Jarrod Gilbert 1 – Windmills 0

Written By: - Date published: 7:09 am, November 29th, 2015 - 22 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, accountability, climate change, crime, crosby textor, democracy under attack, human rights, john key, Media, police, privatisation, same old national, science, spin, Steven Joyce, uncategorized - Tags: , ,

Wow – that was quick! Wednesday morning, the New Zealand Herald publishes Jarrod Gilbert’s exposure of the Police’s totalitarian controls on academic research and freedom of speech. Three days of MSM and Fifth Estate support for Dr Gilbert ensues. By 10am Saturday morning, the Police Commissioner, Mike Bush, is falling over himself on TV3’s “The Nation” trying to explain how its all been a big mistake.

According to Bush, the contracts researchers were required to sign were “possibly fit for purpose at one stage” and that the intent of the controls was to protect the privacy of individuals.

ORLY? “Possibly? At one stage? To protect New Zealanders?” Utter bullshit, of course, but probably the best his reduced comms team could cook up at short notice. It was probably that group within Police which wrote the contract in the first place. Or some National Ltd™ mate got a fat contract to write it. Whatever, its an excuse for the inexcusable.  Predictably, better effort was put into spoon feeding Bush spin lines suggesting the issue was now dealt with . . .

. . . we will be changing the wording of that policy and what it’s about because the frustrating thing is it’s the opposite that’s true in terms of where we’re at at the moment . . . We’re wanting to build great relationships with academia because we are determined to be a very evidence-based police service.

Huh? “The opposite of what’s true now”? Good grief. You’d think the police would already be a “very evidence based” service.  Yet, if that is its current goal, building great relationships with academia is part of a sensible approach. Hasn’t exactly got off to a good start, though . . .

Response to Dr Gilbert's OIA request for a copy of the file on him held by Police,

Police response to Dr Gilbert’s OIA request for a copy of its file on him.

 

Dr Gilbert said yesterday he was optimistic about this announcement of apparent change but, given his experience with the police over a long period of time, he was taking a wait and see approach. Meanwhile, Dr Gilbert remained less than impressed with the performance of the Minister of Police over this affair. Caught just before scuttling off to his hide-out for three days, Michael “Worm Farm” Woodhouse reckoned it had nothing to do with him. “Its an operational matter”, he squeaked, as the Beehive Escape Hatch slammed shut.

In response, Dr Gilbert suggested that “if a minister of police can’t see that this has wider implications, then he’s not fit to be a minister.” <—BINGO!!

Mopping up for National Ltd™,  Steven “The $43 million Dollar Man” Joyce spontaneously blurted out the mandatory Crosby Textor half-truth distraction: but, but, but . . . Labour did it too. Then, in a stunning act of stark hypocrisy, he said  “as Science and Innovation Minister and Tertiary Education Minister I’d encourage [government agencies] to be as open with their data as is reasonably possible.”

WTF!! Joyce is the man who has trashed the New Zealand scientific research community. Container loads of useful data have been thrown out and there’s no one around to explain what’s left.  Thank’s to Joyce, John Key can now say, on the eve of his departure to Paris for climate change talks,  “my scientists advise me we’ll have a solution to agricultural emissions in 3 – 4 years’

There won’t be “a solution” but, amazingly, John Key wasn’t lying. These days, scientists will tell him whatever he wants them to, however fantastic. Particularly helpful is when time lines conveniently traverse election cycles. Steven Joyce ensured all this by using John Key’s personal Bunsen Honeydew to front the gambit and finished off the gagging process last year. By that stage, National Ltd™ could no longer suffer exposure to truth for fear the public might begin to comprehend its consequences.

Now, with hundreds of millions of dollars of public funds for scientific research heading into the hands of corporates and our scientists mostly gagged, any victory for freedom of speech and academic research is worth savouring. It ain’t easy speaking inconvenient truth under National Ltd™, and its made even more arduous when going up against the Police as well. It takes a toll . . .

harrod gilbert tweet of thanks

. . . no.  Thank you, Dr Gilbert.

22 comments on “Jarrod Gilbert 1 – Windmills 0 ”

  1. Penny Bright 1

    I’ll say it yet again.

    In my view the answer to the question of access to ‘Official Information’ would be simply solved by the full and thorough implementation of the NZ Public Records Act 2005.

