Key to spit dummy if voters reject him

Written By: - Date published: 10:51 am, January 3rd, 2011 - 162 comments
Categories: john key, Minister for Overseas Holidays - Tags: ,

We’ve always said that John Key was only in politics for his personal reward. He just wants to have ‘PM of NZ’ on his CV. He just wants to go around smiling and waving at people who know who he is because of the office he holds. Now, he’s admitted as much.

In an interview with the Herald before he went off to Hawaii for his holiday, Key said he would quit politics if not re-elected.

It’s a petulant, arrogant statement, a childish one: ‘I have to play the PM or I’m going home’.

Most people who get into politics, people like Phil Goff and his team, are there because they believe in the power of representative democracy to improve the lives of people.

The ultimate goal of politics is to have the power to make that difference, yes, but you don’t see Goff and others having a hissy fit and quitting if a single election goes against them. To do so would be to put their personal feelings ahead of their principles and duty to those who elected them.

I’m trying to think of a PM or even Opposition Leader who has quit Parliament after losing an election.

Clark resigned the leadership but stayed on as an MP until offered another political role, which is arguably even more powerful than being PM of NZ. Brash remained National leader after losing in 2005 and only quit after Key rolled him. English stayed on. Shipley stayed on, resigning in 2002. Bolger threw in the towel because he felt betrayed by his party, and that was after 26 years in Parliament. Moore stayed on for nine years after being PM. Palmer quit before he could lose, but only after 11 years as an MP. Lange stayed until 1996. Muldoon until 1991. Rowling retired only after FPP stole the ’78 and ’81 elections from him and he was replaced as leader by Lange in 1983. And so on.

These people didn’t quit when they lost an election because they had ideals they believed in and it was furthering ideals that had bought them to Parliament and leadership. They didn’t want the job for its own sake but for what they could do with it for what they believed in.

Key just wants to be PM for its own sake. He just wants the attention and public admiration that he gets by virtue of being PM.

This ultimately explains why he is the do nothing PM: why he has smiled and waved while the country has fallen back into the second dip of recession, while he has done nothing to lift the standard of living of New Zealanders, why he has let his ministers get away with corruption and passing legislation that undermines our democracy and human rights.

Because he doesn’t give a crap about any of that. Being PM isn’t an opportunity to make positive change for Key, it’s an opportunity to get his picture taken and feel good about himself.

Oh and don’t think he’s talking about what he’ll do if he loses for no reason. He knows this election will go down to the wire. This announcement is clearly an attempt to shore up support but I don’t think threatening to spit the dummy if it doesn’t go his way won’t help his cause.

162 comments on “Key to spit dummy if voters reject him ”

  1. Crosby Textor never sleeps.

    In today’s Herald is an interview with John Key where he says that he is not suited to opposition politics because he is not a negative person. You could have fooled me. I thought the last 12 months of the Labour Government’s term showed some of the most negative politics I have ever witnessed in New Zealand and Key was in there boots and all.

    This is however a very good line to run. It suggests that Key is a reluctant politician and also wants to have a life. This is a continuation of the “ordinary bloke” theme. This a theme that will go down very well in ordinary New Zealand land. It is however a cheap soundbite that totally ignores Key’s inability to deal with the detail, a skill required of a good PM.

    He also makes a comment about a possible replacement for the Governor General and had made one suggestion to which a Cabinet Colleague said “Don’t even think about it”.

    “Untrustworthy and obnoxious” was his ministerial colleague’s description of the suggested candidate.

    I wonder if it was Don Brash? The nats have done this before when Muldoon appointed Keith Holyoake as GG back in the 1970s.

    The article is at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10697623

    • Deadly_NZ 1.1

      Hey Smiley,

      Your wish is our command, now for you to lose the election . But you will have to take Blinglish with you.

    • Olwyn 1.2

      I do not think Key was ever likely to hang around in politics if he lost an election – for him, being PM of NZ seems to be one episode in his wonderful life. But I would not trust his “frank” admission that the election would be in November/December. He has not kept his word on other things, and it is easy enough to come up with a scenario that “necessitates” an early election. As to the “untrustworthy and obnoxious” GG gossip – it is like bread to sea gulls, the right can seize on Helen Clark or Michael Cullen or similar, the left on Brash etc.

      • Anne 1.2.1

        “But I would not trust his “frank” admission that the election would be in November/December”

        Yes, and he covers his tracks later with the words “you can never say never…”. If it’s in his interest to go early he will go early and to hell with public preferences.

        Note also Audrey Young’s use of the word “candour” to describe his comments. That conjures up a nice image of open-mindedness, impartiality, freedom from malice etc. If it was Helen Clark who had uttered those words early in 2008, then the descriptive word used would have been something along the lines of “controlling” or ” manipulative” or something with a negative connotation.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.3

      This is however a very good line to run. It suggests that Key is a reluctant politician and also wants to have a life. This is a continuation of the “ordinary bloke” theme. This a theme that will go down very well in ordinary New Zealand land.

      I think you’re wrong there. I think a lot of NZers will see it as an admission from him that he’s not there for them.

      PS, someone move this discussion into the new posts thread.

