Irascible: The Herald and Key duck, scuttle and run as Donghua Liu story loses credibility

Written By: - Date published: 2:19 pm, June 28th, 2014 - 35 comments
Categories: john key - Tags: , , , ,

Reposted from The Irascible Curmudgeon.

John Key - spy vs lieIt looks like the powers that be on the Herald’s editorial board are starting to realise that being a paid shill for the Key owned National Party is not as wise a move as they thought. Particularly as the realisation that the allegations fed from John Key and  those around Donghua Liu are proving to be a quicksand that is sucking the already doubtful credibility of the paper as a crusading, principled record of fact away from it.

The self parodying editorial (27.6.14) was the beginning of the duck strategy and, today, the normally rabid Key adoration puffer, Fran O’Sullivan, began to drop the blame for the fiasco on Key’s desire to extract utu on Cunliffe for daring to reveal the extent to which National Party cabinet ministers have been prepared to go in the quest for largesse from foreign property speculators and “investor immigrants”. Her comments (Irascible’s italics) that:

It was lack of discipline when he recently fuelled the journalistic flames on the so-called Donghua Liu donations scandal from the comfortable distance of the US.

He appeared to have forgotten a basic rule of politics — don’t fan the flames of scandal unless you are sure where it will finish up. It’s understandable that Key was tempted to indulge in some gotcha politics himself after a torrid month where he had to put Judith Collins on Cabinet leave after the Oravida affair and ask for Maurice Williamson’s ministerial resignation after he intervened in a police matter involving the Chinese business investor.

It must have been pure utu to watch while the proverbial was thrown back all over Labour after Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse informed Key there was an 11-year-old pro forma letter in the files that showed Cunliffe wrote to authorities on Liu’s behalf over his residency application.

The Prime Minister wasn’t the direct source of the Liu “revelations” (I use that word advisedly as many of the more hyperbolic Liu claims have since proved to be a mirage).

Herald investigative journalist Jared Savage, who broke the story which led to Williamson’s resignation, had already sought Liu’s immigration file under the Official Information Act. But it isinstructive in that it was sources close to National who shopped the story of Liu’s anonymous donations to Labour elsewhere after Woodhouse had accessed the file.

National has not played a straight bat on this story.

Woodhouse has yet to explain why he initially told porkies by denying he had informed Key about the Cunliffe letter — something that may have been literally true but skated over the fact he had told the prime minister’s staff about the letter (and one from former Labour MP Chris Carter) and his office had provided both letters to Key’s office.

While Cunliffe was obviously stitched up over the Liu letter, the political donor’s subsequent “misstatements” have left thoughtful people wondering whether it was indeed Labour that had proven tricky — as National’s meme invites us to believe — or the governing party.

… reveal some deep disquiet emerging within the party political PR machine behind Key and the National Party.

"Smile, Wave, brain-fade, scuttle and run" The stategists in confrence?

“Smile, Wave, brain-fade, scuttle and run” The stategists in confrence?

The history of the Donghua Liu scandal is revealing, as commented on in earlier postings and by other commentators, because of its obvious links to the scandal spreading blog sites closely connected to the Ninth Floor of the Beehive and the readiness of The Herald to swallow without due diligence the statement given it by, to quote Fran O’Sullivan, those close to National … after Woodhouse had accessed the file.

And, now, as the allegations begin to unravel and there is colder, closer and more focused examination of the apparent deliberate anti-Labour campaign being waged by the opinionista in The Herald the classic Key strategy of “smile, wave, brain fade, scuttle and run” is being followed in an attempt to extricate the news-sheet from the  mess it helped create.

35 comments on “Irascible: The Herald and Key duck, scuttle and run as Donghua Liu story loses credibility ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Gruntie 1
    29 June 2014 at 7:16 am

    Last Sunday, by 3 of my close family members, one a Green voter and 2 NActs tried to smear the shit all over Lsbour and David Cunliffe – I asked for their evidence of any wrong doing by DC – haven’t heard from them yet – still waiting for an apology. I will never buy another Herald as long as I live, and I’m looking forward to those arseholes putting up a paywall – hope they burn in the gutter.

    • Vicky32 1.1
      29 June 2014 at 6:16 pm

      They are deffo putting up a pay wall, I had an online survey about it the other day, asking which perks I would pay for, and what was the lowest price I’d pay for a monthly fee…
      Vicky

  2. tc 2
    29 June 2014 at 7:19 am

    Imo you give the herald far too much undeserved credit.

    they played their role as they do not question or fact check any nat minister and especially the pm, business as usual for granny.

    now they will do like key and diffuse, bluster, spin and drop it all together once the published hand wringing is done.

