John Key’s mirror trust

Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, November 9th, 2011 - 76 comments
Categories: accountability, corruption, john key, leadership, national - Tags: ,

 

All these things operate underground. There are two near identical pairs. But only one of these things is really not like the other. Let’s not forget John Key’s mirror trust that let’s him keep an eye on the investments that are supposed to be held in a blind trust while he’s PM.

Blind trusts for Prime Ministers are sensible requirements because they remove any temptation for insider trading and letting your investment interests influence your political decisionmaking.

They’re not so effective though when your blind trust is mirrored.

 

76 comments on “John Key’s mirror trust ”

  1. One Anonymous Bloke 2

    Who owns Whitechapel?

    Key’s gaming of the system so as to stay within the latter of the law reminds me of Jimmy Carter’s law day speech.

    “Well, I’ve read parts of the embarrassing transcripts, and I’ve seen the proud statement of a former attorney general, who protected his boss, and now brags on the fact that he tiptoed through a mine field and came out “clean.” I can’t imagine somebody like Thomas Jefferson tiptoeing through a mine field on the technicalities of the law, and then bragging about being clean afterwards.”

    Judicial inquiry into the political funding and other financial activities of Key and his enablers. The US congress has been bought; I can’t imagine the National Party costs anywhere near as much.

  2. Roy 3

    Without the hairpiece, Key would be a dead ringer for the turnip…

    • Tiger Mountain 3.1

      Vile and disgusting this commenting on politicians appearance, but really, where are the paparazzi when you need ’em–toupee or comb over?

      • Hami Shearlie 3.1.1

        Or is it Berlusconi implants? – pity they couldn’t have implanted a conscience at the same time!

        • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1.1

          The conscience implant is optional in the Berlusconi make-over range of products. Records show that, so far, 0.0% of Berlusconi make-over recipients have taken up the option. Surveys of said recipients show that 1% just didn’t think it was worth the added cost and the other 99% said that it would stand in their way of making money.

      • Roy 3.1.2

        I think it’s perfectly legit to comment on a politician’s appearance if he is doing something deceptive (i.e. wearing a toupee) to exploit “looksism” and make himself look more attractive to people stupid enough to vote on appearance. Fact is, he would look older and less attractive to most people, and to female voters in particular, without the toupee.

      • mik e 3.1.3

        comb over key

  3. Tiger Mountain 4

    The PM is not called ShonKey by some without reason…
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/249633/Who-is-John-Key

    • Carol 4.1

      Key says he does not believe a moral issue arises for the traders who make these speculative attacks on currencies, or for the dealing rooms that carry out their orders. “I don’t really see it as a judgemental business. You’re simply executing orders for people.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.1

        Paging Dr. Godwin.

      • Akldnut 4.1.2

        Shows the character of the dude.
        Begs the question – where does morality come into it, where does it begin and how much does he have???

        Many people throughout history have gone to the gallows simply executing orders for other people – staying away from Godwin lol.
        (Not saying that his “Following orders” is an executable crime per se – physically anyway, maybe politically)

      • ianmac 4.1.3

        Yes read that but these days people don’t seem to care. And much more importantly John Key was mobbed by the overdressed poppets at Addington.
        You see? Poppets trump speculative attacks on currencies.

      • uke 4.1.4

        Quite like this quote too:
         

        During Key’s brief spell for Merrill Lynch in Sydney in 2001, he helped fire 500 staff as part of savage worldwide retrenchment by the bank. In the past, Key has appeared proud of his ability to sack without feelings. He told Metro magazine: “They always called me the smiling assassin.”
        These days he insists these were not cheerful sackings.
        “In the end I had to carry out wider responsibilities, but I think I’m fundamentally a nice guy, but have to follow instructions,” he says.

        • Roy 4.1.4.1

          Everybody thinks they are a nice guy, or female equivalent thereof.

        • logie97 4.1.4.2

          Seem to remember a particularly important war crimes trial where the defense said, “We were only following instructions…”

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.5

        “I don’t really see it as a judgemental business. You’re simply executing orders for people.

        Its been shown that many investment banks cream each trading day by either “front running” trades (today via HFT tools), or simply looking back and reassigning the worst prices of the day to their ‘valued clients’ and assigning the banks own trading accounts with the best prices of the day.

        In other words the Bankster Occupation are a bunch of cheating lying scum, and there has not been anything close to a ‘free market’ in financial trading for many years, and the world markets are nothing more than a casino where the house always wins. And our retirement funds always lose.

