Key loses plot under election pressure

Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, November 18th, 2011 - 64 comments
Categories: accountability, democracy under attack, election 2011, john key, leadership, Media, national, newspapers, radio, tv - Tags: ,

The problem with a presidential campaign strategy is that when you put all your bets on one pony, there’s not a lot of room for error. If that pony goes lame, or if it’s a one trick pony and the trick stops working, you’re in the crap.

John Key has a history of choking under pressure, but this time, calling on the police to raid the premises of our national broadcasters TVNZ and RNZ, and our major privately owned newspapers – he’s cracked under the pressure of the campaign and the spectre of losing it all. There’ll be no knighthood if Key becomes the first National PM to lose after just one term.

How can it be considered prudent to declare war on the media barely a week out from a general election when you’re in the lead? How can it be considered prudent to one minute say you’re relaxed about the content of a conversation an you have nothing to hide, then the next minute have police raid media offices to sieze all evidence of that conversation?

It seems to me that the PM is going to pieces. Let’s hope he has a nice peaceful weekend to get a bit of much needed rest.

hattip: William Joyce

64 comments on “Key loses plot under election pressure ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Craig Glen Eden 1
    18 November 2011 at 8:36 am

    John Key’s persona was always just a media construct and now that the media have been shat on they look stupid, the media publishing every little photo op will stop and the real Mr Donkey is exposed, it was always going to happen. But I have to admit it took way longer than I thought it would.

    • Fermionic Interference 1.1
      18 November 2011 at 9:41 am

      The question is:
      Is it to late for our media to give the country a fair and unbiased opportunity to judge upon whom they vote in this upcoming election?

    • ron 1.2
      18 November 2011 at 10:42 am

      Very well put. “journalists” like garner and espiner look pretty f*#king stupid, now.

      • Jim Nald 1.2.1
        18 November 2011 at 11:44 am

        After our assets are sold, voters especially the 99% will look and feel pretty f*#king stupid.

  2. Tom Gould 2
    18 November 2011 at 8:38 am

    Interesting to see the real John Key roadshow on TV last night, Campbell Live I think? Never before have I seen the truth of the famous ‘Key charm’ honestly displayed, where ordinary people had nothing to say to him, and long awkward silences as he struggled to find something to say to them, and only the Tory glee club clapping and cheering? For the last 4 years, all we have seen is what has now been revealed to be carefully managed and edited staged celebrity publicity. No wonder the guy is on 50 plus percent? Brand Key is a totally artificial construct. As is he by the looks?

    • vto 2.1
      18 November 2011 at 8:47 am

      Yep, how telling was it that the factory workers had nothing to say to him. In fact you could almost see them thinking “here’s that prick that has driven down our employment situation”. When people like that don’t get up to greet a person or even say gidday and have looks on their faces like that then you know you are unwelcome.

      It is not surprising Key is starting to appear as not one of us – he holidays at Omaha and Hawaii, lives in Parnell, spent most of his working life outside of NZ, and hob-nobs with the highest flying corporate capitalists who do nothing but push capital around. Has he ever actually particiapated in a part of the economy which contributes to the daily machinations of life?

      He lives on a different planet…

    • Carol 2.2
      18 November 2011 at 8:54 am

      Thanks for the tip. It’s here:

      http://www.3news.co.nz/Keys-campaign-trail-gets-messy/tabid/367/articleID/233083/Default.aspx

      It’s all about the superficial construction of Brand Key, the smile wearing thin, the orchestration of rent-a-young-Nat, repeating carefully prepared lines to journos, and the almost invisible nodding man.

      OK, then Mr BranKey, what do you actually want to tell us about policy? And doesn’t Noddy have anything to say about about health?

      • ianmac 2.2.1
        18 November 2011 at 9:16 am

        Don’t you love the little people dressed in Blue Key t-shirts, racing from venue to venue to be ready to welcome Key as though they were meeting for the first time. Expect that at any moment they would produce pompoms and dance dainty ra ra ra cheers. A sure vote winner.

      • freedom 2.2.2
        18 November 2011 at 9:16 am

        don’t you just want to grab those kids in the blue t-shirts and ask each of them two simple questions. . .

        1. How did John Key make his money, and
        2. How did he become Leader of the National Party?

        i would bet good money they could not answer either one.

