Interesting story coming up in The Herald

Written By: - Date published: 12:10 am, February 20th, 2015 - 105 comments
Categories: accountability, Dirty Politics, journalism - Tags: ,

There will probably be a story soonish in The Herald that will be of particular interest to The Standard community.

We have had nothing to do with the coverage. We’ve just been watching events unfold on Twitter, and we’re happy to see it come out via The Herald.

105 comments on “Interesting story coming up in The Herald ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Clemgeopin 1
    20 February 2015 at 12:15 am

    My curiosity is killing me. You are a teaser!

  2. marya46 2
    20 February 2015 at 5:35 am

    If it’s what I think it is at this stage, then it could be about the “prominent NZer.” Right? There was something in the NZH late yesterday about that one and the lifting of name suppression. Political fallout perhaps? But I could be wrong here. However, I wait in anticipation!

    • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1
      20 February 2015 at 9:00 am

      I suspect that may be a different ‘prominent New Zealander’ than the one you’re thinking of.

      In one case, there is a disputed facts hearing under the sentencing act. In the other, a not guilty plea has been entered.

      In one, all facts are ‘suppressed’. In the other, we know what the charges are and we’re allowed to talk about it: twelve counts of indecent assault.

      • vto 2.1.1
        20 February 2015 at 9:05 am

        Does a suppression order prevent people from trying to work out and guess who the person is, out loud? And if in doing so the suppressee is named accidentally, does that breach the order?

        It seems pretty clear who this case is about ……

        • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1.1.1
          20 February 2015 at 9:14 am

          How do you know this is the same case?

        • te reo putake 2.1.1.2
          20 February 2015 at 9:21 am

          “Does a suppression order prevent people from trying to work out and guess who the person is, out loud?”

          Yes, it does. Though speculating in, say, the smoko room or the pub is not really problematic. Speculation in public forums, including blogs like TS, is another matter, so attempting to join the dots in an obvious way should probably be avoided.

          • weka 2.1.1.2.1
            20 February 2015 at 9:28 am

            Although going by what has gotten through moderation on ts, speculating without joining the dots is acceptable.

          • vto 2.1.1.2.2
            20 February 2015 at 9:29 am

            Oh…

            but what gsays below

            it seems suppression orders ignore some basic human traits and that can only lead to failure.

        • gsays 2.1.1.3
          20 February 2015 at 9:22 am

          hi vto, i concur, this is so pythonesque, so catch 22 ish.

          all details are suppressed, so unless you are in the court at the time of suppression and know the details, you are not to know.

          if you are not in the court at the time of the suppression, you dont know, so how can you breach the order if you dont know what it is about.
          to me then speculation is all that is left.
          this potentially leaves vulnerable victims open to more pain.

          • te reo putake 2.1.1.3.1
            20 February 2015 at 9:43 am

            It seems more than likely that the suppression order is in place to protect the victim. That should be uppermost in our minds, I reckon.

            • marty mars 2.1.1.3.1.1
              20 February 2015 at 9:50 am

              exactly – the speculation is gratuitous imo

            • gsays 2.1.1.3.1.2
              20 February 2015 at 9:51 am

              hi trp, while i would like to unreservedly agree with you, our justice system does not work that way.

              they with the most money gets the most favourable treatment.

              there are examples of where renown/celebrity/class have garnered bias in their favour.

              the gist of my post however is that we dont know what we are not supposed to talk about.

            • Tracey 2.1.1.3.1.3
              20 February 2015 at 10:03 am

              suppression of information relating to identifying victims remains suppressed but the name of the accused and other factual details not leading to victim id seem to have been lifted (pending appeal).

              • te reo putake …
                20 February 2015 at 10:09 am

                Cheers for the clarification, Tracey.

              • Naturesong …
                20 February 2015 at 10:27 am

                Does that mean that whoever is the prominent NZer, has been already been convicted, is about to be sentenced.
                And the suppression order is to be lifted after sentencing?

                • weka …
                  20 February 2015 at 10:55 am

                  I think there is confusion here because there are two potential cases being discussed.

                  • Naturesong …
                    20 February 2015 at 11:05 am

                    Yes, my guess is that this piece has something to do with Ben’s twitter explosion the other day.

