Key and Mass Surveillance: Was this the reason for the Golriz distraction?

Written By: - Date published: 7:42 pm, November 29th, 2017 - 100 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, Dirty Politics, International, john key, national, Politics, same old national, surveillance, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, us politics - Tags: ,

Doncha love the media and the right’s ability to throw them tidbits and getting some of them barking and howling and chasing cars?  When more important stories involving serious journalism are somehow put into the background mainly because the stories are complex and cannot fit in a tweet or your average Facebook post?

Such a story emerged today.  Despite repeated denials and promises that he would resign if the New Zealand Government engaged in mass surveillance it appeared that the former Government under Prime Minister John Key did indeed engage in mass surveillance, or at least was getting ready to do so even though he said it was not.

From David Fisher at the Herald:

Sir John Key’s story of how and why he canned a “mass surveillance” programme are at odds with official papers detailing development of the “Speargun” project.

The issue blew up in the final days of the 2014 election with Key claiming the programme was long-dead and had been replaced by a benign cyber-security system called Cortex.

Key always claimed the Speargun project to tap New Zealand’s internet cable was stopped in March 2013.

But new documents show development of Speargun continued after the time he had said he ordered a halt – apparently because the scheme was “too broad”.

Instead, they show Speargun wasn’t actually stopped until after Key was told in a secret briefing that details were likely to become public because they could be in the trove of secrets taken by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

With days to go until voting in 2014, Key found himself accused by some of the world’s most high-profile and outspoken surveillance critics of secretly developing a mass surveillance system with the United States’ National Security Agency.

It was high stakes for Key, also Minister of the GCSB, as he had previously promised the public he would resign as Prime Minister if there was ever mass surveillance of New Zealanders.

Fisher does an outstanding job of explaining exactly what happened.

At the Kim Dotcom-organised “Moment of Truth” event, journalist Glenn Greenwald and Snowden claimed our Government Communications Security Bureau spy agency had developed the “Speargun” project to tap New Zealand’s internet cable and suck out masses of data.

Key denied it, saying Speargun had been canned in March 2013 because it was too intrusive.

He said: “We made the call as government and I made the call as the Minister and as Prime Minister, that actually it was set too broadly.

“What we ultimately did, when it comes to Speargun, in my opinion, I said it’s set too far. I don’t even want to see the business case.”

The NZ Herald has found – after three years of refusals and information going missing – that the former Prime Minister’s version of events doesn’t match that of documents created at the time.

Wooah you mean he was not telling the truth when he said Speargun had been canned in March 2013?

Hampton’s response to a recent OIA request stated that on March 28 2013 there had been a meeting with someone – not Key – from the Prime Minister’s office and GCSB staff, including the assistant director responsible for Speargun.

“While there is no written record of the discussion, the understanding of GCSB officials who attended the meeting is that (the Prime Minister’s office) considered that the (detailed business case) should not be brought forward to Ministers at that time until broader questions about legal authorities and the policy framework had been answered.”

Maybe Key did not know what his staff member said?  To that I say you should always follow the money …

Cabinet documents from April 2013 then show Speargun – or Initiative 7418 – had its funding extended through to June the following year.

And it seems that Key was told about this.

When the information was eventually released, it appeared to show the Speargun project was still active when part of a critical briefing given to Key in July 2013.

To add to this Key was told that the information may have been leaked.

At [a briefing given to Key in July 2013], Speargun was raised with the Prime Minister during a “briefing on leaks of alleged intelligence documents” – information taken by Snowden from the NSA.

It means that Key knew more than a year before the “Moment of Truth” event that it was possible Snowden would release details of a project intended to scan all internet traffic coming into New Zealand.

The background is described in this post written by Anthony Robins in the Standard back in 2014.

Last night Dotcom made a complete mess of his personal “big reveal”. He should have backed up the letter leaked earlier that day to The Herald. He didn’t, and that can only lead to increased doubts over its authenticity. That story will play out over time, of course, but it created a diversion on the night which distracted from the main message.

