Key pledges: a photo-op a week for Chch

Written By: - Date published: 12:05 am, March 14th, 2011 - 83 comments
Categories: john key, Satire - Tags: , ,

Stung by Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee’s admission that the eastern suburbs had been neglected after the Christchurch Earthquake, John Key is redoubling his efforts: “For the first few days, I stuck my head down and got on with designing the emergency benefit policy but, with winter approaching, the people need me to return to my strengths.”

Acclaimed comedian, multi-millionaire and sometime Prime Minister Key has promised a photo-op a week until Christchurch is back on its feet.

“As Prime Minister, it’s the least I can do” explained Key:

“It was cool that Stephen Fleming organised his old cricket buddies for a charity match but it wouldn’t have been the same if I hadn’t made an appearance. Seeing me whack a full-toss from Warnie (he said I could call him Warnie, how cool is that!?) to the boundary would have really lifted spirits in Christchurch homes. Well, those that have power. And I bet they got a giggle out of my Liz Hurley comment, I spent ages working on it”

Key denied that such photo-ops were pointless:

“Do you really think they would have sold-out the Basin just to see some old cricket greats? Nah, they came to see me. Besdies, Fujitsu donated $100,000 to the Christchurch relief fund because I hit that four. Of course, Fujitsu would have donated the money anyway (imagine how churlish they would have looked if they refused!) and they could have done it without the palaver but we talked and we decided that what the people of Christchurch really needed was for people in Wellington to watch me play ham it up while playing a bit of cricket.”

Next on the photo-op list is this week’s memorial day.

“It just so happened that Prince William had a pre-arranged trip this week to Australia to check out the floods meaning it will be easy for him to pop over here. I can assure you that it was only a coincidence that we picked this unseemly early date but the stills of me and the future King looking sombre while inspecting the rubble will play get in the weekend papers, which, by the by, are great for layering between days in your long-drop to help control the pong”

Key was coy on future photo ops. He said he had something “really sweet” lined up for next week, “think: All Blacks and Zorbs”  and re-iterated his plan to appear on Letterman and Oprah to raise money, although those appearances “would count for two weeks”.

83 comments on “Key pledges: a photo-op a week for Chch ”

  1. I’ve read the event raised $500k. That’s remarkable. Congrats to Fleming and all who were involved, everyone who showed up, played or donated – including the PM.

    I fear you’re missing the point. The people of Christchurch.

    Hold the pollies accountable for the stuff that matters, their administration.

    Please don’t waste any political capital by making ridiculous criticisms such as this.

    • Bright Red 1.1

      way to completely miss the point. No-one’s against a chairty cricket match.

      The problem is Key shows up at a match (that was already sold out before he said he was coming) and clowns around but does nothing of real substance.

      “Hold the pollies accountable for the stuff that matters, their administration. ”

      In my view, that’s precisely what Zet is doing. Asking where the actual administration work is.

  2. Odd, I commented, critically, on this post. Should my post have been lost in the either, let me again say this is a stupid post that entirely misses the point… the recovery of Chch.

    [lprent: Wound up in auto spam. Takes a while before I check in there, and I usually have a look to see why it got there. No reason in this case. ]

  3. Rob 3

    Not sure if they could actually get many more photo ops out of it.

    • Jim Nald 3.1

      Is John Key’s publicity team hiring?
      Comms people who lost jobs from Ryall’s public sector slashing can apply?

      A photo-op a week (including this week) and that makes 37 to polling weekend.

      Someone set up something online like an Excel sheet for bloggers to fill in?
      The sheet can be used for to record and monitor, in one of the columns, actual stats of Key’s photo-ops as well.

  4. Irascible 4

    As John Key would say” The Herald will give me front page holding little Willie in my hand, especially if I’m showing him my photo of Liz Hurley autographed by Warnie. (Mind you until Warnie can be convinced to authenticate the signature I could have signed it myself… Shane is, after all, another spelling of John, isn’t it?) That should distract the public from Double & Hide getting ready to sell off New Zealand to my Republican business mates in Hawaii and Wisconsin.”