                    But, as this thread is talking about a “prominant NZer”, I thought it appropriate to ask a general question about his or her sentencing and appeal process.

                    Can anyone tell from the reporting whether or not the prominant person has been convicted?
                    With the mention of time to lodge an appeal, it does sound like a judgement has been made

                    • weka …
                      20 February 2015 at 11:37 am

                      I don’t know which court case you are referring to. There are two.

                    • Naturesong …
                      20 February 2015 at 11:46 am

                      Ahh, ok.

                      Was referring to this one
                      Herald – Thursday Feb 19, 2015: Prominent New Zealander charged with indecent assault loses name suppression

                    • weka …
                      20 February 2015 at 11:51 am

                      Thanks.

                      “The charges faced by the man, who elected trial by jury, can now be revealed.”

                      I took that to mean the trial hasn’t happened yet. Also the article refers to alleged victims, so I’m guessing no conviction yet.

                      (plus I don’t know if that’s the recent prominent NZer, or the one from earlier last year).

                    • Naturesong …
                      20 February 2015 at 11:59 am

                      ok – just trying to get my head around it – guessing I’ll have to wait for the suppression to lift

                    • lprent …
                      20 February 2015 at 12:35 pm

                      But, as this thread is talking about a “prominant NZer”, I thought it appropriate to ask a general question about his or her sentencing and appeal process.

                      There are several cases floating about at present that are or have been under suppression.

                      There was a auckland businessman whose suppression order got lifted recently with his conviction on charges of something like underage sex, supplying minors with P, and being a P addict. (Can’t locate the link)

                      The Northland and political rumor mills are rife with speculation on Mike Sabin to the point that even my normally legally deaf ears keep hearing about it.

                      Mike Sabin has the “personal issues” for which he resigned over. These seem to involve time in court yesterday (someone saw him there).

                      The rumor mill says that there is allegedly some unspecified suppression on details which is why everyone is being coy about it. Exactly if or what is suppressed is an interesting point – which is why I’m not going into any of the details that I have been told about charges or which court or anything else. It’d be nice if the courts would give some warnings about what and where suppression orders are – but I guess that would defeat the point of them.

                      The political and public interest question is if John Key and/or the National party hierarchy knew about whatever is alleged (if anything was) prior to the 2011 election but decided to continue with him as a candidate. The same for the 2014 election and afterwards when he was made chair of the police select committee.

                      Since this is the same group who were involved in selecting him in the first place. Then despite whatever his “personal issues” are, I think that there is a damn good case for a public interest lifting of the alleged suppression order in view of the byelection.

                      The countervailing argument against lifting such a suppression order would probably have to do with that exposing a victim by association and/or awareness of any charges or allegations. Those kinds of blanket suppression of the type I have been told about are usually restricted to sexual charges and/or charges related to the family.

                      But I suspect that we won’t get anything one way or another until after the by-election.

          • McFlock 2.1.1.3.2
            20 February 2015 at 1:04 pm

            However, I think that it’s confirmed that we, as a society, need to be more careful about which New Zealanders we elevate to prominence.

      • Tracey 2.1.2
        20 February 2015 at 10:01 am

        According to the Herald the prominent NZer is charged with 12 counts of indecent assault on 2 complainants.

        name suppression has been denied BUT remains in force allowing 20 days to appeal.

        • Murray Rawshark 2.1.2.1
          20 February 2015 at 1:17 pm

          We also know that it’s the class of indecent assault that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Indecent assault on an adult has a 7 year maximum.

      • Sacha 2.1.3
        20 February 2015 at 11:51 am

        Thanks, OAB. That’s what I thought.

      • rawshark-yeshe 2.1.4
        20 February 2015 at 12:05 pm

        the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive …. could be same citizen …

  3. Pete George 3
    20 February 2015 at 6:11 am

    I’ve seen something interesting unfolding on Twitter that has a Standard connection and collated some of it here – Rachinger previously – and here – Ben Rachinger versus Cameron Slater.

    Ben seemed to quieten down after that but has made some follow up comments:

    If Slater had tweeted what I said and showed you all yesterday, it would have been everywhere. Think about the complicity of your media.

    Not even a peep from the Opposition. I guess everyone wants to pretend politics is a fair ‘game’. Power isn’t a game and it def isn’t fair

    Knowing the way things are twisted and spun, how else was I to get word out? You, who have listened and read, deserve better information.