      • Salsy 1.3.1

        Looking at the comments on Yahoo, Id have to agree John key threatens to quit

      • mickysavage 1.3.2

        I wish you were right Draco but I get the strong impression that Key does not say anything unless it has been focus grouped within an inch of its life. And he does not need to persuade a lot of New Zealanders, just those that swing their votes around.

        These people tend to have an innate distruct of politicans. This is why for some of them a bunch of flowers on the Ministerial Card is much more important than incompetent handling of the economy allowing unemployment lines to lengthen.

    • Eddie 1.4

      nah micky, this wasn’t intentional, this was key stuffing up.

      look at farrar’s weakarse response trying to cover for him. bet captain panicpants was on the phone to him quick-smart trying to work out a line

    • millsy 1.5

      Don Brash, Nah, when I read or hear the word “obnoxious”, I think of Bob Jones…..

    • kinto 1.6

      Suprised McCully isn’t demanding it?

  2. Deadly_NZ 2

    Shows how much he cares. But was he holidaying in Hawaii because The Pres of the US was there and he is still trying to get a photo op. Looks like he did’nt get it.

    And with this peice it looks like he is going to the undecided older mom n pop type who would hate to lose that nice Mr Key(Shudder, ( (And there will be some of them in their rose coloured blinkers.))

    But to most in here it will be Hurry up and lose.

    And then please make like Sex and Travel and Fuck Off..

  3. lprent 3

    Beat me to it. I was about to write a post “Key admits to lack of fortitude”

    • Marty G 3.1

      I’ve just been reading the full interview: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10697628

      check out the final question:

      Do you regret setting the 2025 target to match Australia?

      No, and the reason for that iseveryone knows it’s very difficult to achieve because you are not benchmarking yourself against a lame duck [but] against a soaring eagle. They have got an amazing economy and they have got a lot of natural resources and they fundamentally have the same advantages we have. They are in Asia and all that sort of stuff. But they are our biggest economic base and they are 40 per cent of our economy so I think you do have to take those issues seriously and you’ve got to have long-term ambitions. You’re setting a medium-term target which people are always going to measure against the short term. It’s a bit like the cycleway. In the end, long after I have left politics, people are going to look back and there’ll be 18 cycleways around New Zealand. They will be very successful for those communities and they will be an asset that will live on a lot longer than I will but will I have to take a bit of flak about the number of jobs that gets created from day one? Yeah. Who cares? I don’t.

      “who cares if I’ve broken my promises? I don’t”

      • Mickysavage 3.1.1

        So cycleways remain the means by which he will lead us to our economic salvation? WTF?

        • Lanthanide 3.1.1.1

          Working For Families, Kiwibank, Kiwisaver, Cullen Fund, Interest Free Student loans.

          18 cycle ways around New Zealand.

          Key certainly is “ambitious for New Zealand” isn’t he?

          • kinto 3.1.1.1.1

            Labour really needs to sink to Nationals level of shit politiking next election, I think a series of TV ads showing Key in a damning light, with his own words, all those things the media have quietly let him forget, eg cycle ways, is in order.

      • Eddie 3.1.2

        Marty, I know we’ve talked about how it’s counter-productive to critise the media too much but jeez, it’s tempting when you read Key saying this shit:

        “I read John Armstrong’s [Herald correspondent] columns in the weekend and they look good.”

        That must be pretty professionally embarrassing for Armstrong, to be singled out as ‘helpful’ by Key.

  4. Colonial Viper 4

    He just wants to have ‘PM of NZ’ on his CV.

    Oh, how could you EDDIE? 😯

  5. Tigger 5

    I’ve always said Key had deep unresolved daddy-abandonment issues and this is a symptom of that. He is so afraid of rejection that already put in place his explanation for why he will run off crying if and when he loses the next election. He needs to sort this stuff out because it colours every decision he makes. He constantly makes decisions based on pleasing male power figures. It’s hardly a way to run a country. Or live a life for that matter.

    • Colonial Viper 5.1

      He constantly makes decisions based on pleasing male power figures.

      Hilary Clinton??? 😮

    • David 5.2

      Of all the nasty bitchiness that comes from the “tolerant” side of the political fence that is arguably the nastiest I have ever read. Makes me question my political roots to be perfectly honest.

      • Marty G 5.2.1

        your political views should be based on your own reason and ideals, not on whether you agree with everything someone on your ‘side’ says

      • the sprout 5.2.2

        you must live an inordinately sheltered life if that’s the worst you’ve ever read

        • Tigger 5.2.2.1

          Happy to argue the unbitchiness of what I’ve said, David as I feel it’s a just analysis of Key’s personality. But CV has a point, Key has a need to be liked by everyone, not just male power figures. And I believe that stems from not having a father (and feeling that he should have, some people I know didn’t have a father or mother and aren’t this way). How is that bitchy?

          And if it is indeed bitchy, how is it more nasty than, let’s say, the misogynistic bile directed at Helen Clark her entire time on the 9th floor…? At least mine has a basis in reality, not the desperate and illogical hatred of women in power…

      • QoT 5.2.3

        Your political roots can’t be that deep then.

