Key declares war on the media

Written By: - Date published: 12:33 pm, November 17th, 2011 - 67 comments
Categories: democracy under attack, john key, Media - Tags: , ,

This headline speaks for itself.  Tea tape: TVNZ, RNZ to be searched – “Four media outlets, including Radio New Zealand and TVNZ, are to be searched for any material they might have in their possession that relates to the tea pot tapes”.  Radio New Zealand’s head of news Don Rood is refusing to hand over material and says they will protect their sources.

Key is still refusing to discuss it – Asked if he was at war with New Zealand’s media he said “I don’t think that is an accurate description.”

This is outrageous. If the Police do think an investigation is warranted (and, face it, you and I wouldn’t get an investigation launched if we thought someone had intentional taped our conversation without permission but hadn’t published it), then they should wait until after the election to undertake these actions. Doing it now can only be seen as an attempt to intimidate and silence the media, and protect John Key. The Police are injecting themselves into a major political issue days from an election with a clear political bias. It is a fundamental breach of our constitution.

67 comments on “Key declares war on the media ”

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  1. anne 1
    17 November 2011 at 12:37 pm

    This is an attack on democracy and i really hope those national voters take notice how key is tampering with the public’s right to know,so it must be bad on the tape,if this sort of action is
    required,how can national voters defend their leader now?

  2. Jim Nald 2
    17 November 2011 at 12:39 pm

    Spoke with a Nat-leaning friend who said John Key should try to use the tea tapes and police to create a media crisis, throw the leading print, tv and radio outlets into disarray, and win Election 2011.
    High stake gamble and John Key the Winner will take it all.
    Most Kiwis are too stupid.
    Brilliant move.

    • Sunny 2.1
      17 November 2011 at 12:57 pm

      Suppose the ‘plot’ might go like this: throw the election, watch Goff struggle to hold a coalition together with Winston and Hone and fail, yell bloody murder that it’s all the fault of MMP, finance another referendum to dump it, romp in under new electoral system, FPP or SM, sell eveything off as planned.

      Or it could simply be that under all that pressure, the mask is slipping.

      Stuff up or conspiracy? Don’t know. But I do know that if you have disdain for the people then the people will teach you to show some respect. It’s called history.

    • Uturn 2.2
      17 November 2011 at 12:59 pm

      A bit unfortunate that your friend thinks manipulation of the police to win elections is fine. But as you say, kiwis are.

      Down at Police HQ they must enjoy being the National party’s stooges, although, somewhat confused.

      The same people who told you to do nothing over email leaks from the Beehive for a man who was wanted out of the Beehive, you’re now told is wanted at the Beehive and is now a friend, and his friend has to be protected also, from leaks of a conversation made outside the Beehive, by the same people who got you to do nothing and now want you to do something, a search. Golly.

    • GorjusGeorge 2.3
      17 November 2011 at 1:08 pm

      Very high stake gamble. There are a lot of awfully pissed off people out there who are thinking there’s no smoke without fire – ie there must be something Keystone wants to hide. And what price using ‘rising crime’ to grab Laura Norder’s and her partner Benny Fishery-Basher’s votes if you are seen to blatantly waste police time by lodging a spurious complaint – which the cops (no political bias at the top of that organisation of course) run with – to the dismay of all those who can never get a cop to take a small scale burglary seriously.

      To attack the media this far out from the election is downright stupid. Most of it is neutered but defence of sources is such a key principle that if the Police go in with search warrants to force RNZ to hand over evidence that is then used to convict a journo who – assuming it was deliberate – was only after a scoop – the media may well make a stand.

      It’s an own goal of pretty monumental proportions I’d say.

    • Lanthanide 2.4
      17 November 2011 at 1:45 pm

      Maybe if it made some sort of sense.

      “create a media crisis”? What does that even mean? Something where the public decide that the media can’t be trusted at all about anything and therefore they’ll vote for Key? I’m having difficulty even imagining how that would happen, unless National has a smoking gun of some massive scandal that involves every single media outlet.