In other respects it was a brilliant event. All of the speakers had their strengths, but Snowden was particularly compelling, setting out his personal testimony – New Zealanders are under mass surveillance. Here’s how Key’s “story” with respect to such claims has evolved – from:

Greenwald has had access to leaked documents provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden, and he says he will release a report that would show the GCSB has been conducting mass surveillance on New Zealanders — a claim Mr Key strongly denies. “There’s no ambiguity. No middle ground. I’m right. He’s wrong,” Mr Key told reporters today.

to:

Mr Key said Cabinet signed off a proposal for the GCSB to investigate a business case for widespread cyber protection of New Zealand entities, but he personally stopped the work in March last year because he thought it was a step too far. “In the end, that never even got to a business case.”

to:

Mr Key today acknowledged the GCSB had indeed tapped into the cable, but for the purposes of a cybersecurity programme. However, Mr Key said concerns the project would be perceived as mass surveillance led to it being scaled back to a much narrower programme.

…to the pure distraction of the release of hastily declassified documents that relate to something else entirely (CORTEX).

The Greenwald / Snowden revelations (no need to repeat them, go read the originals here and here) relate not to CORTEX but to Speargun and XKEYSCORE, about which Key says – nothing:

”we don’t discuss the specific programmes the GCSB may, or may not use”

So from Key we have changing stories, irrelevant distractions and refusal to comment. From Snowden we have compelling first person testimony and supporting documents (uncontested by any other Five Eyes leader). New Zealand is under mass surveillance. “If you live in New Zealand you are being watched”. Changes to the GCSB legislation were part of a planned expansion of that process. Time for Key to make good on his promise:

Prime Minister John Key says he and the head of GCSB would resign if the spy agency were found to have conducted mass surveillance.

So three years later and after the involvement of the Ombudsman the information finally comes out.  There should be big political damage for this sort of deception but regrettably there won’t.  Too many media are following right wing trails of meat leading to a young Iranian refugee who is now a Member of Parliament to notice the really big story, that the last Government’s promises it would not engage in mass surveillance of New Zealanders cannot be trusted.

100 comments on “Key and Mass Surveillance: Was this the reason for the Golriz distraction? ”

  1. Zorb6 1

    Maybe this is the reason he resigned and handed over to Bill English.

    • Nah personal hygiene reasons

    • Anne 1.2

      Quelle surprise – not.

      It was my contention back in 2012/13 that John Key was – at least in part – manoeuvred into the job of PM by off-shore entities (code for NSA, CIA, GCHQ and probably other agencies) for the purpose of setting up these shadowy surveillance and other associated measures inside the GCSB. The hiring of Ian Fletcher to head the GCSB – someone whose background was closely linked to British Intelligence – was part of the deal.

      It’s interesting that both Fletcher and Key did not see out their respective contract/term in government. They both resigned with little warning citing… more time to be with their families. Maybe once their part in the scheme was complete they lost interest in the job and decided to quit. It’s probably unlikely to have been quite that simple.

      I, too have been wondering why the Nats have turned into such a seething mass of hysteria over what amounts to piddling stuff. Setting aside they’re still miffed at losing, it’s starting to look like there might be more to it.

      • SpaceMonkey 1.2.1

        Maneuvered into the job, yes, and by off-shore entities, but not necessarily by those agencies. I believe it was by extremely wealthy individuals in and around big finance. John Key was in the upper echelons of Wall St – first name terms with people like Jamie Dimon and Lloyd “doing God’s work” Blankfein who head up some of the most insidious and corrupt organisations on this planet.

        But those individuals benefit from the information those agencies collect, and so understand their value. Key would’ve had no problems responding to requests from those agencies because his corporate handlers would’ve already given him the thumbs up.

        If ever there was a time that NZ could be considered a banana republic (or in NZ’s case a milky constitutional monarchy), it was during the last 9 years under John Key’s National.

        • Anne 1.2.1.1

          Yes Space Monkey I’m sure the off-shore corporate world was involved in his rapid rise to power in NZ. In my comment I used the words ‘entities’ and ‘agencies’ the wrong way round. I was meaning the financiers when I said… “and probably other agencies”. Should have been ‘entities’.