  6. Within the last month I stated on the Standard that Key was hungry for power like Muldoon was. When a person is power hungry they have a tendency to be sneaky about not disclosing the truth as this may jeopardise their position of power.

    Key’s ultimatum to the right wing voters is “vote for me if you do not want me to go.” Also Key’s ego is that he dares not think that he will be rolled as the National Party leader.

    • felix 6.1

      No way will he be rolled.

      He’s the only person in the National caucus with public appeal.
      He’s the only one who can bring in the votes needed.

      He is, in short, National’s electability. Without him they are nothing.

  7. Colonial Viper 7

    OMG the Granny Herald has just pulled the Key Will Quit story from its headlines and replaced it with “Stung Diners Want Rules Clarified”

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😯

    • Marty G 7.1

      be serious, CV. What’s the bigger story – ‘PM threatens to quit if he loses’ or ‘jounro’s mates pissed off about holiday surcharge’?

      • Marty G 7.1.1

        it’s not even on the front page now, you have to scroll right down.

        • BLiP 7.1.1.1

          Yeah – I noticed that too. It was front page at 10am. When did this post appear?

          • Redbaron77 7.1.1.1.1

            I came across it at 7.30ish this morning. It wasn’t the headline story however was easily visible sitting in the top quarter of NZZ online. It was subsequently repositioned to the headline spot at 1000 this morning but now sits in the Politics section.

          • Anne 7.1.1.1.2

            Mickeysavage made comment on Open Mike (moved to this post) at 9:25am. It’s been all on from there. Interesting isn’t it.

  8. Sean 8

    If John Key wants to go, he can go as. Being a Member of Parliament isn’t a gaol sentence.

    If he needed it, I’d shout him the taxi fare to Wellington airport.

    And smile and wave at him.

  9. BLiP 9

    Reminds me of one of my nephews when we were playing one of those interminable monopoly games over Christmas – unless he had Park Lane AND Mayfair he wouldn’t play. He’s six.

  10. ghostwhowalksnz 10

    The Air Force has moved a new plane up its priority list so that Key can carry a larger entourage around the country.
    Of course they arent saying that, its for …… whatever.
    Will they be stuck with an expensive plane they dont really want so Key who allways wanted his “own plane” just as another item on his bucket list

  11. Draco T Bastard 11

    Mr Key said the 2011 election would be challenging because ”essentially there is no money”.

    ”There won’t be money for us and there won’t be money for Labour.”

    That’s because you gave it all to yourselves and your rich mates.

    • QoT 11.1

      Isn’t it a bit laughable for a man worth $50m to claim there’s no money? Why not part with some of your own, JK? Except of course for the fact he doesn’t really give a fuck because it’s never actually been about governing NZ or anything.

      • Bazar 11.1.1

        Indeed, we should make it so that to be PM on NZ, you have to forfit all your previous assets, and accept a 40k a year job.

        And if things go badly for our country, like recession or the all blacks loosing, we’ll just take our PM and execute him for treason.

        Its only fair.

        There are of course people who think that a persons private properity is his own to do with as they please, but they are lunatics and should also be shot.

        • QoT 11.1.1.1

          Yep, that’s exactly what I said. Gosh, you’re so clever.

        • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.2

          There are of course people who think that a persons private properity is his own to do with as they please

          Yeah, and it pleases John Key to keep it for himself.

        • Draco T Bastard 11.1.1.3

          There are of course people who think that a persons private properity is his own to do with as they please,

          and then there’s those of us who understand economics who think that people need to pay for the services that they’ve received from society. This is normally in the form of taxes which Jonkey and NACT cut for themselves and put up on everyone else.

          • Janice 11.1.1.3.1

            If John Boy goes what will happen to all those deserving charities which have been receiving his (unwanted) salary? I am sure they have been looking forward to his tax cut, pay rise and back pay. BTW does anyone know who those charities are?

  12. JJ 12

    You know, I wouldn’t read much into this. I think its fair enough, I don’t blame Helen Clark for quiting immediately and I wouldn’t blame Key for doing the same thing, all he is doing is providing advance warning.

    I think its the best thing to do too, once the electorate has decided they do not want you why hang around? Just makes you a liability for you party. Stepping down from the leadership position would be neccessary too – I mean can you imagine a party with an ex-prime minister as leader and all the baggage that goes with that??? And once you’ve stepped down, you’ve got to resign from being an MP altogether – or else how is the new generation of leadership meant to thrive with the old looking over their shoulder?

    Low, desperate attempt to make politics out of nothing EDDIE.

    • RedLogix 12.1

      I don’t blame Helen Clark for quiting immediately and I wouldn’t blame Key for doing the same thing, all he is doing is providing advance warning.

      Clark resigned as leader but remained in Parliament until she took up an arguably more senior role in the UN. And this was after a remarkable career over almost 30 years, as a Ministers in one govt and several tough terms in Opposition. A person renowned for her intelligence, hard work, and encyclopediac command of policy detail.

      Key by contrast has never had to really work at politics, his wealth and the sheer lack of other talent in the National Party more or ensured the job of PM was his for the taking. He’s never done any real party work, the safest of Nat seats was given to him without hesitation, he’s never served as a Minister doing the hard yards and long hours running a Ministry… and now he’s telling us that he can’t even be arsed doing the job of Leader of the Opposition.