  3. tsmithfield 3
    17 November 2011 at 12:52 pm

    So what makes you think the police took orders from John Key on this?

    It seems to me a complaint was laid and the police consider it serious enough to act upon. End of story.

    Perhaps the police felt the media have been prejudicing their investigation with their behaviour.

    • Blighty 3.1
      17 November 2011 at 12:58 pm

      No-one’s saying they took orders. the Police have to consider the political ramifications of their actions. And they clearly have stepped into a political debate a week and a half from an election. It’s unacceptable.

      And Key’s complaint has been a waste of police time from day 1. Ordinary people like us wouldn’t get this kind of treatment.

    • r0b 3.2
      17 November 2011 at 1:01 pm

      Post doesn’t say that Key specifically ordered this (though I for one would not be surprised if he did).  It says he’s gone to war with the media, which he clearly has. Note the Stuff link in the OP – it’s reporters who are framing it as a war.

      • tsmithfield 3.2.1
        17 November 2011 at 1:04 pm

        I think “refusing to cow-tow to the media” would be a more accurate description.

        • r0b 3.2.1.1
          17 November 2011 at 1:14 pm

          Key is a media product.  He lives by them, he dies by them.  And if they have any guts, we’ll see that principle applied sharpish.

        • GorjusGeorge 3.2.1.2
          17 November 2011 at 1:16 pm

          I think you’ll find it’s ‘kowtow’.

          The complaint is utterly spurious.

          Both of the Johns were too stupid to check who owned the little black bag that was the only thing on the table apart from the now famous tea cups. Keystone’s handlers failed to establish what is what and who owned it – it could have been a bomb.

          And Keystone himself demonstrated incompetence and/or arrogance in thinking he could make injudicious remarks in public – and his comments about youth suicide were risible. He has made an arse of himself not to put too fine a point on it.

  4. Tigger 4
    17 November 2011 at 1:08 pm

    Look you left wing degenerates, the police have nothing better to do than search the offices of liberal-leaning media outlets on the say so of our glorious Prime Minister Mr Key (amen) and bully them into giving up anything that might make the wondrous Mr Key (amen) look bad. I would far prefer they used their valuable time on such an important matter rather than investigate piffles such as murder, rape, assault and home invasions. This is just another loony left beat up of that good, decent man, Mr Key (amen).

  5. randal 5
    17 November 2011 at 1:11 pm

    kweewee couldnt declare war on a cream puff!
    ooops. thats the media.

  6. Tiger Mountain 6
    17 November 2011 at 1:13 pm

    “Dear Leader” is so pushing his luck here. And so are the tory friendly blue belly commanders. Will search warrants even be granted?

  7. Colonial Viper 7
    17 November 2011 at 1:23 pm

    Extremely dubious move to rein in the news media just before democratic elections.

    When did NZ apply to the Club of Banana Republics?

  8. mickysavage 8
    17 November 2011 at 1:30 pm

    Astounding.  I cannot imagine that any Judge would issue a search warrant for this.  It is not an offence to hold an unlawfully intercepted private communication, only to disclose it.  The film and transcript may be evidence but I do not understand that there is a refusal to hand it over.
     
    This really smacks of high handed action by the police for what is on any view at worst a relatively minor offence.
     
    I wonder if there has been political pressure put on the police.  If so we are at the edge of a very slippery slope.

    • insider 8.1
      17 November 2011 at 1:47 pm

      RNZ said they wanted interview transcripts of unaired material. That is not the recording. My CSI: Miami based expert opinion is they are looking for self incrimination in interviews by the cameraman.

      • mickysavage 8.1.1
        17 November 2011 at 1:53 pm

        Yep but RNZ will never offer that up.  Journalistic ethics prevents this.
         
        So why are they after STUFF and TVOne?

