John Key threatens Human Rights Commission funding

Written By: - Date published: 3:03 pm, July 12th, 2013 - 76 comments
Categories: democracy under attack, Politics - Tags: ,

John Key morphing to muldoon

John Key does not seem to have a very high opinion of law.  He thinks that legal opinions are something that can shopped around for and if he does not like an opinion he just needs to go out and get another one.

The Human Rights Commission has found this out today.  It reported to the Government that the GCSB bill poses an unacceptable risk to rights of privacy.  In a press release Chief David Rutherford is quoted as saying:

“The Commission is concerned that the proposed Bills are wide-reaching without sufficient safeguards against abuse of power. There is inadequate oversight and inadequate provision for ensuring transparency and accountability. The Commission notes media reports that these issues are matters of discussion between some of the leaders of political parties in New Zealand.

“The Commission recognises that some level of surveillance is inevitable and justifiable from a human rights perspective in a democratic society. However, surveillance can be subject to human rights principles, protecting human rights and limiting them only when proportionate and justified and in accordance with the law.

“The right to privacy is fundamental in a democracy and reinforces other fundamental rights, such as rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. The proposed restrictions on the right to privacy are too general to be proportionate to the Bills’ objectives.

“We note that the Bills were introduced before the recent media exposure of the extent of mass surveillance by some States party to the Five Eyes arrangement. Public trust in Government intelligence agencies is at risk if surveillance activities aren’t being conducted appropriately and seen to be so.

“It is in the interests of our intelligence agencies to have appropriate transparency and accountability mechanisms in place to maintain public trust. We believe much of the public’s concerns could be alleviated if there was satisfactory oversight of surveillance powers and we propose an independent cross-party select committee to oversee intelligence agencies”.

One of the Commission’s statutory powers functions is to report to the Prime Minister on “the implications of any proposed legislation (including subordinate legislation) or proposed policy of the Government that the Commission considers may affect human rights”.  It can do this at any time.  When doing so it is not making a submission on a bill but exercising an important role of providing independent advice directly to the Prime Minister.

John Key has dismissed the Commission’s report and told the organisation to “pull its socks up” for not making a submission on time.  He has made a veiled threat about the HRC’s funding.  The Otago Daily Times contains the following:

“I think the Human Rights Commission actually should take a step back and ask themselves the question why they didn’t put a submission in on time. They are funded by the government and they were the only people that actually couldn’t make the deadline.”

He dismissed the commission’s concerns that there would be a lack of and oversight and accountability, and that the public’s trust in intelligence agencies would be further eroded.

“Actually the bill narrows the GCSB’s scope in its current form, it doesn’t extend it,” he said.

“I actually don’t think it was a very good submission at all and they need to pull their socks up. If they’re going to continue to be a government-funded organisation they should meet the deadline should everyone else.”

If Key’s understanding of the statutory powers that the Human Rights Commission has are indicative of his understanding of the GCSB bill our rights are in big trouble.

UPDATE:  I/S also covers this issue and eerily compares Key’s actions to that of Rob Muldoon.

UPDATE2:  David Rutherford has been interviewed on Checkpoint and stated that Key knew it was a Statutory Report and not a submission on the bill.  The link is here.  HT Bearded Git.

76 comments on “John Key threatens Human Rights Commission funding ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. handle 1
    12 July 2013 at 3:29 pm

    Key’s childish bullying is par for the course. He thinks rules do not apply to him. You have to wonder how he was brought up.

    • karol 1.1
      12 July 2013 at 3:42 pm

      Ah, sounds like laws of the rugby field – whatever you can get away with without the ref (or the TV cameras) noticing.

      • Saarbo 1.1.1
        12 July 2013 at 4:11 pm

        Yes, when he gets cornered he will fight dirty, I come across a few like him in my days in the Corporates, these people will do anything to win, not concerned about anything except for their themselves and their ego.

        The thing about Key is he’s not held accountable by the MSM so he has no fear…they are providing him with more power than he should have. Ugly.

        • North 1.1.1.1
          12 July 2013 at 5:20 pm

          Put aside domestic political banter and fun.

          Unquestionably this raises fundamental concern as to where New Zealand’s democracy and New Zealand’s citizens, already repeatedly molested by a runaway train of an executive, can be heading.