    Granny is a tawdry shill for this nasty corrupt govt caught out playing their game any contrition is another charade.

  3. Paul 3
    29 June 2014 at 7:24 am

    I will not buy this rag again.

  4. karol 4
    29 June 2014 at 7:50 am

    Herald on Sunday issues an almost and weak apology – buried amidst an article, and under a misleading heading – not good enough. It should be as big front page news as their nasty smear campaign.

    “Labour and Liu: Businessman clarifies spending”

    First the article recaps the smear campaign as though they had no real hand in the smear. Then this:

    We regret reporting the $100,000 was for wine only.

    Labour has said it has no record of any payments from Liu, and that the Yangtze River trip and rowing donation are separate from the party. Labour leader David Cunliffe wishes to make it clear the alleged donations, if they did occur, were six years before his leadership began.

    • veutoviper 4.1
      29 June 2014 at 8:15 am

      As you say, an almost and weak apology. lost in the depths of the Politics section, And with no name to the article.

      They also appear to stand by the statement that Liu contributed about $100,000 – including the donations to the HB Rowing Club ($2k) and the Yangtze river trip ($50k) which were not donations to Labour.

      BUT, in today’s ‘clarification’, they make no mention of the claim by Liu that the Herald originally reported, that Liu had made similar payments to National as he had to Labour. The only Liu donation declared by National is $22k in 2012. So were is the rest?

    • Chooky 4.2
      29 June 2014 at 10:10 am

      Labour Party has very good grounds for suing imo….and the rest of New Zealand will be behind them!

      ….Labour needs to take a very hard stand on this Chinese Lui corruption in the National Party… or either the mud will stick on Labour where Lui, Key and the Herald have illegitimately tried to smear them

      ….. or Labour will appear weak!…and no one wants to vote for a weak Party…least of all the New Zealand working class male!

  5. NZJester 5
    29 June 2014 at 8:11 am

    Strangely one person has not yet ducked for cover as Rodney Hide just put up a story advocating for the Police to be brought in to search for the illusive Liu donations the Herald was unable to find any evidence about.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11283826
    He seriously wants the police to search to see if any trace can be found of a Liu donation to Labour.
    What does he expect the police to do if they did happen find a donation? Does he seriously want them to prosecute someone even though no law would have been broken? Lets have the police stop investigating actual crimes and have them search for evidence about something that if proved would not be in any way illegal.

    • veutoviper 5.1
      29 June 2014 at 8:27 am

      Haven’t yet read Hide, but this (now somewhat dated) post by Andrew Geddis at Pundit addresses the legal situation and why the Police should noat be involved. In brief, the donations law in place in 2007 had a six month limitation even if any donations were in fact illegal.

      http://pundit.co.nz/content/maybe-it-was-a-bottle-of-armand-de-brignac-nebuchadnezzar-champagne

      The amended legislation that came into force in late 2008 is much stricter in relation to the amounts and declaration of donations etc, so if there were any improper/non-declared donations by Liu, these could be ones that he has supposedly made to National. According to the earlier reports by the Herald, Liu has said that he has made similar donations to National as he made to Labour – yet the only reported/declared donation to National is $22k in 2012.

      • Grumpy 5.1.1
        29 June 2014 at 9:54 am

        As I see it, the call to involve the police is nothing to do with electoral law, it is because if Liu is correct and he has given Labour money, and if Labour is correct in that they have no record of it, then there is a possibility of theft. I would have thought Labour itself would be calling in the police in these circumstances.

        • Chooky 5.1.1.1
          29 June 2014 at 10:17 am

          Liu cant prove it ..or he would have already…he is lying….and the police have better things to do with their time!

          …the onus is on Key and Liu and the Herald to prove their allegations

          …and Labour should sue for defamation and attempted corruption of the New Zealand democratic process and Election by a false smearing campaign

    • Lloyd 5.2
      29 June 2014 at 4:39 pm

      I suspect Rodney’s article was written several days ago, or Rodney has been asleep for several days, as Rodney did not ask for the Police to look for the missing $78,000 donation to National.

  6. Bob 6
    29 June 2014 at 8:42 am

    So now that Granny has to back off the Editorial bias to save the last shred of credibility, they roll out Hide to drag it all up again. Unbelievable!

  7. freedom 7
    29 June 2014 at 8:51 am

    ‘All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. Boy. we really stuffed up on that Liu fiasco didn’t we?. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks ‘
    -NZ Herald

  8. cogito 8
    29 June 2014 at 9:15 am

    Has anyone else experienced excessive “moderation” while commenting on this story – and others – on 3News? Seems that pointed comments (as opposed to wordy ramblings) against Key get removed and the poster gets banned. Has now happened to me twice. This sort of gestapo behaviour does 3News no credit at all and does absolutely nothing for free speech.

