Key should apologise to Tania Billingsley and Slater should be ashamed

Written By: - Date published: 9:24 am, December 6th, 2015 - 72 comments
Categories: john key, national, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: , , ,

Tania Billingsley

Details about the behaviour of the Malaysian Diplomat who fled the country earlier this year after being charged with attempted sexual violation and after invoking diplomatic immunity are now being revealed in Court.  And they are somewhat bizarre to put it mildly.

The Herald in this article reported on evidence adduced during the recent disputed facts hearing.  Mr Rizalman had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault and charges of attempted sexual violation and burglary were discharged.

During the disputed facts hearing it emerged:

  • Mr Rizalman had a week before the incident purchased high strength synthetic cannabis and he admitted to smoking cannabis at the time.
  • He could not remember asking two young women who worked in the shop selling synthetic cannabis out for a drink or trying to touch one of their shoulders or being escorted out of the shop.
  • He previously denied smoking cannabis to the Malaysian authorities after he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.
  • He believed in black magic and had thought that a superior officer had put a spell on him.
  • The day before the incident another young woman had complained that he had been tailing her and had tried to persuade her to get into his car.
  • He initially claimed to the police that he had watched a movie with Ms Billingsley and had shared a meal with her but admitted in Court that this not correct and that he was “confused”.
  • He admitted deffacating outside Ms Billingsley’s flat but denied that it was an attempt to cast a black magic spell on her to make her fall in love wih him.
  • He initially told the police that he had been invited to Ms Billingsley’s home but admitted under cross examination that her mannerisms and her smiling at him were what had made him think that he had been invited to her home.

The case is to conclude next week.  Clearly though Mr Rizalman’s attraction to Ms Billingsley was never reciprocated and her complaint was completely justified.

There are some significant political issues at play.  John Key’s and the Government’s refusal to apologise to Tania Billingsley and the way that the Government has handled the diplomatic immunity aspect of the case both reflect poorly on the Government.

As to the apology this is what a previous Radio New Zealand report said:

But on Monday, Mr Key refused to apologise to Ms Billingsley, who by then had made her name public, because he said he only made apologies if there was a serious reason for him to do so.

On Tuesday, he had another reason for not saying sorry. “Because I think the Government has apologised. Both the minister and the officials have made it quite clear they’re sorry for the incident that’s taken place in the way that person left the country. I think that’s wholly appropriate.

“But in the end, I think what’s far more important is that there is a proper inquiry – that’s what the victim in this circumstance deserves and that’s what she’s going to get.

“What’s far more important now, actually, is that the independent inquiry that’s been established and will be run by (former Treasury Secretary) John Whitehead actually gets to the bottom of all of the unanswered questions there.”

Publication of the report has been delayed because of the trial.  Given that the matter is now being considered by a Judge and not a jury and given that the report is now 12 months old it is difficult to understand why there is any further delay in releasing it.

And as this editorial from today’s Herald notes Murray McCully’s role will be put under the spotlight as soon as the report is released.  A public servant has taken the blame for the botched application of diplomatic immunity.  But you have to wonder why McCully was not alerted to the issue from the start.  After all an allegation that a Malaysian Diplomat had been charged with attempted sexual violation should have had alarm bells ringing very loudly.

The editorial notes:

A single email is at the heart of the report into the Malaysian diplomat botch-up, according to McCully.

McCully faced calls to resign over the case but refused and had the Prime Minister’s backing.

Exactly what that email is and what its contents are has not been made public.

However, an email sent to McCully’s office on May 22 last year – the day Rizalman flew back to Malaysia – remained unopened for several weeks.

The best possible spin that could be put on this is that McCully’s office is utterly incompetent.

And Cameron Slater?  His treatment of Ms Billingsley has been disgusting.  There are 26 posts where her name has been tagged.  Post after post attempted to denigrate and malign her and tried to show that her complaint was part of some sort of political conspiracy.   The stuff he wrote about her was horrendous.  Now that the truth is coming out he looks like a pillock.

