing”.

    I would support patch wearers over Luxon anyday. Gangs are an expression of the problem not the main problem.

  3. Molly 3

    Perhaps, instead of spending energy on discussions about Luxon's policy, we could address the issue and post our own solutions.

    First, it is useful to accurately state the problem:

    1. Gang violence seems to be increasing, and is taking place more publicly – we need to determine whether this is so;
    2. The number of serious firearm offences seems to be increasing – is this tied into gang conflicts, whether internal or external? If not, what could be a factor? If so, how do we address it?
    3. Is there a negative effect on the public that is both intended and exploited by the wearing of a patch associated with criminal activities, and perceived increasing violence? If so, should this be addressed? How could it be addressed?
    4. Are patches a form of advertising or recruitment to young people? Is the status given when they achieve a patch indicative of achievement or a form of intimidation – or both? Does this have to be addressed, ie. is there other options available for young people to meet their need to belong, and to be protected in some form, by that belonging?
    5. Are there other groups that identify themselves in similar ways, with similar intent? Any action that is proposed, should include those groups as well.

    I'm sure there's more, or improvements or edits that can be made on the above, just getting the ball rolling.

    We could spend time complaining about Luxon, but really, did you expect anything else?

    • Mike the Lefty 3.1

      I'm not sure that gang violence is actually increasing. There have always been gang related violence episodes happening pretty much around the country at any particular time but because the spotlight is now on them rather than the road toll and beach drownings they seem to be worse. I think that crime in general is on the increase and nobody seems to know how to stop it, unless the government plans to increase the size of the police force tenfold (which we know they won't and can't afford). Harsher punishments don't stop crime – they only punish worse those that are caught and if they are not caught then they can't be punished.

      As for Luxon's policy. He knows damned well it wouldn't work but that is not really the point – the point is that it winds people up and that what he wants to do. Wound up people are easy prey for manipulation and National just LOVES to manipulate.

      • Molly 3.1.1

        I agree that policies such as Luxon's are inadequately formed and political and divisive in intent. But I have no interest in improving the suggestions if the National party

        Do left-wing parties think there is an issue?

        If so, what are their proposed solutions?

        People who have dealt with public intimidation and gang violence, will be looking for answers.

        Does the left have any, or do they truly believe there is nothing to address?

        • aom 3.1.1.1

          The crimes v gangs issue isn't a left-right binary scenario. There are hard-line lock 'em up and throw away the keys adherents and on the other side are those who advocate a problem solving approach – usually based on the understanding that there are plenty of more productive options other than using social violence. It is easy to rant and rave at 'other' while not appreciating that our social structures are now moulded by a neo-liberal philosophy which legalises the 'rich get richer and bugger the rest' social ethos.

          Gangs are intimidating to many, but the question needs to be asked as to whether it is real, or imagined, and fed by irrational paranoia. What proportion of the population have only ever been confronted vicariously. The other thing that needs to be acknowledged is that a significant proportion join gangs because they feel they have been intimidated.

          • Tiger Mountain 3.1.1.1.1

            “Intimidated” and you could add alienated…by capitalism, neo liberalism and post colonialism.

            Stick it to them is one response–join “The Filthy Few”, don’t run with the herd–most in our society after 40 years of Roger’n’Ruth’s toxic legacy become compliant consumers, emotional wrecks after one redundancy too many, or mere survivors on some level.

            I have been on the periphery of gangs just because of who I know since the late 70s, and frankly try to have little to do with patched members or associates. If you are not a member you are not shit in that world. But by and large they are not out to get you!

    • Ross 3.2

      We could spend time complaining about Luxon, but really, did you expect anything else?

      There was a post recently where I think Micky asked if there would be a snap election. Clearly the answer was no as National wouldn’t want one! There’s too much hay being made while the sun is shining.

      I look forward to Labour MPs defending the rights of gangs. Curiously there don’t seem many prepared to do that. In fact Stuart Nash and Greg O’Connor have been vocal critics of gangs. It’s great when we see bipartisanship on a political issue. Now let’s focus on the victims of crime.

    • Blade 3.3

      Molly, way to go! It's about time we had suggestions from the Left. The ''tread water'' strategy Labour has at present regarding crime ain't working. So it's time for solutions from the Left.