  5. Double standard 5

    Problem with your beatching here is that Phil Goff was at the Cricket….even laughing….where he has been all his political life LEFT OUT ON THE SIDELINE!!

  6. And once again, Phil Goff had to watch from the sidelines …

  7. Nice photo of more socialist pollies enjoying the insanity of power. Must go as this Demo Man has lots and lots of work to do. Kiwi politicians wouldn’t work in an iron lung. What weak creeps!They all make sick!

  8. Bob Stanforth 8

    It would have been so much cooler if Phil In was PM. Imagine. He could have ridden a borrowed bike in borrowed leathers to the center, worn a really cool neck scarf whilst at bat, and not run but sauntered in that really cool Thunderbirds walking style he has fostered, stately like, between the wickets.

    We have so missed out as a country, heart broken we should be.

    Oh, and note to the site mods – you should check the speullunk in your adverts, that’s just shonky (no, not JohnKey, shonky, utterly different, just ask the voting public 😉 )

  9. Pete 9

    This comes across not only as petty political bitching but also as bitching at efforts to help Christchurch, financially and spiritually. If ever there was a time for the country to show some non-aligned maturity together to show support for one of our cities in major strife it’s now.

    I wasn’t particularly interested in the cricket game (I’m following the real cricket in India), but it wasn’t for me.

    • felix 9.1

      Maturity? Don’t make me laugh. There’s important work to be done and this is all monkey-boy has to offer?

      This is not the role of a leader, Pete. This is the role of an entertainer.

      As I’m sure you know, his office has been working overtime the last couple of days trying to figure out how to get him on Oprah now that the world is focused on Japan.

      • Lanthanide 9.1.1

        It won’t help that Oprah ended her talk show (famously, in Sydney). Unless you mean the new Oprah Network?

        • Zetetic 9.1.1.1

          key was the one talking about getting himself on oprah. not me.

          personally, I think it’s awesome our country is in such good shape that there’s nothing more pressing for the PM to attend to than flying around the work to make fundraising appearances. Without a doubt it will bring in millions, just like how his stand-up brought in all those extra US tourists.

    • Zetetic 9.2

      please explain how Key’s photo-ops are efforts to help Christchurch.

      Whole point of the post is that Key isn’t helping Christchurch with these stunts.

      • Pete 9.2.1

        Do you live in Christchurch?
        How do you know that everyone in Christchurch thinks he isn’t helping them?

        I don’t think everyone is consumed by political hissiness.

        • Zetetic 9.2.1.1

          you’re right, they’re too busy worrying what is going to happen to their house and no-one is giving them any info. Not even an indication of when they will know and what will happen in different outcomes.

          I’d rather Key spent his time designing such an info pack for Chch households and donated another $500K of tax money. Wouldn’t you?

      • Jim Nald 9.2.2

        Our family friends and former colleagues who have been displaced from Christchurch said yesterday they acknowledge the turn-out and Stephen Fleming’s initiative but they were more circumspect about John Key’s ballyhoo.

        They said $500,000 is great but ought to be seen by the discerning public in perspective – how many houses will that rebuild?

        I said John Key’s monkey-ing around is distracting from the real work and decisions required from the Government about funding and rebuilding Christchurch.

      • Zetetic, he was part of an event that raised $500k. Had Helen been PM, she would have supported it however she could’ve too. Phil Goff was there and supported it. Can I also say, people enjoyed the event and enjoyed the Warne/Key element too. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that either. You’re being way too partisan and this isn’t the time.

        • Blighty 9.2.3.1

          How is it partisan to point out that Key’s doing lots of photo-ops and bugger all else for christchurch?

          • Paul Williams 9.2.3.1.1

            It’s partisan because the PM of the day should always be involved in this kind of event. Once you accept that, a post that criticises him for doing his job is either partisan or hopelessly misinformed. Surely you’d be alert to this since Phil was there too (and had he or Helen been PM, they’d have been involved one way or the other).

            For all means criticise him for substantive failings; the allocation of resources to East Christchurch, for his Ministers etc. But criticising him for supporting a major event such as this is ridiculous. Worse, it alienates people, like me, who think he’s a poor PM generally but can’t let this kind of criticism stand.

