Hypocrite

Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, November 20th, 2019 - 74 comments
Categories: election 2020, election funding, elections, electoral commission, electoral systems, jacinda ardern, national, nz first, politicans, same old national, Simon Bridges, uncategorized, winston peters - Tags:

LPrent has posted this morning on the latest involving the New Zealand First electoral donations problem.  I set out my initial view yesterday that the arrangement appeared to be cute but legal.

There was a further disclosure this morning, that the foundation paid for the campaign headquarters and staff overtime.  From Matt Shand at Stuff:

Expenses records for the foundation seen by Stuff show [the NZ First Foundation] collected more than $500,000 in donations from April 2017 to March 2019 that could be in breach of electoral donation laws, particularly if the foundation was paying party expenses. 

Many of these apparent donations to the foundation do not appear on the party’s electoral returns. 

Invoices, seen by Stuff, reveal the foundation spent $325,000 in about 18 months to March 2019 – with most of the money appearing to directly benefit the NZ First Party.

About $28,000 was spent with Prime Property to rent campaign headquarters. Emails arranging to obtain swipe cards to the headquarters show the staffer collecting them identified himself as working directly for NZ First leader Winston Peters. 

The same staff member bought $1736 worth of office furniture and later added a $169 document shredder and a $99 coat rack.

Another $10,000 was spent on staff overtime and $920 on a picture of lost sheep.

It does not appear this spending was declared to the Electoral Commission by the party.

If the headquarter expenditure was made from the loan made to the party that year then this is ok as the expenses do not appear to be election expenses. But if it is not then it is a donation and should have been declared. And if the money came from multiple sources then if they were over the threshold the contributors should have been disclosed.

There was also talk about a dispute concerning an internet bill.

Reporters should ask about the dates. If the bill was paid outside the statutory period then unless Court leave was sought it may have constituted an illegal practice.

But this story has wings. And Winston’s traditional means of dealing with this sort of problem is not going to make it go away. Clearly there is a lot of information being leaked and releasing it bit by bit will make this story continue for a while.

How is National handling this?

The only word that springs to mind is hypocrites.

From Jason Walls at the Herald:

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is under pressure to order an investigation into allegations swirling around donations to New Zealand First, as the saga risks hurting her coalition Government.

Allegations of electoral donation wrongdoing levelled against the coalition partner also appears to have put a dampener on the National Party’s chances of working with NZ First after next year’s election.

NZ First leader Winston Peters is remaining defiant after reports that the NZ First Foundation – a secretive body which collects party donations – appeared to have hidden political donations worth almost half a million dollars.

National Party leader Simon Bridges says if the allegations are true, they would be the “most significant allegations of this kind we have seen in New Zealand’s history”.

There is this other matter being investigated that involves money for list seat positions being partitioned into non discloseable chunks that I thought was just as significant.

And this is a matter for the authorities to investigate. There should be no political directions given. To even suggest this is totally bizarre.

To cap things off Bridges suggested that the episode would make it harder for National to work with NZ First in the future. Clearly they are still prepared to work with a party Bridges thinks has committed the most significant breach of the electoral law in the country’s history.

What weak standards he has. Although if he did rule out working with New Zealand First he would also have to rule out working with the National Party given its recent behaviour.

If you want to witness a beating then listen to this interview of Bridges by Kim Hill. I love the way she slows down her questions at the precise moment she delivers the coup de grace.

It is funny that the leader of the party being investigated by the SFO for rorting the election system should be demanding that the leader of the party who is not accused of anything should take action against the leader of a third party that appears to have been really cute with the law but has not necessarily done anything illegal.

What is that word starting with “H” again?

74 comments on “Hypocrite ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. weka 1
    20 November 2019 at 12:41 pm

    Funny as farce, but also sad that this is the state we are in politically as a country.

    Has Peters fronted up yet? I thought he was meant to clear everything up by end of yesterday.

    Whatever formal processes need to happen separate to the Labour Party, is there not also and issue here of the leader of a party being accused of some serious electoral breaches being the Deputy PM?

    I don't think we're at resignation yet, but I am not clear how this works politically if Ardern maintains neutrality and then has to ask for his resignation later and where the coalition agreement may present a clear conflict of interest. Even more so if the legalities end up being grey but there are still serious ethical issues.

