Hypocrites

Written By: - Date published: 7:37 am, November 22nd, 2019 - 57 comments
Categories: election funding, elections, electoral systems, national, nz first, same old national, Simon Bridges, uncategorized - Tags: ,

So to recap.

There is a major party accused of running a Foundation that means it can hide the identity of donors and present a misleading picture to the public.  And during the last election it funnelled most of its payments for electorate campaigns through this foundation.

And it’s leader received a donation from an individual but for whatever reason filed a return that hid the identity of the donor.

And so suspicious is this party’s activity in relation to the receipt of donations it is being investigated by a Government agency.

Ladies and gentlemen I am not talking about New Zealand First, I am talking about the National Party.

Here is the website for its foundation.

Its attempts to hide the source of donations has gone on for a while.

I noted previously how during the 2014 election campaign the total amount of donations declared by National candidates was $1.262 million and over 80% of this was funded from National Head Office.

In 2017 things were similar.

Of course the Foundation is not there to hide the identity of all donors.  When the situation demands National is prepared to change the way donations are treated so that the existence of the donation and the identity of the donor are hidden, at least for a while.

And I wondered how the Foundation handled the receipt of seven identical $14,000 donations with a $2,000 donation on top that magically added up to $100,000 the apparent going price for a list MP’s position.

So National’s faux outrage concerning NZ First’s foundation is pretty hypocritical.

Its own practice means that the vast majority of donations to electorate campaigns are from their pet foundation and suddenly the threshold for disclosing the donor’s identity becomes $15,000 not $1,500

By all means let us have a discussion about the current disclosure regime and what should be done to change it. The discussion could start with National admitting that it has been bending the rules. To the breaking point.

57 comments on “Hypocrites ”

  1. Sanctuary 1

    NZ First's hubris will do them down on this. Who on God's good earth thought it would be a good idea to give that self-important wind bag Nick Smith a chance to play the vulnerable martyr and breath new life into the story for the media hyenas who clearly have it in for NZ First?

    • greywarshark 1.1

      Nick mith was howling at the moon on Radionz this morning apparently in all sincerity of outrage and disturbed about loss of probity in politics etc etc. He is so sycophantic to National and his supporters, such a broken reed and such a con artist to the electorate for his connections.

      • Dukeofurl 1.1.1

        Nick Smith:

        Convicted of witness tampering in a District court case

        Convicted of contempt for publicising a family court dispute

        Mr Credibility .

        Yet when Bridges and Bennett threaten the media with defamation law , ( it was her DPB history and his handling of donations) it flies under the radar

    • Enough is Enough 1.2

      Do you blame the media for having it in for NZ First?

      Winston (and to a lesser degree Shane) treats the media with utter contempt. So when he gets caught out (as he inevitably does every time he is in government), the media is going to hammer him, as they should.

      Threatening your political opponents and the media with legal action if they don't shut up really shows the pettiness of these people.

      How about he just answers the media's questions with straight answers.

      With Winston gone we will be left with a Labour Green government that will finally bring about the transformational changes that the current government is failing so badly to deliver.

      The sooner Winston is gone forever the better New Zealand politics will be forever.

      It is my hope that this will finally sink him and his cronies.

      • Dukeofurl 1.2.1

        There wont be a Labour- Green government….thats called opposition.

        reality means if NZF is back in parliament , Labour will include them as part of having as many coalition partners as possible. Thats how MMP works successfully as Clark and Key showed.

        • Enough is Enough 1.2.1.1

          That's a bold prediction.

          By my calculations (based on most recent polls) Labour and Greens combined beats National Act

          • Dukeofurl 1.2.1.1.1

            Calculations, based on polls, showed Australian Labour as the election winner too.

            If NZF is back in parliament – and Labour makes government they still will include NZF. Politics means they will want to play the partners off against each other. Perhaps you are thinking of less high stakes situations.

            National has strategic plans to knock Greens out too.

            On the other hand , since about 2010 media generated scandals dont really affect core voters. Trump shows that.

            NZ First dont care about the 94% of voters who dont tick them.

            But I dont know the results 1 yr away.

        • Sacha 1.2.1.2

          if NZF is back in parliament

          Indeed

  2. Dirk Dirkin 2

    Will the media report this?