          It’s appalling that a prime minister should maintain and blithely express that the Human Rights Commission, a statutorily established institution part of the fabric of our governance, is an errant wing of his personal feifdom, misbehaving its way to “correction”. An institution which according to barely veiled threat of funding starvation might well, at personal whim, be rendered nugatory.

          “Give me no grief ……..or else !”

          No, of course it won’t happen quite like that. What will happen is those statutorily charged with seeing to the Commission’s statutory functions will be publicly defamed and abused as have many already. Followed by the appoinment of a Fletcher or a Devoy. Net result ? The same.

          Let’s pray like hell that the CEO of SkyCity or the founder of Blue Chip or Sir Botox Bloody Banks or some Merrill Lynch tennis buddy aren’t contemplating a new and handsomely remunerative career path !

          Going for gold !

          Ceaucescu.

          • weka 1.1.1.1.1
            12 July 2013 at 6:21 pm

            “Unquestionably this raises fundamental concern as to where New Zealand’s democracy and New Zealand’s citizens, already repeatedly molested by a runaway train of an executive, can be heading.”

            Completely agree North. We’re now at the point where NACT are saying fuck of NZ, we will do what we want. NZ is being governed, it’s owned.

            How long until the sleepy hobbits rise?

        • georgecom 1.1.1.2
          12 July 2013 at 5:52 pm

          Yes, he gets dirty. He doesn’t like people disagreeing with him and then the “nice man John Key” veil slips and the nasty stuff starts.

          In addition, rather than discuss the contents of the report which he doesn’t like, Key makes up a reason to attack the author of the report. The man gets rucked rather than the ball played.

          How many times can people remember Key getting snipey when opposed?

          I can think of the union opposition to him in 2010 when he gopt all petulent and cost us $20 million over the hobbit dispute.

      • Bob 1.1.2
        12 July 2013 at 10:12 pm

        SPOILT BRAT, He was thrown up!!

  2. Waffler 2
    12 July 2013 at 3:36 pm

    Key doesn’t like our current human rights and is shopping around for some more.

  3. emergency mike 3
    12 July 2013 at 3:46 pm

    Anyone else concerned that our PM is talking about the Human Rights Commision as if they are his opponent instead of an advisory asset?

    Or that he is having a go at them about not putting in a submission instead of addressing their criticisms?

    Or the pure doublespeak of “Actually the bill narrows the GCSB’s scope in its current form, it doesn’t extend it”?

    Or the ‘If they’re going to continue to be a government-funded organisation…’ just casually put on the table.

    “The commission also recommended:…

    * Human rights training for all members of New Zealand’s intelligence services.”

    lawls.

  4. Rogue Trooper 4
    12 July 2013 at 3:47 pm

    “if you’re a dreamer come in
    if you’re a dreamer, a wisher, a liar
    A hoper, a prayer, a magic-bean-buyer
    If you’re a pretender come sit by my fire
    for we have some flax-golden tales to spin
    Come in!
    Come in!
    – Shel Silverstein
    (better Grab Your Socks).

  5. Veutoviper 5
    12 July 2013 at 3:57 pm

    “If Key’s understanding of the statutory powers that the Human Rights Commission has are indicative of his understanding of the GCSB bill our rights are in big trouble.”

    Absolutely agree, MS – but Key does not bother with the processes etc of the law if it does not suit his case.

    Similarly,some of the MSM have ignored, or are ignorant, of the fact that the HRC report is not a submission, but a direct report to the PM as provided for in the HRC legislation.

    The Herald mentions this, as does Andrea Vance’s article on Stuff

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10897315

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8911648/Spy-agencies-probe-needed-Human-Rights-Commission

    However, neither TV3 news and RNZ news mention this, thereby leaving their reports to give the impression that the HRC missed the submission deadline in line with Key’s remarks.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/GCSB-oversight-inadequate-HRC-says/tabid/1607/articleID/304736/Default.aspx

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/214344/key-hits-back-at-human-rights-commission-over-gcsb-bill

    Pedantry aside, as I commented on the “Long Reach” post under the 8 thread, IMO the very unsubtle threat in Key’s statement re government funding is a further indication that the continuation of organisations such as the HRC are possibly under threat from this government, as indicated by recent appointments such as Dame Devoy.

    PS – I/S on NRT is also worth reading on this subject

    http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-human-rights-commission-on-spy-bill.html

    • Veutoviper 5.1
      12 July 2013 at 4:17 pm

      The link to the Stuff article included in my comment at 5 above is still working, as is the link to the RNZ news one.