    If you haven’t (yet) familiarised yourselves with the statutory provisions of the Public Records Act 2005 – I strongly recommend that you do?

    We already have the legislation, ‘in the law books’ – just sitting there …..

    So – what’s the problem?

    Penny Bright

  2. Gristle 2

    Key maintains that his scientists say the “we’ll have a solution to agricultural emissions in 3-4 years.” Well:
    1. Who is giving this advice
    2. What are the technologies

    And perhaps more importantly
    3. National and various spokesmen from agriculture have been saying just last week that the review of carbon trading schemes have to exclude agriculture because the farmers have no way of controlling agricultural emissions.

    So who is telling the truth here?

    If the tech fix is just around the corner then there is no reason to exclude agricultural emmissions from the scheme. (And this is me with my farmers hat on.) Can anybody provide clarity?

    • Smilin 2.1

      The solution to emissions will not be 3 or 4 years but about 30to 40 yrs if we are lucky to reverse the carnage of the last 30 to 40 yrs AND ESPECIALLY the escalation of the last 7 yrs of polluted atmosphere spewing out of the govt benches
      So fuck off Key and tell your lies to some stupid idiot who will print your BS

  3. Penny Bright 3

    Are you ‘on topic’ with your post about this issue TRP?

    I am.

    How does my not (yet) replying to your question regarding ‘man made’ climate change – make me a ‘hypocrite’?

    I prefer to give a ‘considered opinion’ and you don’t dictate my priories or (unpaid) workload.

    Aren’t you ‘thread-jacking’ on this topic relating to ‘official information’ ?

    Probably best, in my opinion, if you ‘lead by example’ regarding posts on ‘The Standard’ – unless the ‘rules’ have now changed and you can treat replies to any posts effectively as ‘Open Mike’?

    Penny Bright

    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

  4. Ad 4

    Reasonably sick that the Police – sworn to the Queen – are showing more accountability than our own democratically elected government.

  5. Keith 5

    Oh my God yes, Stephen Joyce, the hypocrites hypocrite. He must think we are all the meat heads his propogandist department think we are.

    Stephen Joyce, one of two MEN who micro manage this government from start to finish, probably the one person who is behind the repugnant attitude that the public are to be denied any information that has not been bullshitted up to the max by his Ministry of Truth before hand.

    The police like many other government/taxpayer funded departments are simply following their National bosses established behaviour, bury anything that may embarrass the National Party. But this is coming up a bit too much nowadays and although National have batted off academics before, Jane Kelsey being but one, too many knowledgeable non partisan academics being abused not only is bad, for National it looks bad.

    And so as John Keys public standing sinks, deservedly, so Steve throws the police under the bus to save his own duplicitous arse. Well Stephen I saw through it all too easily and your lying, cheating government is starting to unravel!

  6. veutoviper 6

    Starting right now, Wallace Chapman on RNZ Sunday Mornings is interviewing John Wareham, a NZer who recently returned to NZ from New York after 38 years.

    Wareham is a Pulitzer Prize winning author, poet etc, Amongst his works, is a book on gangs and prison inmates called “How to Break Out of Prison”, based on years of experience working with prison inmates and gangs.

    Sorry for the long google link and excerpt but imho worth reading due to the remarkable relevance to the Jarrod Gilbert situation and revelations.

    https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiUoOmGi7TJAhVLnJQKHUtBCPUQFgg_MAY&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stuff.co.nz%2Flife-style%2Flife%2F73827725%2Fpulitzer-nominated-kiwi-author-returns-to-schooldays-trauma&usg=AFQjCNHGwnpmMI1CIxM2yhd5Kcyz4tnkmA

    ” In the mid-1990s, Wareham had begun work in prison reform. Corporate consultant turned redemptive philanthropist.

    While visiting a friend who was banged up on Rikers Island – the world’s largest penal colony – he was asked to consider teaching writing, leadership and public speaking.

    “I did that one day and they asked me to come back the next week. So I went back the next week and then they asked if I’d come back forever so I kept going back for 20 years.

    “I saw I was making a difference so quickly I would have felt bad if I hadn’t gone back. What I saw was a transformation. The reason the guys liked me was not because I motivated them. I never wanted to be a motivator because that meant when I left they were on their own. I wanted to share ideas with them that would stay with them for the rest of their lives and liberate them.”