        It breaks my heart to see kids used like that, even when it is such a pathetically small number

        • Mutante 2.2.2.1
          18 November 2011 at 7:05 pm

          Rise of the Blueshirts. Is there anything about this guy that doesn’t make any right thinking person a bit queasy?

          And what’s with the level of support still? I think a great deal of people out there have very little understanding of democracy and are falling into mindless leader worship, which is scary shit.

        • Draco T Bastard 2.2.2.2
          18 November 2011 at 7:35 pm

          don’t you just want to grab those kids in the blue t-shirts and ask each of them two simple questions. . .

          Didn’t you just love their expressions when it was pointed out that their wasn’t any policy on their shirts?

      • Uturn 2.2.3
        18 November 2011 at 9:49 am

        That’s some of the most amusing TV I’ve seen for years. From the point John Campbell discovers a bus has 3 sides (?) it just gets better.

        And we found out National’s Health policy at last: “Health is generally the second most important policy.”

        Ah grand. It’s as easy as listing them in a heirarchy. Excellent. Stable informed leadership, that man.

      • the sprout 2.2.4
        18 November 2011 at 10:01 am

        great clip

        “the PM is exhausted”

        yeah, that’s an understatement and a half

  3. freedom 3
    18 November 2011 at 9:02 am

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbwQ0Wy3ljQ
    dedicated to our great Leader and all who want to support him

  4. queenstfarmer 4
    18 November 2011 at 9:12 am

    but this time, calling on the police to raid the premises of our national broadcasters TVNZ and RNZ, and our major privately owned newspapers

    Where did he do this Sprout?

    • the sprout 4.1
      18 November 2011 at 9:13 am

      where has he not, queenstreet?

      i wonder if i complained to the police about being recorded by a journalist while i’m having a conversation i’m ‘relaxed about’ when i’m having a press conference, if they’d then dutifully issue search warrants on all of our major media outlets.

      yeah sure mate

      • queenstfarmer 4.1.1
        18 November 2011 at 9:38 am

        where has he not, queenstreet?

        So you can’t point to any fact backing up your statement. Very credible, Sprout.

        • Kaplan 4.1.1.1
          18 November 2011 at 10:40 am

          Hey QSF.
          That garden out the back of your place, I’m pretty sure it could be used for cannabis production, and I’m pretty sure it would be illegal if you were growing cannabis so I’m going to ring up and make a complaint just to be sure you aren’t growing cannabis.
          Oh, btw, if the cops come round to your place it’s not my fault OK.

          • McFlock 4.1.1.1.1
            18 November 2011 at 1:21 pm

            snap.
             
            What, Key thought the cops would just do nothing for a fortnight? Bugging conversations carries a nice prison term.

      • Gosman 4.1.2
        18 November 2011 at 10:04 am

        I agree that it is not good to have the Police involved in this. However it is a big stretch from getting the Police involved to ordering them to raid media premises. If you have evidence of this then you will have my support to roll the PM. Heck I might even vote Labour. However I suspect this is just more hot air.

    • The Voice of Reason 4.2
      18 November 2011 at 9:19 am

      When he laid the complaint, Queenie. It’s a natural consequence of ordering them to investigate the taping. It’s what Police do when they are trying to establish the facts; interview, question, subpoena and raid.

      • queenstfarmer 4.2.1
        18 November 2011 at 9:43 am

        When he laid the complaint, Queenie.

        Yes, he laid a complaint. What I was asking for was where John Key “[called] on the police to raid the premises of our national broadcasters TVNZ and RNZ, and our major privately owned newspapers”.

        Sprout’s answer confirms that he has no evidence to back this up, and nor, it is now clear, do you. So it is just speculation by Sprout (and now you as well). I just wanted to check that, because I certainly wasn’t aware of the PM demanding that “raids” be carried out.

        • the sprout 4.2.1.1
          18 November 2011 at 9:47 am

          i see you’ve selectively ignored this part of my response

          i wonder if i complained to the police about being recorded by a journalist while i’m having a conversation i’m ‘relaxed about’ when i’m having a press conference, if they’d then dutifully issue search warrants on all of our major media outlets.

          😆

          • queenstfarmer 4.2.1.1.1
            18 November 2011 at 10:09 am

            I ignored your “I wonder” comment, because I was askinng for facts. With all due respect, your “wonderings” are not facts.

