Key on the Teina Pora compensation

Written By: - Date published: 11:24 am, June 16th, 2016 - 74 comments
Categories: accountability, human rights, john key - Tags: , , ,

Do the Nats have a decent, compassionate bone in their collective bodies?

74 comments on “Key on the Teina Pora compensation ”

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  1. gsays 1
    16 June 2016 at 11:38 am

    On a rare occasion I watched TV news.

    I was struck by the footage of teina pora.
    He was smiling in each clip.

    Wonderful ‘framing’ by the ptb.

    • AsleepWhileWalking 1.1
      16 June 2016 at 7:24 pm

      That’s the plan by the look of it. Nothing to see here… not even the man who lost a couple of irreplaceable decades.

      I think 8 million is fair.

  2. Richardrawshark 2
    16 June 2016 at 11:44 am

    Don’t hate me understand the counter argument

    What about the mongrel mob, what about his family who set him up. what about taking the blame for a crime you did not commit, usually for the promise of a patch and the 10k reward.

    what about the victim losing justice because he chose to take the blame. This was also way before his fetal alcohol syndrome was even known as a problem, what about all the others convicted over the years for lesser crimes that could claim the same defence.

    2.5 mils pretty damn good considering he walked into a polioce station and diverted police resources at a time when results were all that mattered dare I say encouraged by government?

    This is all BS. we have bigger fish to fry and I don’t want to see the opposition stooping too this beat up when we have bigger issues like a government like national.

    Teina is not saying this, everyone else is using it as a political football. give me a break.

    • BM 2.1
      16 June 2016 at 11:50 am

      Another sensible comment there, Richard.

    • marty mars 2.2
      16 June 2016 at 12:14 pm

      Bullfuckingshit Richard – injustice is injustice

      Go get your bigger fish if you want – no one is stopping you, what are you waiting for?????

    • M. Gray 2.3
      16 June 2016 at 1:08 pm

      Actually I don’t agree with you Richard when we see something is wrong, should we just ignore it or challenge it. Too many people have expressed racist and discriminative views on Teina Poras compensation. Unlike you I have grown up with this sort of bull-shert you get sick and tired of this happening so you speak out and take a stand. National need to be accountable for all their policies and actions. I listen to Adams talking this morning and she was saying for compensation they don’t follow the other compensated cases as they are all different. But the law is suppose to follow precedents but they don’t. Funny how the Government can move the goal posts when it suits them. And now we have all these nasty right wing d -heads with their outrageous nasty and entrenched racist/discriminative comments this is not acceptable in our country any longer and people like myself and others will not stand for it.

    • Rosemary McDonald 2.4
      16 June 2016 at 1:47 pm

      Another way of looking at this is that you’d have to have a significant level of fuckwittedness not to see that Teina Pora had at least a learning disability…if not actually spot that he was seriously affected by FASD/FAD.

      This was most definitely a recognised ‘disorder’ back then…the police should have seen that they were dealing with a person with ‘special needs’.

      Instead, the police exploited his disability and vulnerability.

      For a quick and easy conviction. Picking low hanging fruit.

      Again.

      Double the compensation.

      • JonL 2.4.2
        16 June 2016 at 8:13 pm

        and take it out of the police budget!

      • framu 2.4.3
        17 June 2016 at 10:16 am

        lets not forget that the police had to show pora what house the crime was commited in – he had no idea when asked to point it out

        regardless of whatever sins pora might have done at the time the police had ample chances to pull the plug – they didnt

    • Rae 2.5
      16 June 2016 at 2:23 pm

      Absolutely none of which makes it okay to imprison someone for a crime they did not commit, especially, as is pretty damned clear, they were fitted up, and none of which means that adequate redress should not be taken once they slow lumberous process of righting the wrong reaches its end.
      This is not Minority Report

    • Tim 2.6
      16 June 2016 at 8:28 pm

      Agreed richard, the opposition really shouldn’t waste their time on this

  3. Greg 3
    16 June 2016 at 11:48 am

    It would mean he doesnt have to work.

  4. shorts 4
    16 June 2016 at 11:54 am

    “Do the Nats have a decent, compassionate bone in their collective bodies?”