          What we are both saying is: in the first instance, Key was never working for NZ and NZers. We were only of secondary consideration in the scheme of things. That is why he had to lie so much because had he told the truth many more people would have started to smell a rat. As it was many of us did, from the start, but the corporate-backed media made darn sure we were rarely heard.

          It is incumbent on Andrew Little to publicly respond to the revelations, although I would expect him to make further inquiries first. I hope that is what is currently happening.

          • SpaceMonkey 1.2.1.1.1

            Then we agree. And as he was never working for NZ, by definition he was committing treason. That said, he’s got some very powerful friends and therefore a lot of protection. The likelihood of him ever being arrested and tried for treason is about… zero. The corporate-backed media is owned by the same entities who own John Key.

        • Greg 1.2.1.2

          Agree he was sent. Similar to your contention my take was he may have sent to bring TPPA

      • Brigid 1.2.2

        ” ….John Key was – at least in part – manoeuvred into the job of PM by off-shore entities ”
        With considerable assistance from Michelle le Boag
        A person could have felt pity for Brian Neeson being unceremoniously kicked out of Helensville in preference to Key in 2002.

        • SpaceMonkey 1.2.2.1

          John Slater, ex-National Party President (and father of blubber boy), was also instrumental in John Key returning to NZ and being catapulted into the National Party leadership.

    • Cinny 1.3

      It may well be one of the many reasons that he quit.

      Tis nothing new for national to deceive and distract, that’s how they roll.

      Sure is a relief not to have such a twisted crooked government anymore, and it sure is a relief not to have some kind of pervert as PM

    • millsy 1.4

      Doubt it. Key could probably do anything and get away with it.

  2. It seems a stretch to say the rabid dogs were unleashed to protect the already protected John. He’ll just shrug his little shoulders, put the thick expression on his face and his face with murky smile and go dunno, dunno, dunno.

    I think the gnats are just acting like the wankers they are rather than some big plan.

    It would be great to see john Key in the stand though getting grilled by a lawyer or judge.

    • mickysavage 2.1

      Not to protect JK because he is completely expendable. But I am struggling to work out the justification and the timing of the attack on Golriz.

      • Ed 2.1.1

        Just the drip drip drip of negative reporting to change the thoughts of ordinary New Zealanders.

      • Enough is Enough 2.1.2

        Its politics Greg. Thats the justifcation. National will attempt to take out their enemies whenever the opportunity arises. Thats how they think and operate.

        Just think back to the despicable way they treated Marion Hobbes, Taito Phillips Field, David Benson-Pope, Wiston Peters during their last spell in opposition.

        They are nasty

      • Sacha 2.1.3

        Piggybacking on Manus in the news?

        • mickysavage 2.1.3.1

          Yep in politics the front foot is the best place to be.

          • Macro 2.1.3.1.1

            One wonders what nasty piece of faux angst they will come up with next week. They have no morals and could not care less how many lives they damage and the suffering they cause with their filthy lies and smears. All to gain power, which the use only to enrich themselves.

      • Ross 2.1.4

        I am struggling to work out the justification and the timing of the attack on Golriz.

        Maybe the timing was random.

        • Incognito 2.1.4.1

          I struggle to believe that when you (can) control the story, the narrative, and the framing you cannot control the timing …

          • Ross 2.1.4.1.1

            But doesn’t that also apply to the David Fisher story? I mean he says he’s been waiting a few years for the info…why not simply publish the story after the Ghahraman story has died a natural death? What’s a few more days in the context of a few years?

            • marty mars 2.1.4.1.1.1

              + 1 yep clear air would be best for these revelations.

            • Incognito 2.1.4.1.1.2

              With respect but you’re comparing apples with oranges; these two ‘stories’ are completely different in almost every relevant aspect and thus incomparable IMO.

              One is a sloppy slanderous smear campaign, a hit job by somebody who long ago went off the reservation. Its ultimate aim appears to be to undermine the democratically elected coalition government.

              The other story is an ongoing deep investigation by a (international) team of very highly respected professional and investigative journalists into mass surveillance of New Zealand citizens and alleged lies and Dirty Politics claims that apparently went all the way to the top of the former PM’s Office.

