Keeping it in the Family Commission

Written By: - Date published: 2:06 pm, July 16th, 2013 - 85 comments
Categories: accountability, national, twitter - Tags: ,

nepotism

Title ht – further puns encouraged…

85 comments on “Keeping it in the Family Commission ”

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  1. Tom Gould 1
    16 July 2013 at 2:18 pm

    Just Tories being Tories. Nothing to see here. MSM not interested. Unless this is a rumour?

    • lprent 1.1
      16 July 2013 at 2:31 pm

      Don’t think that Jacinda would repeat a rumour. Besides it fits the profile of jobs for mates philosophy that the right specialises in.

    • AmaKiwi 1.2
      16 July 2013 at 2:45 pm

      “Just Tories being Tories.”

      No. There is no oversight, no public scrutiny, no requirement for qualifications.

      A US presidential appointee requires “Senate confirmation.” That means public hearings are held and the candidate is grilled before the media. Then the whole Senate must approve the nominee.

      Since our version of the “president” and the “senate” are one and the same, we should require two-thirds of parliament approve every nominee. (It would have to be constitutionally enshrined.)

      This dictatorial corruption must end! Our governing system needs major repairs.

    • DavidC 1.3
      23 July 2013 at 6:18 pm

      No that is just Labour MPs being hypocrites….

      http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/07/labour-using-the-hipkins-standard-again-they-should-look-at-their-own-history/

      I really love Helen Kelly appointed to growth and innovation…LOL 🙂

  2. McFlock 2
    16 July 2013 at 2:37 pm

    😆 😥 😆 😥 😆 😥 😆 😥

    Can’t choose which…

  3. karol 3
    16 July 2013 at 2:53 pm

    Also reported by Yahoo News.

    • karol 3.1
      16 July 2013 at 3:02 pm

      And the appointment of Parata’s husband was reported by 3 News on 14 May 2013:

      Two new members have been appointed to the Families Commission board, just days after it was announced outgoing board member Christine Rankin now helms the Conservative Party.
      Te Papa boss Sir Wira Gardiner, who is the husband of Education Minister Hekia Parata and has previously headed the Waitangi Tribunal and Tertiary Education Commission, and former Families Commission reference group member Parmjeet Parmar will fill two vacancies on the board.

      I see Amy Adams sister is Brenda Miles, “a former adviser to Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.”

  4. Santi 4
    16 July 2013 at 3:34 pm

    A shocker: National Party nepotism.

  5. Tom 5
    16 July 2013 at 4:05 pm

    Dear Jacinta,

    I am trying very hard not to be a conspiracy theorist on this issue, but you are making it difficult for me to do so.

    Would it be possible to publish a social network diagram of this cohort in this forum ?

    Regards,

    Tom.

  6. Brett Dale 6
    16 July 2013 at 5:47 pm

    You could find any links to any political party, this happens across the board, left or right.

  7. Rosetinted 7
    16 July 2013 at 6:05 pm

    Isn’t Hekia Parata Lady Gardiner? Which would make Wira Gardiner the husband I think, who was a high executive in the Department of Maori Affairs. It does seem that some recognisable political surnames crop up when one hears of top jobs in govt or the periphery. Surprised that Margaret Bazley wasn’t in the mix, she would soon sort these families out. Or Paula Gridlock she’d stop them in their tracks!

  8. Yes 8
    16 July 2013 at 6:13 pm

    ok so what is the difference of being given a list MP position Jacinda?

    • McFlock 8.1
      16 July 2013 at 6:23 pm

      don’t be shy, Yes: are you making a suggestion of nepotism in the Labour list selection process? Do tell us that you actually have a point, please…

    • Anne 8.2
      16 July 2013 at 6:26 pm

      …what is the difference of being given a list MP position Jacinda?

      What the hell has that got to do with the Family Commission appointments.

      Not feeling tolerant towards nepotistic (if there isn’t such a word I’ve just invented it) conduct and right wing mentally challenged twerps.

  9. Yes 9
    16 July 2013 at 6:38 pm

    List MP’s are appointed with negotiation aren’t they? All parties I am talking about. Nepotism – will there are plenty of family connections in appointments by all parties.