        • insider 8.1.1.1
          17 November 2011 at 2:06 pm

          Ethics might stop where a gaol cell opens…

          But it is not an ethical issue in terms of protecting unnamed sources. I got the impression they wanted the notes of interviews with known people. Retaining notes is not an ethical issue (assuming they don’t contain confidential or privileged information) as they are occassionally used in court proceedings. Defamation is the most obvious but there was that recent case where SFO asked for them around some criminal cases. That got negotiated around from memory or they were not pursued after discussions.

          Why Stuff and TV one – I’ll take a guess that they did similar types of interviews. They didn’t have the original recording so were having to play catch up chasing other angles. I remember seeing the cameraman interviewed on TV but can’t remember which channel.

          • mickysavage 8.1.1.1.1
            17 November 2011 at 2:41 pm

            The basic problem is that it all stems back to the circumstances in which the statement was acquired and this is I believe the weakest part of the case. 
             
            Section 216A of the Crimes Act 1961 defines a private communication as a communication made under circumstances that may reasonably be taken to indicate that any party to the communication desires it to be confined to the parties to the communication but does not include such a communication occurring in circumstances in which any party ought reasonably to expect that the communication may be intercepted by some other person not having the express or implied consent of any party to do so.
             
            Sitting in the middle of a Newmarket cafe with a media scrum 3 metres away armed with an array of digital recording devices must amount to circumstances where a party ought reasonably to have expected that the communication may have been intercepted.

            • insider 8.1.1.1.1.1
              17 November 2011 at 4:11 pm

              IANAL, so don’t know too much about the crimes act, and I suspect this law is rarely used so not nuch precedent. My view is that it is probably regarding people shouting across a room or maybe using a publicly accessible fax machine or printer and leaving the info lying around, or where a conversation happens and the hearer can’t avoid hearing it.

              So a waiter standing by a table or a taxi driver taking politicians to work is probably not breaking the law. Someone recording a discussion using a listening device in an area after having been ushered out of the same space minutes earlier so the people concerned could have a private conversation, seems slightly murkier.

    • Draco T Bastard 8.2
      17 November 2011 at 2:57 pm

      It is not an offence to hold an unlawfully intercepted private communication

      It hasn't been determined that it's an unlawfully intercepted private communication. My reading of the law is that it's not.

  9. Tiger Mountain 9
    17 November 2011 at 1:39 pm

    Interesting over at Public Address, many posters on which I admittedly usually deride as “luvvies” after the Hobbit affair.

    Anyway, Russell is wondering if the top cops are actually serving it up to Key-“you want a criminal investigation? THIS is a criminal investigation”. I wouldn’t have thought so but it is yet another angle in this affair to be considered.

  10. Tiger Mountain 10
    17 November 2011 at 1:52 pm

    The tape that dare not speak it’s etc…. can this be true, Winston to reveal all?
    http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=209189

  11. gobsmacked 11
    17 November 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Too busy today to join in the comments-fest so here’s a quickie …

    Y’know how we’re always hearing that such-and-such an event getting international coverage is worth “millions in advertising for NZ”? (often dubious claims, but never mind).

    Over the next 24 hours this story will get plenty of international coverage. The world’s media weren’t interested in our election (any more than we’re interested in Luxembourg’s). But they will be interested now, when they’ve got a story that goes …

    “police … search warrants … Prime Minister … tape (sic) … free press … not so much …”

    Check back in 24 hours later. Let’s see how Brand NZ is faring in the world’s media. It won’t look good.

    All thanks to one man-child and his far-flung toys.

  12. mickysavage 12
    17 November 2011 at 1:58 pm

    Where are all the RWNJs?
     
    Apart from TS I have not seen one comment on this post so far.
     
    It looks like they are flooding Stuff by the look of the comments here.
     
    Perhaps this is their new tactic, attempt to swing support by hitting the media blogs?

    • Inventory2 12.1
      17 November 2011 at 2:40 pm

      Most of us are banned Micky (sorry Lynn; just this once!)