          • Matthew Whitehead 2.1.4.1.2

            Backing up the possibility of coincidental (I wouldn’t say “random”) timing is the background of Phil Quinn, the guy who’s pushing this story. There’s no way he would sit on this so the only way the timing is engineered is if he was tipped off and isn’t saying it.

            I won’t rule that out as a possibility, but it’s not entirely naive to be open to the possibility that the timing is in fact a coincidence.

        • dv 2.1.4.2

          BUT the herald editors knew about the ‘problem’, cause they edited out of the report by Kirsty Johnston cause not enough space!!!

          That is sorta weird.
          Are the editors saying its not newsworthy (before the election).
          OR was it held back of more impact latter?

          • solkta 2.1.4.2.1

            I’ve not seen anything to say that the editors removed content but rather the implication that Kirsty didn’t include it herself due to space and the presumption that it was not necessary:

            “To clear things up: I interviewed @golrizghahraman about six weeks before the election, we openly discussed her time in Rwanda as a defence intern. It (like much of her story) didn’t make my final story due to space.”

            “But we used it when she was elected. Call me naive but I assumed getting defence experience was normal, not a big deal, and there were other more relevant things to include.”

          • Stephen Doyle 2.1.4.2.2

            I do despair for the likes of Kirsty Johnston, Matt Nippert, and David Fisher at the Herald. Great journalists doing great work. Buried under the dross that is the bulk of NZME.

      • McFlock 2.1.5

        I thought maybe they had some larger objective, but I think now that they’re just using any handy opportunity to stir shit. And if one doesn’t present itself, they’ll puff something up as much as possible.

        I think they’ll wear out their newsworthiness, though – if this government does well, the nats will need more than faux outrage. Turei made them think they were giant-killers, but frankly they just got lucky.

    • mary_a 2.2

      Marty (2) re your final paragraph …

      “It would be great to see john Key in the stand though getting grilled by a lawyer or judge.”

      Absolutely it would. However, if such a situation arose, I’d say Key is still protected by the high and mighty, so there’d be a media blackout on the case! Can’t show the greatest hoax forced upon the country, to be looking bad in the public eye can we?

  3. Ed 3

    I do wonder whether people like Quin and Soper have stuff on them…..
    so they write what they’re told when they’re told.

  4. mosam 4

    Key and others should be held accountable !!!!!!!!!

    Cmon Andrew Little…..do the RIGHT thing.

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2017/11/key-lied-about-mass-surveillance.html

    Justice now !

    Key and others must be impeached.

  5. Marcus Morris 5

    I have cut and pasted a post I put up earlier today so I am delighted that this thread is now running.

    “Let’s shift the debate to the disclosure in yesterday’s Herald under the heading “John Key, mass surveillance and what really happened when Edward Snowden accused him of spying”. As I read it, the article reinforces what many of us have suspected for a long time, that the former Prime Minister (I find it distressing to give him his full title) was more than economic with the truth, and that is putting it mildly. Golriz has done absolutely nothing wrong but sadly the issue is exposing once again the dark underbelly of a society that likes to proclaim to the outside world that it is one of openness and fair-mindedness .”

    Several days ago I also gave a reference to an article by Bryan Gaynor which highlighted the folly and appalling cost of Muldoon’s Superannuation scheme.

    Both revelations are shocking examples of National Government corruption and the Left should be giving them maximum exposure.

  6. mosam 6

    It is a travesty that Key and others aren’t prosecuted for crimes against New Zealanders.

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM328520.html

    Key and his abuse of power should be added to this list under treason of the crimes act.

  7. mosa 7

    It is a travesty that Key and others aren’t prosecuted for crimes against New Zealanders.

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM328520.html

    Key and his abuse of power should be added to this list under treason of the crimes act.

  8. Ed 8

    No wonder there was all that noise about Golriz.
    This story is dynamite.

    Edward Snowden alleges ‘cover up’ over mass surveillance in New Zealand

    ‘Edward Snowden says new evidence shows former Prime Minister John Key lied to New Zealand about mass surveillance plans.