      The RNZ News one has now been updated to include the fact that the HRC report is a report under their legislation – and not a late submission as Key has said.

      EDIT – this was supposed to have been a reply to 8 below.

      • coolas 5.1.1
        12 July 2013 at 9:09 pm

        Well put.

        Key’s chiding HRC for not ‘submitting’ in time, displays his ignorance of roles and processes, and his ‘funding’ threat is bullying, corporate style: ‘Careful, or we’ll call in the loan.’

        This odious man is slowly poisoning the body politic by devaluing the institutions that safeguard our freedoms. Devoy’s appointment as RRC was designed to diminish the role. She’s a total airhead: ‘Watching Winston’ but thinks Ads stereotyping PI’s is acceptable.

        The GCSB bill is a dangerous erosion of the right to privacy. And why the fuck aren’t the MSM doing their job here.

        Yep, well said, thanks for the links

  6. Tanz 6
    12 July 2013 at 3:57 pm

    The hand of government – John Key. Can’t we take on Switzerland’s type of government, where there is no one person in charge? Key has too much power, and when things do not go his way, he simply changes laws or withdraws funding etc. Imagine working for him – I bet he is not the smiley faced cheery bloke he tries to be in public;

  7. Tanz 7
    12 July 2013 at 3:57 pm

    The hand of government – John Key. Can’t we take on Switzerland’s type of government, where there is no one person in charge? Key has too much power, and when things do not go his way, he simply changes laws or withdraws funding etc. Imagine working for him – I bet he is not the smiley faced cheery bloke he tries to be in public;

  8. Appleboy 8
    12 July 2013 at 4:08 pm

    After hearing this story about 2.00pm on national Radio, I just noticed it has disappeared on the 4pm news. It has also disappeared off stuff from what I can see. What on earth is happening? Someone pulled this story, and instead the 4pm news carried a story on john key and an ASEAN trade announcement.

    p.s Just found the story on Stuff – written by Andrea Vance, and upped at 1.30pm. At 4.00 – gone! There with a search, but nowhere near the front page .

    Seriously – what the*&^^%%$#@

    • RedLogix 8.1
      12 July 2013 at 4:18 pm

      Remember the ‘throat cutting’ moment?

      • RedLogix 8.1.1
        12 July 2013 at 4:23 pm

        Although it’s still up on Granny Herald oddly enough:

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10897315

        • muzza 8.1.1.1
          12 July 2013 at 6:58 pm

          In case it disappears from digital – scuze the paste, I hope this get left for the record.

          Human Rights Commission: GCSB bill ‘inadequate’ – National – NZ Herald News

          The Government’s controversial legislation extending the GCSB’s powers to spy on New Zealanders lacks sufficient checks against abuse of power or adequate transparency and accountability, the Human Rights Commission says.

          But Prime Minister John Key has hit back, saying the commission’s report is a poor piece of work that was submitted late, and it needed to do better if it was to continue to receive taxpayer funding.

          The commission this morning released a report to Mr Key on the Government Communications Security Bureau and Related Legislation Amendment Bill, the Telecommunications (Interception Capability and Security) Bill and broader human rights matters regarding surveillance.

          “The Commission is concerned that the proposed bills are wide-reaching without sufficient safeguards against abuse of power. There is inadequate oversight and inadequate provision for ensuring transparency and accountability”, chief commissioner David Rutherford said.

          Mr Rutherford said the commission had employed its rarely used ability to issue a report directly to the Prime Minister, “due to the seriousness of the proposed bills’ measures and the need for proper oversight of the surveillance activities of intelligence agencies”.

          With recent media exposure of the extent of mass surveillance by some of the GCSB’s (Government Communications Security Bureau) partners in the Five Eyes international intelligence sharing arrangement, public trust in intelligence agencies was at risk if surveillance activities weren’t seen to conducted appropriately.

          “We believe much of the public’s concerns could be alleviated if there was satisfactory oversight of surveillance powers and we propose an independent cross-party select committee to oversee intelligence agencies,” the commission said.

          But Mr Key dismissed the commission’s concerns and criticised the quality of their work.

          “I think the Human Rights Commission actually should take a step back and ask themselves the question why they failed to put a submission in on time. They are funded by the Government and they were the only people that couldn’t actually make the deadline.”

