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Key refuses to answer your questions

Written By: - Date published: 6:34 am, July 11th, 2008 - 41 comments
Categories: interview, john key - Tags:

You’ll remember our ‘interview the leaders‘ series. John Key has been the only leader missing, we’ve given his office plenty of extensions on the deadline – enough, as they say, is enough.

So, if any journalists would like to ask Key these questions from our readers, that would be much appreciated:

General question: Of which of your achievements in politics are you most proud?

From Darryl: Under the last National government most people’s wages fell and the gap with Australia increased by 50%. Under Labour wage growth has been strong and the gap with Australia has remained static. How can National therefore claim any credibility to campaign on the wage gap?

From Nicholas O’Kane: Can you give one issue, where you hold a view that is unpopular with the New Zealand public, that you are not willing to compromise your position on, even if the refusal to compromise on that position may cost you many votes in the election?

In the meantime, in honour of John Key’s complaints that we didn’t join the US invasion of Iraq, here’s War Pigs by Black Sabbath

Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor,

41 comments on “Key refuses to answer your questions ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Blar 1
    11 July 2008 at 7:55 am

    “You’ll remember our ‘interview the leaders‘ series. John Key has been the only leader missing”

    Liar. Didn’t Winston Peters refuse?

  2. IrishBill 2
    11 July 2008 at 9:06 am

    Winston politely declined to answer. John and Kevin have refused to return calls or emails and have generally avoided any response. You’re also getting a warning for calling Steve a liar.

  3. higherstandard 3
    11 July 2008 at 9:09 am

    IB

    It was always somewhat of a long shot expecting Key to comment on The Standard.

  4. mike 4
    11 July 2008 at 9:12 am

    Are you kidding?

    Every second post is an attempt to smear him and you expect him to engage with you. Bizarre

  5. IrishBill 5
    11 July 2008 at 9:13 am

    I don’t disagree, HS. But it was not a long shot to expect an email declining our offer.

  6. leftrightout 6
    11 July 2008 at 9:19 am

    Straight out of the Crosby/Textor playbook.

  7. Monty 7
    11 July 2008 at 9:19 am

    Good on John Key. Since the inception of this blog, you have almost on a daily basis attacked John key. You have twisted what he has said to suit you own ends, and any anwser that he would have given would have been mis-interpreted by the authors of this blog.

    I think John Key has done the right thing by refusing to answer your questions.

  8. higherstandard 8
    11 July 2008 at 9:23 am

    IB

    I think the Nat’s have a bit of a thing about their email system, perhaps a phone call would have been a better option.

  9. BeShakey 9
    11 July 2008 at 9:25 am

    So Monty, you would fully support Helen Clark if she refused to answer questions from anyone that disagreed with her?

  10. IrishBill 10
    11 July 2008 at 9:27 am

    HS, we rang them repeatedly.

    Monty, he hasn’t refused.

  11. lukas 11
    11 July 2008 at 9:29 am

    BeShakey… the standard doesn’t just disagree with JK… they generally try to crucify him and often come pretty close to the line of truthfulness.

  12. higherstandard 12
    11 July 2008 at 9:39 am

    IB

    I am taking the piss. I imagine National/Key don’t give a flying about answering questions put to them by The Standard much as Labour/Clark wouldn’t bother answering questions by Kiwiblog.

    Pretty much akin to walking into the Lion enclosure at the zoo smeared in entrails with a sign around your head saying get it here !

  13. Blar 13
    11 July 2008 at 10:21 am

    Title of the Key post: Key refuses to answer your questions

    Title of the Peters post: Peters refuses to answer your questions

    Yeah IB, huge fucking difference. Sorry for confusing two completely different situations bro!

  14. Steve Pierson 14
    11 July 2008 at 10:40 am

    Blar. Key is the only one missing from the set – we had anwers from six and a refusal from one, and one missing.

  15. Steve Pierson 15
    11 July 2008 at 10:40 am

    War Pigs – so cool

  16. IrishBill 16
    11 July 2008 at 10:44 am

    Steve, yeah, reminds me of my misspent youth.