    What about Helen Clark’s husband – should have he stood down from all government roles?

    • Anne 9.1
      16 July 2013 at 6:47 pm

      What about Helen Clark’s husband – should have he stood down from all government roles?

      What government roles twerp? Before retirement (whatever) he was the head of the Auckland Medical School, Sociology Dept. It was NOT a government appointment. He was selected on merit by senior members of the medical profession. Sociology was his professional career you ignorant ass.

    • McFlock 9.2
      16 July 2013 at 6:54 pm

      All appointments are made by decision-makers.
      The decision-makers need to follow a clearly impartial process to avoid accusations of nepotism and cronyism. They have a duty to serve their organisation’s “interests” by hiring the most competent people.

      However, they might have a personal “interest” in a spouse, relative or long-term friend gaining employment. Or their supervisors might have a similar interest, and apply pressure. This might be at odds with their obligation to serve the organisation’s “interests”.

      This is called a “conflict of interest”. The party with the conflict needs to withdraw from the decision-making process to avoid even the appearance of the conflict tainting the selection process.

      For some reason, as soon as national took power all the best candidates for government-appointed positions seem to be cronies, spouses or relatives of ministers. One of life’s mysteries – unless conflicts of interest aren’t being managed.

      lol
      Suddenly realised I’m trying to explain ethical practises to a tory. “and some landed upon stony ground”…

      • Yes 9.2.1
        16 July 2013 at 7:05 pm

        lol – well explained but I understand – just drawing a parrallel between List MP appointments (I did say all parties)

        • weka 9.2.1.1
          16 July 2013 at 7:40 pm

          The GP list is selected by the membership (for the most part).

        • McFlock 9.2.1.2
          16 July 2013 at 7:54 pm

          So do you have an instance of a conflict of interest in the list selections of any party?
          Or is the parallel you’ve drawn an imaginary line?

          • Yes 9.2.1.2.1
            16 July 2013 at 8:10 pm

            1. Stuart Nash. In the 2011 general election, Nash lost his place in Parliament after losing the seat of Napier to National candidate Chris Tremain. At position 27 on the Labour Party list, Nash was not ranked high enough to return to Parliament as a List MP.[5]

            After leaving Parliament, Nash signed on as the chief-of-staff for newly-appointed party leader David Shearer. However, Nash resigned after just 2 months into the job and returned to his home town of Napier, citing the birth of his new child and focusing on winning back the Napier electorate. – plus related to Walter Nash.

            2. Our Friend Jacinda – After graduating from Waikato University, she spent time working in the office of Phil Goff, and of Helen Clark as a researcher.

            3.What about Carol Beaumont – now doesnt the unions have 20% leadership vote NOW
            In May 2003 Beaumont was elected Secretary of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.[4] This followed 20 years involvement in the union movement

            4. Another List MP based on Union connections
            Andrew Little – After graduating he took a job as a lawyer with the Engineers’ Union (a forerunner of the EPMU). In 1997 he was appointed the union’s general counsel (chief lawyer). Two years later, he was appointed assistant national secretary, and was elected national secretary when Rex Jones stood down from the position in 2000.

            5. And what about this bloke?
            Robertson returned to New Zealand during the first term of the Fifth Labour Government to work as a Ministerial advisor to Minister for the Environment Marian Hobbs and later Prime Minister Helen Clark. During his time in Clark’s office, Robertson was rumoured to have the nickname “H3” during the 2005 General Election (H1 being Clark, and H2 being Chief of Staff, Heather Simpson).[4]

            After the 2005 Election, Robertson left the Prime Minister’s office to work as the Senior Research Marketing Manager for the University of Otago based at the Wellington School of Medicine.[5]

            Good to see no inside knowledge on LIST MP RANKINGS

            • McFlock 9.2.1.2.1.1
              16 July 2013 at 8:23 pm

              None of those are nepotism.

              Are you seriously having difficulty understanding the difference between (at worst) promotions based on previous experience and competence in an industry or organisation, and jobs given to family and spouses? There is no comparison between the two.