    This work led to the start of the Eagles Foundation of America, a non-profit organisation dedicated to developing leaders within the prison population of which he is chief executive.

    It also spawned “How to Break Out of Prison” about his experiences advising and identifying corporate leaders and spotting potential leaders in prison. Wareham, also a poet, published an anthology of poems by prisoners in “How to Survive a Bullet to the Heart”.

    When he left New York his prison inmates gave him a standing ovation and a mass group hug. Fifty guys, murderers mostly, in a huggle. Wareham keeps a card they all signed in a frame above his desk. Pictures of him and his prison students adorn the walls. You get the feeling this is the work he is most proud of.

    In 2007 Wareham tackled the seemingly impossible task of bringing together the Black Power and Mongrel Mob gang members for what he calls a leadership weekend retreat. A korero of epic proportions.

    Despite both warring gangs’ misgivings, Wareham was convinced a truce could be called and at least for a time, some sort of harmony was restored. He became fond of those guys. Even had some of the Black Power members over for dinner.

    The bottom line, he says, is that it is about turning the gang into a force for good.”

    If John Wareham had done the same in NZ, would he also have been ‘blacklisted’ by NZ Police? I suspect so.

    A small mention of the above has been made in the interview, but the main focus is his latest book – a memoir of his experiences as a boarder at Palmerston North Boys High School. Link to interview (still going) is not yet up on RNZ.

  7. Penny Bright 7

    Where have I been ‘dishonest’ with anyone?

    You will get a comprehensive, considered opinion from me on ‘climate change’ – when I am ready.

    (I’ve been a bit busy, doing research on another matter, which apparently I’m one of the only people on the planet, that has considered?

    That the root cause of (most) corruption, is the neo-liberal ‘Rogernomics’ model, where public services and regulatory functions formerly provided by the ‘not for profit’ public service BUREACRACY – has been replaced by multiple layers of ‘for profit’ private sector ‘CONTRACTOCRACY’, where private sector consultants ‘project manage’ works contractors, a number of whom then sub-contract

    So – by the time you get down to the ‘boots and overalls’ who actually DO something productive – you can have up to three layers of pin striped suits ‘clipping the ticket’, and making private profit out of public monies.

    Done any work on this issue?

    ‘Put your mind to it’ and got a considered opinion on this matter?

    That’s ok – you take all the time you need to ‘do your homework’ and think about it.

    I wouldn’t dream of trying to rush or railroad you on something you need time to consider, so you don’t give a trite, ‘sound bite’ shallow response…..

    Thank you for being so interested in my view.

    Kind regards

    Penny Bright

    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    • Smilin 7.1

      Yes reading your comment Penny reminded me where this contractocracy began- back in RDM days or even earlier with Fletchers pinchin contracts with inside govt knowledge off the MOW as it was then fuckin appalling .
      Nothing new it has become a practise entrenched in our govt to about 100% look the other way every time someone blows the whistle on one of these to the point now its Joyces MO in getting the money to all his mates .Instead of any of these freeloaders every being held to account they just stick it in the big washer they keep for cleaning this shit before the public can get the evidence
      Talk about the Mafia, Joyce could teach them new tricks

  8. Penny Bright 8

    You’ll be pleased to know that I raised the issue of implementation and enforcement of the Public Records Act 2005, directly with Labour Leader Andrew Little, yesterday at the Grey Lynn Park Festival.

    I look forward to the Labour Party ‘picking up the ball’ on this matter.

    Penny Bright

    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate

  9. Penny Bright 9

    Yesterday, at the Grey Lynn Park Festival, I encountered Labour Leader Andrew Little, and raised with him directly, my belief that if the Public Records Act 2005 was implemented and enforced in a proper way, then, in my opinion, most problems relating to the provision of Official Information would cease.

    Because arguably most ‘Official Information’ would already be available for public scrutiny – without having to formally request it?

    How can you have transparency or accountability – without proper written records that are available for public scrutiny?

    I look forward to Labour Party MPs (and ALL parties) ‘picking up the ball’ on the Public Records Act 2005.