  2. Incognito 2
    20 November 2019 at 12:47 pm

    Minor typo:

    Although if he did working out working with New Zealand First he would also …

    [Oops, typed on a train … now fixed – MS]

  3. michelle 3
    20 November 2019 at 12:56 pm

    Its not Jacinda job to do this let hope she leaves this to who is responsible.

  4. Sabine 4
    20 November 2019 at 12:59 pm

    Maybe we need public financing and no polticial donations what so ever?

    Too far left for anyone to propose?

    • lprent 4.1
      20 November 2019 at 7:07 pm

      It has been my position for a while.

      Mainly because whatever changes go in, they always seem to leave some interesting loopholes for donations.

      • mickysavage 4.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 8:07 pm

        Mine too. Why should we rely on private largesse. The current system guarantees that wealthy voices are the loudest.

        • Sabine 4.1.1.1
          21 November 2019 at 11:49 am

          Well, you have all the connections in the world. Tell labour to get something done that will benefit everyone for once. If they have the guts to deny all that 'free cash'.

          and yes, i bought a bottle of whisky from J.A. at an auction before the election and she even signed it. Not that that has any value.

          • Paaparakauta 4.1.1.1.1
            21 November 2019 at 11:43 pm

            The PM is a whisky drinker ? I hope she can make better decisions than a Tamaki boy called Rob Muldoon !

    • Ken 4.2
      24 November 2019 at 3:59 pm

      It makes sense.

  5. tc 5
    20 November 2019 at 1:15 pm

    Maybe we should place the 'H' on soimons forehead rather than Dave's now.

    Dave's made a genuine contribution with the euthanasia issue whereas soimon's been a shit stirring knuckle dragging luddite in playing to his 'audience'.

  6. Gosman 6
    20 November 2019 at 1:20 pm

    This:

    National Party leader Simon Bridges says if the allegations are true, they would be the “most significant allegations of this kind we have seen in New Zealand’s history”.

    If the allegations are true then they are no longer allegations.

    Idiot

    • Sacha 6.1
      20 November 2019 at 1:33 pm

      Using the word 'history' was also unwise. #doh

    • tc 6.2
      20 November 2019 at 1:49 pm

      The way he mangles terms and the language that he should have down pat after years of actually practicing law is a skill he's really worked on.

      • Sacha 6.2.1
        20 November 2019 at 7:15 pm

        Imagine how bad he must have been as a lawyer.

      • ianmac 6.2.2
        20 November 2019 at 7:40 pm

        He never actually practiced courtroom law according to Winston and Simon has never refuted that. Simon said yesterday that he does not have practicing law certificate which was his excuse for dodging the detail of his allegations with Kim Hill.

    • You_Fool 6.3
      20 November 2019 at 3:47 pm

      Actually you are right… makes sense… the allegations about Bridges are true, so not allegations… The allegations against NZF are the most signifigant allegations!

    • NZJester 6.4
      21 November 2019 at 9:11 pm

      These allegations pale in significance to shifty donation allegations that have been levied against the National Party and some of its MPs including Simon in the past so hardly as he claims the most significant in NZ History.

      But then an allegation is just an allegation, not a fact.

  7. Sacha 7
    20 November 2019 at 1:31 pm

    I/S notes an opportunity for Bridges to back up his public statements of distaste: http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/11/bridges-should-put-his-money-where-his.html

    … sounds like he supports change. Which is great, because there's an Electoral Amendment Bill before the Justice Committee right now which could be amended.

    If Bridges wants greater transparency and more enforcement powers for the Electoral Commission, he should put his money where his mouth is and publicly suggest appropriate amendments.

    The government will be basicly backed into a corner on this and be forced to either support them, or taint themselves with the public by backing the obviously broken status quo. But of course Bridges won't, because the last thing any establishment party wants to do is let the public know who is bribing them…

  8. Stuart Munro. 8
    20 November 2019 at 1:34 pm

    I think he's better described as "optimistic" in this context.

    Labour is much too mature to fall for a series of allegations the status of which is as yet undetermined. They are obliged to wait and see, neither acceding to Hooten's frothing enthusiasm for a snap election, nor endorsing NZF until the facts are in.

    In this interlude, while the worst of the feral 'gotcha' media pack are occupied elsewhere, Labour can enjoy the pleasant, not to say auspicious spring weather, and ignore the interminable bleating of the member for Tauranga, and by doing so show solidarity with the great mass of New Zealanders who also ignore him.