    No – well not unless it concerns one of their own

  5. Lanthanide 5
    16 June 2016 at 11:55 am

    There have been some who are saying he never could have earned that much money in 21 years (given his “poor prospects”), so it’s more than enough for him.

    I think there’s an alternative angle there – would any 18 year old agree to be imprisoned for 21 years, to get a payout of $2.5M at the end of it?

    I doubt it.

    • Richardrawshark 5.1
      16 June 2016 at 12:10 pm

      Depends on your prospects in life, I actually know plenty around here that would consider it. I know one who was given a house to murder someone in jail, who was already on a murder charge. At that time the house was worth about 100k, you remember the mr Asia’s associates stabbings in the mount don’t you.

      Plenty have done major time for financial assistance.

      you know the police actively or used to do a thing called TIC, taken into consideration, when they ask people they arrest for a crime to take other crimes on themselves for sentence and cooperation browny points in front of the judge?

      good way of fudging stats and making a small number of the population responsible for most of the crimes.

      time people stopped talking shit on justice.

      • Anno1701 5.1.1
        16 June 2016 at 12:45 pm

        A little bird told me Teina went down to protect an important police informant at the time

        dont know how true that is , but its certainly feasible

      • North 5.1.2
        16 June 2016 at 3:53 pm

        Time you stopped talking shit instead of talking Justice, Richardrawshark. According to your ‘argument’ a miscarriage of justice is more or less objectionable according to how high or low the victim of that miscarriage of justice sits on the social spectrum.

        Well done on your big fail. However it arises. Racism, scorn for a perceived underclass, or just plain stupid nastiness, it’s a fail. Compounded by your mindless speculation about where Teina Pora would have ended up.

        Amy Adams tells the lie that the Cabinet has implemented Justice Hansen’s report. It has not. Justice Hansen’s report recommended 2.5 adjusted for inflation. While it has discretion to implement that recommendation the cabinet has refused to do so. So hag Adams lies. And you talk the strangest shit.

        • Richardrawshark 5.1.2.1
          16 June 2016 at 4:55 pm

          Not at all north,

          My points are this.

          He was not that innocent he was an MMM prospect or hanger on. He had connections with Rewa through the gang.– take into consideration for remuneration

          He has already been awarded 2.5 million which is a shit load of money.

          We all know the police cocked up but so did he by perverting the coarse of justice etc.

          Some people act as if the police took advantage of a dumb deaf mute with 3 arms. 70’s early 80’s fetal alchohol syndrome, well known please he’s not a moron.

          The police should have known something was up when he didn’t even know the house.

          His Family should not have encouraged and even went along with the police to get him reconvicted on his appeals where are they held responsible?

          They, Teina and the mob, stuffed up an investigation, and the culture of advancement in the police force for results is not mentioned either.

          everyone including I am sorry to say Teina are at fault and 2.5 mills a load of cash, he’s sorted for life as long as he follows financial advise and isn’t used again.

          How much do you really need? 10 mill? why not 20, how about 21 whats a year in jail worth over that 21 years he may have won lotto twice.

          2.5 mil, he doesn’t want it give it too me then.

          Oh P fkn S, you know who’s moaning, his fkn lawyers straight away, you know why, it’s not about Teina is it? perhaps a little truth about the cut his lawyers are getting. Of coarse THEY want more.

          • McFlock 5.1.2.1.1
            16 June 2016 at 5:13 pm

            There’s a long history of mentally vulnerable people being coerced into false confessions by police for a “result”.

            Sometimes the cops genuinely thought they had the right person, and got a successful confession.

            Other police just figured they needed someone and the person they had was close enough – if they actually got the right guy it was a happy coincidence.

            The one person in this case who was definitely not at fault was Teina Pora: he was way out of his depth before he even fell in with the MMM crowd, let alone the police.

            • Richardrawshark 5.1.2.1.1.1
              16 June 2016 at 5:38 pm

              I’ll meet you half way then McFlock give him 5, but heck if 2.5 mil ain’t a fortune, and how can you put any value on any of it? Too even value a year lost of your life when you only get one is immeasurable against the age of the universe and the miniscule amount of time you are alive to enjoy it.