          “Actually the bill narrows the GCSB’s scope in its current form, it doesn’t extend it,” he said.

          “I actually don’t think it was a very good submission at all, and they need to pull their socks up. If they’re going to continue to be a government-funded organisation they should meet the deadlines like everyone else did.”

          Commission spokesman Gilbert Wong said Mr Rutherford’s report was not a submission, but the Prime Minister’s comments pointed to another misgiving the commission had about the legislation.

          The commission could have made a submission, “but there was quite a short period for people to prepare their submissions … we did seek an extension but that wasn’t granted.”

          “Our position is that the details of how to do so and when this was to occur were not readily available, and the time for making submissions on such important and technical legislation was unreasonably short.”

          The commission was exercising its statutory ability to directly report to the Prime Minister for only the fourth time since 1993, “because of the seriousness of the proposed bills and to allow for more time to consider the bill’s impact.”

          “It’s not something we use lightly but we feel this is something important.”

          Labour Leader David Shearer welcomed the fact the commission had “underlined what we have always wanted, which is a full and independent inquiry”.

          The need for that was now urgent, given the speed with which the legislation was being advanced, and “because I think it will restore public confidence in our intelligence agencies, which at the moment is pretty low.”

          Mr Shearer also said it was “pretty worrying” that with the commission having come out with a view Mr Key didn’t like, “there’s then a threat about having its funding pulled”.

          The commission also recommended:

          * Stronger accountability and oversight mechanisms, including Parliamentary oversight from a cross-party select committee, in addition to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.

          * Amending the bills in line with the submissions of the New Zealand Law Society and the Legislation Advisory Committee.

          * Taking into account the submissions of internet New Zealand, particularly as they relate to human rights.

          * Human rights training for all members of New Zealand’s intelligence services.

    • Veutoviper 8.2
      12 July 2013 at 4:18 pm

      See my comment at 5.1 above which was supposed to have been a reply to you but somehow ended up as a reply to myself!

  9. Peter 9
    12 July 2013 at 4:30 pm

    Surely even Key’s most ardent supporters have figured out by now that people do not figure in his thinking. At most he thinks of them as voters, a necessary evil.

  10. Mary 10
    12 July 2013 at 4:45 pm

    Decimating the HRC must be on the agenda. Key was on the look out for an excuse to issue the promise via a warning but jumped the gun. The announcement’s on its way. What a prick.

  11. Colonial Viper 11
    12 July 2013 at 5:05 pm

    Key was made to sound like a dickhead on National Radio. Hey National Radio, you better stick to your guns, because if you let the HRC get bullied by Emperor Key, you might not be right next on the list, but you will definitely be on there.

  12. Bearded Git 12
    12 July 2013 at 5:24 pm

    Mary Wilson has just crucified Key’s reaction to the HRC report (not submission!) by talking to David Rutherford of the HRC on Checkpoint. Well worth a listen.

    • emergency mike 13.1
      12 July 2013 at 5:56 pm

      Wilson: “So he [John Key] would have been well aware of your explanation that this is a particular report, it’s not a submission in the sense of the other submissions?”

      Rutherford: “Correct.”

      Translation: John Key is making shit up, again. One more for Blip’s list.

    • North 13.2
      12 July 2013 at 6:20 pm

      Go Mary Wilson ! You telegenic by chance ?

      Campbell……..where are you ?

      Potty Boy Gower………whadya gotta say about this one ? No anger summoned up mine Potty ?

      Seems ShonKey Python either doesn’t know his arse from his elbow (distinction submission/statutory report) or, (defame/abuse) he’s falsely badmouthing the Commission. Advisedly so. In other words, fucking lying !

      Potty Boy……..my shiny new flat screen implores that you not derail its expectation of its owner predeceasing. Give no hint of personal anger over the Commission’s alleged tardiness.

      Hang on…….(gulp)…….”owner”…….that’s me.

  14. Appleboy 14
    12 July 2013 at 5:46 pm

    The Human Rights Commission should issue a press release saying to key “you know we know”…..

    seriously, what about some bright spark here creating a parody press release from the Human Rights Commission with “Mr Key…you know we know….”

  15. Appleboy 15
    12 July 2013 at 5:51 pm

    Isn’t it amazing. Instead of acknowledging a report by the Human Rights Commission, lies outright and criticises them for making a late submission when he knows damn well it’s a report not a submission.