  17. Ari 17
    11 July 2008 at 10:51 am

    Good on John Key. Since the inception of this blog, you have almost on a daily basis attacked John key. You have twisted what he has said to suit you own ends, and any anwser that he would have given would have been mis-interpreted by the authors of this blog.

    If that were true, wouldn’t it be all the more reason for him to have his say here?

  18. T-rex 18
    11 July 2008 at 10:53 am

    Must be something about songs with “Pigs” in the title Steve 🙂

  19. Chopstick Fred 19
    11 July 2008 at 10:54 am

    This is not a surprise. John Key never agreed to answer the questions in the first place. The Standard deliberately tried to ambush him by coming up with a “leaders series” on an anonymous blog written by labour party and union stooges, that has as its main intention smearing of John Key, and you’re surprised he doesn’t answer questions? He has no reason to give you guys the time of day.

    [Tane: Yawn. People writing on this site do so in their own capacity and express their own personal opinions. See our About page. Call any of us stooges again and you’ll be banned – that’s explained on our Policy page.]

  20. Steve Pierson 20
    11 July 2008 at 11:06 am

    I believe T-Rex is referring to my well known love of ‘Pigs (Three Different Ones)‘ off Pink Floyd’s Animals. It’s basically a song about Peter Dunne supporters – ‘haha, charade you are’.

  21. IrishBill 21
    11 July 2008 at 11:12 am

    SP, just as long as he wasn’t making ‘soddish accusations about you.

  22. Chopstick Fred 22
    11 July 2008 at 11:35 am

    [Tane: And that’s the end of Chopstick Fred.]

  23. darryl p 23
    11 July 2008 at 11:42 am

    I’m with Chopstick Fred. His post you just deleted was pretty spot on.

  24. NX 24
    11 July 2008 at 12:17 pm

    I asked John Key your questions. Here are his answers:

    General question

    Raising awareness of New Zealand’s under-class which motivated a private company to provide free breakfast for school children who were going without. Low income families are the very people Labour have let down the most with their policies which trap people into poverty.

    From Darryl

    I disagree with the premise of your questions, but I will stay that over 700 NZers are leaving a week for Australia in search of a better life and more money.

    From Nicholas O’Kane

    I refuse to raise income tax. All the evidence suggests that low tax economies provide a higher standard of living and more incentive to get ahead. Lower taxes also reflects National’s philosophy that government’s should be as unobtrusive as possible in the lives of New Zealanders.

    Thank you Standard for taking the time to ask me these questions and keep up the good work. It is your hard work & dedicated that will ensure a National government is elected in a few months time.

  25. Bill 25
    11 July 2008 at 12:23 pm

    Given that there is the occasional long bow on this blog, it’s still remarkably sad that to get any analysis on political unfoldings in this country that blogs have become the source of info because the mainstream media is nothing much more than infotainment.

    Granted, it has always been that way to some extent, but it’s gotten to ridiculous depths.

    Rhetorically. Where are the mainstream journalists who understand that politicians are servants of the public and treat them the corresponding due respect?

    Has anyone broken down the items on the main news of late with regards to items on violent crime…the number of items prior to the march/demo last week as opposed to the number of items now?

    Jeez I’m ranting a bit now, but hey, it should not be acceptable for a politician to duck and dive. Such behaviour should lead to said politician being hauled over the coals in no uncertain fashion.

    I’m for one am not holding my breath. The media in NZ sucks and has done for some years…at least as long as I have been here, about 15 years.

    This blog may well be partial (there is nothing wrong with that); the point is that in a functioning democracy that informs its citizens, this and other blogs would have no reason to exist.

    So, anyone remember anything about TV Aotearoa apart from Tuku Morgans underpants? Fantastic and in my mind, beautifully illustrative of the depth of NZ journalism.

    Next time JK or any of his cohorts are passing through an airport somebody…an I’m being serious here, ought to pin the bastards with a concealed tape recorder to hand. God knows, no journalist in this place is going to demand answers to the questions that need to be answered.

  26. Felix 26
    11 July 2008 at 12:31 pm

    I maintain that it is cheating to rhyme a word with it’s alternate meaning.

    Simply rhyming it with itself would, in a way, be slightly more honest.