              I just think this is greedy lawyers, and vested interests. How about give him the money already stop bothering him anymore and let him live the rest of his life, or at least make the decision himself.

              • McFlock …
                16 June 2016 at 5:52 pm

                As I said somewhere else, as soon as you start quibbling over the cash, it cheapens the apology.

                It’s like putting money in a charity box, and then demanding change.

                The sum set for Arthur Allan Thomas was $100,000 for every year. That was a nice round number, and maybe half a million in today’s money if he was paid in 1980 so geninely lifechanging.

                So, really, you could simply adjust for inflation or round it up afterwards. But sticking with a thirty year old total is just cheap. Tacky.

          • Trey 5.1.2.1.2
            16 June 2016 at 6:36 pm

            Yes Richardrawshark Malcolm Rewa had Mongreal Mob connections. No it would be highly unlikely that he would have had contact with Rewa through the gang as Rewa was a patched member of Highway 61.

          • North 5.1.2.1.3
            16 June 2016 at 9:56 pm

            You’re still talking shit arsehole. The question is whether he did what they said he did and he fucking didn’t so your rave is patent racism and classism. So fuck you little John Key and little Amy Adams. You don’t have an ounce of credibility…….you or one of yours who served 21 years for horrendous crimes you/they didn’t do……would you be giving us racist, classist raving as you are now. No. A plague on you……and yours. Not that yours deserve penalty for your thick outlandishness.

            • Trey 5.1.2.1.3.1
              17 June 2016 at 6:36 am

              I totally agree that Teina was wrongfully convicted and deserves compensation.
              My point to richard was that in that Teina was mongrel mob and rewa was highway 61 it further proves that there was no way that he committed the crime.
              Teina should never have been convicted in the first place but “IF” it was just a mistake once Rewa was convicted of the rape Teina should have been automatically released as this proved his innocence.

    • North 5.2
      18 June 2016 at 1:32 pm

      Excellent point @ 5 Lanth’.

      Demonstrates the ludicrousness of the speculation that Teina was headed nowhere anyway and accordingly the miscarriage of justice he suffered is markedly less egregious than it would be for those whose prospects we speculate to be much brighter.

      To the extent that Bill Hodge of Auckland University engaged that speculation and produced an obviously misbegotten analysis suggests a classism in him which I can barely believe lives there. He must have been having an off day.

  6. Skinny 6
    16 June 2016 at 12:00 pm

    Mr Key says “there are plenty of people who think Mr Pora didn’t deserve $2.5 million.”

    Who are these people saying this? 20 years wrongfully locked up behind bars and plenty of people say Pora is deserving of nothing.

    What a deceitful liar Key is!

    • marty mars 6.1
      16 June 2016 at 12:17 pm

      Yep + 1 on that skinny

    • M. Gray 6.2
      16 June 2016 at 1:14 pm

      Compulsive liar and so is his Minister of Social development its a prerequisite for being part of the party

    • Johan 6.3
      16 June 2016 at 3:30 pm

      Mr Key doesn’t hide “being an idiot” very well;-)))

    • gsays 6.4
      16 June 2016 at 5:22 pm

      Hi skinny, dunno about you.. I would prefer my ‘leaders’ to operate with higher principles than ‘ what some people think’ or ‘I reckon’.

      • M. Gray 6.4.1
        17 June 2016 at 10:00 am

        Its interesting that people have not talked much about the culprits here and that is our Police force. Our taxes are paying for their f …ups and how many have they made and continue to make.

  8. fisiani 8
    16 June 2016 at 2:30 pm

    Key was correct “the cabinet does not have to pay compensation”
    Factually correct.
    Choosing to make a payment was a compassionate choice.

    • Rosemary McDonald 8.1
      16 June 2016 at 2:56 pm

      “Choosing to make a payment was a compassionate choice.”

      NO.

      If anything, it was a cold, cynical PR exercise.

    • Robert Guyton 8.2
      16 June 2016 at 4:10 pm

      “the cabinet does not have to pay compensation” may well be “Factually correct” but your;
      “Choosing to make a payment was a compassionate choice” is nothing more than opinion. I note, fisiani, that your opinions are given little credence here and I can see why that is.