    • In Vino Veritas 4.2

      I expect Tiger, that he’s only called “Shonkey” by you and other rabid socialists. Having read the article, I can’t see anything that he has done that is shonkey, in fact, the article is quite positive about him, particularly his leadership and economic skills. But then, I guess this is why Mr Goff and Labour are so hell bent on making personal attacks on him.

      Always remember Tiger, socialism is great, until you run out of other peoples money. (proof: I refer you to Greece)

      • marsman 4.2.1

        John Key’s leadership and economic skills are pathetic, $40 billion dollar public debt, 4 days to do anything about the Rena disaster, Christchurch still in turmoil, 60,000 more unemployed etc. He’s puffed up by the MSM because his cronies own the MSM.
        Always remember Neoliberalism is great ( for a few) till you run out of other people’s money (then the few have to fuck off elsewhere to do their fleecing)

      • felix 4.2.2

        Financial speculative trading is great, until you destroy the whole world’s economy (proof: I refer you to the whole world’s economy)

      • The Voice of Reason 4.2.3

        If I follow your line of reasoning, in vino veritas, I guess Silvio Berlosconi must be a socialist, too. He’s hidden it well!

      • rosy 4.2.4

        “Always remember Tiger, socialism is great, until you run out of other peoples money. (proof: I refer you to Greece)”

        Run by the centre-right New Democracy party from 2004-2009.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 4.3

      I liked “Sharkey” a lot more

  4. King Kong 5

    How come this was not revealed in the extensive digging on Key’s personal finance that Labour carried out at the last election and which blew up so horribly in their face. Where is the pro…actually don’t bother. 25% and dropping says it all.

    • felix 5.1

      King Kong, the correct line is “This is old news and no-one cares.”

      Please get back into formation with the others.

      • King Kong 5.1.1

        And you Felix, should be spending more time helping to come up with fantasy revenue streams in order to fund spending promises on bludgers. Certainly not giving media advice to the righties

        • felix 5.1.1.1

          Why would I do that, monkey boy? I think you have me confused with someone else.

          ps I note your use of “And”. Thank you.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.2

          All the fantasy comes from the right – they actually believe that rich people are wealth creators when any unbiased look at the facts will show that the wealth comes from the environment and that the rich do nothing at all.

        • mik e 5.1.1.3

          Nothing like the ponzi schemers who have brought the western democratic world to its Knees no coverage of G20 meeting in October on how to deal with up to 54trillion in toxic derivatives the type Key was involved in at Merrill Lynch

    • rosy 5.2

      “How come this was not revealed in the extensive digging on Key’s personal finance that Labour carried out at the last election a”

      I’m going for tht ‘you missed the news flash line’… This one doesn’t go back to the last election King Kong – May 2010 and yes, anybody could see what was in the mirror trust.

  5. madagascar 6

    Have we really got to the ‘if you have any poo fling it now’ stage. Ah well two and half more weeks and everyone can get back to ignoring the twats for the next three years.

  6. tsmithfield 7

    The left must be desperate if they are now reverting to the attack lines from 3 years ago that blew up in their face back then. I thought the lessons would have been learned, but apparently not.

    • felix 7.1

      What blew up, tsmithfield?

      Are you disputing the nature of the trust set-up described?

      • In Vino Veritas 7.1.1

        The trust set up may well be of the nature you describe, but what goes on in terms of trust governance is just blind speculation, since unless you have been told specifically by one or more of the Trusts trustees (which is extremely doubtful), you and your friends have absolutely no idea.
        In conclusion, The Sprout has made implication about something he has limited (or no) knowledge about, and the rest have taken up the bone and are chewing on it, trying to build a reality around it.

        • felix 7.1.1.1

          What “blew up in their face back then”?

          ps don’t pretend to be naive and don’t pretend I am either.

    • Tiger Mountain 7.2

      It can be good to jam a bone down the throat of the memory hole occasionally Smithy.

    • insider 7.3

      Well it beats trying to spin the latest Fairfax poll as ‘good for the left’. Or the attack on Stats NZ.

      • Colonial Viper 7.3.1

        Its not an attack on Stats NZ. Its an attack on the integrity of Key’s governance.

        • insider 7.3.1.1

          So Key told them to write the release in a certain way? And this is unique to National? You should go back and see some of the stuff that came out of govt in 1999-2008. How did Goff get the Gone by lunchtime memo? Why was Madelaine Setchell effectively blacklisted? How did Erin Leigh get pasted in Parliament by Mallard? It’s all from civil servants’ work.