    • Alan 8.1
      20 November 2019 at 1:50 pm

      about 46% of the voting population actually does take notice of what he says

      • Stuart Munro. 8.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 2:07 pm

        On a daily basis? I doubt it.

      • AB 8.1.2
        20 November 2019 at 7:12 pm

        No – up to 46% of the population (probably less) will vote for him through gritted teeth no matter what the clown does or says, because they perceive it to be in their economic/class interests to do so. The majority of them are probably wrong in that perception but that's an aside.

    • tc 8.2
      20 November 2019 at 1:52 pm

      Hooten's a paid frother for his supper. National paymasters good, Greens bad, Labour very bad, NZF see Hollowmen party central for todays position.

  9. Karol121 9
    20 November 2019 at 4:51 pm

    Simon Bridges now appears to have caught the; "Legend in his own mind" disease.

    What a let down. He once, sort of, appeared to be balanced and realistic.

    BTW: On the New Zealand First fiasco. For what it's worth, and could somebody assist me with this by way of URL link to clarify just what the New Zealand First Foundation is, (as an entity), for myself and others?

    It is a difficult horse to put form to and handicap: Where it is stabled, bloodline, trainer, who owns the beast, etc?

    Regarding party sole, (not funders), an Anne Martin, (either Tracy Martin's mother who indicated via media in 2015 that she would be "outski" from any integral role with the party, or perhaps Tracy Martin herself with a correspondence address of Brown Rd, Warkworth), was clearly formally engaging with the accountants working for the party (Lennie & Associates, of Symonds St, Auckland), and declarations pertaining to New Zealand First Incorporated as late as April 2018. From then, I guess, Mrs Elizabeth Witehera (of Hikurangi) took over as Secretary General for the party.

    That's the party itself, but The New Zealand First Foundation being a separate entity, of course; just a bit of a dark horse until recently, and still.

  10. greywarshark 10
    20 November 2019 at 5:40 pm

    I put this up in Open Mike yesterday. But it is sikmon's domain the splashing round in put-downs and tghe building up of disturbed trivial judgments.

    From OM 19/11.

    noticed the immediate use of slush fund as the story broke by a journalist who wouldn't know at this stage whether using an emotive term like that was justified.

    Matt Shand on Stuff at 10am 19 Nov 2019: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/117510705/why-the-nz-first-slush-fund-could-breach-electoral-law-expert

    Matt Shand at 5am 19 Nov 2019: NZ First Foundation dodging electoral rules? Records suggest breaches.
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/117509589/nz-first-foundation-dodging-electoral-rules-records-suggest-breaches
    Almost half a million dollars in political donations appear to have been hidden inside a secret slush fund controlled by a coterie of Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters' trusted advisers.

    Unattributed NZ Herald 19 Nov 2019 at 7.40 am: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has refused to be drawn on claims that an electoral slush fund run on behalf of NZ First may have breached the Electoral Act.
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12286329 – 'Looks to be in contravention of the Electoral Act': Law professor weighs in on NZ First donations

    NZ Herald seems to have slush-fund at the top of its favourite terms for journalists, this being from 2018 by Claire Trevett:
    PM Jacinda Ardern and Shane Jones launch $3 billion fund …https://www.nzherald.co.nz › nz › news › article
    Feb 23, 2018 – It has already been described as a "slush fund" for NZ First and scrutiny of it will be intense. There was also be a close watch for any signs of …

    August 2019 from the National Party newsletter on Economic matters from the mouth of Simon Bridges National Party leader:

    Meanwhile it’s wasted billions on a slush fund for Shane Jones and on Fees Free which has resulted in fewer university students.
    https://www.national.org.nz/tags/author_simonbridges?page=4
    Further on:
    Page 5: “The reality is this Government has wasted billions of dollars on Shane Jones’ slush fund and Fees Free tertiary and so isn’t prioritising lifesaving cancer drugs

    Page 6: “The Associate Transport Minister needs to be honest about how much money her plan will actually take from Kiwis’ back pockets, and what she’ll do with her tax bounty if it isn’t paid out in subsidies. Another slush fund to keep NZ First happy perhaps?

    Page 8: “Taxpayers are forking out $2.8 billion for fees-free tertiary which has resulted in fewer students, $3 billion for Shane Jones’ slush fund and $2 billion on KiwiBuild which has resulted in next to no houses.