    • Richardrawshark 8.3
      16 June 2016 at 5:02 pm

      You got your shades on Fisiani, you know the sunshine beaming out of John Keys arse is blinding don’t you?

    • Clare 8.4
      17 June 2016 at 10:57 am

      go away nasty person

  9. ankerawshark 9
    16 June 2016 at 3:02 pm

    I really object to Key’s comments “If he doesn’t like it he can give it back” or words to that effect.

    Kind of like, “like it or lump it”. A terrible thing to say to somebody wrongfully imprisoned for 20 years. Disgusting and heartless.

  10. Mark Wilson 10
    16 June 2016 at 3:29 pm

    Just because you don’t agree with someone’s point of view does not make them lacking a “decent, compassionate bone in their collective bodies” or :”disgusting and heartless.”
    The left get bogged down in a fantasy world where reality doesn’t intrude.
    The issue is that the right understand that wishing and hoping gets zero results.

    For a start Pora will not get to see all but a fraction of the money by the time his feral relatives (read what the judge said about them) and the Mongrel Mob take the money – what hope has someone with his mental abilities of keeping the money – nil!

    Why should the taxpayer fund the Mongrel Mob?

    • North 10.1
      16 June 2016 at 4:45 pm

      The damp squib PM effetely witters on with “I do worry…… ” about the little prince getting responses to his “look at me look at me…..” show-off antics. Yet in respect of Justice for Teina (and, therefore, for the nation) it’s pretty much yawn……followed by a dog whistle to racist sociopaths. Suggestion…….Teina is bloody lucky to be getting anything, more or less. Again……no parent would hold out as a role model this characterless detritus Key.

    • North 10.2
      16 June 2016 at 4:55 pm

      Ladies and Gentlemen………I give you the fetid racist and sociopath, Mark Wilson !

    • McFlock 10.3
      16 June 2016 at 5:00 pm

      isn’t it going into a trust for him? Thought I saw that on the news last night.

      So try again, marky mark

      • North 10.3.1
        16 June 2016 at 10:36 pm

        Actually, it’s not the business of fucking racists where the fucking money goes. Of course the racists (and there’re a few call themselves Lefties who’ve shown themselves to be racists on this thread) will underline their racism by questioning every fucking aspect of things……point is none of these wiseacres spent 21 years banged up and wore the stamp of “murderer……rapist”, as TOTALLY undeservedly did Teina.

        Whom EVERYONE now knows was never a murderer or a rapist. Thank you very much Super-Vanity-Cop-Steve- Rutherford now living in deservedly ignominious retirement in the Bay of Plenty or somewhere. You stole 21 years of a man’s life, arsehole. And I’m very sad to learn that it was Paul Davison QC now a High Court judge who twice ‘successfully’ prosecuted Teina. Twice sent him to jail for crimes we all now know he never committed. That’s where ‘The Law’ loses all it’s meaning.

        And thank you very much racist fucking idiots who somehow overlook the fact that he never never never fucking did it. Idiots. It’s like they think he’s ‘sort of’ guilty. No wonder that Ponce Key keeps getting re-elected in this country. With thinking like that spoofing all over. No respect. None at all. Especially for shits who call themselves Left.

    • Hanswurst 10.4
      16 June 2016 at 5:11 pm

      Just because you don’t agree with someone’s point of view does not make them lacking a “decent, compassionate bone in their collective bodies” or :”disgusting and heartless.”

      You’re absolutely right. What makes them disgusting and heartless is publicly treating an issue of ruining somebody’s life purely as a matter of accountancy, and lying by saying that the government’s hands were tied in setting the sum.

      One of the biggest problems with the Right is that they live in a fantasy world in which arguments from principle and reason are seen merely as assaults on their God-given “freedom” to have things happen as they please.

    • Halfcrown 10.5
      16 June 2016 at 5:37 pm

      “The left get bogged down in a fantasy world where reality doesn’t intrude.”