      The word lazy comes to mind.

    • bbfloyd 12.2

      JJ… you seem to be missing a fundamental tenet of democratic government. e.g, the reason for having representative government is to represent the best interests of society as a whole.

      considering the amount of political capital plundered by supporters of this government regarding mp’s entering into politics simply for their own benefit, then one would assume a blatant admission from the leader of said government that he is not interested in representing his own people unless it is on his terms, would have them frothing in anger.

      that this isn’t happening suggests, to me anyway, that those “principals” are not adhered to as deeply as they would have us believe.

      does this mean that national, and it’s supporters are more focused on attaining, and holding on to power for it’s own sake, and that the exercise of that power is to be directed towards ensuring an ongoing advantage, economically and politically, for it.s own supporters. ?

      if this is the case, then john keys obvious lack of any social conscience is a distinct advantage, as he can say, and do, what is expedient, rather than have to weigh the consequences of his actions. this allows him to look the country in the eye, and lie without blinking.

      maybe we shouldn’t be surprised to see a wave of support for johns “candour” coming from the nat’s after all..

    • Eddie 12.3

      notice the paragraph where I point out every single leader since Rowling (and probably the ones before) DIDN’T resign Parliament upon losing an election.

      That paragraph was specifically for morons.

      Unfortunately, it appears morons don’t bother to read beyond the opening paragraph.

      • Eddie 12.3.1

        just for the hell of it:

        Kirk died on office
        Marshall stayed on for another term after losing in 1972
        Holyoake resigned in office as PM and stayed as an MP until 1977. He also stayed on as leader during the term of the 2nd Labour government after losing the PMship the first time in 1957.
        Nordmeyer lost in 1963 and lost the leadership afterwards but stayed in Parliament until 1969
        Nash lost in 1960 and stayed as an MP until 1968
        Holland resigned as PM due to ill health
        Fraser lost in 1949 and remained as an MP until he died in 1950
        Hamilton was rolled as National leader in 1940 but stayed as an MP until 1946
        Savage died in office

        And that’s all the National and Labour leaders since the modern two major party system formed.

        None of them had a hissy fit and quit Parliament after losing the PMship. Because they hadn’t come to Parliament just to be smile and wave PMs.

    • If you put your hand up at election time (for a 3 year term) and the cards don’t fall your way, but you still get elected, then it is immoral to resign … letting down all those people who bothered to vote, otherwise what was the point of voting?
      And that goes for Clark and all of the ones that shot through in the last 2 years
      Lying scum comes to mind.

      • Policy Parrot 12.4.1

        So are you saying to Key, that if he doesn’t want to stick around if he loses, don’t be an electorate candidate for Helensville?

        • Robert Atack 12.4.1.1

          If the voters in Helensville elect him as their representative for the next 3 years, then he is morally obliged to stay for that term, they are electing a politician to represent them in Wellington they are not voting for a PM.

        • the sprout 12.4.1.2

          good point – it would, by Robert’s towering intellect, be morally bankrupt for Key to stand as an electorate MP in Helensville given this latest admission

  13. KJT 13

    Key was bought in as a charismatic figurehead for the Neo-lib agenda when Brash proved to be unelectable. No one was going to vote for Brash because they knew what he stood for.
    If Key loses the election then he has not served his purpose and will be dumped anyway. Best to jump before you are pushed.

  14. Good. The sooner we all smile and wave, the better.

  15. Richard 15

    John “30 Seconds” Key………he smile and walk away.

    BTW…who could this be…..

    John Key has had his first nomination for the next Governor General rejected as being “untrustworthy and obnoxious”.

    Any guesses?

  16. Treetop 16

    I think that the country is near bankrupt. Life is going to be tough for even the average income family for the next two years. Being charasmatic is not going to save NZ and a continuation of English’s economic mismanagement will only make matters worse due to excessive borrowing e.g. for tax cuts for those who did not need them, and as for the better off NZder spending their tax cut here, it has probably been spent overseas.

    • Draco T Bastard 16.1

      Well, considering that the better probably don’t have their wealth here why would they spend it here?

      • Treetop 16.1.1

        I would need to ask English why he gave the impression that NZ would benefit by the more wealthy spending there tax cut here?

        Thanks for the info link.

  17. alfa 17

    Is there anything left for a person to go to after they’ve held the highest office in NZ? Clark left NZ politics as soon as she lost an election. She was graceful about it. So did Bolger. Muldoon and Lange both stuck around far too long afterwards, and it was pretty sad to see them justifying why they were there afterwards.

    It’s no bloody surprise that Key doesn’t want to stay around if he’s rejected by the voters. Maybe more MPs in Labour could learn from it.

    • Marty G 17.1

      “Clark left NZ politics as soon as she lost an election”

      No she didn’t. She left months later after being offered the chance to head the UNDP.

      For God’s sake, that’s in the bloody post.

      As Eddie has pointed out no leader, National or Labour, has left Parliament because they lost an election. It’s not the right way to behave – you’re elected to be an MP, not to have a cry if you’re not PM.