      As to Luxon's suggestion regarding social media. It could work, but the effort wouldn't be worth it. But…at least they trying something. As I have repeated ad nauseam, major restructure of Winz, Justice and Police with the requisite legislation in place is required. Everything else is just tinkering, and Luxon's idea is a good example of that.

  4. Maurice 4

    Welcome to the Party Pals. The attacks on despised minorities is a well worn path practiced by BOTH sides of the political spectrum

    Firearms owners tried to point this out when previously lawfully held property was confiscated.

    Then those marching to Parliament to speak with their 'representatives' recently were demonised.

    Attacking minorities is SOOOOOO "democratic"

    Only the Majority or a particularly chosen group deserve "rights" … or is that "privileges" ????

    • Populuxe1 4.1

      Just before I get out my teeny tiny violin, can you please explain how the quality of your life has been detrimentally impacted by you not being allowed to have military style semi-automatics and assault rifles?

      • Maurice 4.1.1

        Ye of little understanding …..

        Have enjoyed shooting for many years – especially target shooting with pest control a necessary chore.

        Have been a disabled volunteer farm pest controller for many years but since not employed as such was not eligible for a "P" endorsement to keep my semi-automatic Modern Sporting Rifle. Still assist my farming friends but at a lot lower hit rate so that instead of being allowed ten deer a year I now am given the chance at one or two since they have had to use far more shooters with bolt action (ex-military!) rifles to control the other pests on their farms – of which there are now ever increasing numbers due to lower hit rates.

        The manual actions are far more difficult for the disabled to use quickly and manual loading rather than magazine changes far more painful.

        Also participate in Service Rifle matches where exactly the same problems arise.

        So without the semi-autos I am of far less use to my farming friends and they now have to do much of their pest control themselves – working all day on the farm then control pests at night where as they could sleep while I and my helpers did the job – at no charge.

        WE have ALL been diminished and the removal of these firearms from Licence holders has had little of perhaps even a negative effect upon firearm crime – which no rational person can dispute.

        Oh! As collectors many of us where left owning REAL FULLY automatic Assault rifles which we cannot use as they must be kept inoperable while the semi-automatic sporting rifles were taken from us!

  5. AB 6

    We can condemn the right for the cynical creation of a law and order panic for political gain – and then when they actually get power producing nothing but ineffective, grandstanding, performative gestures. (The right's real and abiding interest is redistributing wealth upwards when they are politically strong, and at a minimum preventing its redistribution downwards when they are politically weak. Law and order is a convenient sideshow.)

    That's all true. But when it comes to gangs it's the only game in town because the putative left won't or can't offer an alternative that enough people will believe in.

    • Incognito 6.1

      Law and order is a convenient sideshow.

      In the hands of some RWs Law and Order is and has been an instrument of power to suppress the underclass. As such, it’s a key pillar in the efforts of upwards wealth distribution (‘trickle up’) and simultaneously to instil and enforce their ideological values (…) on the lower class.

      What are they gonna ban next: gangsta rap, Eminem ("Lose Yourself"), hoodies, tats, AB T-shirts?

      • AB 6.1.1

        Yes – that is a more complete formulation than mine. Thanks. In my mind though, it makes the formation of a credible and popular left alternative to the problem of gangs even more important.

  6. Robert Guyton 7

    "photos of gang member wearing bling should be banned from social media."

    Remember the photo of John Key in his swimming pool, (gloating),with his very expensive watch on his wrist?

    Bling! Bling!

    • Tricledrown 7.1

      Merrill Lynch, BT most likely laundering Russian oliagarch billions. London was a wash with Russian money in the post communist era still is.Money Traders would have known .White collar criminals get a knighthood the great unwashed go to jail.

  7. Ad 8

    Yes but Mickey … our government is quite happy to sanction listed names of Russian rich people, and most governments around the world are confiscating great volumes of their property.

    And in NZ, the Police appear to be deploying the Proceeds of Crime Act to take much of gang motorcycles, cars, property, and cash already.

    Long may it continue.

    If the new Minister of Police with his Masters in Criminology can encourage the Police gang unit to perp-walk the blingy fools, strip them of their patches, and reduce them to ordinary citizens who have to earn their money the legal way, then Minister Hipkins has just a wee chance of being able to turn the gang crime story around for Labour.