      No they don’t mate, what they like to see is a bit of justice and fair play. But I realise fair play and justice to you right wingers is treated as a fantasy, you don’t know the meaning of, because in the Ayn Randian dreamworld there are no such things as fair play or justice – Oh, yes there is, I forgot, the more money you have, the more fair play and justice you will be shown. It is survival of the fittest, fuck you Jack get out of the fucking way as there is a dollar to be made (note, made not earned) and as I have a few dollars I have an overwhelming sense of entitlement.
      Sure you are right saying it could end up in the hands of the Mongrel Mob, but hopefully his team of lawyers who appear to be very compassionate are advising him on how to safeguard his money.
      I also would not like to see my contribution to the tax take ending up in the hands of the Mongrel Mob, no more than Rio Tinto or A J Hacket, or Warners, Jackson, or private schools, or Charter Schools, etc but he well deserves compensation like lots and after he has been paid wherever it ends up is not our concern.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 10.6
      16 June 2016 at 6:30 pm

      The left get bogged down in a fantasy world where reality doesn’t intrude.

      Meanwhile, on Earth, the question of whether right wingers in general are heartless is a matter of opinion. Personally I think they’re incompetent, corrupt, greedy and dishonest, because I can measure those things against objective criteria.

      I note your utter disregard for Teina Pora’s human rights. and venture to suggest that, since you seem literate, and possibly therefore, educated, your ethics may be lower than even the Mongrel Mob’s.

      What’s your excuse for promoting your pathetic vengeance fantasies over his right to compensation?

      • Halfcrown 10.6.1
        16 June 2016 at 6:42 pm

        Nice one Anonymous

      • North 10.6.2
        16 June 2016 at 10:51 pm

        The telling point however is this……see one of ‘their’ little boys or girls in the shit…….up in court or whatever…….oh there are a thousand reasons why it’s just a terrible mistake……why this good kid really shouldn’t be proceeded against, or at least must be treated advantageously differently. Yes I see it daily and daily I see District Court judges finding reasons why this little darling shouldn’t be treated roughly like the next defendant called……the little Maori boy or the little Island boy. And oh how they the judges congratulate themselves nevertheless.

        I’m 40 years in practice now and to my discredit it’s only been in the last two or three years that I’ve recognised the foul discriminatory essence of it. Why else do we have this extraordinary over-representation of brown people in the hinaki ?

  11. Ross 11
    16 June 2016 at 5:26 pm

    Apparently National told Pora that he had to make an “immediate” decision whether to accept or decline its miserly offer. WTF?

    Anyway, Amy Adams has now said that the offer isn’t time bound. All National has to do is adjust the offer for inflation and give Pora $4.5 million. That’s what a compassionate government would do.

    Labour-Greens could of course state unequivocally that when elected it will fairly compensate Pora and won’t be so miserable as to short-change successful applicants. National were quick to pay millions to Rio Tinto but a guy who’s spent 21 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, meh.

    http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/why-isnt-cabinet-doing-what-it-says-it-should-for-teina-pora

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/81141316/teina-pora-may-challenge-25-million-compensation-offer-from-government

    • Colonial Viper 11.1
      16 June 2016 at 6:42 pm

      We are not asking for Government to act “compassionately” – we are asking Government to act justly.

    • North 11.2
      16 June 2016 at 11:06 pm

      Yeah, that’s what I want. In the next election campaign level up against that effete thing The Ponce Key a promise to make a further payment of at least 2.5 mill’. To sheet home that we are a nation concerned with righting injustice as best we can, as opposed to further slighting the victim of that injustice. And of course the victims of the injustice include that poor woman and her family. In that their emotions and their pain were commandeered and so disrespected as to have them understand and believe at least initially that Teina Pora took their loved one from them. An outrage which they are now wise to.

    • North 11.3
      17 June 2016 at 7:20 am

      How much did the Saudi ‘sheep farmer’ get ?

      • M. Gray 11.3.1
        17 June 2016 at 10:06 am

        21million spent on Keys flag pet project and millions on the Saudi farm bribe and NZ women can’t and won’t get more paid maternity leave and we have low birth rates so we have to rely on immigration very sad indeed.
        Family violence on the rise and no money for our Womens refuges.

  12. Ross 12
    16 June 2016 at 6:02 pm

    Let’s not forget that former Justice Minister Judith Collins had the opportunity to pardon Teina Pora but she preferred that he spend more time in prison.