    It’s staggering. The arrogance is riding so high he can’t even see how his comments appear, let alone see the risk of being exposed for lying AND making threats to a politically independent body.

    Can’t wait to hear how Farrar and Whaleoil spin this own goal???????

    • Anne 15.1
      12 July 2013 at 6:02 pm

      Can’t wait to hear how Farrar and Whaleoil spin this own goal????

      Both have ignored it thus far. Farrar is still blathering on about the 2nd Labour coup that never was… courtesy of Duncan Garner. Whaleoil is desperately trying to pin something – anything – on to Labour.

      • RedLogix 15.1.1
        12 July 2013 at 6:04 pm

        Neither of them need to say anything. The MSM will let the news cycle roll and this too will drop down the memory hole.

        • karol 15.1.1.1
          12 July 2013 at 6:11 pm

          Yeah, TV3 News tonight is more concerned with crime and sports.

          • Bearded Git 15.1.1.1.1
            12 July 2013 at 9:08 pm

            The female reporter on TV3 tonight, when referring to the HRC, said something like “meanwhile those submitters that did get their submissions in on time” implying that the HRC was both a submitter and incompetent. Wrong on both counts. Not really good enough.

      • Rogue Trooper 15.1.2
        12 July 2013 at 6:40 pm

        That would be Duncan Garner, schlock Jockeying for position.

    • emergency mike 15.2
      12 July 2013 at 6:07 pm

      Yep if we had an efficient opposition Mr Key would be apologizing to the HRC within 24 hours. My money’s on Key pulling another brain fade over this one if anyone actually bothers to call him out: “Report? Submission? I’m only a kiwi-jokey-blokey-kiwi bloke after all! Anyone could get that mixed up, lot on my plate ‘n all.”

      He could even make a funny funny joke about it and sheepishly pull his own socks up for Paddy’s camera. Good times.

    • yeshe 15.3
      12 July 2013 at 6:11 pm

      Key is each day, more and more, an out of control disparaging megalomaniac; maybe he is on stress meds of some kind. certainly makes me think so. Can you help us out here, Bronagh ??

  16. North 16
    12 July 2013 at 6:27 pm

    David Shearer – “The Prime Minister is not telling the truth !”

    Nah – too simple !

    • Anne 16.1
      12 July 2013 at 7:18 pm

      Too weak. Given the facts of the case David Shearer would have been perfectly safe in calling him a liar, but even in that circumstance he still didn’t have the nous to do it.

      -1 for David Shearer.

      • Anne 16.1.1
        12 July 2013 at 7:45 pm

        Actually I take that -1 back. Just seen the TV1 news clip. Shearer delivered the soundbite well “He is out of line” which is all he was given time to say.

  17. vto 17
    12 July 2013 at 6:30 pm

    Key is makng a habit of being a schoolboy. I think it suits him.

  18. tc 18
    12 July 2013 at 7:10 pm

    Key can and does as he pleases with his media mates never calling him to account along with an opposition imploding. Its why he does because of the shit hes gotten away with so far makes him believe he is politically untouchable.

    • Anne 18.1
      12 July 2013 at 7:23 pm

      Problem is tc it’s not actually working any more. Campbell Live has called him out on it and he knows there’s lots more to come. The pressure is getting to him at last. Hence the school boy paddies. Can’t hack not getting his own way. Diddums to Key!

      • RedLogix 18.1.1
        12 July 2013 at 7:47 pm

        I wonder Anne. How many times has Key pulled this kind of shit already … the grotesque tea-pot saga leaps to mind … and it didn’t dent his popularity one jot? As the Herald cartoonist so aptly captured it yesterday, it’s become a one boat race.

        • Rogue Trooper 18.1.1.1
          12 July 2013 at 7:55 pm

          single sculls

        • Anne 18.1.1.2
          12 July 2013 at 8:44 pm

          I think Redlogix (or should it be hope) that the cumulative effect is starting to set in and Mr & Mrs Punter are beginning to wonder “what’s going on?” I seem to remember the teapot saga did dent Key’s popularity a bit but not enough to cause the Nats to lose the election. I agree it’s going to take time because lets be honest…the punters a very thick when it comes to politics.