    More chance of me winning lotto

    • Dukeofurl 2.1

      Theres the suggestion that the source of the leaks from NZF was a former top official who left under a cloud .

      Will Melanie Reid be running stories on this leakers 'office relationships' like she did when Jami-Lee Ross was telling the media about Nationals closests secrets.

      More chance of winning Lotto

  3. tc 3

    Gives Ardern an opportunity to put them both to the sword in the interests of transparency. Good timing IMO the way Blojo, the donald and others have been shown to serve their backers by a better media elsewhere.

    I reckon she's got nothing to lose as it was National who fiddled the EFA for their own ends after bleating on about it needing to be repealed as part of the nanny state meme they went with to get Clark out.

    The sheeple being reminding who really benefitted from those changes and the duplicitous nature of national over the next 12 months would be nice.

    • Dukeofurl 3.1

      You do mean ' put to the sword in interests of transparency' like the National party did with Barclay

  4. AB 4

    Right wing hypocrisy? Quelle horreur! And such a surprise that those lovely people in National don't play an honest game! And shock of shocks, their grinning dim-witted enablers throughout the media are chiming in to help! I need a lie down or else I might stop being so nice.

    • greywarshark 4.1

      Please conserve yourself AB and reserve sufficient energies to keep looking at the farce even though the story is repetitive out of Grim Fairy Tales (Political Version).

      What about the secrecy behind John Key's blind trust – if the National Party appear to be transparent, ever, one needs to look to the side and see what attention is being distracted from.

  5. Anne 5

    And guess what? The skulduggery goes aaaallll the way back to good ole Kiwi Keith, Keith Holyoake.

    In fact National masterminded the art of dishonest fiscal practices (for personal gain) and established the standard for others to follow.

    Sometime in the 1960s, a large parcel of land was quietly set aside by the Holyoake govt, for a new University in Albany, Auckland. It was coincidence of course 🙄 but Holyoake decided to buy a chunk of land for himself close to where the proposed university was going to be built. After the public announcement of the new university an enterprising investigative journalist did some investigating and discovered the Holyoake purchase.

    I recall my father going ballistic with rage about it and drumming it into me… that is why you should never vote National. They can't be trusted!

    • Sacha 5.1

      Holyoake had other dodgy dealings: http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/04/public-office-private-gain/

      And Colonel Trotter outlines NZ’s historic political corruption as context for Winston’s current woes: http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-second-and-final-crucifixion-of.html

      Throughout New Zealand’s brief history, conservative parties and crony capitalism have marched together in lock-step. In such a tiny society how could they not? Only the state has ever had access to the huge capital resources required to facilitate economic development. For capitalists, large and small, that meant securing their desired economic outcomes by cultivating mutually beneficial political relationships. Naturally, the individuals, businesses, and political parties involved in this activity were not at all keen to have their behaviour trumpeted from the roof-tops. If deals needed to be done, it was overwhelmingly in the interests of all parties that they be done in secret.

      • Dukeofurl 5.1.1

        Yes. We can see now that NZME has approached the government about getting their merger with Stuff done by government fiat and ignore the competition laws… would they have been told ..join the queue.

        The Banks want the RBNZ regulator off their back too and Im sure the insurance industry who the RBNZ has said will be next for a closer look will be lobbying furiously

  6. Sabine 6

    So Labour / Greens / (NZF) are gonna go out there and put forward a law that promotes public finance only?

    I mean they should have done that a long time a go….but now surely they will do something?

    • greywarshark 6.1

      +100

      Can Labour be dragged off their bums if they are threatened with The Comfy Chair? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAxkcPoLYcQ

      I think that the Labour Coalition are afraid that if they make any practical moves that change things for the better they will, gulp, be devilled by the Spanish Inquisition as in the 16th? century. Whereas actually, The Comfy Chair is just being hit with soft cushions and a short period of isolation to reflect on their shortcomings with a cup of coffee at 11 a.m.

      Nothing to fear here Labour pollies, but you do have to move from one chair to another. Please can you steel yourself to take this giant step for NZ-kind!

      • greywarshark 6.1.1

        This sounds interesting from UK Labour about their manifesto. Would that be of interest here?