    Page 11 (Jan 2019): It’s wasting $2.8 billion on fees-free tertiary education for students already going to university, another $3 billion on a slush fund that NZ First is shamelessly using to buy votes, and almost $300 million on working groups because Labour didn't do the work in opposition.

    Note: 'Slush fund' also used on Page 12 and 14 so is a comfortable fall-back term for National. (I couldn't be bothered going back beyond a year ago.)
    .

    National's Paul Goldsmith refers to 'slush fund' in this report from Scoop in 2018. Shane Jones needs to explain what conflicts were declared before the Government gave $6 million to a trust led by a former NZ First MP, and why his slush fund is leading to private gain, National’s Regional Economic Development spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1807/S00120/integrity-of-govt-slush-fund-in-serious-question.htm

    And the Otago Daily Times August 2018 chose that term for it's headline. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/rnz/its-slush-fund-govt-support-race-tracks-slammed
    Paul Goldsmith (National MP) in 2018. 'Mr Goldsmith described the provincial growth fund criteria as being "as loose and as billowing as the deep blue sea''.
    "Well what we've seen is that it's an all-purpose political slush fund and you can fit anything into it,'' he said.'

    • mickysavage 10.1
      20 November 2019 at 8:15 pm

      Thanks Karol. And yes the biggest slush fund is National's …

      • Sabine 10.1.1
        25 November 2019 at 9:58 am

        So the coalition is going to advocate for State funding of political parties only?

        Yes?

        Because it really does not matter that one may have a bigger slush fund then another, it matters that both are in the wrong. Or are we so down low now that we discuss the legality of issues based on size?

  11. Jackel 11
    20 November 2019 at 6:55 pm

    Hypocrite and ironic. The so called party of big business should know that if the money is flowing in thick and fast and the tills are ringing hot then you must be doing something right. Maybe they're jealous because their tills are quiet and Bridges is emptying their coffers and fast bankrupting their party with his lame attempts at headline grabbing etc. Tories go figure.

  12. mosa 12
    20 November 2019 at 8:58 pm

    Meanwhile while we wait for the outcome from the electoral commision the bad publicity does its work.

    Bridges has got a cheek demanding an independent inquiry when
    1 They are facing an ongoing investigation with the SFO

    2 They never undertook inquiries or investigations when they blatantly broke the law in some very dubious cases before and after 2008 !!!

  13. Sanctuary 13
    21 November 2019 at 7:55 am

    It will be interesting to see if the MSM and the print media- in this case, Stuff – has the power it had just a decade ago to bring down a party. I suspect it will not.

    The atomisation of readership, the loss of authority brought about by the relentless trivialisation of news and the rise of social media all make me think this Stuff story will ultimately huff, puff – and blow itself out in a miasma of indifference before Xmas.

    This is probably not, on the balance, a good thing.

  14. aj 14
    21 November 2019 at 8:48 am

    RNZ: Bolger supports state funding of political parties. Good on him.

    • greywarshark 14.1
      21 November 2019 at 2:47 pm

      +1000 aj

      • aj 14.1.1
        21 November 2019 at 9:52 pm

        And it's worth noting that Jim Bolger shares this concept of party funding with Bernie Sanders.

    • Lettuce 14.2
      21 November 2019 at 8:52 pm

      This is the perfect opportunity for the government to bring in state funding of political parties. They can also ban foreign donations and donations associated with foreign entities while they're at it (just like Australia and the US have done).

      National's howls of outrage at losing one of their primary funding streams would be delightful – hoist by their own petard.

  15. michelle 15
    21 November 2019 at 9:47 am

    As for the act see more party going to the police. Our police numbers are low they are struggling to do there job

  16. greywarshark 16
    21 November 2019 at 10:06 am

    Matthew Hooton and Mike Williams were interviewed this morning by Kathryn Ryan. Matthew talking with gravitas about NZFirst and how our PM should be thoroughly investigating particularly as the Dominion Post had featured the loans/Trust matter on the front page and Fairfax papers, being serious papers, not like Whaleoil. He referred to our constitution as if there was one, then referred to the constitutional regs of the Cabinet manual. He is not biased, and donates to all three parties, so that proves it. The academic chosen to comment also is Andrew Geddis, a Professor of Public Law at the University of Otago, specialising in electoral law.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018723366/fresh-new-zealand-first-foundation-revelations

    A news items coincidentally today, is about the bright eyed little predators of our NZ environment. Its headline and the view of the little alert stoat brought Matthew Hooton amongst others, to mind!