        • The Voice of Reason 4.2.1.2
          18 November 2011 at 9:50 am

          As Flava Flav said ‘can’t do nothing for ya, man’. If you are that ignorant of police procedure, then there is nothing anybody can say that will help you comprehend, Queenie. But I’ll try anyway:
           
          When you lay a complaint with the police you are asking them to use all the tools at their disposal to establish the facts.

          • queenstfarmer 4.2.1.2.1
            18 November 2011 at 10:14 am

            I get it already – your comment was not based on evidence or fact, just speculation. Each to their own.

            • The Voice of Reason 4.2.1.2.1.1
              18 November 2011 at 10:28 am

              No, my comment was based on fact. You just seem too dim to recognise the truth when it bites you on the arse.

            • the sprout 4.2.1.2.1.2
              18 November 2011 at 10:33 am

              fair enough. let me re-state my point then:

              it is a fact that if i complained to the police about being recorded by a journalist while i’m having a conversation i’m ‘relaxed about’ when i’m having a press conference, they would never then issue search warrants on all of our major media outlets. never.

              yet when the PM complained to the police about being recorded by a journalist while he was having a conversation he said was bland and ‘relaxed about’ during a staged press conference, police then issued search warrants on all of our major media outlets.

              it beggars belief that the complaint coming from Key had no affect on the police descision to take such drastic action over such a trivial matter. if the same complaint came from an ordinary member of the public police would, understandably enough, laugh them out of the station.

              • queenstfarmer …
                18 November 2011 at 10:43 am

                it is a fact that if i complained to the police

                That is a hypothetical (the “if” is a bit of a giveaway). Once again, you have conflated your speculation with fact.

                • the sprout …
                  18 November 2011 at 10:49 am

                  😆 angels and pinheads

                • Carol …
                  18 November 2011 at 10:54 am

                  No need to speculate. Here’s what the police spokesperson said: i.e “It’s political”.

                  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5991636/Tea-tape-investigation-lose-lose/

                  The police investigation into the recording of the prime minister’s conversation is a “lose-lose” for the organisation, but it was left with little choice, Police Association president Greg O’Connor says.
                  […]
                  “The police are between the proverbial rock and a hard place on this one. If they don’t do anything, they’ll be accused of being political; if they do anything, they’ll be accused of being political.”

                  The investigation had to be completed properly and this meant gathering evidence, hence the search warrants for the media. “It’s pure politics, the whole thing is pure politics.

                  • queenstfarmer …
                    18 November 2011 at 11:24 am

                    All I asked for was where John Key had called on police to carry out raids of media outlets. That article does not answer this question at all.

                    • McFlock …
                      18 November 2011 at 1:23 pm

                      When he complained that recordings were illegally made, after it was public knowledge that multiple media outlets were in possession of said recordings.

                    • queenstfarmer …
                      18 November 2011 at 2:02 pm

                      ^ McFlock: I am not sure if you were trying to answer my question, but if so then you haven’t. I repeat: where did John Key call on police to carry out raids of media outlets, as alleged by the authors and others.

                    • McFlock …
                      18 November 2011 at 2:49 pm

                      “I repeat: where did John Key call on police to carry out raids of media outlets, as alleged by the authors and others.”

                      In the bit where he made a statement to police that they were in possession of illegal recordings. In exactly the same way that if I told them you had bootleg tapes under your bed, the cops will come a-knocking. 
                       
                      Actually, no – if only one normal citizen made the claim, they’d probably hold off until more evidence was presented before getting a warrant. But Key makes a complaint and it happens.

                    • Mutante …
                      18 November 2011 at 7:13 pm

                      I think it’s high time to stop feeding the troll myself. You may as well argue with a spambot.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  18 November 2011 at 11:00 am

                  Once again, you have conflated your speculation with fact.

                  If Key wanted to release the facts, he could allow the release of the recording.

                  But, he’s not interested in the facts becoming known.

                • Alethios …
                  18 November 2011 at 11:01 am

                  What exactly is the problem? We’re all on the same page that he’s made a complaint to the police surely. You’re complaining that there is no direct evidence that Key specifically called on the police to raid the premises? I think what the others are saying is that there is plenty of circumstantial evidence, but if you’re not willing to accept it, that’s your right.