              • Yes …
                16 July 2013 at 8:40 pm

                will I guess if JA is so dam concerned about the appointment why doesn’t she call for an enquiry – I mean its the opposition MO.

                However always a pleasure to debate with you McFlock..off to bed

            • Stuart Nash 9.2.1.2.1.2
              17 July 2013 at 11:32 pm

              Just a factual correction: In 2011, I did not “lose the seat of Napier to National candidate Chris Tremain”. In fact I reduced Tremain’s 9,200 majority to 3,400: the largest swing against a sitting Nat MP in the country. Get your facts right please.

            • Frank Macskasy 9.2.1.2.1.3
              22 July 2013 at 8:18 pm

              @ Yes… if that is the best you can do – then epic fail.

              For example, the University of Otago is not a government body. It is a preivate instution that hires whomever it damn well pleases.

              Like I said: you’ve failed to prove your point.

              F Minus

        • rob 9.2.1.3
          16 July 2013 at 9:14 pm

          List MP’s yes the Joyce creature is one isn’t it
          Prob explains the Tory psyche!

  10. Yes 10
    16 July 2013 at 7:00 pm

    From Bebo

    I’m currently the Director of the Social Statistics Research Group and Professor of Sociology at the University, with part-time appointments in the School of Population Health and the Department of Statistics,

    • wtl 10.1
      16 July 2013 at 7:10 pm

      As Anne said, Peter Davis was appointed to those roles through the proper university process. You do realize that they are all university positions, right?

      In any case, “they did it too” is just a lame argument against something like this.

      • Yes 10.1.1
        16 July 2013 at 7:17 pm

        has anyone asked if the other 90 were poor candidates? Maybe if all the 90 plus candidates were named and cv presented then we can judge the value of the tweet.

        Other than that it is just a machine gun approach by J – isnt it? 3 – Zip on the no complaint being upheld for further enquiry by police etc on the GSCB leak…this is the MO of the opposition – spray and walk away.

        • wtl 10.1.1.1
          16 July 2013 at 7:23 pm

          Surely in a case of apparent nepotism it is the prerogative of those doing the appointment to show that the appointment followed the proper process (i.e. the best person was selected and there was no conflict of interest), not the other way around?

          • Yes 10.1.1.1.1
            16 July 2013 at 7:27 pm

            what was the standard of the other 90 who applied? Answer that then I will agree with you.

            Other than this tweet is 100% speculation by someone who uses connections to get a list ranking and subsequently appointed as the “best person for the job”.

            If Jacinda thinks there were better applicants why doesnt she name names.

            • McFlock 10.1.1.1.1.1
              16 July 2013 at 7:58 pm

              someone who uses connections to get a list ranking and subsequently appointed as the “best person for the job”

              [citation needed]

      • Anne 10.1.2
        16 July 2013 at 7:17 pm

        For the lickle spittle Yes:

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Davis_%28sociologist%29

        He has previously served on the Auckland Area Health Board, and was a representative in 1989 when his wife (Health Minister at the time) suspended that body.

        • Yes 10.1.2.1
          16 July 2013 at 7:23 pm

          so? – Bebo is better as he writes it himself.

          Wikipedia – well University of Auckland says no to references there in students work…so supporting a professor using a refrence his employer doesn’t support – hmmm I never abused you with spittle little talk – so why do you do it to me?

          Anyway I am sure he is an excellent person

  11. Cactus Kate 11
    16 July 2013 at 7:42 pm

    Belinda Milnes worked in Paula Bennett’s office and during the entire period Bennett wiped the floor with Ardern.

    Milnes v Ardern? Belinda could have a head cold and come off four days in hospital and still annihilate her on any debate over welfare or her job here as Families Commissioner. It is pretty clear that none of those criticizing this as a crony appointment have actually met Milnes before.

    • Yes 11.1
      16 July 2013 at 7:47 pm

      Hi Cactus – heard about you – so you supporting me or calling me a wingnut too?

      • Lanthanide 11.1.1
        16 July 2013 at 9:26 pm

        I don’t think it’d be wise for anyone to support you, given the complete lack of intelligence that you routinely display.