It is interesting that he started his crusade at the time, pre dirty politics, where his powers of intimidation were at their peak.

In one post he said:

The truth will be much closer to an existing relationship that was strained and where Muhammad Rizalman bin Ismail misunderstood his place within it.

Boy was he wrong.

I suspect the Government will be planning a pre christmas release of the review of the invocation of diplomatic immunity.  And hoping that no one notices.

 

72 comments on “Key should apologise to Tania Billingsley and Slater should be ashamed ”

  1. Maria Sherwood 1

    Slater has continued with his ‘view’s’ that they had an on-going relationship, in a post 2 days ago.

    • mickysavage 1.1

      I wonder what information he is relying on? Maybe the diplomat’s statement to the police?

      • Wainwright 1.1.1

        He doesn’t need information. The point is to get his army of trolls to smear her in every comments section from Stuff to 3News. And they don’t need proof.

        • Tautuhi 1.1.1.1

          When you read the book Dirty Politics you will understand Slater’s modus operandi, his rational is once it is in MSM and is being discussed the damage has been done, doesn’t matter whether the facts are right or wrong. That is why the Nats have used him in their smear campaigns on opponents or organisations they disagree with.

        • Lara 1.1.1.2

          And this kind of behaviour is why women in NZ do not make complaints of rape or sexual violation in so many cases. Because we know those around us will behave pretty much like Slater is behaving. Because we know we shall be assumed to be lying as a default and we will be held up to intense scrutiny, while the perpetrator is not.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.2

      Wouldn’t that come under the new anti-bullying (digital law) that the government passed?

  2. Gangnam Style 2

    Interesting revisiting this, can easily see the Whaleoil stooges http://thestandard.org.nz/just-say-sorry-john/

  3. Anne 3

    Post after post attempted to denigrate and malign her and tried to show that her complaint was part of some sort of political conspiracy.

    So, did he get paid to write them – and if so, by whom and how much?

  4. Sanctuary 4

    We should stop worrying about Slater so much. He is a mad, bad paranoid guy with a sad, sad website that visiting is mainly an exercise in illuminating and dabbling in the hive mind of a particular type of mental illness.

    Like many delusional fantasists he can be very convincing to the gullible and credulous, which lent him a moment in the sun. But he was of course found out, and from that moment his cynical manipulators in the Beehive dropped him like a red-stone stone.

    Key, however has no defense of madness, unless a vast truculent meglomania is a form of mental disorder. He needs to apologise, and McCully needs to resign.

    • RedBaronCV 4.1

      The complainant is a private citizen who has undergone a particularly nasty experience. To post a string of comments so widely at variance to the facts in court which remain on the internet for ever is not good. We may know the mode of operation of the site but a casual looker doesn’t. Like Anne says, was something driving this?

      • weka 4.1.1

        I agree. If Slater was writing as part of his DP job, that’s of concern to the public.

        And even if now he is merely a disgaced loser, he still has influence. That needs to be challenged every time he abuses his power. Doesn’t have to be a big deal in terms of attention, but if he’s being a rape apologist he should be named as such.

        • RedLogix 4.1.1.1

          Agreed … as much as every fibre of my instinct wants nothing to do with Slater, collectively we do not have the luxury of ignoring him.

          He has already caused a lot of damage, and will continue to do so until he and his vile band of trolls are so discredited and shamed that they have no power to cause harm anymore.

          Fortunately some of us like Lynn are less squeamish than I am, and I’m very glad he done the job for us. And that he’s done it on behalf of one of this site’s most trenchant critics is even more worthy of note.

          • RedBaronCV 4.1.1.1.1

            I have wondered since these are criminal proceedings where the court could be asked for some redress against some of the more slanderous memes out there. Not quite sure how that woud be done though without infringing other commentary??

          • Anne 4.1.1.1.2

            And that he’s done it on behalf of one of this site’s most trenchant critics is even more worthy of note.