    If Hipkins can't show how we are actively stripping gangs of their wealth, we've lost the law and order narrative completely, and it will seriously hurt us in the polls.

  8. Tricledrown 9

    Red Logix National froze Police budgets for 9 yrs effectively cutting the police budget by 20% over those 9 years.John Key made the very loud and bold claim he was going to rid NZ of the scurge of P its use grew exponentially from that moment.Police numbers were cut while the population grew by 20%. 501's started and have lead to more vicious more organized expanding gang prolification. With poverty homelessness continually increasing especially since Covid and the Ukraine invasion the gang problem is only going to get far worse.The same trends are happening across the world. This govt has increased police numbers but they need to put many more police out on the streets to let people know they are able to match gang numbers and be a preventative force. Police have been stretched beyond their capability with the covid response having to do more duties with sickness etc,taking police away from frontline duties. Even traffic policing has been affected.Police just don't have the numbers to pull over convoys of Gangs on a regular basis they can't police the roads effectively either.The Road Traffic policing should be a seperate arm of Policing so we have a constant and consistant effort.Police district commanders have traffic policing hrs targets so at the end of a month if the targets aren't being met Police district commanders throw all the police out on the road at once for brief periods to get their allotted targets.That needs to be changed so Traffic Police maintain high numbers constantly . Police visibility drives crime down. Gangs are expanding at a rapid rate if Police were able to confiscate motorcycles and vehicles from gang members at high rates it would disrupt drug trafficking and gangs expanding.The money to buy these vehicles should be a factor if it can't be proved that the Gangster who owns the motorcycle has paid for their motorcycle with legally obtained money that should be siezed for a money laundering crime.Remember Al Capone was brought down by money laundering laws ie tax evasion. We need a Gang Response team and now NSW has seen a drop in gang violence since they introduced the tactical gang response unit.Labour Hipkins needs to get ahead on this problem.Breaking down doors removing fortifications confiscating bikes even if its for 28 days until that person can prove they got the money legally.The Labour govt needs to get stuck in and not dither because while National is all mouth and No action like Key and Muldoon.Perception is what voters are seeing and National can keep taking cheap shots while not having their poor reputation of underfunding police exposed.

  9. Corey Humm 10

    Banning gang insignia and bandanas over peoples faces could be a thing but not gang members being blinged up but it'd have to be done by social media and big tech not the government which doesn't have anywhere near the resources.

    Gangs are violent vile thugs who hawk meth and poison and terrorize their neighbors and neighborhoods and with 501s it's only getting scarier, but throwing money at the problem when there's no resources to do what a party wants ain't going to do shit. It be better in fact to ban Facebook etc from allowing those profiles in our country than banning the individual but I don't know how that'd be possible because we have very little sway with such a small population.

    Itd be better to make poor and working class peoples living standards better so they aren't tempted to join gangs (or forced into it) but gangs are thugs. I don't think the left appreciates the terror they inflict on communities like the one I grew up on and with these mega state house apartment blocks instead of stand alone homes it's getting worse and more unsafe. Instead of a having a yard and a fence to seperate you you have them literally right next to you or above you (they really ought to do hardcore background checks before they put people in these apartment blocks to protect the vulnerable tenants in them from thugs, not saying don't build these apartment blocks but am saying don't let gangs take them ovdr and terrorize the other tennents, but the rights solution just will make the problem ten times worse and more violent.

    One side seems to want to ignore the other seems to want to throw gas on the fire.

    My next vote will be against a national govt not for a labour govt. That's the best I can offer, voting against something worse, not for something better.

  10. swordfish 11

    .
    What an absolutely remarkable reversal … citizens' long-held fundamental rights to freedom of expression & equality under the law now under constant attack & regularly derided here as "freeze peach" … unless, it seems, you're a violent-sadistic gang member/associate with a long history of criminality & inflicting gross harm on others … in which case your human rights, dignity & freedom of speech are apparently being viciously "trashed".

    Tough shit for their numerous victims.

    Yet another example of the affluent Woke’s perverted moral compass.

    The self-centred Luxury Beliefs of a 400 buck-an-hour narcissistic virtue-signaling Professional Middle Class …. who get to indulge in ostentatious displays of prestige-enhancement to signal their fidelity to the new elite while ensuring they're never in a position to do the suffering they indirectly inflict on others.

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    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Government lowering building costs
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