    Penny Bright

    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate

  10. BLiP 10

    Yep. Labour started the slide into the non-accountability of elected representatives. Just like it started the slide into neoliberalism when it couldn’t control a cabal recalcitrant MPs. National Ltd™, bereft of any notion other than helping out its funders, then took the neoliberal theme and ran away with it. National Ltd™ is doing the same thing here with accountability and having to deal with difficult to manage truth.

  11. …my scientists advise me we’ll have a solution to agricultural emissions in 3 – 4 years…

    One does wonder how they’re going to do that when his government is in the process of destroying AgResearch, and some of the research programmes being scrapped were ones looking at how to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

    • BLiP 11.1

      Factory farming, I’m assuming. You know, keep the unfortunate beasts indoors their whole lives feeding them Indonesian palm kernel and trapping the emissions. Still doesn’t get rid of all the effluent and emissions or the need for copious amounts of fresh water, but, I guess, such “a solution” will be pimped up by the PR folks as a good start, or something. Then again, now that National Ltd™ has followed Labour’s lead on the genetic engineering front, the corporate scientists could invent a milk-producing unicorn that shits gold.

  12. Whateva Next 12

    I also note Dr.Gilbert’s efforts to question police decision before having to resort to media exposure, and also, will they reveal the “other 17 pages” of his “file” when reviewing their policy? and will he have a right of reply?

  13. . . . we will be changing the wording of that policy and what it’s about because the frustrating thing is it’s the opposite that’s true in terms of where we’re at at the moment . . .

    Funny he should say that, because their treatment of Jarrod Gilbert’s research application suggests the policy is very definitely true in terms of where they’re at at the moment. Most likely, what’s really ‘frustrating’ him is being dipped in shit by the media for writing and enforcing such a fucked-up policy – he could always try just not doing shit like this in the first place, that’s always the best way to avoid later embarrassment.

  14. Observer (Tokoroa) 14

    Hi Alwyn

    I take it that in your opinion NZ City Councillors should have no access to Government records.

    Congratulations. Your National masters will heap praise on you. You may even get a photo taken of yourself with Richie McCaw. In your opinion Penny Bright has no right to any rights,

    How ridiculous. But so Tory and so dumb.

    • alwyn 14.1

      @Observer
      I’m afraid I have no idea what you are talking about.
      I have only commented on one thing about Penny in this post. That was in fact defending her and saying that if she was only running for Mayor her views, if any, on Climate Change were irrelevant as that was not a matter for Local Body decisions.
      How you turn that into a comment such as the one above I have no idea.
      Perhaps things have simply got confused by the comment moves BLiP is doing.

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    I arrived home with a head full of fresh ideas about mindfulness and curbing impulsive aspects in my character.On the second night home I grabbed a piece of ginger and began swiftly slicing it on our industrial strength mandolin, the one I have learned through painful experience to treat with ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • More Notes From Stinky Town

    Good morning, folks. Another wee note from a chilly Rotorua morning that looks much clearer than yesterday. As I write, the pink glow in the east is slowly growing, and soon, the palest of blue skies should become a bit more royal.A couple of people mentioned yesterday that I should ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Make it make sense: why axe valuable local projects?

    Last week, Matt looked at how the government wants to pour a huge chunk of civic infrastructure funding for a generation  into one mega-road up North, at huge cost and huge opportunity cost. A smaller but no less important feature of the National Land Transport Plan devised by Minister of Transport ...
    4 days ago
  • Driving blind at higher speeds

    An open letter by experts about plans to raise speed limits warns the “tragic consequence will be more New Zealanders losing their lives or suffering severe injury, along with a substantial burden on the nation's healthcare and rehabilitation services”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • 2024’s unusually persistent warmth

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink My inaugural post on The Climate Brink 18 months ago looked at the year 2024, and found that it was likely to be the warmest year on record on the back of a (than forecast) El Nino event. I suggested “there is a real chance ...
    4 days ago
  • National plan for 2000 more Kiwis a year in prison

    Open for allYesterday, Luxon congratulated his government on a job well done with emergency housing numbers, but advocates have been saying it‘s likely many are on the streets and sleeping in cars.Q&A featured some of the folks this weekend - homeless and in cars. Yes.The government’s also confirmed they stopped ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • I Found a Note in a Tree