          • Rogue Trooper 18.1.1.2.1
            12 July 2013 at 10:34 pm

            however, been thinking, with this online opinion sampling direct to MSM, Campbell Live, etc, people may feel they have discharged their political duty, cos’ the garbage just keeps on coming from National, Dunne and Banks (dogs not withstanding).

  19. Yes 19
    12 July 2013 at 7:57 pm

    There is nothing wrong with the proposed bill.

    • mickysavage 19.1
      12 July 2013 at 10:13 pm

      Can’t you do better than this Yes? The response against Key’s ill informed threat where he accuses the HRC of not understanding the law but then clearly showing that he does not understand the law is pretty overwhelming. Can’t you mount a better argument than this?

    • North 19.2
      12 July 2013 at 11:36 pm

      Yes above…….hahahahahahahahahahahaha.

      Such a powerful promotion of the bill…….hahahahahahahahahahaha !

  20. North 20
    12 July 2013 at 7:57 pm

    11,000 respondents Campbell Live. 85% “No” to GCSB Bill……..15% “Yes”.

    “I disagree ! Look, I’ll take you to Langley, Virginia, USA. Everyone there agrees with me, Warners in Hollywood too, akshilly”.

    (Langley, Virginia, USA – headquarters of the CIA).

    Prime Poncey Shonk Minster Circus, sorry for my tardiness with this “submission/report/comment/oh fuck what is it ? whatever”.

    Anyway it’s all Norman Kirk’s fault. And that bloody Bill Sutch. Always knew those too were up to no good. Forgive me Mine Emperor, My Fibbing Facileness. If there must be a cut let it be to my bennie not my throat…….pleeease.

  21. aj 21
    12 July 2013 at 8:06 pm

    As much Joyce’s grubby mitts over this as anyone else. Peas in a pod though.

  23. AmaKiwi 23
    12 July 2013 at 9:43 pm

    I can’t wait until Key gets pumped off. Then Judith “Crusher” Collins will be our PM.

    They are very different. Key wants to beat his opponents. Collins wants to destroy them.

    “A Brighter Future.”

    Yeah, right.

    • Colonial Viper 23.1
      12 July 2013 at 9:47 pm

      Not a chance in hell Labour will stand back and give the wickedness of Crusher Collins a chance at being PM in 2014. The red team will take National down like a sack of potatoes tossed off the back of a truck.

      Uh, uh, probably, ur, I think, ummmm right?

  24. Jackal 24
    12 July 2013 at 9:50 pm

    In light of recent events, I think The Standard should allow the word F@SCIST to be used without moderation.

  25. BrucetheMoose 25
    13 July 2013 at 12:44 am

    In typical Key fashion, he attacks and ridicules those who challenge him and his policies, calling the opinions raised by the HRC as “poor”, yet doesn’t back up his claims. In typical fashion, the wimpy media/journalists fail to challenge his comments. All the television media want nowadays is emotive story bites with no substance. Grow some journalistic teeth and ask WHY for cripes sake!

    • the pigman 25.1
      13 July 2013 at 1:03 am

      .. and miss that future opportunity to become Simon Bridges’ press secretary? Eckshully no..

      • North 25.1.1
        13 July 2013 at 4:25 am

        Pigman @ 25.1……….you got it in one.

        Potty Gower Judy bound ?

        Now that’s a picture !

  26. Veutoviper 26
    13 July 2013 at 7:29 am

    The HRC’s excellent press release on their report issued at 10.55am yesterday is well worth reading.

    It makes it very clear as to why they did a report – not a submission in the first two paragraphs.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1307/S00135/human-rights-commission-report-on-security-and-intelligence.htm

    And for a satirical take – Scott at his best.

    http://www.imperatorfish.com/2013/07/human-rights-commission-to-be-put-out.html

    PS – hats off to the TS for the Feeds column. It is an great source for keeping up with other blogs etc

    EDIT – Adam Bennett in the Herald is “on the case” this morning – “Watchdog repel’s PM’s attack”.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10897564

  27. Robert Glennie 27
    13 July 2013 at 4:38 pm

    Kia Ora

    Mr Key would not be pleased to note that in investigating my complaint to the Human Rights Commission about the Crown Mineral Amendments (Crown Land and Permitting)Bill, the Human Rights Commission found Mr Simon Bridges’ amendments to have breached human rights law.