  27. Quoth the Raven 27
    11 July 2008 at 2:01 pm

    I refuse to raise income tax. All the evidence suggests that low tax economies provide a higher standard of living and more incentive to get ahead.

    How about you make a quick comparison of living standards in the U.S with that of any of those scandinavian nations with high income tax levels.

  28. roger nome 28
    11 July 2008 at 2:02 pm

    At the risk of sounding like an over-enthusiastic 18 year old music geek ….. Fuck Tony Iommi is an inspired guitarist! That double-tracked solo in the middle is mental.

    Animals is easily Pink Floyd’s best album too. My GF and I were listening to it a couple of weeks ago, and she made the comment that it seemed to be thematically based Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm”. I felt dumb, ‘cos I’d been listening to for a good 8 years already, and hadn’t made that obvious connection.

  29. T-rex 29
    11 July 2008 at 2:09 pm

    Irish – not at all, it’s like Steve says. Hadn’t considered the possible alternate interpretations.

    Cheers for the link btw Steve, I tried to listen to it earlier and discovered I’d deleted the directory on my MP3 player that I’d saved it to! Now my soul is happy again…

    Damn it rules.

  30. Steve Pierson 30
    11 July 2008 at 2:09 pm

    QtR, no don’t you see NX says John Key says “I refuse to raise income tax. All the evidence suggests that low tax economies provide a higher standard of living and more incentive to get ahead.” therefore it’s true and pointing to examples where it’s not true does nothing to change that fact.

  31. gobsmacked 31
    11 July 2008 at 2:24 pm

    Question:

    “Can you give one issue, where you hold a view that is UNPOPULAR with the New Zealand public, that you are not willing to compromise your position on, even if the refusal to compromise on that position may cost you many votes in the election?”

    Answer:

    I refuse to raise income tax …

    Hahahahahaha! John Key in a nutshell – man of courage and principle!

    (Next heroic stance: Key refuses to compromise on “supporting the All Blacks” …)

  32. Benodic 32
    11 July 2008 at 2:27 pm

    Um, I don’t think John Key wrote those answers.

  33. Steve Pierson 33
    11 July 2008 at 2:41 pm

    In the movie Children of Men the world is falling apart but the main character knows a guy collecting art works from around the world and is living in luxury in the power station from the cover of Animals – you can see the gaint pig balloon in the background, a two-step reference to Orwell’s ‘some animals are more equal than others’.

    Good movie, Pink Floyd doesn’t feature in the soundtrack but it has In the Court of the Crimson King, which is also awesome.

  34. NX 34
    11 July 2008 at 3:02 pm

    ” therefore it’s true and pointing to examples where it’s not true does nothing to change that fact.”
    “Hahahahahaha! John Key in a nutshell – man of courage and principle!”

    Nice to see this blog advocating tax cuts ;). National has well and truly won the tax argument.

    Um, I don’t think John Key wrote those answers.

    Ask the authors of this blog… half of them work in the beehive and know better than anyone John Key’s where-abouts.

  35. Billy 35
    11 July 2008 at 3:04 pm

    I liked the house Michael Caine lived in.

  36. roger nome 36
    11 July 2008 at 3:07 pm

    heh steve: I remember laughing at that referance. Twas a very creepy movie, but enjoyable none the less.

    While we’re on left wing satirical music …The Dead Kennedys may not be so cerebral as pink floyd, but definately punchy and funny. My Favorite has always been kill the poor. It’s pretty much the anthem of the Thacture-Regan-Douglas years.

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=UOzNSdGULwk&feature=related

    Efficiency and progress is ours once more
    Now that we have the Neutron bomb
    It’s nice and quick and clean and gets things done
    Away with excess enemy
    But no less value to property
    No sense in war but perfect sense at home:

    The sun beams down on a brand new day
    No more welfare tax to pay
    Unsightly slums gone up in flashing light
    Jobless millions whisked away
    At last we have more room to play
    All systems go to kill the poor tonight

    Gonna
    Kill kill kill kill Kill the poor:Tonight

    Behold the sparkle of champagne
    The crime rate’s gone
    Feel free again
    O’ life’s a dream with you, Miss Lily White
    Jane Fonda on the screen today
    Convinced the liberals it’s okay
    So let’s get dressed and dance away the night

  37. roger nome 37
    11 July 2008 at 3:18 pm

    Then there’s my GF’s band (I know, shamelessly self-indulgent) which kick arse in a more feminist punk kinda way – she’s on drums in these tracks.

    http://www.myspace.com/bettysweaty

  38. Leftie 38
    11 July 2008 at 5:06 pm

    I wondered what happened to John Key’s answers. I thought I had missed them.
    How arrogant, there are obviously JK supporters on this site as well and he has turned his back on them.
    He hasn’t won the election yet.