    Hi,On most days I try to go on a walk through nature to clear my head from the horrors of life. Because as much as I like people, I also think it’s incredibly important to get very far away from them. To be reminded that there are also birds, lizards, ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Politicians need to lift their game

    Declining trust in New Zealand politicians should be a warning to them to lift their game. Results from the New Zealand Election Study for the 2023 election show that the level of trust in politicians has once again declined. Perhaps it is not surprising that the results, shared as part ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’

    Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    5 days ago
  • A dysfunctional watchdog

    The reality of any right depends on how well it is enforced. But as The Post points out this morning, our right to official information isn't being enforced very well at all: More than a quarter of complaints about access to official information languish for more than a year, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: The threat of a good example

    Since taking office, the climate-denier National government has gutted agricultural emissions pricing, ended the clean car discount, repealed water quality standards which would have reduced agricultural emissions, gutted the clean car standard, killed the GIDI scheme, and reversed efforts to reduce pollution subsidies in the ETS - basically every significant ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vegas Baby

    Good morning, lovely people. Don’t worry. This isn’t really a newsletter, just a quick note. I’m sitting in our lounge, looking out over a gloomy sky. Although being Rotorua, the view is periodically interrupted by steam bursting from pipes and dispersing—like an Eastern European industrial hellscape during the Cold War.Drinking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Why Entrust Needs New Leadership

    I am part of a new team running in the Entrust election in October. Entrust is a community electricity trust representing a significant part of Auckland, set up to serve the community. It is governed by five trustees are elected every three years in an election the trust itself oversees. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • London Bridge is falling down

    In the UK, London is the latest of council groups to signal potential bankruptcy.That’s after Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, went bankrupt in June, resulting in reduced sanitation services, libraries cut, and dimmed streetlights.Some in the city described things as “Dickens” like.Please, Sir, Can I have some more?For families with ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Govt may kick elderly out of hospitals

    The Government is considering how to shunt elderly people out of hospitals, and also how to cut their access to other support. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Getting the nephs off the couch

    The so-called “Prince of the Provinces”, Shane Jones, went home last Friday. Perhaps not quite literally home, more like 20 kilometres down the road from his house on the outskirts of Kerikeri. With its airport, its rapidly growing (mostly retired) population, and a commercial centre with all the big retail ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • De moralibus orcorum: Sargon of Akkad, Rings of Power, Evil, and George R.R. Martin

    I have noted before that The Rings of Power has attracted its unfortunate share of culture war obsessives. Essentially, for a certain type of individual, railing on about the Wokery of Modern Media is a means of making themselves a online livelihood. Clicks and views and advertising revenue, and all ...
    6 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37

    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 8, 2024 thru Sat, September 14, 2024. Story of the week From time to time we like to make our Story of the Week all about us— and ...
    6 days ago
  • Salvation For Us All

    Yesterday, I ruminated about the effects of being a political follower.And, within politics, David Seymour was smart enough on Friday to divert attention from “race blind” policies [what about gender blind I thought - thinking of maternity wards] and cutting school lunches by throwing meat to the media. Teachers were ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A warm embrace

    Far, far away from here lives our King. Some of his subjects can be quite the forelock tuggers, but plenty of us are not like that, and why don't I wheel out my favourite old story once more about Kiwi soldiers in the North African desert?Field Marshal Montgomery takes offence ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Literal clowns are running the place, we must put a timeout on this stupidity… right Aotearoa?

    These people are inept on every level. They’re inept to the detriment of our internal politics, cohesion and increasingly our international reputation. And they are reveling in the fact they are getting away with it. We cannot even have “respectful debate” with a government that clearly rejects the very ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 days ago
  • Fact brief – Does manmade CO2 have any detectable fingerprint?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does manmade CO2 have any ...
    7 days ago
  • Judge Not.

    Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY men and women professing the Christian faith would appear to have imperilled their immortal souls. ...
    7 days ago
  • Managed Democracy: Letting The People Decide, But Only When They Can Be Relied Upon To Give the Righ...

    Uh-uh! Not So Fast, Citizens! The power to initiate systemic change remains where it has always been in New Zealand’s representative democracy – in Parliament. To order a binding referendum, the House of Representatives must first to be persuaded that, on the question proposed, sharing its decision-making power with the people ...
    7 days ago
  • Looking For Labour’s Vital Signs.