            Indeed it is. Congrats to Lynn Prentice.

            I’ve referred here before to my experiences at the hands of someone whose M.O. was very similar to Slater’s. The only differences: the person was a “she” and the times were pre-blogosphere, so her communications were conducted through more conventional channels.

            The damage that woman caused over a very long period was immeasurable and included among her ‘victims’ were some well known former political personalities. She succeeded for so long because nobody would take the the matter seriously. I approached the police over incidents relating to me on five occasions and also to other authoritative bodies at different times. I was largely ignored.

            Slater and his band of trolls will continue causing mayhem until their machinations are taken seriously and they are finally exposed for everyone to see. Nothing less will stop them.

    • North 4.2

      Perfectly said Sanctuary !

      • weston 4.2.1

        not quite perfect north jason ede might have slipped away after the event but key was still in contact with slater well down the track from then in fact questions were asked in parliment about txts key made to slater forcing him to reach for another of his “hats ” remember ? I havnt seen any evidence that would convince me slater is no longer a merchant for hire

    • gnomic 4.3

      ‘Key, however has no defense of madness, unless a vast truculent megalomania is a form of mental disorder. He needs to apologise, and McCully needs to resign.”

      Think I am admiring your work. ‘Vast truculent megalomania’. Not sure this is in the textbooks but it sounds good. I suspect though that the smirking/scowling weasel is a bit batshit. Just my intuition. Or perhaps just a deep innner vacuity?

      Key apologise? Why not harakiri in recompense for his manifold mistakes and amorality? Or just resign and move to Hawaii, forget the knighthood? After all encouraging suicide is non-PC.

      Who is this Muzza McCully of whom you speak? Well past the use by surely?

  5. Penny Bright 5

    “A single email is at the heart of the report into the Malaysian diplomat botch-up, according to McCully.

    McCully faced calls to resign over the case but refused and had the Prime Minister’s backing.

    Exactly what that email is and what its contents are has not been made public.”

    Where’s the ‘transparency’ ?

    “Nothing to hide – nothing to fear” – sort of thing?

    Publish this email and release the Whitehead report.

    Penny Bright

    • pipalbany 5.1

      [RL: Deleted. Off topic.]

      • Neil 5.1.1

        Penny’s not paying rates has nothing to do with what this article is about. Your comment is an epic fail.

    • Chooky 5.2

      +100 Penny…yes what are they hiding?

    • Hey Penny,

      I can’t talk too much on this (as my father is the one who’s doing the report and I don’t want to compromise anything he’s told me in confidence) but it sounds like what you’re quoting doesn’t have any glaring errors. If I recall correctly, the report is complete but is under embargo due to its relation to the court proceedings.

      It’s out of his hands when it’s released as the embargo needs to be cleared by the govt first.

    • GregJ 6.1

      Yeah thanks – Key will never apologise for anything. I don’t think he thinks he makes any mistakes. I’m beginning to think he genuinely believes his own shit smells sweet.

        • Pat 6.1.1.1

          “Despite this, Key has been forced to say sorry to Slater and Key’s office has confirmed: “The Prime Minister recently wrote to Mr Slater to apologise.”

          But he stood by his actions. “The Prime Minister believes, however, it was in the public interest to release the email in question publicly,” a spokeswoman said.”

          • emergency mike 6.1.1.1.1

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder

            Is closer imo. Though there are overlapping features.

            • Pat 6.1.1.1.1.1

              hmmmm…id still plump for the former though is there any reason he couldn’t be both?Perhaps a professional opinion….feel sure there will be someone suitably qualified on here…though likely unwilling to diagnose without direct examination.

              • emergency mike

                Yes they can be both, but the truly narcissistic type tends to have an openly vain, brash, self-aggrandizing, bullying, boastful demeanour, (I’m looking at you Donald Trump), that I don’t quite see in Key, not openly anyway. He’s gone for the ‘relaxed, modest kiwi bloke’ persona, and it has served him well.