  39. Nick C 39
    14 July 2008 at 11:28 am

    Why on earth would John Key bother to answer your questions when you do posts like this:

    It’s not ok

    If him or his staff have ever read this website they would know that 2/3 posts are attempts to either blame all the worlds problems on John Key or just downright smear him.

    [Tane: Well done Nick C. You’ve learnt to read Farrar’s blog and come over here to repeat his lines. The good thing about that is it saves time having to think for yourself. There’s a good boy.]

  40. lprent 40
    14 July 2008 at 11:45 am

    Nick C:

    You linked to Dancer asking the question about what is the National Party policy on the Families Commission, bearing in mind that Key had raised questions about its future.

    What? We shouldn’t ask the leader of the opposition about policy questions that he raised? This is a smear?

    You are being foolish. It is a legitimate question especially after it was raised by him in the first place.

    The reason why there has been a focus on JK, is because that currently appears to be one of the few substantive things you can say about National Party policy. They don’t have much and it appears to relate to John Key’s (or C/T’s) policy on having policy.

    If you don’t think that is the case – then point me to the Nat’s policy on the families commission

  41. Nick C 41
    14 July 2008 at 11:51 am

    You are completely ignoring the fact that the first half of that post is about Tony Viech. It then tries to link his assult on his former partner directly to John Key by launching straight into his policy on the families commision.

    Had The Standard really wanted to talk about national policy they could have done the two in seperate posts. But no, what they wanted to do was to smear Key by associating him with the Tony Viech scandal.

    [lprent: You are talking about a program running on a machine. Programs don’t have opinions – people do. Talk about the human writing the post.]

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    Always a bailout: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Government would fully guarantee all savers in all smaller US banks if needed. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: No wonder an entire generation of investors are used to ‘buying the dip’ and ‘holding on for dear life’. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Who will drain Wellington’s lobbying swamp?
    Wealthy vested interests have an oversized influence on political decisions in New Zealand. Partly that’s due to their use of corporate lobbyists. Fortunately, the influence lobbyists can have on decisions made by politicians is currently under scrutiny in Guyon Espiner’s in-depth series published by RNZ. Two of Espiner’s research exposés ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • It’s Raining Congestion
    Yesterday afternoon it rained and traffic around the region ground to a halt, once again highlighting why it is so important that our city gets on with improving the alternatives to driving. For additional irony, this happened on the same day the IPCC synthesis report landed, putting the focus on ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Checking The Left: The Dreadful Logic Of Fascism.
    The Beginning: Anti-Co-Governance agitator, Julian Batchelor, addresses the Dargaville stop of his travelling roadshow across New Zealand . Fascism almost always starts small. Sadly, it doesn’t always stay that way. Especially when the Left helps it to grow.THERE IS A DREADFUL LOGIC to the growth of fascism. To begin with, it ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Good Friends and Terrible Food
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    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