    Flatlining: With no evidence of a genuine policy disruptor at work in Labour’s ranks, New Zealand’s wealthiest citizens can sleep easy.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN has walked a picket-line. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has threatened “price-gauging” grocery retailers with price control. The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform situates it well to the left of Sir ...
    7 days ago
  • Forty Years Of Remembering To Forget.

    The Beginning of the End: Rogernomics became the short-hand descriptor for all the radical changes that swept away New Zealand’s social-democratic economy and society between 1984 and 1990. In the bitterest of ironies, those changes were introduced by the very same party which had entrenched New Zealand social-democracy 50 years earlier. ...
    7 days ago
  • Kōrero Mai – Speak to Me.

    Good morning all you lovely people. 🙂I woke up this morning, and it felt a bit like the last day of school. You might recall from earlier in the week that I’m heading home to Rotorua to see an old friend who doesn’t have much time. A sad journey, but ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Winning ways

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Street architecture adjustment, KolkataShare Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • 48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million years

    Despite fears that Trump presidency would be disastrous for progress on climate change, the topic barely rated a mention in the Presidential debate. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Using blunt instruments and magical thinking to ignore evidence of harm

    The abrupt cancellations and suspensions of Government spending also caused private sector hiring, spending, and investment to freeze up for the first six months of the year. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāThis week we learned:The new National/ACT/NZ First Coalition Government ignored advice from Treasury that it didn’t have to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power Episode 5 (Seaso...

    Another week of The Rings of Power, season two, and another confirmation that things are definitely coming together for the show. The fifth Episode of season one represented the nadir of the series. Now? Amid the firmer footing of 2024, Episode Five represents further a further step towards excellent Tolkien ...
    1 week ago
  • In Open Seas; A Book

    The background to In Open Seas: How the New Zealand Labour Government Went Wrong:2017-2023Not in Narrow Seas: The Economic History of Aotearoa New Zealand, published in 2020, proved more successful than either I or the publisher (VUP, now Te Herenga Waka University Press) expected. I had expected that it would ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 13

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the climate implications of the US Presidential elections; and special guests Janet ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Do or do not. There is no try

    1. Upon receiving evidence that school lunches were doing a marvellous job of improving outcomes for students, David Seymour did what?a. Declared we need much more of this sort of good news and poured extra resources and funding into them b. Emailed Atlas network to ask what to do next c. Cut ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Dangerous ground

    The Waitangi Tribunal has reported back on National's proposed changes to gut the Marine and Coastal Area Act and steal the foreshore and seabed for its greedy fishing-industry donors, and declared it to be another huge violation of ti Tiriti: The Waitangi Tribunal has found government changes to the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris

    In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’

    Treasury’s advice to Cabinet was that the new Government could actually prudently carry net core Crown debt of up to 50% of GDP. But Luxon and Willis instead chose to portray the Government’s finances as in such a mess they had no choice but to carve 6.5% to 7.5% off ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Tourism on the table for Pacific Ministers’ meet-up

    Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey will meet with Trade and Tourism Minister of Australia Don Farrell and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica in Rotorua this weekend for a trilateral tourism discussion. “Like in New Zealand, tourism plays a significant role in Australia and Fiji’s economy, contributing massively to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Young people report on family and sexual violence

    The Te Puna Aonui Expert Advisory Group for Children and Young People has presented its report today on improving family and sexual violence outcomes for young people, to the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour.  The presentation at the Auckland event was an opportunity for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • $18 million being invested in the victims of crime

    The Government is putting more than $18 million towards improving the experience of the criminal justice system for victims, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Minister for Children Karen Chhour say. “No one should experience crime, but for those who through no fault of their own become victims, they need to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Landmark phonics check in te reo Māori

    For the first time, schools can use a purpose-built tool to check how a child is progressing in reading through te reo Māori. “Around 45 schools are trialling a New Zealand first te reo Māori phonics check, known as Hihira Weteoro. It will help kaiako (teachers) focus on what ākonga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • New sea walls safeguard Ōpōtiki’s transformation

    Two new breakwater walls at Pākihikura (Ōpōtiki) Harbour will provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in Bay of Plenty, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say. The Ministers and leaders from Tē Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea and other ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kitmap to improve access to science infrastructure