            • Blighty 9.2.3.1.1.1

              I’m quite capable of reading words that aren’t on bold, old boy.

              This post is criticising the substantive failings by pointing out that all Key is doing is photo-ops.

        • lprent 9.2.3.2

          Z tends towards the satirical, and frequently satires repetitive behavior. Click on their name and read his previous posts.

          I am pretty sure that he’d have taken the piss if Helen had done it as well – if she’d had the history of shamelessly chasing photo-ops. Since she was never known for selecting photo ops over the work she got paid for, then your points are rather moot.

          It is always the time for satire.

          Personally I am sure that the PM has some more effective ways of raising money and resources for fixing Christchurch than a frigging charity cricket match. Getting the debt in place to pay for sewerage systems come to mind

          • Paul Williams 9.2.3.2.1

            Z tends towards the satirical, and frequently satires repetitive behavior. Click on their name and read his previous posts.

            Lyn, I lurk here bit, I’m noticing a decline in the quality of satire. I’ll leave it now, I’ve made my point.

          • Armchair Critic 9.2.3.2.2

            Personally I am sure that the PM has some more effective ways of raising money and resources for fixing Christchurch than a frigging charity cricket match.
            C’mon LP, all Key needs to do is play another 39,999 matches like that and he’ll have raised the full $20b to fund the rebuild.
            AFAIK that’s about ten times more matches than the total number of international ODIs ever played, but whatever.

        • Bright Red 9.2.3.3

          the money would have been raised with or without Key. You can’t credit him for it. Tickets had sold out before he even said he was taking part.

          If Key wants another $500K for Christchurch, he could allocate it could cut the cycleway funding by 4%, or he could donate it himself.

          Don’t try to tell us showing up at a cricket game that raises half a million is the best the PM can be doing.

          • Paul Williams 9.2.3.3.1

            I didn’t say that, that’s a complete strawman.

            • Bright Red 9.2.3.3.1.1

              you are implying that him being there some how contributes something to the fundraising effort.

              I’m saying it doesn’t and if Key wants more money for Christchurch, he can easily find real funds for it.

              You know, in two weeks the emergency benefits for the 50,000 people whose jobs are gone or shut temporarily by the quake end. The government has said it ‘might or might not’ extend the benefit or replace it. If Key really wanted to help Christchurch, he could start by not making those 50,000 people and their families live in fear.

              • No Bright Red, I’m saying, not implying, the PM of the day should be there and that to criticise him for that is silly. His presence might have helped raise money, some donors want a photo-op with the PM, which is all the more reason why any PM of the day would attend.

                This is getting repetitive.

                • gobsmacked

                  Paul’s right.

                  It was a fun day, raised plenty of cash, and Key played his part.

                  It’s a valid criticism to say that while he clearly succeeds in this kind of thing, he clearly fails in the big stuff.

                  But it’s also a valid criticism of some of his critics on here, that they make exactly the same mistake.

                  Concentrate on the government’s substantive failings (and therefore the Prime Minister’s), and the public will listen.

                  Exhibit A:

                  http://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/106/new-zealanders-not-confident-government-has-adequate-economic-plans

                  Pretty clear message for the opposition there.

                  • Jim Nald

                    The piece is refreshingly honest and sharp. Well done.
                    The criticism is along the lines of Nero fiddling while Rome burned.

                    Rebuilding Christchurch, the immediate plans to help people adjust and resettle in Christchurch, and the challenging decisions and real funding commitment to be made, ought to come first.
                    There is still nothing remotely looking like real steps being taken or even real plans being prepared. But there are already signs of preparation for the next photo-op.

                    The piece is to be commended for raising criticisms of John Key in a satirical form.

                • Bright Red

                  The criticism is not of the photo-op but of the lack of anything else.

                  Why hasn’t Key given 50,000 Kiwis some reassurance about their future? Was he too busy practising his slog?

        • Colonial Viper 9.2.3.4

          Zetetic, he was part of an event that raised $500k.