                As I said there’s plenty of overlap, both can be arrogant, manipulative, lack empathy, deceitful, and say and do strikingly inappropriate things. But the narcissist doesn’t much feel the need to hide their arrogant arsehole personality, because they are just so massively awesome that everyone should bow down and admire them or else they are unworthy idiots.

                But the antisocial, having a bit more intelligence and/or self-awareness, sees that it is counterproductive to their goals to show their true personality to the world. They find a more socially acceptable front for public display. Thus making them more effective manipulators, a skill they are unusually good at. The narcissist seeks, and expects, to be adored and admired, the antisocial seeks, and enjoys, power and manipulation of others. Which can look quite similar.

                Also note, that narcissists are often useful idiots for an antisocial. Since, despite themselves being manipulative pricks, they are themselves easily manipulated. They just need to hear that the antisocial has the power to give them want they want: to be worshiped for their obvious awesomeness. Then they will do as they are told until they are no longer required, poor Cameron. Easy pickings.

                Key doesn’t want to apologize to Tania Billingsly not because he is, like a narcissist, never wrong, but because he thinks it won’t look good to his core supporters to back down. If he thought that it would be good for him to do so, he’d pull out a lovely apology with shiny bells on and Mike Hosking and the Herald would rave on about what a great guy he is for doing so. To an antisocial words are just things you say that make people do what you want. Truth, lies, threats, bullying, insults, sincerity, grovelling, whatever works. They don’t have any shame.

                Just an armchair opinion of course.

                • Pat

                  just an armchair opinion of course…..not a couch?

                  You make a persuasive case but I have trouble seeing Key fulfilling numbers A)1, 3,4 and 6.

                  • emergency mike

                    Note that in A) only three of the seven listed traits are required. Plus I think Key can be impulsive, e.g. repeatedly pulling a waitresses hair. However I’ve got no particular evidence for C).

                    I also feel the DSM-IV definition, (and the DSM-V didn’t change much here), is significantly out of date. A lot of research has been done since then to indicate that the definition is too narrow, again imo.

                    Of course it’s not possible to make a real diagnosis from one’s armchair. You really do need the couch. All we know about Key is what he allows the media to see. That’s only enough for speculation.

                    How about ‘asshole’? Let’s shake hands and agree on that.

                    • Pat

                      no denying the impulsiveness…had been focusing on the “failure to plan ahead”……arsehole it is

                    • emergency mike

                      “impulsivity or failure to plan ahead”

                      Or.

                    • Pat

                      lol…yes saw the “or”….curious feature, the two though related are not mutually exclusive I would have thought, …..and the impulsivity may be aberrant, which therefore may be all the more revealing…..who knows.

                    • Pat

                      Keys apology today would appear to support your pick of disorder over mine.

                • Anne

                  Just an armchair opinion of course.

                  A highly informed “armchair opinion”. Thank-you for that Emergency Mike. I have a vague recollection you alluded to your professional knowledge of this subject once before.

                  I used to know someone who falls into the ASPD category. They are indeed intelligent and know how to manipulate individuals without the ‘individuals’ even knowing they are being manipulated. It worked a treat on me until one day the truth dawned… and from that eureka moment I saw through everything that person did or said but person never knew it. Boot changed foot. 🙂

                  I think you are right about Key having at least some of the ASPD traits, but it takes the development of a certain type of mindset before it becomes possible for people to be able to see it. There are many who will never see it of course – Mike Hosking for example?

                  • emergency mike

                    Ah Mike Hosking, now there’s a useful narcissistic idiot.

                    Not professional, but I have a degree in psychology and recently spent more than a year reading everything on psychopathy.

                    Good story Anne, that’s the thing about antisocials & psychopaths, they are brilliant manipulators, right up until you see them for what they are. Then the curtain falls, and their power is gone. Hopefully by then they haven’t destroyed your life, or your country.