    “A Lie, a Cover-Up, and a Stolen Election: @nzherald’s new evidence shows former PM of New Zealand John Key lied to his country about mass surveillance plans in the final days before the vote — and won,” he tweeted on Wednesday.
    A Lie, a Cover-Up, and a Stolen Election: @nzherald’s new evidence shows former PM of New Zealand John Key lied to his country about mass surveillance plans in the final days before the vote — and won. #nzpol https://t.co/NIdGlJwprq

    — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) November 28, 2017

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/11/edward-snowden-alleges-cover-up-over-mass-surveillance-in-new-zealand.html

    • In Vino 9.1

      Don’t get too happy, Ed. I suspect that too few NZers care about serious things like this. The Media will downplay it, distract, etc… it will be forgotten soon like so many other reprehensible DP.
      A legal case has to be put before the court. Without that, this will slide into oblivion.

  9. Brian Tregaskin 10

    Too be fair its not all bad ….
    NSA do a lot of good work too
    xkeyscore does identify ISIS potential recruits for example.
    good read here
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2013/jul/31/nsa-xkeyscore-program-full-presentation
    As much as i dislike National there is no way they would have used xkeyscore via GCSB
    to spy on political opponents. It simply would not have happened or be allowed under the 5 eyes agreement.

  10. So can we assume that with stage 1 of the Spear Gun project in place the interception – I understand a probe on an undersea cable is tapped and available allowing information retrieval in the way that Edward Snowden described in video segment on the Herald article and which is described in more detail here. https://theintercept.com/2014/09/15/snowden-new-zealand-surveillance/

    Stage two is some other aspect perhaps to do with NZ capability or training but the hardware is in place. From my reading this is not made explicit in David Fisher’s article but it is in Edward Snowden’s testimony.

    • RedLogix 11.1

      Yes, an astute question Jan. This new govt need to appoint someone independent of the GCSB to take a good hard look at exactly what happened, when and what the current status of all its components is.

      Just saying ‘the program was shutdown’ doesn’t tell us enough about what happened next. Given the history of this whole affair there’s a residual political risk of buried hand grenades blowing up at some point in the future if they’re not safely dealt to.

      • Anne 11.1.1

        This new govt need to appoint someone independent of the GCSB to take a good hard look at exactly what happened, when and what the current status of all its components is.

        Couldn’t agree more. Further to that, it is in everybody’s interest including the GCSB. Until such a time it occurs, there will always be a shadow of doubt hanging over them and they can thank the previous government – and John Key in particular – for landing them in this mire.

      • Jan Rivers 11.1.2

        Thanks. Implementing the recommendations of report by Sir Michael Cullen and Patsy Reddy into law would go some to doing this as many of its them were ignored and the resulting law leaving it profoundly undemocratic. One of the complaints was that Russel Norman could be regarded as the agent of a foreign power in his role as head of Greenpeace but there was plenty more. There was also an argument that making public informaton about the methods of surveillance being would help wrongdoers avoid them – so effectively we are all in the dark. Even US citizens have more information about the surveillance they are subject to that we in NZ do.

    • Carolyn_nth 11.2

      I seem to remember that around the time of the Moment of Truth, some people were talking about an intercept at the location where the southern cross cable makes landfall: ie around Northcote in Auckland, I think. Or is my memory wrong?

      Edit: It’s not exactly that, but something similar. This article from soon after the Moment of Truth (NZH):

      Renegade former American intelligence analyst Edward Snowden claims the US National Security Agency, for which he used to work, has a facility in Auckland and another in the north. “You are being watched.”

      “There are actually NSA facilities in New Zealand. One of them is in Auckland, another is in the north of the country.”

      He said a NSA slide published on his Intercept website yesterday showed the first phase of the so-called “Speargun” programme — tapping the Southern Cross cable — was completed in mid-2013.

      He claimed another slide showed the GCSB was awaiting the passage of the legislation before proceeding with the second stage, inserting a “metadata probe” that would allow the collection of data.

      • Jan Rivers 11.2.1

        Thanks for the reminder. The new law came into effect in March this year. It seems to allow “things that would otherwise be illegal” and the creation of warrants for classes of people, things and places. Is it this that was being awaited?