    Collins of course was a big supporter of Peter Ellis and, when she was in Opposition, signed a petition requesting a Commission of Inquiry into his case. But as soon as she became a Minister, she quickly lost interest in Peter Ellis.

    She doesn’t seem to have any political will or moral courage where miscarriages of justice are concerned.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/9020990/Govt-must-not-intrude-on-courts

    • M. Gray 12.1
      17 June 2016 at 10:09 am

      Her and her husband are too busy plundering our swamp Kauri up North and selling our water overseas

  13. dave 13
    16 June 2016 at 7:39 pm

    the is no justice with national bain and pora should walk away from any dealing with this rotten corrupt government you will only get justice from a government that has principles it tisn’t the key government.

  14. dave 14
    16 June 2016 at 7:46 pm

    key has basically said stiff shit to pora ,bain ,and rest of the wrongly convicted and the homeless god this fuckin government has to go .

  15. vto 15
    17 June 2016 at 7:18 am

    .

    key has no soul

    .

    • Mosa 15.1
      18 June 2016 at 3:11 pm

      Or decency ,morals, honesty, compassion,sincerity, self respect, courage, a concience, decency, or principles.

  16. vto 16
    17 June 2016 at 7:27 am

    Amy Adams cringing justification mincespeak two days ago, and her explanations of how the system works.. well ……..

    Adams said “The system works well with its appeal processes in that it picks up cases such as Taina’s. However, this proves the system works to avoid injustice because 99.999% of cases never get overturned.”

    ….. jeeezzuz….

    Did Adams suggest that the system only gets it wrong 0.001% of the time?????

    Does anybody believe that?????

    I would suggest that the 99.999% of the time statistic indicates that the system is NOT working, not that it IS working… That 99.999% figure indicates that there are many more people suffering injustice as that figure should be significantly lower…

    Does anybody know where else in human society and history, people and their systems get things right 99.999% of the time??? If so, I would like to hear it..

    It
    does
    not
    happen

    the 99.999% figure indicates failure not success

    never trust the crown

  17. Ross 17
    17 June 2016 at 11:34 am

    Now police are saying that Pora is in fact guilty! Breath-taking. Is it any wonder that miscarriages of justice don’t get corrected or, for those that do, can take a very long time.

    Detective Superintendent Andy Lovelock – who holds the Burdett homicide file – told Stuff’s investigative team in a phone conversation on June 3: “The police position is that Teina Pora is a co-offender with Malcolm Rewa. That hasn’t changed.”

    By then, police had a copy of the report which has declared Pora innocent.
    …
    The pursuit of Pora appears to have been relentless, with detectives seeking new evidence right up until the case went to the Privy Council in late 2014.

    Then, in February this year, on hearing one of the witnesses who assisted Pora’s case was dying “the police approached him to see if he wanted to change his evidence”, McKinnel says.

    “It was at the time when the case was in the hands of Justice Hansen. They had all the evidence pointing towards Teina’s innocence in their hands. And yet here they are approaching a man who they knew was dying – and did die soon after that – to see if he would change his evidence. That to me says everything you need to know”.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/81164960/teina-pora-police-continued-to-seek-evidence-to-get-him-at-all-costs

  18. North 18
    18 June 2016 at 8:16 am

    The Police adopted a similar ‘never say die and stuff justice’ approach in the David Dougherty miscarriage of justice. As I recall in the second round their pose was that if Dougherty wasn’t the sole offender then he was present as a criminal accomplice who did not himself physically offend. “If he didn’t do it he facilitated it…..” sort of thing. Now the same pose with Teina apparently. How do they sleep at night ? I know……reflexive resort to their essential racism and their detestation of those they perceive as a perpetually guilty underclass.

  19. Mosa 19
    18 June 2016 at 1:59 pm

    I would like to acknowledge that the victim Susan Burdett died a horrible death in what was supposed to be the safety of her own Home where she should have been safe.
    This seems to be forgotten here and the anguish for her family never goes away.

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    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
    19 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
    22 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
    22 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
    1 day 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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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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    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

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

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

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

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

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

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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