        General election 2019: Labour launches 'radical' manifesto

        What is in the Labour manifesto?

        • £75bn to build 150,000 new council and social homes a year, within five years
        • An immediate 5% pay rise for public sector workers, with year-on-year above-inflation pay rises to follow
        • Introducing a "real living wage" of at least £10 an hour
        • Reviewing the retirement age for people in hard manual jobs
        • Introducing a second homes tax
        • Reversing inheritance tax cuts and imposing VAT on private school fees
        • Giving EU nationals living in UK the automatic right to stay
        • Reinstating 3,000 bus routes that have been cut
        • Free broadband for all, delivered by part-nationalising BT
        • A £3bn plan to offer adults in England free access to retraining
        • A pledge to reduce all primary school classes to fewer than 30 children
        • Free personal at-home care in England for over-65s most in need of it
        • A pledge to renew the Trident nuclear deterrent and spend at least 2% of GDP on defence
        • Reducing the voting age to 16
        • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50497288
    • Anne 6.2

      Sabine, up until now it was political suicide to even hint at public funding of election campaigns. Labour did try to 'educate' the voters in the past, but they wouldn't have a bar of it.

      It can take voters decades to catch up with reality.

      • Sabine 6.2.1

        no guts no glory.

        seriously at what stage do we demand that these guys 'be better' ?

        Cause with that attitude nothing is happening. And nothing will be happening.

        Cause everyone does it. Its just that some do it better then other.

        And yes, Labour / Green could simply go out there and say " The other option is public finance and we are personally for it" . But that would take guts and it seems that our complete political landscape is populated by people who have no guts, no spine, no courage, no conviction no nothing other then a pressing need to get 're-elected to do the stuff we so far have steadfast refused to do.

        At least to have this discussed and National / NZFirst etc be public about opposing it.

        NO guts, No Glory, No re-election! – see the Democratic Party in the US, Laobur in England, SPD in Germany and so on and so forth.

      • Dukeofurl 6.2.2

        Not so. Funding of political parties in parliament is $120 mill per year, yes its 'parliamentary purposes' but thats meaningless now as they campaign all year , every year.

        There is plenty of election funding as well, millions for the 'broadcasting' side , which is now allowed to be spent on social media as well.

        • solkta 6.2.2.1

          but thats meaningless now as they campaign all year

          Obviously you have never played an active role in a political party and had to get your head around the difference between what is parliamentary and what is party.

          • Dukeofurl 6.2.2.1.1

            Do people still play charades any more ? From those that work for National they dont seem to bother.

            They used a truck to drive this loophole-

            "There are no rules against support staff doing party or political work in their own time." They would say that when the PS is breathing down their neck . This is another way the Nats bend the rules, a weak cover story is accepted by the main media, no more questions asked.

            Some current MPs used to work in another Mps electorate office while they campaigned for a nearby seat ( but only ahead of the formal election period) , this is one of the reason the Nats gave notice of election date long in advance.

            • solkta 6.2.2.1.1.1

              I can assure you that MP support staff work extremely hard trying to get all their legit work done within payed hours. People take these jobs because they have an interest in politics – it is not a "weak cover story" to suggest that they donate some of their own time for party stuff. Yes sometimes rules do get bent, but this is not significant overall.

              • Dukeofurl

                Im sure you are right ..for the conscientious. And of course there is plenty of real constituents being helped.

                But in electorate offices and those that work in Parliament offices are there too make the Mp is re-elected . Their job might depend on it !

                It was a while back when ACT had a 6 or 7 list Mps . All had electorate funded offices in the same building in Wellington, which also was the Party HQ. As long as an appearance of being inside 'the rules' is done, sleeping dogs are left to lie

                In The US , Congress members cant even use the same taxpayer funded building for fund raising as they knew rules would be bent

  7. mosa 7

    Adern should be taking a tough line here.

    National have already started their camapign to involve her and she could show unlike them she is prepared to act to provide the most transparent government ever.

    http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/11/winston-is-pms-problem.html

    • riffer 7.1

      Oh bollocks.

      I'm so over people reporting the right wing rubbish that Jacinda Adern should take a hard line on coalition partners. It's a recipe for coalition disharmony, and completely and utterly unneeded. The matter is being dealt with. It's a party problem for NZF and she is quite rightly staying well out of it.