    • Paul Campbell 11.3

      I’m not sure they actually need to tap it underwater … by some mysteriously incredible freak chance one cable from Oz cable passes through Whenuapai airbase

      • Carolyn_Nth 11.3.1

        Thanks, Paul. That’s the sort of thing I was remembering from around the time of the MoT.

        Basically, there’s a couple of places where the southern cross cable surfaces on land in NZ, after making landfall at Takapuna – one is at Northcote where there is some kind of datacom centre – likely place for siphoning off data. And there’s another further inland – must be Whenuapai – then it goes back into the sea around Murawai.

        And that would probably fit with Snowden’s claims of there being some sort of NSA centres in NZ – in Auckland and in the north.

      • Jan Rivers 11.3.2

        Thanks. In my mind it’ll still be 007 types with flippers,masks and aqua lungs with secret, special underground welding equipment testing every 3 months for corrosion. :-0 Whenuapai makes much more sense!

  11. savenz 12

    When are we getting proper NZ focused media (also on TV) so we can start to get local news again ? Should be first thing for the opposition or at least a clean out at TVNZ. I’d like to see John Campbell back replacing awful Hoskins.

    As for Liar Key, it was always obvious he was lying and he paid for that game of golf with Obama by selling out Kiwi’s privacy to foreign recipients under bogus pretences. Control freaks always want to surveil. All the dictators do it.

    I feel sorry for Dotcom and the persecution that he’s been put under for pointing it out – turns out Sony lawyers were right, there was no copywrite crime, but again most people already would have known about that if they bothered to check the You Tube case.

  12. peterh 13

    Dotcom is rapt, now he can see his day in court with Key

  13. Grantoc 14

    I wouldn’t have thought that there is any connection between Key and mass surveillance, and Golriz. Or that anybody on the right decided that by highlighting Golriz’s story it would conveniently muddy the waters.

    Golriz’s story stands on its own merits, or demerits, depending on your point of view..

    Apart from yourself Micky, and Fisher, and a few that you’ve fired up here, the rest of the nation is treating the surveillance story with a big yawn.

    It seems to me that you’re trying to create a diversionary conspiracy in an attempt to take the heat off Golriz. Desperate stuff Micky

    It’s already yesterday’s news.

    • David Mac 14.1

      The traction a story gets often relates to how well it meshes in with our emotions.

      ‘Green MP defends bad buggers like the ones Bruce Willis fights’ is a jolly good punt at pushing our buttons. But that’s all it is.

      Hopefully the devil’s advocates will latch onto another cause soon because at this rate they’re all going to heaven.

    • Carolyn_nth 14.2

      So an PM lying to the public, and his team deliberately hiding the evidence from the public, about something of legal and ethical significance, beginning before the 2014 election, is no big deal?

      Interesting ethics.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 14.3

      treating the surveillance story with a big yawn.

      cf: Boiling a frog.

      Andrew Little is now in charge of surveillance. I’m pretty sure that according to wingnut 101 that means the unions are now in charge of surveillance.

      I think you can probably stumble the rest of the way on your own.

      • David Mac 14.3.1

        Hotline to Stalin.

        It’s hard not to wonder how many times “We can’t tell him about that” gets said prior to Andrew’s primary portfolio briefing.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 14.3.1.1

          Like should’ve happened with Winston Peters’ pension details, for example?

          • David Mac 14.3.1.1.1

            Paula’s such a classic Westie, when she’s out the back hanging up the washing she can’t help from having a chin-wag over the back fence.

            You’d think she would of learned. The little whisper Humphrey has in her ear needs to stay private.

    • Ant 14.4

      Heat off Golriz? Also yesterday’s news.
      Quin has already apologised for wrongly labelling her a genocide supporter and the Law Society has upheld the integrity of her actions.

    • Incognito 14.5

      The connection between the stories is people like you. The people who badly want to be misled by some ambiguous language and choose to ignore the contradictory & inconsistent facts that were easily & openly available and beat themselves into a frothing frenzy calling for the witch to be burned are the same people who would walk through fire for Saint John. If you cannot see the connection you are the connection!

  14. Philg 15

    “Mr Key declined to comment when contacted by Newshub.