                    • RedLogix

                      Thanks EM. I found that interesting as well.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      Surely before postulating a whole bunch of alleged psychological conditions, Psychology has to address its massive credibility problems.

                      Otherwise how do you tell wheat from chaff?

                    • Anne

                      Hi emergency mike.
                      Just seen your response. The “person” in my comment was a member of the Labour Party between 1975 and 1990. That person – together with an accomplice – came close to destroying the reputations of several politicians and other individuals. The covert nature of their [criminal] activity meant they were not identified at the time and so were never brought to justice.

  6. Penny Bright 7

    A rather spectacular 180 degree ‘U turn’ by Cameron Slater on the (former) Malaysian diplomat / Tania Billingsley matter?

    HOW THE HELL DOES SOMEONE LIKE THAT MAKE IT INTO A DIPLOMATIC POST?
    by Cameron Slater on December 5, 2015 at 4:00pm
    ……..

    If this is synthetic cannabis related, then Peter Dunne has got another trophy for his wall. What an omnishambles that turned into. But it seems to me the guy was seriously unstable anyway, a creep, and a pest to women in general.

    He should be locked away, and when his sentence finishes, deported the same day.

    __________________________________________________
    MUHAMMAD RIZALMAN BIN ISMAIL’S ACTUAL ACTIONS TO BE REVEALED IN COURT

    by Cameron Slater on December 4, 2015 at 1:00pm

    The man that was tried and convicted by Jan Logie and Mediaworks plead guilty to a lesser charge on Monday, but the court is still in the dark as to what happened.

    …..
    Here’s something that we have never seen written in public before:

    Charges of intent to commit sexual violation and burglary against Rizalman were dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence.

    Keep in mind that all the other interested blogs and media were pitching it as a failed rape for months. But now the prosecution isn’t able to even back it up for an intent to commit sexual violation to stand up. Worse, emotive “grabbing by the throat” is disputed with “grabbed by shoulders/arms”.

    This is the very information I’ve been insisting we would need to wait for before making any kind of decision about this case.

    I still believe the two knew each other. This wasn’t a random attack. He may have been at her place many times before. He may in fact have had a relationship of sorts with her before. He may in fact have been in the process of playing a silly prank which would have worked out just fine had the relationship been up to it. Instead, it caused a spectacular backfire. ….
    ______________________________________________________

    When is Cameron Slater going to apologise to Tania Billingsley?

    Penny Bright

  7. savenz 8

    Shocking.

    John Key’s and McCully’s misogyny is becoming more and more apparent.

    They should be run out of parliament!

    Typical they support a drug addled attempted rapist Malaysian diplomat instead of a citizen of NZ!

  8. Ffloyd 9

    Where IS Mccully??

  9. reason 10

    BM, John, Puckish Rogue and Slylands ………………. are the physical real life examples of NZ rape culture.

    John Key promoted Mike Sabin …………………….

    Women visitors to our country may be liable to be sexually assaulted by our customs officials if the are here to visit the ‘wrong’ people ( KDC ) …………….

    Roastbusters face no search warrants, no seized computers/cell phones and no charges …………

    Key should be resigning as his apology …………………….

    But he’s quite comfortable and will just project his own values onto others ..” you support the rapists and the murderers” ………………

  10. Chooky 11

    This is related to the Post as a background in context…on the misogyny of the Right wing in USA…but I would think it would also apply to the new far Right in New Zealand which has links to the far right in USA…in other words New Zealand women’s rights are under threat by the right wing

    https://www.rt.com/shows/big-picture/324219-bernie-obama-presidential-elections/

    amongst other things… “…Thom discusses how the Republican Party promotes misogyny in America…

  11. Penny Bright 12

    te reo putake – don’t you agree that Cameron Slater should apologise to Tania Billinsley?

    Yes – I often post similar material on more than one place.

    Any law against that?

    Why are you ‘thread-jacking’ (again)?

    I am ‘on topic’ – why aren’t you?