  18. Here’s Clark’s concession speech from Election night 2008. Instead of throwing her toys out of the cot like Key is threatening, she pledges her support to the new leadership.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/helen-clark-prime-minister/news/video.cfm?c_id=1502272&gal_objectid=10541898&gallery_id=103343

    • And then she jumped ship

      • the sprout 18.1.1

        moving on to lead the UNDP = ‘jumped ship’. yeah right 😆

        note also that at no time prior to her defeat, did Clark ever threaten to throw the toys out of the cot if she wasn’t re-elected. Key’s little toddler fit is unique.

        • Robert Atack 18.1.1.1

          It doesn’t matter if she went to Calcutta and tried to fell Mother Theressa’s sandals.
          The people that wasted their votes thought they were voting for an MP for the next 3 years (Helen), ‘we’ all knew the UN job was on the cards.
          They all should grow a backbone and commit, just like everyone who went out and voted for her, by giving her their once in three year democratic ‘privilege’ … people have died for that privilege, those who don’t respect the voters are simply carpet bagging scum.
          Unless they sign a contract to guarantee there commitment, then why would you bother leaving home on election day?, taking their word doesn’t work as we have seen.
          Again they are all carpet baggers and self opportunists, out for number one only. As it has always been for politicians.
          We all need to listen to George http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIraCchPDhk
          Fuck hope don’t vote … garbage in garbage out.

          • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.1.1

            They all should grow a backbone and commit, just like everyone who went out and voted for her, by giving her their once in three year democratic ‘privilege’ … people have died for that privilege

            And Helen Clark spent the majority of her professional working life representing both her electorate and her country.

            What exactly the frak more do you want from your public servants, apart from a decade or two of dedicated service and then having to put up with lip from the likes of yourself?

            • the sprout 18.1.1.1.1.1

              What exactly the frak more do you want

              perhaps a loaded Johnny Come Lately who buys his way in to power, parachutes into the top job after serving what, one term in Opposition, then threatens to leave if it meant not keeping the prize position – all for the sake of satisfying his egoic needs?

          • Marty G 18.1.1.1.2

            MPs aren’t bonded for three years. Occasionally they retire mid-term for health reasons or to pursue another job. nothing wrong with that

            • Robert Atack 18.1.1.1.2.1

              If they stand in an election for a 3 year term, they are morally obliged to stay for that term, apart from death or serious ill health, another job offer just doesn’t cut it, leaving for another position is an act of selfishness.
              Dying on the job , now there is an honest departure

              • pollywog

                somebody shoulda told Winnie Laban 😛

              • Carol

                Moral imperative to stay for 3 years as responsibility to people who voted for them? But the voters get to vote again in a by-election. It’s not like the voters are left with no local representation.

                • pollywog

                  yeah, nah…more on the ‘can’t be arsed putting the hard yards in opposition’ steez with our Winnie…

                  …some would say thats typical Pasifikan tradition right there 🙂

      • DJames 18.1.2

        You realise she left the country but didn’t jump ship? She still talks with her old colleagues and gives them advice.

  19. Pardon me, but did Helen Clark not also pull the same stunt last election?

    I remember despising her for a very long time, being angry that she would leave parliament rather than be anything less than leader… but seeing her after Key won, it was very sad.

    Key is said to “spit the dummy” for SAYING he wouldnt run again, meanwhile, Clark walked the walk, and actually DIDNT continue.

    Regardless of who we like, of who we vote for, is this not the exact same act?

    • Marty G 19.1

      “Pardon me, but did Helen Clark not also pull the same stunt last election”

      No, she didn’t. She resigned the Labour leadership then stayed in Parliament and would have stayed the term if the chance to be head of the UNDP hadn’t come along.

      You people don’t actually bother to read the whole post, do you? It’s been pointed out that NO National or Labour leader has ever quit Parliament because they failed to win the PMship.

      • Draco T Bastard 19.1.1

        The RWNJs don’t bother reading the post. They just come in here and defend their heroes(s) no matter what the facts are.

        • Jordan Wyatt 19.1.1.1

          Oh come on now, “Right Wing Nut Jobs”?

          I’m a guy asking that we treat our current PM the same as the previous PM.

          For what its worth, I wouldnt vote for National, as we speak, I’m uploading an Animal Rights video to YouTube, I’m the founder of the Invercargill Vegan Society.

          NOW, for what its worth, others have mentioned “does that sound like he’s gonna look out for NZers?”…. what about Clark, is she even in NZ still? Or did she move somewhere else for her UN post?

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Clark#United_Nations

          “Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme ” BAHAHAHA! Sorry, werent National welcomed in to power because of our own nations perceived “backwardness”? “We gotta keep up with Australia” and all that crap? And the last Labour government was seen as “these shower heads put out too much water”?

          I loved the Facelift programs take on politicians, I have one of the seasons on DVD, their version of when that scumbag Holmes visited “their homes” was hilarious!

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtNsM9RUyig

          Left wing nut jobs, Right wing nut jobs, who cares? Lets treat PM’s the same.

          • Marty G 19.1.1.1.1

            “I’m a guy asking that we treat our current PM the same as the previous PM.”