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced an online platform to optimise the use of New Zealand’s science and technology research infrastructure and to link the public and private sector. “This country is home to world-class science, technology, and engineering expertise. Kitmap is set to empower Kiwi innovators, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Driving the uptake of low emission heavy vehicles

    The Government has launched the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (LEHVF) to promote innovation and offset the cost of hundreds of heavy vehicles powered by clean technologies, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts say. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech on replacing the Resource Management Act

    Replacing the RMA Hon Chris Bishop: Good morning, it is great to be with you. Can I first acknowledge the Resource Management Law Association for hosting us here today. Can I also acknowledge my Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Simon Court, who is on stage with me. He has assisted me in establishing the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Replacement for the Resource Management Act takes shape

    Two new laws will be developed to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), with the enjoyment of property rights as their guiding principle, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say. “The RMA was passed with good intentions in 1991 but has proved a failure in practice. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tough laws pass to make gang life uncomfortable

    Legislation passed through Parliament today will provide police and the courts with additional tools to crack down on gangs that peddle misery and intimidation throughout New Zealand, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “From November 21, gang insignia will be banned in all public places, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New levy rates set to ensure continued funding of FENZ

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the rates for the redesigned levy that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) from July 2026.  “Earlier this year FENZ consulted publicly on a 5.2 percent increase to the levy. I was not convinced that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Police allocate Officers to Beat and Gang Units

    The Coalition Government welcomes Police’s announcement today to deploy more police on the beat and staff to Gang Disruption Units.  An additional 70 officers will be allocated to Community Beat Teams across towns and regional centres.  This builds on the deployment of beat officers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CBDs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Consultation begins on significant updates to the biosecurity system

    Proposals to strengthen the country’s vital biosecurity system, including higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods, greater flexibility around importing requirements, and fairer cost sharing for biosecurity responses have been released today for public consultation. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says “The future is about resilience and the 30-year-old ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Wānaka community to benefit from new overnight health service

    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says an Overnight Acute Care Service opening in October will provide people in Wānaka and the surrounding area with the assurance of quality overnight care closer to home.  “When I was in Wānaka earlier this year, I announced funding for an overnight health service – ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Preventing potholes with data-driven technology

    The Government is rolling out data collection vans across the country to better understand the condition of our road network to prevent potholes from forming in the first place, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key priority for the Government and increasing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • GDP data shows effect of high interest rates

    Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the quarter to June 2024 reinforces how an extended period of high interest rates has meant tough times for families, businesses, and communities, but recent indications show the economy is starting to bounce back, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ data released today ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ to host first Fiji, Australia trilateral trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will host Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica and Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for trilateral trade talks in Rotorua this weekend. “Fiji is one of the largest economies in the Pacific and is a respected partner for Australia and New Zealand,” Mr McClay says. Australia and New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ hosts Annual CER Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will meet with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua this weekend.  “CER is our most comprehensive agreement covering trade, labour mobility, harmonisation of standards and political cooperation. It underpins an important trading relationship worth $32 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government proposing changes to jury trials

    The Government is seeking the public’s feedback on two major changes to jury trials in order to improve court timeliness, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “The first proposal would increase the offence threshold at which a defendant can decide to have their case heard by a jury. “The second is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Business key to regional economic dialogue

    Local businesses and industries need to be front and centre in conversations about how regions plan to grow their economies, Regional Development Shane Jones says. The nationwide series of summits aims to facilitate conversations about regional economic growth and opportunities to drive productivity, prosperity and resilience through the Coalition Government’s Regional ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • More funding for Growing Up in New Zealand study

    The Government is investing $16.8 million over the next four years to extend the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) Longitudinal Study. GUiNZ is New Zealand’s largest longitudinal study of child health and wellbeing and has followed the lives of more than 6000 children born in 2009 and 2010, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tough targets for charter schools will raise achievement

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that Charter Schools will face a combination of minimum performance thresholds and stretch targets for achievement, attendance and financial sustainability. “Charter schools will be given greater freedom to respond to diverse student needs in innovative ways, but they will be held to a much ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ votes for Middle East resolution at UN

    New Zealand has voted for a United Nations resolution on Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian Territory with some caveats, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand’s yes vote is fundamentally a signal of our strong support for international law and the need for a two-state solution,” Mr Peters says.    “The Israel-Palestine ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Honouring the legacy of New Zealand’s suffragists