  12. AmaKiwi 12
    16 July 2013 at 8:36 pm

    This conversation got highjacked by a right wing asshole . . . again.

    The Tories are trying to destroy government organizations they don’t like by appointing unqualified friends and relatives.

    That’s the issue.

    • Yes 12.1
      16 July 2013 at 8:43 pm

      I’m not an as..le – why do people abuse people on here? Why are they unqualified…I mean last week you were beating Garner up on sending out a tweet on leadership and now you are defending an equally unjustified tweet on an issue no one has seen the other 90 plus applicants CV’s.

      Just providing balance

      • Arfamo 12.1.1
        16 July 2013 at 8:48 pm

        You really don’t seem to understand even the concept of completely unrelated issues.

      • Anne 12.1.2
        16 July 2013 at 8:48 pm

        I’m not an as..le – why do people abuse people on here?

        You’re being called an asshole because you are behaving like an asshole. Note, Yes, the word is asshole not arsehole. There is a difference in the meaning. Got it?

      • wtl 12.1.3
        16 July 2013 at 9:16 pm

        Are you seriously suggesting that we should be shown the other 90+ applicants’ CVs? You do know that there are privacy issues involved, right?

        Anyway, I’m guessing someone (Ardern herself? I/S?) will do an OIA request to get to the bottom of these appointments and find out if the proper process was involved. Going by past appointments, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are dodgy as heck.

        edit: If you were really determined to provide ‘balance’ you would do the OIA requests yourself and find out.

        • Yes 12.1.3.1
          16 July 2013 at 9:28 pm

          No need for OIA as happy right appointments made

          • wtl 12.1.3.1.1
            16 July 2013 at 9:33 pm

            So you have no evidence that the proper process was followed. You aren’t interested in getting any despite National’s previous record on such things. And then you complain the Ardern is wrong to highlight this case, despite it having the appearance of being nepotism?

            • Yes 12.1.3.1.1.1
              16 July 2013 at 9:42 pm

              Get her to list the other 90 candidates so the public can judge and not rely on a tweet that corruption is at work. If she is such a brilliant leader tell her to call the police!!!!!

              • wtl …
                16 July 2013 at 9:56 pm

                1. That’s the same thing you’ve said over and over again. I heard you the first time. If you have nothing new to add, why bother replying?
                2. As I implied, she is probably sending an OIA request to get to bottom of this, so we’ll probably hear more about this than one tweet.
                3. I don’t know what she is supposed to be the leader of and why you think she should call the police. She is suggesting that the appointments are dodgy and reek of nepotism, not that they are illegal.

                Ok, that’s it for me about this. Reply if you are one of those people that must have the last word. But I couldn’t care less.

                • Yes …
                  16 July 2013 at 9:59 pm

                  These appointments were made and posted six months ago..it’s been in the public domain for so long….can’t believe this Jacinda is talking about it now. Too long looking in the mirror. No wonder she can’t get a blow on Paula Bennett. Lazy

              • McFlock …
                16 July 2013 at 10:06 pm

                It’s up to the government to demonstrate that the successful candidates were each in the top 2.2% of all the applicants. Part of the way they reassure the citizenry of this is to have demonstrably clear hiring practises. Public confidence in government appointments requires avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. Not just be clean, but be seen to be clean.

                However, with this bunch what we find are ministers calling school friends and forgetting how they got the number, with ministerial spouses and relatives getting sinecures.

                I’m really not surprised that you fail to understand the problem. It involves ethics, and you’re a tory.

                • Yes …
                  16 July 2013 at 10:09 pm

                  You are calling corruption…fine understand..get Jacinda to call the police..what is wrong with her doing that?

                  • McFlock …
                    16 July 2013 at 10:14 pm

                    No, I’m calling the appearance of corruption and irregular hiring practises. There is a difference.

      • Psycho Milt 12.1.4
        17 July 2013 at 6:38 am

        Just providing balance

        Balance? Well yes, there seems otherwise to be a shortage of trolling imbeciles on the thread, but a shortage of those is generally regarded as a good thing.