            No, you’re not.

            Key will quit politics if he loses.

            Clark did not quit politics either time that she lost a race for PM. Neither has any other National or Labour leader.

          • Colonial Viper 19.1.1.1.2

            I’m a guy asking that we treat our current PM the same as the previous PM.

            Why?

            Why would you treat a 3 term Prime Minister who was dedicated to serving the country, and would have for a fourth term if she had been asked to, with John Key, a 0.7 term Prime Minister who has said that he will walk from Parliament the moment his party loses power?

          • RedLogix 19.1.1.1.3

            I’m a guy asking that we treat our current PM the same as the previous PM.

            Well yes… and as Eddie and others have clearly made the comparison. Of all NZ’s previous Prime Ministers , not just Helen Clark, Key is the only one to have said that if he can’t be PM then he’ll quit politics altogether. And this while still in his first term!!!

            This is quite different from the usual practise of resigning as leader of a party after loosing an election. If you cannot make that basic distinction you really have no business being in this conversation.

    • RedLogix 19.2

      Jordan… total fail.

      PMs who lose elections usually resign leadership. It’s an honourable and respectable tradition in Westminster politics at the least. But almost invariably they also stay on in Parliament, or some political role for a period to either serve the nation in some capacity or dedicate themselves to help their Party win a future election.

      Key has done something that’s quite different. What’s he’s saying is that if he can’t be PM then he really can’t be arsed with all the work that politics entails.

      • Jordan Wyatt 19.2.1

        I most certainly understand its common, its also fair to acknowledge “the other side” when they depart, just as our own, favoured party did last time.

        captcha was “similar”, just like one leader “spitting the dummy” by leaving parliament, rather than starting as the leader of the opposition again and another “moving on to other things”, by leaving parliament, rather than starting as the leader of the opposition again.

        • Marty G 19.2.1.1

          Jordan. You said Clark did what Key says he will do when he loses.

          It wasn’t true.

          Clark resigned the Labour Leadership (on her second election loss, btw, remember 1996?) and stayed in Parliament until offered a very powerful political role at the UN.

          Key says if he can’t be PM he’ll quit politics altogether and sulk off to his Hawaii mansion. Does that sound like a man who is committed to serving New Zealanders? Hell no.

          Just admit you’re wrong.

        • Draco T Bastard 19.2.1.2

          Helen Clark wasn’t leader after the election as she resigned that position. It was after she stood for, and won, an election that she was offered another job that required her to leave office. If she hadn’t she’d still be there.

          Jonkey as said he will leave politics if he doesn’t win PM well before the election. Hell of a difference.

          • Robert Atack 19.2.1.2.1

            >If she hadn’t she’d still be there.<
            Exactly looking after number one, fuck all those thousands of people in Mt Albert* who voted for her.
            *or whatever the electorate is called

            • Colonial Viper 19.2.1.2.1.1

              I think Helen Clark gave extremely long service to the country as Prime Minister and even longer service to the people of her electorate.

              So your comment is truly unjustified.

              • Then why stand again?
                If she had had enough then don’t waste our money and piss off BEFORE the election
                Just stop lying and go.
                She was paid enough, she chose to stand at every election she stood in.
                I’m only saying why vote if the person telling you they want to be your representative for the next term gets your vote, then says stick it where the sun doesn’t shine, I’ve got a better offer. … JUST DON”T STAND, don’t lie to people
                Wini Laban was the same if they can’t commit, then why should we?
                Remember I hate them all equally

            • the sprout 19.2.1.2.1.2

              looking after number one

              do you not understand the role of the UNDP?
              that’s a very impressive display of ignorance there Robbo 😆

              • Grow a real name if you want to attack me creep, don’t hide behind ya mums appron

                • after that crack and your previous tasteless comment about Rod Donald since deleted, you can now join the spam queue. you should have read the comments policy.
                  bye bye

                  • How does that saying go about power corrupts? Are you enjoying the buzz.

                    [Over the last six months or so you have had every opportunity to express your opinions and ideas. But nonetheless this is a moderated forum; repeated bad behaviour invariably attracts attention…RL]

        • felix 19.2.1.3

          Jordan.

          Now that you’ve repeated it 3 times, and had your error explained to you 3 times, perhaps you should just repeat it again as if none of that had happened.

          That way it will appear to the casual observer that there is a real disagreement over the facts of the matter and thus – to the casual observer – subtly weaken the structural integrity of the post.

          You can probably only do this a couple more times and then sign back in with another handle and start all over again.

  20. Irascible 20

    A more charitable way of reading the story would be:
    “I must be re-elected as PM as now that we’ve spent all the money the means for NACT to begin the policies I really stand for – the sale of all state assets. If I lost the election then my NZ (?) mates won’t be able to benefit from our policies. Now all that remains is to persuade the public that privatisation will benefit the “mum & dad investors” who believed in Hotchin, Bluechip, and Southern Finance…. or who can’t remember the asset stripping indulged in by Faye, Richwhite, AT&T…..”
    Whichever way it reads this statement by Key is every reason why Labour needs to really go all out in Botany and deliver the wave good bye message to good old scuttle & run, smile & wave and his rorting mates.