      If, at any stage it turns out that NZF have an issue proven where they cant possibly be in parliament any more then she should deal with it. But not before then.

      Exactly like should be done with National should the current mess with the SFO amount to anything.

      • Anne 7.1.1

        Excellent. Well said. Thank-you riffer.

      • veutoviper 7.1.2

        Well said riffer.

        There are surprising numbers of people who come here to TS as a political blog who have no idea of how our form of democracy and parliamentary procedure, including MMP, electoral law etc work – and show it in their ignorant comments. I also think Idiot/Savant also needs to do a bit more homework.

        Sure as he says, "Ultimately, Ministers are accountable to the Prime Minister for their behaviour" – but only their behaviour in their role as a Minister and not in their role as a Member for, or Leader of, another political party.

        Both as the PM and as the Leader of a Political Party, Jacinda Ardern would be completely outside NZ electoral law and parliamentary procedure to attempt to censor or in any way involve herself in the actions of another Leader or Member of another Political Party. * See EDIT

        Jacinda Ardern made this very clear in her answers to Simon Bridges under Question 2 in Question Time on Wednesday, 20 November.

        I suggest everyone who thinks otherwise watch the following video where she makes these points over and over to Bridges. The 10 minute video starts with some calling of Bridges' bluff to his primary question but from 03.20 onwards she makes it very clear three times to his repeating the same question that she would be totally outside her rights and that the appropriate authority/arbiter of electoral law is the Electoral Commission – and that Peters as Leader of NZF was working with the Commission in this regard.

        https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=210076

        I also include the Hansard record for those who wish to see the actual words in writing.

        https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20191120_050850000/2-question-no-2-prime-minister

        * EDIT – And that is exactly what Bridges and Co have been attempting to get JA to do.

  8. Dukeofurl 8

    You should have seen the money donated to Bidois for the Northcote by -election , around $135,000 .

    Thats really serious money, unheard of for a by election in a safe seat.

    Every cent including the 4 cents that wasnt a whole dollar came from the NZ National Party , which laundered all the money from individual donors.

  9. Karol121 9

    Accusations, leaks and quantum:

    Personally, from a leaks and accusations standpoint, those emanating from within state sector in relation to the role and conduct of those within the central government system leak should each be reviewed on overall merit and on an individual case by case basis.

    Such, taking in to consideration all relevant factors, including whether or not the disclosure is political or idealist motivated, or even whether such disclosure is identified as relating to some personal grievance issue.

    Under NZ law, there is always the Protected Disclosures Act for internal reporting of matters which might be considered inappropriate or an issue from either a national interest or general public interest perspective. But it is not always considered to be an effective remedy.

    Political actions or actions often land in that which is considered grey area.

    That which is central government domain and responsibility, and that which is solely political government domain and responsibility is often difficult to distinguish.

    The Department of PM and Cabinet (a state agency) has often been considered somewhere in between the two by many people.

    Crown ministers and those politically appointed to senior positions by the government of the day, ditto, in between. The latter (as appointees) often being seen as "gofors" of political government sole, in relation to such positions.

    To the point, and in relation to this discussion thread.

    Is a political party a political government? Is a political party a state agency?

    The answer should be obvious.

    So, in relation to "special disclosure management" treatment pertaining to political funding for any one party, why ever should there be any special consideration whatsoever?

    On whistle blowing individuals hoping to publicly identify party issues which appear to fall well outside of appropriate conduct by political parties and their supporters, who would not forgive or not morally support a whistle blower or two alerting media or others to such valid concerns?

    What is clearly highlighted is that yes, it certainly appears that National have also been well and truly "in to it", (political funding high jinks that is), jodhpur boots and all.

    So perhaps New Zealand First have just been playing second fiddle copy cat in relation to such antics.

    I observe that during an interview recently, Winston Peters indicated scant knowledge of the reported warning letter from Mr Henry to Mr Smith, mentioning a civil proceedings figure of $30,000,000 E&OE (Errors & Omissions Excluded).

    Boy, just imagine.

    If the foundation could prove damages to the party itself, be rewarded in joinder with the foundation with such a princely sum, and then actually collect all of that loot, New Zealand First as a party probably wouldn't have to be bothered with much, if any future campaign funding requests.