    Suffrage Day is an opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s commitment to ensuring we continue to be a world leader in gender equality, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg says. “On 19 September, 131 years ago, New Zealand became the first nation in the world where women gained the right to vote. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Foreign Minister to travel to New York, French Polynesia

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to New York next week to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, followed by a visit to French Polynesia. “In the context of the myriad regional and global crises, our engagements in New York will demonstrate New Zealand’s strong support for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Thanking social workers on their national day

    “Today, on Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers’ Day, I would like to recognise the tremendous effort social workers make not just today, but every day,” Children’s Minister and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour says. “I thank all those working on the front line for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister of State for Trade heads to Laos for ASEAN meetings

    Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg will travel to Laos this week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ Meetings in Vientiane.   “The Government is committed to strengthening our relationship with ASEAN,” Ms Grigg says. “With next year marking 50 years since New Zealand became ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Members appointed to retail crime MAG

    The Government has appointed four members to the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “I am delighted to appoint Michael Hill’s national retail manager Michael Bell to the group, as well as Waikato community advocate and business ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation AGM and Conference 2024

    It’s my pleasure to be here to join the opening of the NZNO AGM and Conference for 2024.  First, I’d like to thank NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku, NZNO President, Anne Daniels, and Chief Execuitve Paul Gaulter for inviting me to speak today.  Thank you also to all the NZNO members ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Improvements for New Zealand authors

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says changes to the Public Lending Right [PLR] scheme will help benefit both the National Library and authors who have books available in New Zealand libraries. “I am amending the regulations so that eligible authors will no longer have to reapply every year ...
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    4 days ago
  • Minister commends Police for gang operation

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell congratulates Police for the outstanding result of their most recent operation, targeting the Comancheros. “That Police have been able to round up the majority of the Comancheros leadership, and many of their patched members and prospects, shows not only the capability of Police, but also shows ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New appointments to the EPA board

    Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has announced a major refresh of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board with four new appointments and one reappointment.   The new board members are Barry O’Neil, Jennifer Scoular, Alison Stewart and Nancy Tuaine, who have been appointed for a three-year term ending in August 2027.  “I would ...
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    4 days ago
  • Enabling rural recovery works in Hawke’s Bay

    Cabinet has approved an Order in Council to enable severe weather recovery works to continue in the Hawke’s Bay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell say. “Cyclone Gabrielle and the other severe weather events in early 2023 caused significant loss and damage to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • FamilyBoost childcare payment registrations open

    From today, low-to-middle-income families with young children can register for the new FamilyBoost payment, to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs. The scheme was introduced as part of the Government’s tax relief plan to help Kiwis who are doing it tough. “FamilyBoost is one of the ways we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prioritising victims with tougher sentences

    The Government has today agreed to introduce sentencing reforms to Parliament this week that will ensure criminals face real consequences for crime and victims are prioritised, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. "In recent years, there has been a concerning trend where the courts have imposed fewer and shorter prison sentences ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Targets data confirms rise in violent crime

    The first quarterly report on progress against the nine public service targets show promising results in some areas and the scale of the challenge in others, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “Our Government reinstated targets to focus our public sector on driving better results for New Zealanders in health, education, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Asia Foundation Board appointments announced

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the appointments of Hone McGregor, Professor David Capie, and John Boswell to the Board of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.  Bede Corry, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has also been appointed as an ex-officio member. The new trustees join Dame Fran Wilde (Chair), ...
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    5 days ago
  • Endeavour Fund projects for economic growth

    New Zealand’s largest contestable science fund is investing in 72 new projects to address challenges, develop new technology and support communities, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. “This Endeavour Fund round being funded is focused on economic growth and commercial outputs,” Ms Collins says. “It involves funding of more ...
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    5 days ago
  • Social Services Providers Whakamanawa National Conference 16 September 2024

    Thank you for the introduction and the invitation to speak to you here today. I am honoured to be here in my capacity as Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, and Minister for Children. Thank you for creating a space where we can all listen and learn, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Parihaka infrastructure upgrades funded

    The Government will provide a $5.8 million grant to improve water infrastructure at Parihaka in Taranaki, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say. “This grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will have a multitude of benefits for this hugely significant cultural site, including keeping local ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

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