  9. lurgee 9
    29 June 2014 at 9:26 am

    It’s pretty sad how desperately some on the left are clinging on to this. It’s stupid, as it is just keeping the story in the news and people will be wondering if there is fire where the smoke is. After all, in the public’s mind, Labour haven’t disproven the allegations. It’s our party and our leader that are hurting the more this story is discussed, not Key and National. It also makes us look small, whiney and constantly reactive.

    The media, as I recall, reported the story of the alleged GCSB tape Shearer made, which turned out to be false, or at least unproven, Stop complaining constantly about media bias. It’s reality. It happens all around the world. Look at what the British Labour Party has to put up with – only ejected in 2010, associated with the economic collapse of 2008, Iraq, 1000% more media bias, Ed Milliband – but they’re comfortably ahead in opinion polls. It only seems to be crippling the NZ Labour party. Why not just admit that it isn’t media bias that has us languishing at 28%. It’s because we’re weak, constantly out-foxed, paranoid and failing to talk up positive reasons for voting for us.

    Look at the number of posts and comments about this story, compared to the recent (positive) policy announcements by Labour. This place is clutterred with dross making Labour look shamefully weak, confused and childishly upset about everything.

    Why would anyone vote for such a party?

    • freedom 9.1
      29 June 2014 at 10:00 am

      The Liu story is about influence on our democratic process and Labour is getting many pats on the back for standing up to the Herald’s smear campaign. The public comments that filled the stands plainly show how the public saw through the pre show amateurism and the mexican waves of admonition proves those who think they make the rules have a fight on their hands. Labour’s story has not changed. They have not rewritten answers, twisted statements or trotted out dolled up sycophants to juggle facts like sideshow clowns.

      They have not fabricated flimsy fences to reign in roaming realities. They have stood proudly, they have stood together, they are obviously united when stating what the facts show. If you think they could do more to show how firm a line they currently hold, I am at a loss as to what that might be.
      They cannot control what the media do any more than we can. I am not even a Labour voter but have been impressed by the way they have handled this smear.

      The campaign proper soon begins and the strength shown by Labour this past week was more than just a warm up as they head out onto the pitch.

      The opposition is unsettled to say the least. It is time to see what Labour’s haka has in store.

      • lurgee 9.1.1
        29 June 2014 at 10:16 am

        My point was not so much the Labour response as the constant wailing and gnashing on here about it.

        I don’t think the opposition are all that bothered. They are sitting at 45% in the polls and Labour are praying Winston gets back. Labour, you will recall, are the party of the working class, and on a slightly broader definition, the party that (in theory) represents the interests of about 90% of New Zealanders. But they are only getting 30% of the vote. Something is very utterly stupendously wrong, and it isn’t ll down to the obsession hereabouts with ‘media bias.’

        • Chooky 9.1.1.1
          29 June 2014 at 10:24 am

          @lurgee

          …you dont think corruption, lying and subversion of our democratic system is important?
          ….you dont think corruption in the National Party is important…grovelling for money from a disreputable Chinese business immigrant who buys influence and lies?
          ….you dont think a smear campaign against Labour by the Herald is important?

          …you think it should be dropped ?!…this is a sad reflection on yourself…because many New Zealanders are disgusted!

          • lurgee 9.1.1.1.1
            29 June 2014 at 12:10 pm

            This is not about corruption, influence or what-have-you. It is about the glaring hole where Labour’s vision, passion and policies are meant to be, and the continual wailing here about the ‘media bias’ as if that was the reason Labour were so dismally behind in the polls. Still, feel free to carry on missing the point.

            I notice ANOTHER post has been made on this topic since I checked this morning.

            Just. Get. Over. It.

            • Clemgeopin 9.1.1.1.1.1
              29 June 2014 at 12:47 pm

              But Labour simply can not afford not to react and respond, can they?

              True, we need to focus on our policies too at the same time and more actively from now on.

  10. jaymam 10
    29 June 2014 at 10:02 am

    Since you like the picture above (that I supplied) of Key, DPF and Slater so much, I am prepared to divulge how these pictures can be obtained. I do have a valid email address now, but it’s not getting any replies.

  11. Saarbo 11
    29 June 2014 at 10:13 am

    “the normally rabid Key adoration puffer, Fran O’Sullivan, …”

    Im not sure if Fran O is a rabid Key adoration puffer, but she is free market adoration puffer, anything that might resemble government intervention she will attack.

    When it comes to the leaders she understands David Cunliffes economic/business skills and provides him with positive coverage…it sticks out in the NZH. I think she also understands that Labour has the economic policies that are more responsible and will leave the nation better off in the long term.