          Big frakking deal, $500K is enough to tear down one wrecked house, remediate the land and rebuild it.

          One house. One property.

          Like I said, big frakking deal.

          Key needs to lift taxes and raise levies in order to secure $5B-$6B ASAP. Or, alternatively he could do 12,000 cricket fundraisers making $500K a pop.

          What will it be?

  10. Pete 10

    I don’t know that felix, and I’d guess that you’re making it up. Or do you have some evidence of that?

    Internationally the plight of Christchurch has been overwhelmed by the multiple horrors in Japan. All the more important for us to not forget what’s still happening in Christchurch and to do everything we can to keep supporting them there – a pity many attention spans seem to have flitted back to pettiness already.

    • felix 10.1

      Indeed, for example the PM who can’t find any better way to spend his time as the leader of our nation than playing cricket and meeting princes.

      Sad that those on the right aren’t calling for Key to do some fucking work when his country needs him.

      • Bored 10.1.1

        It might be rather nice if he were to roll up his sleeves, take the spray can and mark out the Chch leg of the cycleway!

    • Colonial Viper 10.2

      Or do you have some evidence of that?

      The cry for evidence always seems to come from the unimaginative who have no reasoning or logic.

  11. higherstandard 11

    They raised 500k for CCH and Key played a very minor role – which was requested of him by Stephen Flemming.

    There’s no doubt lots of thing to criticise him on but to have a go at him over this is pathetic partisan hackery at its lowest.

    A bit like arguing the rights and wrongs of the A bombs being dropped just after Japan has being delivered a horrendous earthquake and tsunami.

    • Zetetic 11.1

      I’d like the PM to be doing more for Chch than playing more than a minor role at minor fundraisers.

    • Akldnut 11.2

      Key played a very minor role – which is exactly the point.
      The cause was great but IMO the people of CCH would have better served had the great entertainer been at work being a great PM, instead he used it as a photo-op/PR exercise.
      More of smarmy, smiley Mr feel good.

  12. Pete 12

    I don’t care for celebrity type crap, but as higherstandard says, Stephen Fleming asked Key and others to take part in the cricket, they raised half a million dollars for Christchurch and showed they cared, so good on them.

    I don’t care for our monarchy either, but if the Queen chooses to send her grandkid as representative and, as I’m sure it will, it gives thousands of Cantabrians a thrill and belief that the nobs over there care then good on them.

    • Zetetic 12.1

      point is that the symbolism becomes the substance. All Key is ‘doing for Chch’ is appearing in photo-ops. Wouldn’t mind him playing some cricket if he also had presented the kind of plan Marty suggested the other day.

      You happy that the memorial day is timed for Prince William? Because everyone in Chch says it’s too soon.

      • Pete 12.1.1

        I don’t care when the memorial is timed, it’s got nothing to do with me.

        How do you know “everyone in Chch” says it’s too soon? I took part in a remembrance service in Dunedin two or three weeks ago, that wasn’t seen to be too soon.

        • Bright Red 12.1.1.1

          that was the national two minute’s silence genius. It was exactly a week after the quake

          everyone from left and right who has commented here and lives in chch has said this friday is too soon. how do you have a memorial service for something that is still ongoing? When not all the missing are accounted for and the dead not identified yet how can you hold a memorial for them? Why not wait until the emergency is over before memorialising it?

          I just see a huge contradiction in having a memorial service at the same time as a national state of emergency is still on.

          • Maynard J 12.1.1.1.1

            I see a contradiciton in having a memorial service when they’re unlikely to have named all of the dead.

            Some poor folk won’t even have official confirmation of the death of the people for whom the service is intended to honour.

            A bit disrespectful, to say the least.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 12.2

      Have you been following what Key has been saying. Its all a garbled nonsense. These is some big promises made but as the rest of the country found out after the election , and the west coast more recently found out, its all ‘aspirational’.

      Key hasnt a clue on how to set a policy in place and have it carried out.

      He has a habit of even forgetting his own ‘promises’ about 2 years down the track. GST anyone ?