    Yesterday he quoted Martin Luther King “And one day, some great opportunity stands before you and calls you to stand up for some great principle, some great issue, some great cause” etc.

    And a couple more quotes.

    “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” Albert Einstein

    “To see a wrong and not to expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance.” Dr. John Raymond Baker

    Slater has targeted NZ Herald in particular in his criticisms of old media , and has specifically targeted NZH journalists. So it wouldn’t be surprising to see some interest returned.

    • Skinny 3.1
      20 February 2015 at 7:25 am

      Of course your beady eyes would have lightened up seeing a Little & Mc Carten alleged connection.

      • Pete George 3.1.1
        20 February 2015 at 7:55 am

        Of course you’re make false presumptions. Odd that you think to mention them in relation to this. I don’t think that’s the focus of this story.

        • Skinny 3.1.1.1
          20 February 2015 at 8:23 am

          Oh that Is rich from you Pete after dump posting that nonsense about Little and his late paying of an account, then running away refusing to reply ‘yet again’ I don’t know why I bothered to just write this as you probably won’t comeback till you do
          another dump & run.

          • weka 3.1.1.1.1
            20 February 2015 at 8:30 am

            Voles are commonly mistaken for other small animals. Moles, gophers, mice, rats and even shrews have similar characteristics and behavioral tendencies. Since voles will commonly use burrows with many exit holes, they can be mistaken for gophers or some kind of ground squirrel.

            Voles thrive on small plants yet, like shrews, they will eat dead animals and, like mice or rats, they can live on almost any nut or fruit. Additionally, voles will target plants more than most other small animals, making their presence evident. Voles will readily girdle small trees and ground cover much like a porcupine. This girdling can easily kill young plants and is not healthy for trees or other shrubs.

  4. One Anonymous Bloke 4
    20 February 2015 at 6:37 am

    Ben Rachinger’s Twitter feed has been quite interesting of late.

    I am known as someone who knows about network and computer security, in some circles. You get offered jobs. Would you like to hear about it?…

    I was offered $5,000 and bonuses to hack The Standard and pull out the authors list and keep a Backdoor in.

    I did not. Now you know.

    Lefties need to clean their house. Right wingers need to grow a pair and sort their elites out. Kiwis need to wake up and Stand Up…

    The Police are involved.

    He also posted a text exchange between himself and Slater.

    This would be great clickbait for anyone looking to boost their flaccid statistics. Yawns.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1
      20 February 2015 at 7:00 am

      Lefties need to clean their house.

      I wonder whether he’s talking about web security or people. If the latter, forget it: witchhunts are damaging and ineffectual: has National uncovered Hager’s informants yet?

    • weka 4.2
      20 February 2015 at 8:22 am

      https://twitter.com/B3nRaching3r/status/567512543321530370

      Either that or the vast left wing conspiracy has finally been uncovered and the standard is in the thick of it. 😛

    • Tracey 4.3
      20 February 2015 at 10:05 am

      This makes more sense in conjunction with the Post teaser because the “prominent NZer” and Sabin is not of special interest to The Standard.

      The Post hints at a much more direct link than that, imo, and your post above alludes to that.

    • Colonial Rawshark 4.4
      20 February 2015 at 10:26 am

      I’m not a fan of Ben Rachinger in any way, but he has done a very good thing bringing this piece of dirty politics and tech espionage to light.

      Worth noting that his refusal to participate doesn’t mean that someone else did not.

      Also the state security apparatus can crack The Standard very quickly on their own if they wished to.

      • Anne 4.4.1
        20 February 2015 at 10:41 am

        It has always been in the back of my mind that this government’s dirty political machine would – through one means or another – attempt to access TS for the identities of authors and regular posters. For me, it has served as encouragement to raise the proverbial finger… and comment as much as I like.

        • Colonial Rawshark 4.4.1.1
          20 February 2015 at 10:49 am

          Exactly. Transparency is a form of protection in of itself.

          • weka 4.4.1.1.1
            20 February 2015 at 10:51 am

            For some people. Not for others.