    They'd probably be as financially affluent as so many other Aga Khan “would be if they could” be types.

    • Dukeofurl 9.1

      "Winston Peters indicated scant knowledge of the reported warning letter from Mr Henry to Mr Smith, mentioning a civil proceedings"

      I may have known that Brian Henry was sending his a legal letter ( but hes barrister so hardly needs advice) but not the details. After all the NZFP entitys run by David Henry from the wood processing side of the family isnt really Peters concern , and from a political point of view wouldnt want to know.

  10. xanthe 10

    My view is that the media are waaay out of line on this . Winston has suggested that he might "sort them out" over this and i really do hope he does!

    I am disgusted with this sort of dishonesty from those fraudulently representing themselves as news outlets.

    I am hopeful that this will inform the government in their disestablishment of tvnz and rnz and that they actually sort out some public news service.

    the current situation just wont do.

    • Can you explain exactly how the media are way out of line in investigating NZF's attempts to conceal its donors? I ask because it sounds like exactly the kind of thing we want them to do.

      • xanthe 10.1.1

        If the media was "investigating" that would be fine! what part exactly of John Armstrong's "opinion" piece was investigation?

        FACTS A complaint has been made to the Electoral Commission re one of NZF funding arrangements. NZF is working with the EC to establish if that is legal.

        BULLSHIT all the rest and particularly CRAP about how jacinda should become embroiled in it and what a failure of leadership that she (quiet properly) declines to do so.

        • Psycho Milt 10.1.1.1

          So, not "the media," but John Armstrong, an opinion columnist? You do know that reportage and editorial are two different things, right?

          NZF is working with the EC to establish if that is legal.

          It is? I've seen NZF officials and MPs abusing or refusing to talk to media, but nothing to suggest they're cooperating with anybody who isn't a NZF official. Also: it may well be that setting up mechanisms to conceal your political donors is legal (presumably it is, since National is doing it too), but that only means the law needs changing.

  11. xanthe 12

    unbelievable hatchet job by John Armstrong on tvnz news website now.

    They deserve to be disestablished as has been proposed. the sooner the better. How on earth has it come to this where our most accessible "news" service is serving up dishonest deliberate misinformation as "opinion"

    Now is the best chance while we have an honest and intelligent PM to set up a public funded independent news service.

  12. R.P Mcmurphy 13

    love listening to dinosaurs like armstrong pontificate. this is the meat and spuds of politics and gives the infantilised under educated juvenile mediocre press corpse something to do. btw how many journos at Parliament now? what is their average age? anyway Prime TV mentioned the natz and their foundations tonight so that is a start

    • Sacha 13.1

      Armstrong is one of the worst examples of horse-race 'journalism' where he tries to show how jolly well-connected he is. Silly hack.

  13. Fireblade 14

    (Posted on Open Mike, but it's more relevant here).

    The National Party Foundation and Dodgy Donations.

    Newshub Reports:
    Jami-Lee Ross said NZ First's foundation was modelled on the National Party's and operates in largely the same way, and there's little the Electoral Commission can do.

    Ross said political party foundations exist only as a way of obscuring donors' identities and should be abolished.

    Ross also claims National MPs face 'repercussions' if they miss fundraising target. "If you did not fundraise your $30,000 or $20,000, you weren't allowed to go to selection. Every MP was also expected to ensure there were donations going into the National Foundation".

    National Party president and chair of the National Foundation board Peter Goodfellow told Newshub Nation "It is correct that our local party electorate committees are set and supported to achieve KPIs before proceeding to a candidate selection," said Goodfellow. The party acknowledged targets do exist.

    Newshub contacted Simon Bridges' office, which declined to comment.

    Ironically when he was a National MP in Government, the job of securing donations that could slip through the cracks often fell to Ross, as he wasn't a minister and therefore not subject to the Official Information Act. He said he was a "product of the National Party" but has changed his views.

    The Serious Fraud Office is still investigating National Party donations.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/11/jami-lee-ross-claims-national-mps-face-repercussions-if-they-miss-fundraising-targets.html

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    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    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
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    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
    1 hour 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
    6 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
    8 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
    9 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
    22 hours 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 ...
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