  21. M 21

    Johnny to resign if he loses?

    In the immortal words of Helen the Great “Diddums!”

    Anti-spam: worry – sounds like Key is starting to.

  22. alfa 22

    So labour PM quitting after losing an election and going to another job good, national PM quitting after losing an election and going to another job bad.

    • Marty G 22.1

      which Labour or National PM has quit politics because they lost an election?

    • Colonial Viper 22.2

      national PM saying that he’s already made plans to go to another job should he lose is bad.

      Fixed that for ya. And yes, it is bad.

    • Treetop 22.3

      alfa, Clark was elected to parliament on 28 November 1981, Key was elected to parliament on 27 July 2002. The difference is, that Clark was serious about making a political contribution to NZ and after 27 years she also went on to make a political contribution, this time internationally.

      I have a suggestion for Key, call an early election to avoid dithering about.

  23. Colonial Viper 23

    I am going to have a party talking to National supporters about Key’s statement. Lets force him to produce clarification after clarification after clarification throughout 2011.

    Let’s make sure people know that he is only in it for the top job and nothing else. Not his electorate, not his country.

    Key already has an exit plan in place to go, he has already thought it through in detail, he is ready to bolt for the door on to bigger and brighter things then being Prime Minister of NZ.

    Oh yeah, this is gonna be frakin good.

    • alfa 23.1

      National supporters have better things to do than go to your parties. Maybe you should hold a party for labour party supporters and decide on a leader who can win an election in the next ten years.

      • RedLogix 23.1.1

        Which is precisely the kind of bollocks that was said about Helen Clark in the 90’s. She did the hard yards slogging her way through two very discouraging terms as Leader of the Opposition…something your blue-eyed wonder boy clearly couldn’t be bothered doing.

        • alfa 23.1.1.1

          Yes John Key is evil because he couldn’t be bothered losing an election as leader of the opposition before winning one.

          • Marty G 23.1.1.1.1

            jeez, you’re clutching now, alfa.

            Give it up and admit that it’s pathetic, unprecedented, and immature of a PM to threaten to quit politics if they lose an election

      • Colonial Viper 23.1.2

        Hey alfa weren’t you saying on Red Alert a couple of days ago that you were one of “us” Labour supporters?

  24. Tanz 24

    Key is there for the glory, the glamour and the entertainment value, in my view. He is a trophy PM, but sometimes I wonder if the boyhood dream is not quite what he imagined in reality. Maybe he’s bored already, and he was sure a sprinter into the leadership. Strange, no twenty-five years apprenticeship as an MP for Key, first. Seems too easy. Anyway, he will win another term, if the polls are right.

    Bill English for next National leader? I wonder and I wish, but I doubt it.

    • Colonial Viper 24.1

      There is the old rule in corporate life that if you are not moving upwards to a new position every three to four years max, chances are that you are stagnating and falling behind.

      Also life in the public eye is not always pleasant for someone more used to the freedom of being your own boss, and the realtive anonymity that private sector wealth brings.

    • RedLogix 24.2

      Maybe he’s bored already, and he was sure a sprinter into the leadership.

      Actually this has characterised Key’s career all his life. A few years here or there looking promising, then suddenly he’s off somewhere else. Typical corporate ‘executive surfer’.

      More than that it always struck me as odd that after 20yr climbing the greasy pole in merchant banking, and clawing his was to almost the very top at the Foreign Exchange Committee of the Fed …after two years he suddenly throws in the towel and becomes a lowly opposition back-bench MP back home.

      In fact sticking at being a Parliamentarian since 2002 is about as long as he’s held down any job.

      • Treetop 24.2.1

        My first impression on Key was that he was a money mover. May be the job as PM is not proving to be as satisfying as anticipated, because there is no money to move.

        • Colonial Viper 24.2.1.1

          $9.1B in tax cuts moved to the richest 10% of NZ income earners, e.g. over $1000 per week to each of NZ’s 650x millionaire earners, thats not bad.

  25. Carol 25

    There’s a vote on TV3 website on whether Key should stay as an MP if National lose the election. But the question doesn’t really get to the heart of the issue really.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/

    But there’s also comments on it under the TV3 article:

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-to-quit-if-National-loses-election/tabid/419/articleID/193012/Default.aspx

  26. kriswgtn 26

    Key is a joke

    it was on Primes news re this
    oh please dont be evil to me or I’ll leave
    What a complete fucktard

  27. john 27

    well yeah lets treat key as others treated clark….they went on and on that clark was a lesbian etc

    did you know that john keys wife is just for looks ? he really likes men and i mean really likes them.
    ohh and one time his wife got in trouble…somethink about she touched someone in a bad way on a plane…
    key keeps his beehive door locked as he models being a pm on how Bill Clinton acted as President of the United States …johns got his own bill for that…whats gos on behind locked doors and all that!!!
    he really hates women so much that if he loses out on pm its going to be their fault and Bronagh’s going to pay

  28. Jenny 28

    [Bumped this into a post…RL]

  29. Chris73 29

    Amazing innit, a politician speaking the truth…no wonder you people don’t/can’t understand it

    If (and lets face it thats a pretty big IF) he loses the election then the people are telling him that we don’t want his policies so why would he stick around? Better for the party for him to leave so they can rejuvanate (something Labour failed to do) then hang around

    But unlike a number of Labour MPs he doesn’t need to stick around for the money because he has other prospects…not that a bunch of former teachers and trade unionists wouldn’t be snapped up quickly 😉

    • QoT 29.1

      Ha, only took ’em nine and a half hours to work that line out. I am so smug right now I cannot say.