                  Personally though, I find the idea that the police are raiding all of our major new organisations on the mere nod and wink from our illustrious PM to be even more worrying.

    • mik e 4.3
      19 November 2011 at 12:18 am

      Crusher collins
      Shipley and buses helped her loose in 99 by stymieing freedom of protest

  5. kriswgtn 5
    18 November 2011 at 9:33 am

    haha The Police association have hit back at his

    The Police have spare time comment::::

    Tell that to the people who have been burgled and their cars ripped Key and the cops just dont have time to respond to these matters

    We had our letterbox vandalized 6 weeks ago.

    The cops were following these little hooligans and watched 1 of them smash 4 letterboxes

    It was only when he did the 5th (OURS!) that they arrested the twerp

    Fucking clown

    • rosy 5.1
      18 November 2011 at 9:46 am

      hmm it’s a pity those crime stats aren’t down, over the last 3 years, for things like ‘act intended to cause injury’, ‘sexual assault’, ‘endangering people’ and ‘abduction and harassment’. And that the murder rate is not trending down.

  6. Tiger Mountain 6
    18 November 2011 at 9:35 am

    The post here a couple of days back was spot on about how in a given setting a psychopath’s manipulation and lack of empathy will be transparent to half the group. While the other half will likely see the person as charming and beyond reproach. The difference? The psychopath needs something i.e.-votes, approval, resources, from the second group. (sociopath is as far as you could reasonably go with ShonKey imo after reading various definitions). But there may be other posters who say don’t be a wuss, go the whole hog!

    The prime mincer has lost control of the narrative and it is most interesting to observe. Staunch tory voters are doing a good ‘three monkeys’ act but it will be interesting to see what the ‘first time caller’ softer ’08 tory vote does next week.

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      18 November 2011 at 10:54 am

      +1

      If the election was in 48 hours, I’d say Key has enough momentum to still carry through and clean up. But a week is a long time in politics, and there is still more than one week to go.

      Key’s strategists were morons for not going for a July or Aug election while seas were still smooth and there was not a single cloud on the horizon.

  7. travellerev 7
    18 November 2011 at 9:39 am

    In order to understand John Key’s actions you have to know something about his past and in his past there are more leaked tapes. He should have known better but there you go the hubris of the man is truly epic!

    • Tiger Mountain 7.1
      18 November 2011 at 9:49 am

      v. interesting ev.

    • Tom Gould 7.2
      18 November 2011 at 10:36 am

      Hubris ( /ˈhjuːbrɪs/), also hybris, means extreme haughtiness, pride or arrogance. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one’s own competence or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power.

      Yes, that pretty much nails him.

  8. Treetop 8
    18 November 2011 at 10:08 am

    Audacious sums up Key this week and last week and next week.

  9. Penny Bright 9
    18 November 2011 at 10:26 am

    Yep – seems that the reliance on all the eggs in one basket (Nats relying on the SHONKY ‘Brand Key’) is now turning turning into one BIG FAT egg custard?

    Although I’m effectively being censored by mainstream media, and not being told about all Epsom candidates meetings (like the one last night – which I would have attended – had I known about it) – the word is still getting out…………………

    One week to go!

    Penny Bright
    Independent Candidate for Epsom
    Campaigning against ‘white collar’ CRIME, CORRUPTION (and its root cause – PRIVATISATION) and ‘CORPORATE WELFARE’.
    [email deleted]

  10. Jan 10
    18 November 2011 at 10:32 am

    I still think that think there is an important aspect of Key’s shenanigans that have worked for him. It’s kept all policy comparisons off the media agenda very effectively for a week. This has effectively trumped Labour’s and the Green’s intention to have policy focussed campaigns. If not for Key’s focus grouped lines in response to this story surely by now a few journalists would have asked the Nat leader four or five times in succession whether asset sales would actually raise $5bn for example or whether a country where the top 1% have more than the bottom 50% is really a place with a brighter future. Much more meaningful lines of questioning.

    If there’s one article that you should point wavering friends to it’s this one http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2011/11/17/gordon-campbell-on-epsom-and-dodgy-aspects-of-asset-sales/ – in particular the second part on the likely value from asset sales.