          That doesn’t mean civil servants are directed, but they do know that they serve, and that no doubt influences how things are presented across govt – it may even be written into the SSC guidance notes; I’m sure there is something about the need to provide discreet political support or advice or similar to ministers. Hipkins comes from that background so is being disingenuous in his criticisms and it’s another nasty smear. Good on Bascand for not taking it lying down, as many might. A number of civil servants I know have said they felt freer to offer advice with the change to a National govt. Not sure if that was due to a less managerial style from ministers or a first term vs a third term govt, but they had noticed the more relaxed style.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 7.4

      A bit like the UK phone hacking scandal, was just a blip a few years ago, the police seemed to not bothered and then

      BANG it blew up in News Ltd face.

      There is a time for everything in politics and sometimes NZ is just too small and under the thumb of the 1% to have the truth laid bare.

      A bit like NSW politics and corruption in the 70s, didnt all come out in the open till the day of the funeral when Sir Robert Askin died and what a lot of insiders knew then became public knowledge

  7. insider 8

    H Fee H Fee.

    Is this the next great game changer?

    • ghostwhowalksnz 8.1

      Yes, the H fee , what was the reason why that was all OK ?

      Thats right, someone else in the office has a very similar signature on original documents!!

      yeah right!

      That follows another claim about a particular shonky deal run in Elders , either Key has ‘left before that happened’ or ‘only heard about it during his farewell lunch’. Take your pick …wait it could change again when people talk under oath, as we know the finance industry is full of liars and cheats.

      Then there was his signed statuary declaration for his enrolment in the helensville electorate, where he claimed to live in a house he subsequently said he never lived in ( and signed other papers saying he was living in Orakei Rd)
      The reason that was all Ok ? . Well the Clerk of the house passed it off.
      No mention of the Chief Electoral officer who has responsibility for enrolment matters, Not some parliamentary official

  8. Colonial Viper 9

    The sudden appearance of idiot Righties means that the presure points of John Key’s shonky dealings are all too real and close to the surface.

    • King Kong 9.1

      Absolutely correct Colonial. All us righties recieved the records of Keys financial affairs with a note that this was political dynamite if it got out and to defend it at all costs.

      By the way we also faked the moon landings and shot JFK (it was Lockwood-Smith on the grassy knoll)

      • Colonial Viper 9.1.1

        Heh your attempt to trivialise with hyperbole about moon landings etc. just underscores my point.

        You’re a servant, you don’t get to see Key’s financial records, you just get orders to follow.

        • The Baron 9.1.1.1

          Wha guys, sorry I’m late! You really would have thought that I would set my alarm properly, especially when we have been tasked with subverting a wank off session between loyalists on New Zealand’s #4 ranked political blog.
          Wow, I’ll never make the RWNJ subversion crack-team for the top three at this rate! Woe!

      • ghostwhowalksnz 9.1.2

        Key had all ready been exposed lying about his ownership of Kiwirail shares which were supposed to be listed.

        That was blamed on some poor stiff who ‘hadnt sold them’

        yeah right

    • rosy 9.2

      The sudden appearance of idiot Righties means that the presure points of John Key’s shonky dealings are all too real and close to the surface.

      Not just their sudden appearance but their rewriting of the non-blind trust issue from last year as the H-fee from before the last election. What’s up with that?

  9. Nick K 10

    You guys were trying this 5 years ago and look where it got you – 52 v 26.

    • felix 10.1

      King Kong has never heard of it before. He’s shocked that it didn’t come out earlier.

      He thought he knew what Mr Key was all about too.

      • King Kong 10.1.1

        Not as shocked as I was to hear about the Nazi gold that Goff has hidden in his Swiss bank accounts. Thats true as well…right?

        • felix 10.1.1.1

          So you’re disputing the veracity of the claim made in the post?

          I don’t think you’ll find many National supporters agreeing with you. As I said earlier, the correct line is “This is old news and no-one cares.”

          Get back in formation please.

          • King Kong 10.1.1.1.1

            Only the smear that Key knows whats in his blind trust and that you guys know that he knows.

            Anyway, the Standards lefties pretending they have always abeen Green supporters in 3…2…1

            • felix 10.1.1.1.1.1

              If you bothered reading the posts and comments you’d already know that there are a lot of Green supporters here monkey boy.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.1.1.1.2

              KK, I can’t speak for anyone else, but that’s not what I’m saying at all. It’s clear that a mechanism has been created whereby Key can know what’s in the blind trust. He argues that although anyone can see the assets that Whitechapel’s holding, but since you can’t tell who they’re holding them for, neither can he.