    • Craig Glen Eden 12.3

      Unlike the Prince (Totally useless Figurehead) Key is meant to be Prime Minister ( His job elected to Work) Perhaps instead of waisting time in the nets he could learn his speech’s so he doesn’t have to learn them woooord for woooord.
      Maybe he could spend so time looking reading and understanding the papers he signs, then he wouldn’t have to blame others for his cock ups!
      If he really wanted to help the people of Canterbury he could donate a Million or two then get on with his job.

  13. Monty 13

    the bitterness and vile that you lefties write is a sad reflection on yourselves. Goff would do (and indeed he does attempt) just about anything for a fraction of the popularity that John Key enjoys. If you lot were not so sad, and pathetic, I would laugh at you. (Well actually we do laugh at you and your pathetic hatred and bitterness – God knows it is so self destructive.

    • Craig Glen Eden 13.1

      No one no leftie would deny or support Key being at the Cricket but he shouldn’t play. I dont pay taxes for a Priminister to piss about with continuous Celebrity photo ops. I pay him to actually produce policy and until he can actually do something that benefits NZ I want him to do his job.

      He is the most over payed useless public servant we have, do some work Key you useless muppet!

      • Monty 13.1.1

        such vile and anger – the publicity of John Key being at the cricket and taking the bat to hit a boundary was worth one company donating $100,000 to Christchurch. Not a bad efort for an afternoon’s work. Or is it the “Tory charity” you hate? Or is it the publicity John Key got that you hate?

        I would be very careful about criticising John Key and his work load. I dare say he works harder than any minister and probably harder than any Labour Minister –

        But keep vomiting the vile and hate – it is working for your guys. I think Goff went up in the preferred PM stakes to 7.2% as a result of your sterling efforts.

        [lprent: Haven’t you just said most of that in a different comment with the same words with very minor variations in this post? Looks like you added a paragraph.

        Repitition makes me to start watching you as a troll. Especially since you haven’t offered any reasoning or rationale for your various statements. In the assertion about Key and his work, there are no links. it appears to be a unsupported opinion being stated incorrectly as fact.

        To show you how to express an opinion, try this. John Key is in my opinion the most lazy and ineffective PM out of all of the ones I have known, and I have known a number of them. ]

        • mickysavage 13.1.1.1

          I would be very careful about criticising John Key and his work load. I dare say he works harder than any minister and probably harder than any Labour Minister

          Do you have any facty thingys suggesting how hard Key works? He does do more smiling and waving than any other PM I can think of but otherwise he is disappointing. He has a poor grasp of his portfolios, does not seem to know what his ministers are doing and the Government is achieving nothing apart from giving the rich undeserved tax cuts and watching the public service slowly grind to a halt.

          But what a guy eh, especially after hitting a Warney full toss for a four …

        • Rob 13.1.1.2

          “I dare say he works harder than any minister and probably harder than any Labour Minister”

          Well that’s not hard. There are no Labour Ministers.

        • Blighty 13.1.1.3

          you seem to be assuming that Fujitsu wouldn’t have donated the moeny if Key hadn’t hit the boundary.

          I believe ‘yeah, right’ is the saying.

          • Paul Williams 13.1.1.3.1

            If that’s in relation to my comment, that’s not what I said. I never said Key made the event, he didn’t Fleming did and clearly his idea, management and personality dragged in many many more wonderful sportspeople and personalities. I did observe that the organisers would benefit from Key being there since it might help get some sponsors on board. I’m not going to speculate what Fujitsu might not have done, I’m just really pleased that the did contribute and if they get a photo op out of that, so be it. Frankly, I’d far rather have a photo op with Gavin Larsen, that bloke’s a bloody hero.

            Someone up thread mentioned they could read without bolding… it’s not obvious.

            Hah, capcha is “whatever”

      • Jim Nald 13.1.2

        Alert – a RWNJ playing the politics of resentment and envy

        • Tigger 13.1.2.1

          Monty – pity Key’s got no interest in taking up a bat for the people left out of pocket by Pike River. See, that’s not a sexy photo op anymore, those poor mining families don’t make such interesting pictures as Key playing cricket.