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

  • Carry right on up there, Corporal Espiner
    RNZ has been shining their torch into corners where lobbyists lurk and asking such questions as: Do we like the look of this?and Is this as democratic as it could be?These are most certainly questions worth asking, and every bit as valid as, say:Are we shortchanged democratically by the way ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • This smells
    RNZ has continued its look at the role of lobbyists by taking a closer look at the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Andrew Kirton. He used to work for liquor companies, opposing (among other things) a container refund scheme which would have required them to take responsibility for their own ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Major issues on the table in Mahuta’s  talks in Beijing with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has left for Beijing for the first ministerial visit to China since 2019. Mahuta is  to  meet China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang  where she  might have to call on all the  diplomatic skills  at  her  command. Almost certainly she  will  face  questions  on what  role ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • Inside TOP's Teal Card and political strategy
    TL;DR: The Opportunities Party’s Leader Raf Manji is hopeful the party’s new Teal Card, a type of Gold card for under 30s, will be popular with students, and not just in his Ilam electorate where students make up more than a quarter of the voters and where Manji is confident ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Make Your Empties Go Another Round.
    When I was a kid New Zealand was actually pretty green. We didn’t really have plastic. The fruit and veges came in a cardboard box, the meat was wrapped in paper, milk came in a glass bottle, and even rubbish sacks were made of paper. Today if you sit down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how similar Vladimir Putin is to George W. Bush
    Looking back through the names of our Police Ministers down the years, the job has either been done by once or future party Bigfoots – Syd Holland, Richard Prebble, Juduth Collins, Chris Hipkins – or by far lesser lights like Keith Allen, Frank Gill, Ben Couch, Allen McCready, Clem Simich, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  Te Pāti Māori’s uncompromising threat to the status quo
    Chris Trotter writes – The Crown is a fickle friend. Any political movement deemed to be colourful but inconsequential is generally permitted to go about its business unmolested. The Crown’s media, RNZ and TVNZ, may even “celebrate” its existence (presumably as proof of Democracy’s broad-minded acceptance of diversity). ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Shining a bright light on lobbyists in politics
    Four out of the five people who have held the top role of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff since 2017 have been lobbyists. That’s a fact that should worry anyone who believes vested interests shouldn’t have a place at the centre of decision making. Chris Hipkins’ newly appointed Chief of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Auckland Council Draft Budget – an unnecessary backwards step
    Feedback on Auckland Council’s draft 2023/24 budget closes on March 28th. You can read the consultation document here, and provide feedback here. Auckland Council is currently consulting on what is one of its most important ever Annual Plans – the ‘budget’ of what it will spend money on between July ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Talking’ Posey Parker Blues
    by Molten Moira from Motueka If you want to be a woman let me tell you what to do Get a piece of paper and a biro tooWrite down your new identification And boom! You’re now a woman of this nationSpelled W O M A Na real trans woman that isAs opposed ...
    RedlineBy Admin
    5 days ago

  • More Māori words make it into the OED, and polytech boss (with rules on words like “students”) ...
    Buzz from the Beehive   New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti is hosting the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers for three days from today, welcoming Education Ministers and senior officials from 18 Pacific Island countries and territories, and from Australia. Here’s hoping they have brought translators with them – or ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Social intercourse with haters and Nazis: an etiquette guide
    Let’s say you’ve come all the way from His Majesty’s United Kingdom to share with the folk of Australia and New Zealand your antipathy towards certain other human beings. And let’s say you call yourself a women’s rights activist.And let’s say 99 out of 100 people who listen to you ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • The Greens, Labour, and coalition enforcement
    James Shaw gave the Green party's annual "state of the planet" address over the weekend, in which he expressed frustration with Labour for not doing enough on climate change. His solution is to elect more Green MPs, so they have more power within any government arrangement, and can hold Labour ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • This sounds familiar…
    RNZ this morning has the first story another investigative series by Guyon Espiner, this time into political lobbying. The first story focuses on lobbying by government agencies, specifically transpower, Pharmac, and assorted universities, and how they use lobbyists to manipulate public opinion and gather intelligence on the Ministers who oversee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Letter to the NZ Herald: NCEA pseudoscience – “Mauri is present in all matter”
    Nick Matzke writes –   Dear NZ Herald, I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. I teach evolutionary biology, but I also have long experience in science education and (especially) political attempts to insert pseudoscience into science curricula in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • So what would be the point of a Green vote again?
    James Shaw has again said the Greens would be better ‘in the tent’ with Labour than out, despite Labour’s policy bonfire last week torching much of what the Government was doing to reduce emissions. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Green Party has never been more popular than in some ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Gas stoves pose health risks. Are gas furnaces and other appliances safe to use?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah Wesseler Poor air quality is a long-standing problem in Los Angeles, where the first major outbreak of smog during World War II was so intense that some residents thought the city had been attacked by chemical weapons. Cars were eventually discovered ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Genetic Heritage and Co Governance
    Yesterday I was reading an excellent newsletter from David Slack, and I started writing a comment “Sounds like some excellent genetic heritage…” and then I stopped.There was something about the phrase genetic heritage that stopped me in tracks. Is that a phrase I want to be saying? It’s kind of ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Radical Uncertainty
    Brian Easton writes – Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s Middle East strategy, 20 years after the Iraq War
    This week marks the twentieth anniversary of the Iraq War. While it strongly opposed the US-led invasion, New Zealand’s then Labour-led government led by Prime Minister Helen Clark did deploy military engineers to try to help rebuild Iraq in mid-2003. With violence soaring, their 12-month deployment ended without being renewed ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    6 days ago