            • Anne 4.4.1.1.1.1
              20 February 2015 at 11:16 am

              True weka. Public Servants, beneficiaries and others employed in areas which have connections of one sort or another with govt, entities are at risk of having their lives/careers diminished if their identities become known. Hence the need for pseudonyms.

              Take note MSM. You are protected by your journalistic status. We are not!

              • Colonial Rawshark …
                20 February 2015 at 12:44 pm

                The kind of society which requires people to act out their lives in a lie is exactly what the Stasi state in East Germany created.

                • weka …
                  20 February 2015 at 2:32 pm

                  The thing that really gets me about it is the left wingers/liberals who are either anti-pseudonym and/or have objections without understanding the dynamics or crucial issues involved (like the one you just pointed out). It’s an area of somewhat alarming ignorance amongst otherwise intelligent people who should know better.

                  • Colonial Rawshark …
                    20 February 2015 at 4:58 pm

                    Some lefties still carry around an innate trust in the activities and objectives of government, the deep state and associated authorities which nowadays may not be warranted.

      • lprent 4.4.2
        20 February 2015 at 12:40 pm

        Yes, but there is little to see. I have no idea why people seem to think that there is.

        Authors either blog under their own names and usual emails, or they blog under pseudonyms and arbitrary email addresses from gmail or under invalid emails. Commentators do the same. We don’t care if an email is valid, and the login system is off unless you are an author or have and login already.

        The public systems are isolated. The systems self-check each others code. I get to see (and usually do) anyone getting logins, logging in, or getting promoted. So ‘backdoors’ have problems at doing anything apart from looking for associations.

        The spy agencies could see everything current if they tapped the net at the access points, and historical if they stored it. But what they would see is exactly what we state. A group of labour movement people doing usual political activities and discussion and their online critics.

        Even the most paranoid fool in the police or security forces would have a real problem making anything of it.

        • weka 4.4.2.1
          20 February 2015 at 1:34 pm

          I had assumed it was mostly email addresses and names/pseudonyms, but also things like IP adresses and other data that might make someone’s RL ID, location etc more guessable or trackable. Given Slater’s history on this, it makes sense people would be unclear and/or cautious about implications.

          The problem isn’t that ts is riddled with Important People that Slater can out. It’s that the whole hacking/DP thing is making people nervous because so much of it is alien either technically or ethically. Upfront explanations like you have just given are good 🙂

  5. Skinny 5
    20 February 2015 at 7:13 am

    These punk hackers if any good get recruited to hack the hackers. Slater is a nerdy character and appears to not have grown up reading some of that crap.

  6. Pascals bookie 6
    20 February 2015 at 8:03 am

    Wee reminder that Key has said he knows who Rawshark is, but he just can’t be bothered really.

    (chances that he does know are v.slim to nil, so just a reminder that he said it, coz he’s a dick)

    • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1
      20 February 2015 at 8:19 am

      Knowing the way things are twisted and spun, how else was I to get word out?

      Rachinger.

      If I didn’t do it, who would have? If I didn’t do it this way, how could it have been done?

      Rawshark.

      Informed speculation is one thing. Proof is another thing entirely.

    • rawshark-yeshe 6.2
      20 February 2015 at 2:09 pm

      eckshully, probably forgotten by now even if he ever did know ???

  7. Tom Jackson 7
    20 February 2015 at 9:02 am

    I predict nothing will come of this.

  8. ankerawshark 8
    20 February 2015 at 12:15 pm

    I trust Lynn completely when doing all he can to protect the Standard from being hacked.

    However given this man’s claims and if they seem credible, it would be helpful to know (eventually) what the Standard’s response might be. I am sure we will, I am not meaning to rush the process, but surely some consideration needs to be given to this?

    Sooner or later if it is true that Slater is trying to procure someone to hack the Standard, he will find someone. Just my opinion is that it would be better to take action sooner rather than once the horse has bolted so to speak.

    • vto 8.1
      20 February 2015 at 12:25 pm

      I think one has to assume that it has been hacked already.

      What say thee mr prent?

      • Colonial Rawshark 8.1.1
        20 February 2015 at 12:46 pm

        I think you are correct in making that assumption, but as lprent said above – there’s not much to see.