    Rob

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    One of Labour's few achievements last term was to finally move on RMA reform. Following an independent review and a select committee review of an exposure draft, both aimed at ironing out bugs and producing a compromise most people could live with, Labour passed the Natural and Built Environments Act ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    20 hours ago
  • The Supreme Court stands up for fairness

    National is planning to breach te Tiriti o Waitangi by amending the Marine and Coastal Area Act to effectively make it impossible for the courts to recognise Māori rights over the foreshore and seabed. But its also been playing dirty in other ways. Earlier in the year it announced changes ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    22 hours ago
  • Today’s 10 Politics Headlines: Luxon flails and Simeon Drives

    1/ Jobseeker numbers are going the opposite way of Luxon’s KPIs. Against a target of minus 50,000 by 2030, the new forecast shows the Government is looking at an increase of 24,000 jobseekers in its first term.In Thomas Coughlin’s report, Upton responds by blaming Labour: “We inherited an economy in ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Kaka project: What could a revamped Entrust do with/for/to Vector?

    Long story short, I interviewed transport and energy activist Patrick Reynolds this week about the bid to run Entrust by a new campaign group he’s part of called More for you; better for Auckland. There’s a lot more detail in this GreaterAuckland post and on ‘Better’s’ website.They’re campaigning to win ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Missing the Feckin’ Targets

    And although my eyes were openThey might just as well have been closedAnd so it was laterWhen the miller told this taleHe said that her face at first just ghostlyAnd then turned a whiter shade of paleSongwriters: Keith Reid / Gary BrookerI want to talk about two things today, subjects ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Deadly floods and streams of non-solutions

    Long 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 and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:Central Europe is reeling from the devastating effects of Storm Boris, which has so far caused 21 deaths and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 20-September-2024

    Welcome to the end of the week, as we head towards the spring equinox. Let us brighten your week with links to stories about how to make our city a little greater. This roundup is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew. If you’d like to support our work ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • Three years of recession deeper than GFC

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September 20:New Zealand’s total GDP contracted less than expected in the June quarter, but per-capita GDP extended its three-year-long slump at a rate that is faster than ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • That’s Gangsta!

    The gang patch legislation finally passed in the House after a long period of fanfare from National. Gangs won’t be allowed to publicly display gang insignia on the body or in vehicles, and if they’re very naughty i.e. caught thrice, police will be able to enter private homes to search.How ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 20

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-host talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate news, including media coverage of extreme events and how big tech is gobbling up so much renewable power growth; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • A very healthy distrust of how this Government is handling health across the board is needed…

    And alongside that, is the ultimate question for the public, and indeed Opposition Parties trying to appeal for enough of the public to support a change from this heinous direction of travel being imposed on us: how much of the damage here can even be stopped in time? Let us ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago
  • Hang up on him David, just stop

    There is a story I want to tell, but I'm not going to begin with it because it would be too abrupt. I'll start by telling you that I'm a big fan of the way Nicola Toki conveys her message. And Nicola Toki is a big fan of the way Jane ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Tax the rich!

    We already know that the rich people aren't paying their fair share. But it turns out its worse than that: we're a tax-haven! Our rich people pay lower taxes here than in any comparable country: Well-off New Zealanders are paying less tax than their peers in nine similar OECD ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Worse and worse

    Cancer Minister Casey Costello is in trouble again over her secret, magically appearing tobacco policy document. The Ombudsman has already found that she acted contrary to law in refusing requests for it; now she has been referred to the Chief Archivist over a possible breach of the Public Records Act ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • NZ’s lack of a capital gains tax means the richest here pay vastly less than elsewhere

    The lack of a capital gains tax means the richest Kiwis are sitting pretty compared to taxpayers overseas. 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 Thursday, September 19:New Zealand’s richest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Verrall to Levy: “Health NZ NDAs are North Korean – Get rid of it.”

    Open article. Note the video of the Health Select Committee excerpts starts at 1:22 In watching the Health Select Committee yesterday, it became clear to me why Margie Apa remains Health NZ CEO.During Levy’s testimony, Apa sat like a rock next to her boss. She nodded supportively, scribbled notes to ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • The Show Must Go On

    Empty spaces, what are we living for?Abandoned places, I guess we know the score, on and onDoes anybody know what we are looking for?Another hero, another mindless crimeBehind the curtain, in the pantomimeHold the lineDoes anybody want to take it anymore?The show must go onSongwriters: Brian May / Freddie Mercury ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Managing on-street parking for local benefit

    This guest post by Malcolm McCracken originally appeared on his blog Better Things Are Possible, and is republished here by kind permission. The case for Parking Benefit Districts: managing on-street parking for local benefit Parking is often the centre of debate in our cities; particularly on-street car parks, who gets ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Doubling down?