    Penny Bright

    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

  12. Hi Vis. 13

    The ” key ” issue here is the PM’s position on his treatment of women.
    Smart and successful as he thinks he is, his consistent behaviour of disrespect may yet be his and his party’s downfall.
    Pull the other pigtail , pull Nonu’s locks
    Mr Prime Minister when you are jock sniffing at the RWC and apologise to the lady , “home invaded” by that Defense Attache.

  13. Leftie 14

    Forked tongued John key said he would apologise if he knew the victim’s name, but when she came forward and made her name public, Key refused to apologise, saying “he only made apologies if there was a serious reason for him to do so” which contradicted his earlier statement of “Yes, in so much that I believe that she shouldn’t have had to go through what she went through.”

    PM accused of breaking word

    I reckon John key had a more insidious and cynical reason for his lie of an apology, that led to Tania Billingsley making her name public, as Cam Slater proved in his smear, character assassination campaign against her.

    [Fixed link – MS]

    • anon 14.1

      As soon as the victim came out in public, she made herself a target for slater, purely because the department had goofed. You can almost be guaranteed if a negative story comes out about this government, the loyal lap-dog slater will come to the rescue and spin the s*** out of the story. Can’t be having any damaging news about our beloved national government after all!

      PS: close your tags (should be words )

      • Leftie 14.1.1

        Exactly. key said he would apologise to her if he knew her name, when he had no intention of doing that.
        John Key set Tania Billingsley up. She made her name public because she thought key would apologise. John key purposely made Tania Billingsley a target for Slater & co to publicly smear her.

  14. Leftie 15

    Liars John key and Cameron Slater should get some guts and man up and apologise, PUBLICLY. It’s not as if John key doesn’t know the word and it’s meaning, after all, he has apologised to Cam Slater and Dotcom.

  15. “And Slater should be ashamed”

    Slater has no shame. Anyone who has followed the antics of this guy should know this. How many of you read Hager’s book Dirty Politics? If you did you will know the extent to which Slater will go to in attacking someone.

    If you are expecting him to show remorse, you might win Lotto before then.

    • Tautuhi 16.1

      Slater get a buzz out of upsetting people, if you read Hager’s book you will understand how the guy’s mind works.

  16. North 17

    The name ‘Slater’ certainly goes round in circles back to whence it came.

  17. Muttonbird 18

    I’m stunned Slater would back a Muslim guilty of indecent assault over his young NZ victim.

    Shows where his priorities lie.

    • Lara 18.1

      She’s a woman. Lowest of the low in the mind of Slater. And many others too in NZ I believe.

      And a woman making a claim of sexual assault or rape? Should be hanged pretty much in their minds. That’s what it looks like anyway.

      This kind of nasty attitude with an assumption that the woman is lying as a default, is actually pretty common in NZ. Maybe not with the extra layer of nastiness that Slater has, but the general attitude that women lie about this kind of thing is prevalent.

  18. Muttonbird 19

    Key’s refusal to make good on his governments screw-up of this case by backtracking on an apology is interesting when viewed alongside his statement in parliament that it’s Labour who are siding with rapists.

  19. acrophobic 20

    Something in the Herald article about this caught my attention, and that was the way Risalman spoke of how Billingsley had a look in her eyes that he interpreted as ‘come with me’. This man seems to me to be deeply disturbed on so many levels.

    Also this shows up once again the ineptitude of Murray McCully. He and Sam are seriously out of their depth.

  20. rob 21

    I guess Cameron and Spanish bride and Pete say what every they want in their own echo chamber, but the quality has been way down ever since the dirty politics.

    Most of his posting consist of cutting and pasting some thing from the Herald or Stuff and then adding a few comments around this. Not really original content or thought anymore, but the ramblings of a man lost.

    The saddest thing is he is raising kids with his wife, and their moral code will come off their toxic parents…

  21. Tanz 22

    good luck at that – Key never apologies for anything, he that can do no wrong!!

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    53 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 hours ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    19 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    24 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T01:20:22+00:00