        If you don’t want to attract terms like troll, asshole or imbecile, go and look up the meaning of the word nepotism, then have a think about how it might apply in terms of government appointments. Once you’ve got that sorted, have a look back through your attempts here to “balance” the post’s examples of nepotism in government appointments with examples of non-family-members appointed to party list positions and a family member not appointed to any government position, and cringe at the brain-hurting stupidity thus demonstrated.

        • BrucetheMoose 12.1.4.1
          17 July 2013 at 10:28 pm

          So you are saying instead of using the term nepotism, should we be using jobs for the rellies then? Just wondering.

    • Paul 12.2
      16 July 2013 at 10:35 pm

      That’s why they troll on this site.

  13. Puddleglum 13
    16 July 2013 at 10:41 pm

    Here’s a perspective piece by Rawiri Taonui on the schools closures and reforms which notes the interesting number of the Parata clan involved:

    “Five of the six trustees of the Noku te Ao Early Childhood Education Centre leading the Te Pa o Rakaihautu school proposal are Ngai Tahu, including chairwoman Rangimarie Parata and Reihana Parata, both relations of the minister and deputy director. Submitted in April 2011 and endorsed by the ministry in November 2011 when Apryll Parata was Maori education deputy secretary, processes around the proposal raise several questions.”

    “The ministry has withheld the names of a 14-member establishment board, claiming it was not “in the public interest” to know. But with much at stake and with at least five people from one whanau connected to the proposal, including the minister, deputy director and several of the proposers, transparency would seem paramount.”

    You might also want to email Parata’s office to get a response from yet another Parata (in fact, both her electorate and Parliamentary offices have secretarial assistance from individuals with the surname ‘Parata’).

  14. Descendant Of Sssmith 14
    16 July 2013 at 10:49 pm

    Firstly list MP’s are political appointments it’s a political process. How much members get a say depends on the particular parties political process.

    To compare the selection of appointments to public service positions is apples and oranges.

    Secondly appointments to the public service are supposed to be free of political interference. It’s why the SSC was set up in the first place to stop governments hiring and firing at a whim or change of government and filling up the public service with cronies.

    Appointments to boards follow these guidelines and are sort of inbetween the two ends above:

    http://www.ssc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/BAIG-August%202012_0.pdf

    Clearly there is a political aspect to the appointments but equally good process needs to be followed before appointing.

    I’m not sure that good process is always being followed from my general observation – Law Commission appointments seemed poor and there does seem to be less neutrality of appointment with this govt than previously – maybe it’s just more noticeable.

    We’ve seen it in budget processes as well with funding tootled off to PEDA and Family First both of whom had connections within the party.

    I suspect if you put 9 years of the last Labour Government’s perceived crony appointments alongside Nationals Nationals would be way longer and already exceeding 9 years worth.

    Some I guess would say that they, National, are more efficient at putting people who support their policies in pace.

    I’d rather the guidelines were followed much more closely and with less Ministerial interference.

    In these roles however it does seem they can do this.

  15. richard 15
    17 July 2013 at 7:41 am

    Related post on the Nats’ cronyism is this one by Frank Macskasy on TDB

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/04/05/crony-watch/

  16. geoff 16
    17 July 2013 at 2:32 pm

    Also, Bill English gave one of his useless fuckwit brothers a job in the MOH as some kind of advisor.

    That family must be one of the worst offenders for bludging off the government in the entire country.

    Instead of drawing polynesians ripping off the system, Al Nisbet should have drawn the English family instead.

    And English has the gall to bail up Robert Wade!!? No shame, no principles. He’s just a hands-in-the-till thief. Fucking sickening.

  17. BrucetheMoose 17
    17 July 2013 at 10:19 pm

    Hey, one of my grandparents was a Parata. Anybody got Hekia’s phone number, I think I will give her a call? It’s always interesting catching up with long lost relatives.

  18. Yes 18
    23 July 2013 at 5:25 pm

    [deleted]

    [lprent: Banned for two weeks. One week for copy-paste without even a link to the source. Another week for making me google it.

    Link to it, do shortish quotes from it, and explain why people should follow the link. And read the policy. ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    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
    17 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
    19 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
    20 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
    22 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
    24 hours 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
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  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

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