    Newshub. ”
    Says it all, really. I note the honorific is not used. The joke is on us folks. It’s Not The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but The Truth. Justice delayed is justice denied. Ask Pike, Christchurch CTV building Victims Etc. It ain’t justice folks. What is it then…?

  15. Tanz 16

    Key is the best PM we ever had, after the sensible, experienced and decent Bill English.
    That is why National outpolled both Labour and the Greens, by a country mile, even after nine golden years in office. NZ is now on top of the world because of Key and English, and anyway, Key is now out of politics, so he has no need to need a side
    issue. Key was never there for the power, he was there to help New Zealanders succeed. He didn’t need to spy on anyone, and he was never ever a control freak.
    He even had the intelligence to rule WP out at the last election, the one thing English probably should have done (thereby retaining the few swinging votes they needed to push it over the line, all the same, English deserves a medal, he did a fantastic job at getting National their election win), despite MMP or Mickey Mouse Politics. Never mind, WP is goneburgers already.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 16.1

      Why did he lie about it then?

      What you’re currently experiencing is called “cognitive dissonance”. Wait a moment for your amygdala to reassert control of your bodily functions.

    • It’s now proven that John Key lied to us and you’re still so much of a sycophant that you think that’s Ok.

      Typical authoritarian follower who will defend the actions of their leaders no matter how despicable and morally reprehensible.

    • tracey 16.3

      Do you get a good price on your Koolaid? Do you buy online or use a kiwi retailer

  16. Tanz 17

    And Ardern hasn’t lied? (after saying she wouldn’t). Already she is in the news for not releasing the coalition agreement, despite Winston’s promises to the public.
    So, there must be something to hide, or she would release it. The public have a right to see it, after all, the voters are supposed to own our democracy rather than the politicians, despite the ‘that’s mmp’ apologists.

  17. Tanz 18

    Winston and co are hiding something though, even Barry Soper, leftie that he is,
    seems to think so. The public has a right to know what is in the agreement,
    MMP was never supposed to be about secret deals behind closed doors, ever.

    The reason National is not the govt today is because they did not sell their souls to Winston just to retain power. As English alluded, Peters had only 7 per cent support
    and he had no right to ask for massive baubles of office. On the other hand, Arden gave him whatever he wanted, and the Act party are saying that eventually, it will be
    the Prime Ministership, the role he has always hankered after. The Coalition Agreement must be highly embarrassing and potentially damaging also, or surely it would be released. By refusing to do so, Arden and Peters are simply adding fuel to the fire. Completely shady and non-transparent, but why would I expect anything different. When you deal with Peters you deal with fire, and this is already proving to be the case.
    National are principled, open and honest, whilst the govt toys with the voters’
    patience over their integrity, or rather, lack of. If there is one thing Kiwis loathe,
    it’s a secretive, lying, backsliding and power hungry government. A couple of months in, what an utter disgrace so far. The leaks and scandals are happening already, just as Sir Richard Prebble predicted.

  18. Tanz 19

    I notice No Right Turn have a post up about the lack of this govt’s transparency also.
    One of the few left wing blogs that actually at times know what honesty is. How very refreshing.

    • Incognito 19.1

      Which post are you actually referring to as NRT has written quite a few posts on government transparency? You may also have noticed, or perhaps not, that government transparency is of great concern to many commenters here on TS so you are in very good company here; could this be the reason why you keep coming back here?

    • tracey 19.2

      I also posted on wanting this govt to be transparent so I am not sure what your point is? Did kiwiblog post alot in the last 9 years about lack of transparency, honesty and stuff? How are they going on the MP who lied to get PR? Writing lots about Key lying in election 14, Joyces imaginary hole? Am surprised they hsve time to write about a lawyers CV.

  19. Tanz 20

    No Right Turn did post on the lack of transparency of this new govt just the other day.
    Two posts on it actually. Yes, I know you only like people who agree with the left coming here, but then I notice a lot of lefties commenting on kiwiblog, are you one of them? (Ztev, maybe…).?

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    1 hour ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 hour ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    2 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    7 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    8 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    9 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T04:07:24+00:00