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/403775/new-traps-and-lures-a-pivotal-step-towards-predator-free-future

    An earlier item was about human relationship changes. I think it stands as an analogy for the changes we need to bring about in the way we run our society, before we find that we don't have any meaningful input as citizens. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018723102/navigating-relationship-joys-and-challenges

  17. Dean Reynolds 17
    21 November 2019 at 10:08 am

    Just listened to Kim Hill's interview with Bridges. I cannot believe that a jibbering, brainless fool like Bridges is the best leader that the National Party can produce. If Bridges is their best, then the rest of the Nat caucus is clearly full of joe averages, wannabes & brain dead light weights

    • Wensleydale 17.1
      21 November 2019 at 10:46 am

      He isn't. He's a place-holder. The human shield. He's the guy they've propped up in front to take all the hits while they rearrange the seating in the back. He's an expendable resource that's just about tapped out.

  18. Peter 18
    21 November 2019 at 3:00 pm

    Nick Smith kindly invited focus on National's hypocrisy re funding. He probably won't get home tonight, shake his head and ask how the hell it happened that the Labour MPs had an orchestrated response which got him big time.

    He'll be pleased Simon wasn't there to be tarred though.

  19. ianmac 19
    21 November 2019 at 3:18 pm

    Yes Nick Smith must be pissed off! A barrage of questions re the National Electoral spending tricks of the Electoral Act was the response to Nick Smith trying to trap the Minister of Justice. Brownlee tried to block the Government response. Brilliant.

    And the multi-million dollar warning that should Smith or Bridges repeat outside what they said in House, they will be sued for defamation.

    Question 9 https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=210160

  20. mosa 20
    21 November 2019 at 8:14 pm

    What about the Waitemata Trust and its HUGE slush fund too influence National party policy.

    Lets have some transparency in this argument.

  21. mosa 21
    21 November 2019 at 8:22 pm

    Winston and Jones just as bad as the others who profit from political influence.

    http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/11/if-shane-jones-isnt-corrupt-he-is.html

    • greywarshark 21.1
      22 November 2019 at 11:49 am

      Edit
      Is the above correct, from Mosa's link? Is a NZ First-connected company profiting from political influence? Or is it just a case of a NZ company applying to do forestry business in NZ with seed funds from the government! Are they not as entitled to carry out business and apply for funding as are other companies some of whom are not even NZers? I think this is a case of super-suspicion from Labour oriented people who forget that businesses are how organised things are done, and capital is required to carry out large schemes, either private or organised by government. I feel that the criticism of NZ First and muddying Shane Jones' name over it is a beat-up and not a good look from lefties with airy-fairy ideas.

      This is a small country, and people who want to get any project or business done have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. They need to be active in the enterprise business and doing the mahi that makes something, do something that earns their salaries and provides employment to local people and provides upskilling. And that must be what happens if this company gets funding. Those prepared to work should get it, and those not fit, should get some practice work so they can get regular employment. Then they won't get used as examples by the wise, informed people I meet so often who know for a fact that NZs don't, won't take up jobs.

      While searching Google for some unbiased comment on the NZ First- connected forestry firm's application for funding, which I didn't find, I came across this full report on the proposed new rail link to Marsden Point, Northland. It is called the North Auckland rail line or NAL. So we can get some facts about something from this interchange!

      PDF] Upgraded North Auckland Rail line – Ministry of Transport

      https://www.transport.govt.nz › Our-Work › Documents › Northland-Rail-BC

      May 9, 2019 – Project reference: NAL Business Case ….. Benefits of the preferred way forward (Rail Connected Port) . …… Figure 47. Northland and north Auckland commercial forestry plantations . …… Shane Jones, and is funded by the Provincial Growth Fund. …… The first cruise ship to berth at Northport in Whāngārei is.

  22. Paaparakauta 22
    21 November 2019 at 11:49 pm

    How many houses does Bridges currently own through corporate vehicles ? It escapes me at the moment ..

    [You have two moderator notes to which you have not responded. Therefore, I put you in Auto-Moderation and if that doesn’t help, you will be Blacklisted and lose your privilege of commenting here altogether – Incognito]

  23. Paaparakauta 23
    22 November 2019 at 1:29 pm

    Where am I supposed to find these 'moderation notes' ?

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    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    6 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    1 week ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
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