  • The motorways are finished
    After seventy years, Auckland’s motorway network is finally finished. In July 1953 the first section of motorway in Auckland was opened between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway and Mt Wellington Highway. The final stage opens to traffic this week with the completion of the motorway part of the Northern Corridor Improvements project. Aucklanders ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Kicking National’s tyres
    National’s appointment of Todd McClay as Agriculture spokesperson clearly signals that the party is in trouble with the farming vote. McClay was not an obvious choice, but he does have a record as a political scrapper. The party needs that because sources say it has been shedding farming votes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • As long as there is cricket, the world is somehow okay.
    Rays of white light come flooding into my lounge, into my face from over the top of my neighbour’s hedge. I have to look away as the window of the conservatory is awash in light, as if you were driving towards the sun after a rain shower and suddenly blinded. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • So much of what was there remains
    The columnists in Private Eye take pen names, so I have not the least idea who any of them are. But I greatly appreciate their expert insight, especially MD, who writes the medical column, offering informed and often damning critique of the UK health system and the politicians who keep ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Mar 12, 2023 thru Sat, Mar 18, 2023. Story of the Week Guest post: What 13,500 citations reveal about the IPCC’s climate science report   IPCC WG1 AR6 SPM Report Cover - Changing ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Financial capability services are being bucked up, but Stuart Nash shouldn’t have to see if they c...
    Buzz from the Beehive  The building of financial capability was brought into our considerations when Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced she had dipped into the government’s coffers for $3 million for “providers” to help people and families access community-based Building Financial Capability services. That wording suggests some ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Things that make you go Hmmmm.
    Do you ever come across something that makes you go Hmmmm?You mean like the song?No, I wasn’t thinking of the song, but I am now - thanks for that. I was thinking of things you read or hear that make you stop and go Hmmmm.Yeah, I know what you mean, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • The hoon for the week that was to March 19
    By the end of the week, the dramas over Stuart Nash overshadowed Hipkins’ policy bonfire. File photo: Lynn GrieveasonTLDR: This week’s news in geopolitics and the political economy covered on The Kākā included:PM Chris Hipkins’ announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but ...
    The KakaBy Peter Bale
    1 week ago

  • Saving Stuart Nash: Explaining Chris Hipkins' unexpected political calculation
    When word went out that Prime Minister Chris Hipkins would be making an announcement about Stuart Nash on the tiles at parliament at 2:45pm yesterday, the assumption was that it was over. That we had reached tipping point for Nash’s time as minister. But by 3pm - when, coincidentally, the ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    1 week ago

  • Radical Uncertainty
    Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go on to attack physics by citing Newton.So ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • Jump onto the weekly hoon on Riverside at 5pm
    Photo by Walker Fenton on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week again when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kaka for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on Riverside (we’ve moved from Zoom) for our chat about the week’s news with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • The Dream of Florian Neame: Accepted
    In a nice bit of news, my 2550-word deindustrial science-fiction piece, The Dream of Florian Neame, has been accepted for publication at New Maps Magazine (https://www.new-maps.com/). I have published there before, of course, with Of Tin and Tintagel coming out last year. While I still await the ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago

  • Crown apology to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua
    Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little has delivered the Crown apology to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua for its historic breaches of Te Tiriti of Waitangi today. The ceremony was held at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton, hosted by Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua, with several hundred ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with Chinese counterpart
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has concluded her visit to China, the first by a New Zealand Foreign Minister since 2018. The Minister met her counterpart, newly appointed State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qin Gang, who also hosted a working dinner. This was the first engagement between the two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Government delivering world-class satellite positioning services
    World-class satellite positioning services that will support much safer search and rescue, boost precision farming, and help safety on construction sites through greater accuracy are a significant step closer today, says Land Information Minister Damien O’Connor. Damien O’Connor marked the start of construction on New Zealand’s first uplink centre for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Christopher John Dellabarca of Wellington, Dr Katie Jane Elkin of Wellington, Caroline Mary Hickman of Napier, Ngaroma Tahana of Rotorua, Tania Rose Williams Blyth of Hamilton and Nicola Jan Wills of Wellington as District Court Judges.  Chris Dellabarca Mr Dellabarca commenced his ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New project set to supercharge ocean economy in Nelson Tasman
    A new Government-backed project will help ocean-related businesses in the Nelson Tasman region to accelerate their growth and boost jobs. “The Nelson Tasman region is home to more than 400 blue economy businesses, accounting for more than 30 percent of New Zealand’s economic activity in fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • National’s education policy: where’s the funding?
    After three years of COVID-19 disruptions schools are finally settling down and National want to throw that all in the air with major disruption to learning and underinvestment.  “National’s education policy lacks the very thing teachers, parents and students need after a tough couple of years, certainty and stability,” Education ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Free programme to help older entrepreneurs and inventors
    People aged over 50 with innovative business ideas will now be able to receive support to advance their ideas to the next stage of development, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen said today. “Seniors have some great entrepreneurial ideas, and this programme will give them the support to take that next ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government target increased to keep powering up the Māori economy
    A cross government target for relevant government procurement contracts for goods and services to be awarded to Māori businesses annually will increase to 8%, after the initial 5% target was exceeded. The progressive procurement policy was introduced in 2020 to increase supplier diversity, starting with Māori businesses, for the estimated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Continued progress on reducing poverty in challenging times
    77,000 fewer children living in low income households on the after-housing-costs primary measure since Labour took office Eight of the nine child poverty measures have seen a statistically significant reduction since 2018. All nine have reduced 28,700 fewer children experiencing material hardship since 2018 Measures taken by the Government during ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech at Fiji Investment and Trade Business Forum
    Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tēnā koutou katoa, ni sa bula vinaka saka, namaste. Deputy Prime Minister, a very warm welcome to Aotearoa. I trust you have been enjoying your time here and thank you for joining us here today. To all delegates who have travelled to be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government investments boost and diversify local economies in lower South Island
    $2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government future-proofs EV charging
    Transport Minister Michael Wood has today launched the first national EV (electric vehicle) charging strategy, Charging Our Future, which includes plans to provide EV charging stations in almost every town in New Zealand. “Our vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to have world-class EV charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • World-leading family harm prevention campaign supports young NZers
    Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • First Chief Clinical Advisor welcomed into Coroners Court
    Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Next steps for affected properties post Cyclone and floods
    The Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New appointment to Māori Land Court bench
    E te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government focus on jobs sees record number of New Zealanders move from Benefits into work
    113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Vertical farming partnership has upward momentum
    The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote Address
    E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patients
    The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Second Poseidon aircraft on home soil
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and Syria
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Community voice to help shape immigration policy
    Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today.  “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for Taranaki
    Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of Police
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government confirms vital roading reconnections
    Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
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    6 days ago

  • Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
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    6 days ago

  • Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in Aotearoa
    Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
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    6 days ago

  • State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone Gabrielle
    A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
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    6 days ago

  • Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
    Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
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    7 days ago

  • Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability services
    The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...
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    1 week ago

  • Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and member
    Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...
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    1 week ago

  • Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announced
    Fifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today.  The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...
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    1 week ago

  • Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High Court
    High Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...
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    1 week ago

  • NZ still well placed to meet global challenges
    The economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...
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    1 week ago

  • Western Ring Route Complete
    Aucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...
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    1 week ago

  • Briefings to Incoming Ministers
    This section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...
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    1 week ago

  • Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient Fiji
    Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...
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  • Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recovery
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