          • Pascal's bookie 13.1.2.1.1

            Oh now I get it. When he said that in NZ we are our brother’s keeper, he meant that we are trying to stump him.

  14. Jono 14

    Yeah, this is seriously pathetic. I think it’s great that he played, as does I would imagine the vast majority of the country (except I imagine those who would become personally enriched/more powerful by a change of government). It was a really good game & raised heaps of money. Don’t be so miserable all the time. Boo hoo, the pm went to a fun game of cricket on a Sunday afternoon.

    • Craig Glen Eden 14.1

      Go to School little Jono, learn some critical thinking skills so you can actually have something to say that is not childish.

    • felix 14.2

      No-one cares that he plays a game of cricket.

      We care that all he does is play a game of cricket.

      • Rosy 14.2.1

        And I care that when there is an opportunity for him to talk about plans for Christichurch it ends up in him talking about a game of criket. He can play cricket all he wants, in his free time, but not displace media time that should be spent on the important stuff with a bloody game.

        • Jono 14.2.1.1

          Man, I would probably bet serious money that none of you actually watched the game.

          • Blighty 14.2.1.1.1

            I’m not sure how that enters into it either way, old boy. Because the criticism isn’t that there was a game, or even that Key had a cameo. It’s that there’s to many photo-ops and too little substance.

            • Bored 14.2.1.1.1.1

              Bugger Key and his photo ops. Every time from now on Shonkey does a photo op I am going to mentally blank it out with the wonderful miraculous image of the Japanese man rescued miles out at sea sitting on his house roof.

  15. tc 15

    Oh Monty that’s pure gold….key and his relentless focus on blah blah blah you lot are so gullable but then that’s no surprise as enough twats voted for him that loving feeling still lingers with some but not all.

    Wilkinson/bennett/wong to name but a few really hard working ministers…..lol wilko can’t even hide her cluelessness with some decent polly-speak she’s so bad.

    • Blighty 15.1

      how many jobs lost since Key declared he would have a “relentless focus” on them?

      To quote the Minister for Economic Development: ‘heaps’

  16. ianmac 16

    The problem with Key is he acts as though he is a sort of figure-head President. Which is why the photo-op smile and wave would maybe fit. Maybe.

  17. Irascible 17

    The Herald Online & Yahoo News – NZPA reported the match in much the same way as this article commented – they played up the Key talking dirty angle – Key sledges Warne with a Hurley… Key Hurley’s Warne…. yeah this is the level of respect that we should have for a PM isn’t it???
    Fascination with his fantasies to disguise his lack of substance as a leader.

  18. Murray 18

    It would appear that the level of waffle that apparently afflicts the Labour Party is spreading like a virus through the Fan Boys and Fan Girls of the left.
    The level of hysteria and unhealthy obsession with John Key that the left exhibits seems more to do with Labours standing in the poles rather then any real issues.
    This blog is fast becoming a nasty hissy fit gossip rag.
    As the Guest Post in Waffle says, You lot are so fucking fucked.

    • Fisiani 18.1

      You have given away the master plan Murray. The Standard is actually hosted by the National Party. many of the so called leftist nutters actually work in Nat party headquarters. It is so extreme in some of the comments and into hyperbole in making out that John Key is the epitome of all evil/laziness/fascism/indolence/wickedness/narcissism and falsehoods.
      This further confirms the self evident truth to all reasonable people that John Key is a good/hardworking/centrist/busy/saintly/self effacing truth teller.
      It’s a very effective strategy.

      • Murray 18.1.1

        Wow ! That is brilliant, It all becomes clear now. That Crosby Textor bunch really know their stuff. Imagine The Standard actually run by The National Party

        • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.1

          John Key fails, and no more National Government for about 4 terms. That’s how thin your ranks are. Why do you think Power left.

  19. Jim Nald 19

    Hey everyone, stop it stop it
    The RWNJs here are not impressed

  20. Colonial Viper 20

    lolz

  21. Maggie 21

    I wouldn’t mind seeing John Key fooling around occasionally, we all need some fun, if he was a serious Prime Minister as well. But he isn’t.

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  • 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

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

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

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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