      [Very few of you. Will let this through, though Lynn has the right to bin it of course. — r0b]

      [lprent: It is higher than usual at present. Mostly because I took a decision early in the year to start banning people who did know better until after the election. I figured that I wouldn’t have time to deal with people who didn’t take warnings leading into the election so I excluded that small noisy minority from our workload. But it isn’t much….

      There are 15 in dated moderation. Most of those are due to have their bans expire on 2011/11/27. There are 4 people blacklisted who I will review after the election (I think that the sprout discovered the blacklist button). So less than 20 individuals out of the 30-40k ‘unique’ human readers and the 3-5k people who comment each month.

      There are also about 15 people who are on permanent bans. Most of them are people who I will hunt down and squash at every available chance. They have all had multiple opportunities here and have never seemed to understand that the site has limits. Since d4j learnt that eventually, I’d have to conclude that they have more severe social issues than he does.

      Seems like an acceptable number to me. I2 just doesn’t like the company he is with at present? ]

    • chris73 12.2
      17 November 2011 at 2:48 pm

      At work, working.

  13. Craig Glen Eden 13
    17 November 2011 at 2:06 pm

    Yes in deed John Key who is already looking sick will have the attention of a few more media outlets by his stupid Media of the World comments. Its all on now, Key’s handling of this is sooo bad, just goes to show when ego and self confidence kicks in what a mess it can create, from what is likely to be not much really in the scheme of things. Oh and of coarse if only Key had a better memory non of this would be a problem.

  14. Adrian 14
    17 November 2011 at 2:19 pm

    It’s scary that Key’s “aspiration” for NZ is to be like Nth Korea. He’s dog tucker.

    • Tel 14.1
      17 November 2011 at 2:36 pm

      … and those hungry media dogs can smell fear and some tasty ratings tucker from a long way off.

    • freedom 14.2
      17 November 2011 at 2:48 pm

      Key only had two aspirations, set up the sale of our assets and get himself a Knighthood.
      Hopefully New Zealand has realised the assets sales will only damage our already broken economy and vote accordingly

      As for the Knighthood?
      I would like to believe the integrity of the Honour overshadows what has become an expectation of office.

      • Afewknowthetruth 14.2.1
        18 November 2011 at 12:05 am

        freedom.

        Don’t forget that the establishment has a long record of honouring those who bring about the most economic upheaval, the most social destruction and the most environmental destruction via promotion of corporate rorts.

        Bill Birch would be a prime example. Indeed, there is plenty of evidence to support the contention that the one of the main purposes of the honours system is to legitimise corporate looting and polluting.

  15. chris73 15
    17 November 2011 at 2:35 pm

    So at least now we know the MSM isn’t in John Keys back pocket

    • Tiger Mountain 15.1
      17 November 2011 at 2:48 pm

      Wrong again #73. Exceptions…..etc. go back to choking Stuff comments please.

      • chris73 15.1.1
        17 November 2011 at 2:53 pm

        Ok pussy hill just for you this is how it works:

        The MSM are not in John Keys pocket, they are looking for the easiest stories to sell to a public

        If Phil Goff had charisma and was liked (as John Key is liked) and could sell stories then he’d be getting easy ride from the media

        Its nothing to do with John Key and all to do with the media itself, not that you’ll agree because it suits you to believe that everyone is against Goff

        • felix 15.1.1.1
          17 November 2011 at 4:30 pm

          Pretty much agree chris, I don’t think anything points to them ever being in his pocket.

          I think a lot of them have been a bit star-struck for the last few years.

          And now it’s showtime and they’re finally realising the “star” isn’t all that talented.

        • Jackal 15.1.1.2
          17 November 2011 at 5:12 pm

          Right! The media made John Key say those stupid things… they held his hand as he went off to the cops to try and make the tapes never see the light of day.

    • Colonial Viper 15.2
      17 November 2011 at 2:49 pm

      They were. Not any more.