    This one interesting too – including the responses.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5989843/Revealing-the-gap-between-NZs-rich-and-poor

  11. the sprout 11
    18 November 2011 at 11:17 am

    Althios? i thoroughly agree with your last comment but when I went to endorse it i somehow deleted it. please re-post if you can. sorry

    [lprent: It was in the trash. Pulled it out again. It is really hard to permanently delete comments unless you do it in the spam queue or in the trash.

    I wipe the trash periodically when it gets too large. ]

    [sprout: thanks lynn]

  12. Brett Dale 12
    18 November 2011 at 11:19 am

    To Lose under one term? Your kidding me right????

    Boy you guys are hopeful.

    • freedom 12.1
      18 November 2011 at 11:46 am

      Yes Brett we are hopeful. Hopeful that enough New Zealand voters realise in time that they can avoid the hate and despair that will flood this land if National get a second term. It may not matter to long-standing flypapers like yourself but many many New Zealand families are going to fall even lower than they already are and finally lose what little hold they have on your tissue paper ladders of aspiration. That will actually affect the entire country. With rising crime, growing hardship and good old fashioned desperation becoming a sinkhole that your mates will throw all and sundry into just to gather the next dollar they don’t really need.

      in short, if National get re-elected this country will not have a self-determined future, The people who own it will certainly thankyou, untill your salary/Industry/business is next on their shopping list.
      but that’s ok, i am sure you are relaxed about it.

  13. Penny Bright 13
    18 November 2011 at 1:38 pm

    Interesting how before the 2008 election, when I made a formal complaint to the Police and Serious Fraud Office about John Key’s attempt to flush out commercially sensistive information whilst, as an MP he had an undisclosed pecuniary interest in Tranz Rail, nothing was done by either the Police or the SFO.

    I then took a private prosecution against John Key under s.228 of the Crimes Act 1981:

    There was not ONE sentence in the NZ Herald about ANY of the above.

    Want to see an historic 8 minute You Tube clip which briefly explains these matters?

    “IS JOHN KEY SHONKY?”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFTYZVQo-A8

    Have a squiz!

    🙂

    Penny Bright
    Independent Candidate for Epsom
    Campaigning against ‘white collar’ CRIME, CORRUPTION (including its root cause – PRIVATISATION) and ‘CORPORATE WELFARE’.

    [email deleted]

  14. Penny Bright 14
    18 November 2011 at 1:53 pm

    (A bit more history that some of you may find to be of interest?)

    “16 February 2009

    If you want evidence which confirms how under our ‘democracy’ we tend to get the government that the majority of big business want us to have – try going to the NZ Herald website.

    Search for – ‘Owen Glenn donation/NZ First’.

    You will come up with about 30 pages of articles – approx 10 articles per page.

    Then search for – ‘John Key /Tranz Rail’.
    You will come with about 6 pages – approx 10 articles per page.

    BUT NOT ONE SENTENCE about the fact that I made a complaint to both the Police and SFO about John Key’s failure to disclose his Tranz Rail shares, and his attempt to flush out commercially sensitive information about Tranz Rail through an OIA to Michael Cullen as then Minister of Finance, then a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsmen when Cullen (on the advice of Treasury) declined to release that information.

    NOT ONE SENTENCE about my lodging a private prosecution with the Auckland District Court for the alleged offence of :
    ‘dishonestly and without claim of right, attempting to use documents with intent to obtain pecuniary advantage, being an indictable offence under section 228 of the Crimes Act 1961, ‘Dishonestly taking or using a document’.

    Compare that to the continual bombardment of NZ Herald ‘MAN ON THE MOON’ headlines about Winston Peters and NZ First – although those complaints to the Police and SFO came to nought.
    In my honestly-held and considered opinion – this was the most openly biased media election campaign that I have ever seen.
    How can the public cast an ‘informed’ vote – when the information they are getting is so blatantly one-sided?

    Had NZ First got another 0.8% of the party vote – it would have been quite a different election result.

    That is why there was such a corporate media onslaught to discredit and undermine Winston Peters.

    As reported in the NZ Herald by Fran O’Sullivan, on 5 November 2008, in her article

    “Meurant allegations require scrutiny ..

    All the chief executives I subsequently canvassed in a mini-survey last week told me they didn’t want either Clark or Key to have Peters in their governments.”

    that the majority of CEOs did not want NZ First or Winston Peters to be a coalition partner of either National or Labour.