    This is a re-post from And Then There's Physics I wrote a post a little while ago commenting on a Sabine Hossenfelder video suggesting that she was now worried about climate change because the Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity (ECS) could be much higher than most estimates have suggested. I wasn’t too taken with Sabine’s arguments, and there were others ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Too much haste & waste in Simeon Brown’s need for speed

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong story short, the Government’s myopia of only choosing transport policies that reduce travel times means we’re missing out on the health benefits of more cycling and walking, along with the health cost savings from fewer accidents, less pollution and mentally healthier ways of getting ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • What seemed so simple is now so complex

    The Health NZ rescue that seemed so simple back in July was presented to a Select Committee yesterday as a complex challenge that could take some years to sort out. In July, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Health NZ was on track to record a deficit of $1.4 billion for ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • The utterances of Shane Jones

    Let us consider the utterances of Shane Jones.Let us consider the derogatory terms of abuseNow is not the time for Green Wombles, it's black and white decision making.We will stand with the energy industry and ensure they are not monstered by Green Termites nibbling away at our economic capital.The Green ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ukrainian militia receives defective shipment of pagers that just send and receive messages

    There’s been a major setback for one Ukrainian-backed militia on the Russian border, after the group ordered a large shipment of pagers to use as improvised explosive devices. The plan was to litter the pagers throughout abandoned homes and buildings in hopes of wounding Russian soldiers. But upon arrival of ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    3 days ago
  • A constitutional shitshow

    Last month, we learned that the government was half-arsing its anti-gang legislation, adding a significant, pre-planned, BORA-abusing amendment at the committee stage, avoiding all the usual scrutiny processes. But it gets worse. Because having done it once, they're now planning to recall the bill in order to add another such ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Political Round Up

    Note: An earlier version of this article noted Levy was a “party time Health NZ commissioner” - this has been updated - forgive my Freudian slip.Dr Lester Levy is charging $320,000 a year to be a part time Health NZ commissioner. Rachel Thomas reports that Levy is still teaching 2 ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Postcard from Sydney: Southwest and City Metro extension

    This is a guest post from Sydney reader Nik Clement After 2 years in Auckland I moved back to Sydney just over a year ago. While in Auckland, I went to the opening of Puhinui station and used it a fair bit, living in Manukau Central and being able ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Tolling revolt brewing in National heartland

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 18:Locals gathered in Woodville last night to protest at the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s decision to toll the new road linking the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, saying ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The doom spiral

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In his last post, Zeke discussed incredible warmth of 2023 and 2024 and its implications for future warming. A few readers looked at it and freaked out: This is terrifying and This update really put me in a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Government directs Te Puni Kōkiri to conduct Māori Language Week in English

    The coalition government has issued a directive to Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Māori Development, instructing them that – in the interests of clear communication – they are to conduct this year’s Māori Language Week primarily or exclusively in English. The directive is in line with the Government’s policy ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Government celebrates fact that New Zealand’s healthcare is so good people are queuing up for it a...

    At yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by his Health Minister Shane Reti and someone we can’t independently verify was a real sign language interpreter, announced that he had some positive news for the country. “Alright team, I’m just going to hand over to uh, Dr. Shane, ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Heartwarming: Thoughtful driver uses indicator to tell you what they’ve just done

    It’s 4:10pm in the morning, and you’re in the middle lane heading north on the great southern motorway of our nation’s capital, Auckland. There are no cars directly in front of you, but quite a few in the lane to your left. Suddenly, without warning, a black ute enters your ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • NPC teams will now be allowed to actually use the Ranfurly Shield in play

    Following decades of controversy, the governing body of New Zealand rugby, New Zealand Rugby, has ruled that the team currently holding the Ranfurly Shield may once again use it in play during the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The ruling restores the utility of a prize that for many years was ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Climbing out of the hamster wheel

    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 ...
    Greater AucklandBy Jolisa
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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. ...
    Bowalley Road
    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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    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. ...
    Bowalley Road
    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 ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    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
    21 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

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