    • freedom 15.3
      17 November 2011 at 2:54 pm

      the MSM almost doing their job for once, is much like a recidivist speedster who decides to obey the posted limit once a day. Not a strong case for making them driving instructors, but a good start to showing them why few people want to ride with them.

  16. tsmithfield 16
    17 November 2011 at 3:09 pm

    ROFLMAO

    Just heard on the ZB what Peters had disclosed was on the tape:

    1. Key giving suggestions about the leadership of the Act party.
    2. Key suggesting that NZ First voters are dying off.
    3. That National might have enough support to govern on its own.

    Even with the undoubted spin that Peters has put on it, this is nothing.

    The first point is being helpful. The second two points are being truthful.

    I suggest Key should respond as follows:

    “All I am going to say about Peter’s disclosure, is that even the spin that my political opponent has put on it demonstrates how bland and trivial our discussion was, and how much of a beat-up the media and my opponents have made of it.

    The fact that this is so inconsequential demonstrates beyond doubt that my stand has been one of principle, not of trying to cover things up. I suggest we get back on with discussing the things that are important to NZers, as I have been trying to do.”

    • Kaplan 16.1
      17 November 2011 at 3:14 pm

      Again for emphasis
      The content is no longer the ‘key’ issue here.
      Key’s completely shambolic handling is.
      He has lost votes, the question is how many.
      He has delivered a major blow to Act, the question is how major.

      • chris73 16.1.1
        17 November 2011 at 3:22 pm

        I don’t think he’ll lose that many because what he said isn’t that bad (in fact most National would agree with him) and if anything Act might get a few more votes now they know that Brash is gone

        The major headache is Winnie, he’ll pick up whatever National loses and he probably doesn’t need that many more to make 5%

    • chris73 16.2
      17 November 2011 at 3:16 pm

      I agree with what he said (and I beat bet most would on here as well) but does this mean Peters could get done by the police?

      [lprent: Fixed the typo because it is subject to destructive misinterpretation (and I really can’t be bothered with the fallout). ]

  17. the sprout 17
    17 November 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Key has completely cracked under the pressure and lost the plot.
    Declaring war on the media nine days before an election, when you’re in the lead!
    Insane. Utterly unhinged behaviour.

  18. Dr Terry 18
    17 November 2011 at 8:13 pm

    Do our police have so little pride in themselves as to obey the Master and chase after the audios, which will by now have been copied God knows how many times? Key is all bluster, “popularity or bust” – possibly the latter now! He would place himself above Jesus Christ (as do his “lovers”). We know the fate of Christ. What will be the (ultimate) fate of Key and his stupid flock?

    • Afewknowthetruth 18.1
      17 November 2011 at 11:57 pm

      Dr Terry.

      I don’t think it is appropriate to compare Key to JC. JC threw the money-changers out of the temple: Key IS a money-changer and is building temples to worship and expand money changing.

      As for Key’s fate, he’s not there yet, and NZ is not far enough down the track yet, but it’s coming:

      ‘Welcome to the revolution. Our elites have exposed their hand. They have nothing to offer. They can destroy but they cannot build. They can repress but they cannot lead. They can steal but they cannot share. They can talk but they cannot speak.’

      http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/this_is_what_revolution_looks_like_20111115/

      • seeker 18.1.1
        18 November 2011 at 1:39 am

        Nice comment AFKTT. I hope JC is in the throws of chucking this money changer out of office.

  19. Afewknowthetruth 19
    17 November 2011 at 11:39 pm

    Some of us are old enough to remember Muldoon and the near dictatorship he managed to establish by ruthless attacks on anyone who got in the way.

    Helen Clark came a close second, of course.

    Key has it in him, now that the Mr-Nice-Guy-Financial-Wizard image is tarnishing.

  20. anne 20
    20 November 2011 at 4:28 pm

    Key and his co-horts have now bought off the media,tvnz,stuff,tv3 are now fronting key with
    disparaging comments on peters,goff, apparantly key only has to lift a finger and the media come running.So back to biased media.

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    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 Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
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