    To blame Winston Peter’s behaviour for how he was treated by the media (although there was obviously quite some personal animosity on both sides), is a little unrealistic, in my view, to say the least.

    ‘Misuse of public office for private gain’ is the classic definition of corruption. Winston Peters was never accused of that. However – essentially that is my allegation against Prime Minister John Key, now the leader of what is supposed to be the least corrupt country in the world (along with Denmark and Sweden, according to Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perception Index’).

    (For an article explaining why Transparency International NZ is so transparent it is basically invisible – check out http://www.kiwisfirst.co.nz.)

    However, my Court proceedings against John Key are not yet over.

    My appeal against Auckland District Court Judge Bouchier’s decision to dismiss my private prosecution will be heard in the Auckland High Court on 4 May 2009.

    In the meantime, I and others have been asked by senior Ministry of Justice Officials to prepare a ‘business plan’ – setting out the need for a New Zealand Independent Commission Against Corruption.

    My court case over disputing and refusing to pay Auckland City Council rates, (mainly because the CEO David Rankin is refusing to tell us where exactly over $855 MILLION of our rates monies are going to private sector providers of ‘goods, services and people’), is effectively a battle to win the war of legislative change. That being to make it a mandatory requirement under the Local Government Act 2002, that all ‘contracts issued’ be published in Council Annual Reports so that they’re available for public scrutiny.

    The Local Government Select Committee is considering Petition 2008/002, which is calling for just that, at their next meeting.

    Equally – my court case against John Key should help to focus on legislative change to help establish a NZ body tasked with helping to PREVENT corruption and corrupt practices arising from ‘conflicts of interest’. Currently we have none – the Police, SFO, Ombudsman and Office of the Auditor-General are all ‘complaints-driven’.

    As my complaint against John Key proves – what happens when you make a complaint about an allegedly corrupt practice’ and nothing is done?

    Prosecutions against corruption are apparently one of the indicator statistics upon which Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perception Index’ is based.

    I guess if nobody is really looking for corruption – nobody is finding any. Finding corrupt practices is then left to chance and random ‘whistle-blowers’.
    (Like the Otago District Health Board $17 million fraud?)

    Clean, green ‘corruption free’ NZ.
    yeah right.

    Penny Bright
    [email deleted]”
    _________________________________________________________________________

    Penny Bright
    Independent Candidate for Epsom
    Campaigning against ‘white collar’ CRIME, CORRUPTION (including its root cause – PRIVATISATION) and ‘CORPORATE WELFARE’.

  15. newsense 15
    18 November 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Can’t believe I’d ever have a reason to recall Prebble other than Sandra Lee,

    but the candidate from central casting fluffs his lines…

  16. freedom 16
    18 November 2011 at 7:40 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10767078

    The Herald have published a photo that must close the Public or Private argument once and for all.
    There can be no expectation of privacy in the context of the environment occupied by John Banks and John Key as represented in this photograph.

    http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201147/SCCZEN_A_121111NZLDWKEY01_460x230.JPG

    • Carol 16.1
      18 November 2011 at 7:57 pm

      So I wonder if the woman behind Key heard every word?

      • ianmac 16.1.1
        18 November 2011 at 10:42 pm

        Yes. Good point Carol. So were Key/Banks able to have a reasonable expectation of Privacy? Not bluddy likely!

    • ianmac 16.2
      18 November 2011 at 10:40 pm

      Note that the glass panels end on the right and the space is therefore open by less than 2 paces from Key in the second photo.
      And who took that second photo given that all, ALL the media had been shooed out? Not all eh?

  17. freedom 17
    18 November 2011 at 8:46 pm

    to any lawyers out there who can help . . .
    Is there a stipulated difference between a photograph and an audio recording in regards to privacy?

    If so, Why is there an expectation of privacy in regards to audio only?

    • McFlock 17.1
      18 November 2011 at 9:10 pm

      Not a lawyer, but it’s part9A of the crimes act 1961.
       
      The legal issue is interception of the communication, not the actual medium. However, given that they knew the cameras were there but that they claim recording devices were instructed to be excluded, the communication of the visual information does not have an expectation of privacy, but the communication of the audio might be (according to their perspective – I think it’s a long shot)
       

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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    10 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    11 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    11 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    14 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    15 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    16 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    16 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    17 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    17 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    18 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    20 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    21 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    23 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
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  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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