              This is a fact on paper and a fiction in reality. It is a ‘clever knot’ designed to turn the law inside out (I’ve been reading John le Carré again), which is why I quoted Jimmy Carter’s ‘Law Day’ speech above.

              Perhaps you are comfortable to have a PM who obeys the letter of the law while subverting its intent, and then brags about it.

  10. ak 11

    Money quote: “In the end I had to carry out wider responsibilities, but I think I’m fundamentally a nice guy, but have to follow instructions,” he says.

    That’s the worm gnawing at his innards right there.

    The deep need to be “nice” won out when he rejected the Joyce/Brash racism, but now the “instructions” are intense: bash the poor and reward your masters – or your nice, photo-op days are over.

    Tip-toeing on a razor blade with glass cojones.

    • Akldnut 11.1

      Money quote: “In the end I had to carry out wider responsibilities, but I think I’m fundamentally a nice guy, but have to follow instructions,”

      A quote that he’s able to recycle whenever he needs justification for all the nasty things he inflicts.
      Expect to see this in his “Memoirs of J Key” Derivatives Trader & Prime Minister

  11. anne 12

    Key’s investments must not be doing so well,the cup day scrumage by women to touch him,one called him ‘justin beiber’ photos and hugs were exchanged,one of his minders told hm he was a
    ‘married’ man,he said ‘i know,i can’t afford a divorce’, his slippers wont get warmed at night when this travels back home,so if he ends up in the divorce courts,that will cost him half of his empire and that is why he stays married! not a good promotion for a stable PM’ers marriage.

  12. Obviously Sprout knows something I do not.  I had a stab at this in 2010 and thought that Whitechapel Ltd was the corporate trustee for the Aldgate Trust.
     
    Whitechapel has lawyers from two different firms as directors and a trustee company as shareholder.
     
    It would be a major scandal if Key could “see” into the supposedly blind trust.  Is this what Sprout is hinting at?

    • Batman 13.1

      We are saved, we are saved it’ll be just like the H-Fee…….. oh wait up a mo….

    • One Anonymous Bloke 13.2

      According to previous articles on the subject, “Mr Key’s private interests appear to be perfectly visible through Whitechapel”. Key’s response is that “It is physically impossible for anyone to know whom it holds those assets for.” And well, clearly that’s a lie. If it’s physically impossible to know who owns the assets, well, then they’re mine, and I want them back.

  13. tc 14

    Monorail anybody

  14. Two of them seem to be signs from the underground.
    Ones a turnip
    the others a two term Prime Minister.

    • Colonial Viper 15.1

      If National win, Key won’t even make it to the end of the 2nd term. He’s already bored.

      • Deadly_NZ 15.1.1

        He’ll do the rape and pillage part, transfer the assets to his mates and fuck off to Hawaii, to wait for the back handers (His Share) from them, he’s made richer. And Blinglish and Joyce can fight over the carcase that will be National.

  15. Nick K 16

    This post must be one about Labour’s policy for trust reform.

    Funny, ‘cos I thought it was another smear on Key.

  16. “I mean they sold products that in their heart of hearts they must have known they wouldn’t be repaid for so I can understand that bit….” John Key on breakfast TV 2011

    “The initial thought was that, yes, the Internet’s great for foreign exchange because it’s vanilla*. But there are applications that are just as wide in many other areas: corporate bond trading, government credit, equity underwriting, credit derivatives-it’s endless,” John Key managing director of debt in a CBS publication in 1999 when the Glass Steagall act was repealed and he had been invited to serve on the Foreign Exchange committee advising the Federal Reserve of New York.

    The thing to watch is his shares in BofA. They constitute a massive conflict of interest to the Keyster!

    * Interesting way of describing the internet. the term Vanilla is also used to describe conventional (as in boring) sex! Did John Equate foreign exchange with conventional sex while the real exiting stuff was happening in the corporate bond trading, government credit, equity underwriting, credit derivative scams?

  17. randal 18

    mirror mirror on the wall.
    who is the ugliest of them all?

  18. berry 19

    If this is true or not there is plenty of evidence that John Key is corrupt. Any national supporters don’t care about the well being of a nation only to keep the rich with their money with tax breaks. Who knows how much damage john key is going to cause by staying in power and how many more dodgy deals he is going to make.

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  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

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