        • vto 8.1.1.1
          20 February 2015 at 12:49 pm

          If one is anti-national when they are in power and then anti-labour when they are in power is that better or worse than being just anti one or the other? …. in the eyes of the powerful …. do you think

      • lprent 8.1.2
        20 February 2015 at 1:28 pm

        I always assume that if it hasn’t been, then it will be. The best protection is to not have anything to hide, exceptionally hard to extract information (like bank logins or access to otehr systems), and whole lot of effort to make it bloody hard to plant anything.

      • r0b 8.1.3
        20 February 2015 at 1:28 pm

        As far as I know we have not been hacked.

        I know nothing about networking / security, I take Lynn’s word for it that things are shut down pretty tight. The most likely form of attack is “phishing” / social engineering, authors having weak passwords, that sort of thing. All authors take care!

        However, as per Lynn above, there really is nothing to see. The same names as appear on the front pages and some (usually nonsense) gmail addresses. An occasional internal discussion where we argue with each other far too vigorously. And that’s it.

        (We keep all our huge payments from the well funded Left Wing Conspiracy off site in our HSBC bank accounts of course.)

    • lprent 8.2
      20 February 2015 at 1:32 pm

      I answered that elsewhere. In essence it is that there is little to hide (we are extraordinarily open about what we do and why) and it is bloody hard to monitor without that sending up flags everywhere.

      Everything apart from drafts (which are wiped regularly), authors comments to each other (started after the election and probably wiped regularly) and pretty innocuous compared with what they say in public, and a pile of rubbish emails / and dynamic IPs are public.

      I don’t engage much in private conversations and I don’t store them for later purposes (blackmail? why was blubberboy storing all that crap?)

  9. veutoviper 9
    20 February 2015 at 1:20 pm

    In the light of Twitter conversations over the last hour or so (I am not providing any links), I wouldn’t hold your breath expecting anything in the Herald or other media in the near future on the subject of the original post.

    However, PG’s posting of material from other people’s Twitter feeds seems to now be of concern to that person in terms of being prejudicial to that person’s reputation.

      • rawshark-yeshe 9.1.1
        20 February 2015 at 2:12 pm

        it’s gone already ! o, vole duo …. lol

        • weka 9.1.1.1
          20 February 2015 at 2:27 pm

          He was just asking who PG was, but it was funny because he said PG seemed to like him realllllly a lot. It’s in reference to what veuto said and PG’s blogposts on Ben.

      • Clemgeopin 9.1.2
        20 February 2015 at 4:14 pm

        No access to messages now. It has been PGed, I think.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 9.2
      20 February 2015 at 2:52 pm

      Ben Rachinger’s twitter feed has gone private: what was the gist of the last hour or so?

      • weka 9.2.1
        20 February 2015 at 2:55 pm

        He asked who PG was (funny)

        He said he hasn’t been speaking to the media.

        The week’s been hard so he’s going off for the weekend.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 9.2.1.1
          20 February 2015 at 3:05 pm

          Thanks Weka.

          Translation: I want to be unreachable when the story breaks. Well, that’s what I hope it means 🙂

          • weka 9.2.1.1.1
            20 February 2015 at 3:18 pm

            Maybe. Or he’s been getting some hard out shit from people pissed at him and wants a break for a few days.

            I’m curious about his statement re the media and the notice at the top of this thread. Maybe I’ve been following the wrong people. Anyone had a look at the Herald journo twitter accounts?

            Of course this announcement might have nothing to do with Ben at all and could be something completely different.

      • veutoviper 9.2.2
        20 February 2015 at 3:31 pm

        I have been out for an hour or so. But prior to my comment, discussion and advice, included the legality etc of hacking, receiving and disseminating information from such activities and related matters in terms of both Ben’s situation and Hager’s, sources of further advice and legal expertise on these matters. One participant in the discussion was a well-known lawyer.

        I am not surprised that Ben’s twitter feed has now gone private – in fact that is what I personally would have advised.

        I don’t know Ben but I became aware of him some time ago. Based on what I have read over longer than just the last few days, my perceptions are that while he is quite young, brash at times and sometime rubs people up the wrong way, he is also very intelligent and a deep thinker. At this point, I am not prepared to write him off and wish him well if what he is claiming is true. Time will tell.

        As Weka has noted, he said that he had not been speaking to media and would not be (one or two were trying to get in touch with him yesterday).