  12. tsmithfield 12
    29 June 2014 at 10:32 am

    It seems people here have missed reading this article.

    Note that despite the public comments from Labour that seemed to imply Liu was either lying or wrong, Labour seems to have stepped back from its previous rhetoric. From the article:

    Labour Party general secretary Tim Barnett confirmed that a lawyer for the party had contacted Liu’s legal counsel but was yet to receive a substantive reply.

    “The Labour Party has no dispute with Mr Liu because we have seen no evidence that he has published false information about us.”

    Also, it looks to me that Labour’s attempts to discredit Liu have motivated him to prove his own position in a manner that could prove highly embarrassing for Labour.

    Aucklander Paul Davison, QC, is heading a team of advisers for Liu reviewing the property developer’s records following the comments of David Cunliffe this week.

    The Weekend Herald understands this includes more than 30 photographs taken over 18 months linking Liu to Labour, including a fundraiser at an Auckland restaurant and a trip to China, where he hosted a Cabinet minister in 2007.

    Also a couple of teasing posts from Whaleoil suggest more revelations just around the corner.

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/06/tick-tick-tick-tick/

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/06/coming-theatre-near/

    Could be an interesting week this week. Perhaps Labour are going to get what they have been asking Liu to provide.

    • Pascal's bookie 12.1
      29 June 2014 at 11:25 am

      roflnui

    • framu 12.2
      30 June 2014 at 8:52 am

      “we have seen no evidence that he has published false information about us.”

      maybe because no-ones shown them any evidence and it was the herald who published it?

      usually the first step in bringing in the lawyers is a standard “weve heard you said this – can you send us the evidence so we can decide if further steps are required?”

      and the article linked to is by jared savage – who is neck deep in the creation of the whole bucket of bullshit in the first place. I wont even bother mocking you for using a whale oil link – its too easy

      jebus TS – your argument was rather full of holes

  13. Tom Bradford 13
    29 June 2014 at 10:40 am

    “The Key owned National Party”?

    Given that Key is himself likely still owned by Merrill Lynch, that makes the National Party what?

    And the Government of New Zealand what?

  14. Tautoko Viper 14
    29 June 2014 at 10:51 am

    The Herald has a chance to salvage something out of this fiasco if it

    1. Reveals WHO gave the Herald the 3 May Liu “statement”
    2. Finds out and reveals WHO actually wrote the 3 May statement

    because this statement was printed by the Herald in good faith that it was true and accurate.
    The Herald should be directing its venom towards those who wrote and gave this misinformation to them. Both the Herald and Labour are the victims here. The Herald should have checked before publishing so any loss of reputation is not the fault of the Labour Party and needs to be taken on board by the Herald. There is little evidence that this has happened to date.

  15. Clemgeopin 15
    29 June 2014 at 11:30 am

    Regarding this Immigration minister, Woodhouse, apart from him dishing out ‘dirt’ on Cunliffe to Key, by way of the 13 year old 2005 letter, another aspect of his behaviour is very shameful and unbecoming: That is that this cabinet minister personally went and met this Liu fellow at Liu’s place in order to take his suggestions regarding immigration rules.

    The more propriety thing would have been to ask Liu to write a submission or at best to invite him to the minister’s office to discuss the issue. How cheap and improper for a cabinet minister to go and meet this party donor instead!

    The following report says this:
    “He even made a special visit, meeting Mr Liu at his hotel — the Boulevard Hotel in New Market, Auckland, the hotel where Mr Liu assaulted his de-facto partner and Mr Williamson interfered in the police case”

    In my opinion, this act alone should be grounds enough to sack this disgraceful minister.
    Don’t you agree?

    Here is the full report of this shameful National episode:

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Woodhouse-discussed-immigration-with-Liu/tabid/1607/articleID/343193/Default.aspx

  16. Tom Gould 16
    30 June 2014 at 8:50 am

    There is something sinister and a bit frightening about the new National Party that Key and his cronies have created. We have not seen its like here in New Zealand before, a massively well funded permanent campaign at every level, including character assassination and personal attack, all carefully coordinated using the resources of government, party, business and media. It could be so easily dismissed as a crazy left-wing conspiracy, but the Herald’s over-reaching has cracked the façade. Could this be the beginning of the end for the myth of that nice man John Key?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    3 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in top of the south’s roading resilience
    $12 million to improve the resilience of roads in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions Hope Bypass earmarked in draft Government Policy Statement on land transport $127 million invested in the top of the south’s roads since flooding in 2021 and 2022 The Government is investing over $12 million to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • New Zealanders continue to support the revitalisation of te reo as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Mā...
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