        IMHO his comment about PG liking him realllly a lot was sarcasm, based on Ben’s writing style at times. He also mentioned PG’s postings being damaging to his reputation.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 9.2.2.1
          20 February 2015 at 3:37 pm

          Thanks Veuto – very interesting.

          I share your assessment of Rachinger – so far as a Twitter feed is a window into someone’s character. I wonder if some of his remarks might be potentially prejudicial in the event of future legal action.

          And yes, I should think he’d be really impressed by Racist George’s attention 😈

          • veutoviper 9.2.2.1.1
            20 February 2015 at 4:37 pm

            I wonder if some of his remarks might be potentially prejudicial in the event of future legal action.

            Agreed. Personally, I don’t think he should do anything without very good legal advice, particularly talking to the media. I think he is intelligent enough to know this; and possibly now has some leads as to where to get that advice. There are a number of lawyers well up with the play on such matters at present, including no doubt Hager’s legal team.

            http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=11347803

            IIRC the Hager case starts in March – think I saw a tweet on this some time ago but don’t recall where.

        • Anne 9.2.2.2
          20 February 2015 at 4:01 pm

          IMHO his comment about PG liking him realllly a lot was sarcasm,

          Exactly.

  10. the pigman 10
    20 February 2015 at 8:49 pm

    Only been following Rachinger since Lynn alluded to his twitter conversation earlier this week.

    At first I was quite seduced by how he painted himself as an “insider” on DPF/Slater/Odgers and talked of further dumps to come.

    Then I looked a little deeper – specifically at the videos on his youtube channel he made before last year’s election (plenty of Key boosting + referring to Goodfellow’s personal life like it was some big scoop he’d become privy to through his YoungNats activities rather than 2009’s news).

    Relevant facts seem to be:

    – He was/is still a YoungNat that was boosting FJK online as recently as July 2014;
    – He attended some 5 different high schools in his teenage years (as a grammar “old boy”, this is a serious black mark)
    – After his DPF e-mail leak (which was telling and should have garnered MSM attention), he said he was only 0.1% of the way through a dump – in fact nothing followed in the 24hours apart from self-aggrandizing photos of him posing with a bottle of Veuve Cliquot (remind you of anyone?)
    – He considers himself a businessman with one of his businesses being “Social Analytics” (feel a vom coming on, anyone got a bucket?)
    – He has a fairly strong hatred of the Left, including axes to grind against KDC and Chris Trotter, who he accused of hatching a plot to make Slater kill himself (lawl)

    My conclusion is that he is most likely a very troubled/damaged individual with minor delusions of grandeur. He is certainly not Martin Luther King or Einstein. If his leaks re: Farrar and Slater are the subject of something in the weekend papers, I expect their leak will be framed as “more dirty politics from both sides, nothing to see here” at best.

    Sighhh.

    • the pigman 10.1
      20 February 2015 at 8:53 pm

      Ahh where for art thou edit function? The point re: the 5 schools was that the first he lists in his social media profile is Auckland Grammar. Point being that his attendance there might be pretty telling as to his values.. (moreso than the moving around H/S so regularly).

    • Molly 10.2
      20 February 2015 at 9:08 pm

      Yes, his Youtube account seems to be cheerleadering for – if not the National Party, John Key definitely.

      Would treat this with caution.

  11. Neil 11
    20 February 2015 at 9:44 pm

    I just found this article on reddit about Ben Rachinger, http://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/2kvgn4/individual_identifies_himself_as_rawshark_via/
    If you click on the link it takes you to his twitter page.

    • the pigman 11.1
      20 February 2015 at 10:13 pm

      This is just an “I am Spartacus”/”I am Bradley Manning”/”Je suis Charlie” kinda thing… and pretty dated. I think if you read more deeply into this guy’s recent posts (he was actually visited by police and questioned sometime after this tweet) it becomes pretty clear he’s not.

      The saddest part is he seems more wannabe martyr (if you look at his recent posts). He says he has so much more to come on the VRWC but we’ll see, eh…

  12. James 12
    23 February 2015 at 11:48 am

    Nothing that I could see this weekend – I was thinking it may have been in the Sunday Herald.

    Any idea on the timing of whatever this is coming out?

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    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
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