      • Colonial Viper 29.1.1

        Looks like teh fear is out that all their careful focus grouping might have gone awry lolz

    • millsy 29.2

      Yes, lets all lay into those evil teachers and trade unionists. Lets all lock them up while were at it, shall we?

      • Chris73 29.2.1

        I don’t know i’d lock ’em ALL up but the ones who refuse to teach the new standards should quit and find new employment

        • Draco T Bastard 29.2.1.1

          No, the ones who refuse to teach Nationals’ Standards should be given a medal for preventing massive abuse of children and saving us money.

        • McFlock 29.2.1.2

          Why should they be sacked? They’re only speaking the truth that national standards are bad for kids, bad for schools and bad for the country.

          Or are they obliged to do something when they know it is both stupid and wrong?

          • Chris73 29.2.1.2.1

            Yes as a matter of fact they are

            Whether they like it or not they are there to do what the ministry of education tells them to do (like tomorrows schools and NCEA) they dont turn around and say we’re not going to teach because we don’t like National (wheich lets face it is exactly whats happening)

            If my boss told me to do something and I refused I’d get the sack pretty damn quickly and as for speaking the truth who says standards are bad?

            for every expert for theres one against so get on with your jobs (for which you’re very well paid) or quit

            simple really

            [And you do not meet our standards here… take a weeks ban. Simple really..RL]

            • Chris73 29.2.1.2.1.1

              Umm replying to McFlock is bad?

              [No … but you have been banned for a week. It doesn’t matter if you think it’s stupid or wrong, you are obliged to leave. Simple really…RL]

              • McFlock

                damn, and he’d just come up with the Nuremberg Defense. Or if that’s too much of a Godwin, any other explicit legal principle that states that if someone knows (or believes) an act to be wrong at the time, then it’s no defense to say that one was only following orders.

                And most “experts” are people who have studied and practised in the field for years, and the dispute over national standards is in no way 50:50. It’s probably more 95:(5+Tolley).

  30. NX 30

    Clark resigned the leadership but stayed on as an MP until offered another political role, which is arguably even more powerful than being PM of NZ.

    ^ actually, Clark herself has pointed out that the UNDP’s annual budget is about equivalent to Tony Ryall’s health budget.
    While her UN job is certainly respectable, to rank it above the NZ PM – leader of a multi-billion dollar economy, & fourth largest EEZ in the world – is frankly insulting to all New Zealanders.

    • Marty G 30.1

      the UNDP affects the lives of far more people than the NZG, and in dramatically. Sure, the budget might be only a fifth of the NZG’s but that money saves huge numbers of lives and drives economic development in the third world on a massive scale.

      Clark, who should know, has compared the complexity of the job to governing a small country – that’s the source of my comment.

  31. RedBaron 31

    I think that Key is also making these statements to position himself to go onto the list and therefore not contest an electorate next election, spinning this as not “causing an unnecessary byelection if they lose.” Even if NATS win I can still see him leaving politics after a few months. It hasn’t been as easy as he thought it would be and I think he has made up his mind to leave full stop. Of course not contesting an electorate avoids any prospect of having to face Winston too!

  32. interesting 32

    So, was Helen Clark “Spitting the Dummy” when New Zealand didnt vote for her and she quit? or is it different with her? Her comments were along the line of not wanting to be an opposition leader after being Prime Minster. So why is it not okay for John Key to say and do the same?

    • Marty G 32.1

      Clark didn’t threaten to quit politics if not re-elected as PM. Indeed she hasn’t quit politics. She left Parliament when offered a job that is arguably more powerful than PM of NZ.

      Clark stood down as leader of Labour after the loss saying that it was appropriate for someone else to do the rebuilding for the future. Clark has continued to work in politics to advance the ideals she was elected for – first in Parliament, now as head of the UNDP>

      Key says he will quit politics altogether. That’s spitting the dummy.

    • Colonial Viper 32.2

      So why is it not okay for John Key to say and do the same?

      The same? Nope. John Key has declared that he has already thought through his exit plan from being NZ PM.

      He has bigger, brighter and more profitable things to move on to.

  33. Nick C 33

    It must really suck to live your life seething with blind hatred, as the standard authors and commentators seem to have for John Key

    • Colonial Viper 33.1

      It must really suck to live your life seething with blind hatred

      Oh no, its really quite reasoned and not blind at all.

      Tell you what, once Key starts championing the cause of the 50% of NZ’ers who earn less than $27K p.a., instead of the 2% of NZ’ers who earn more than $100K p.a. most commentators on The Standard will like him a lot more.

      Yeah, I know, when you can buy Mint Magnums in hell.

    • Treetop 33.2

      I took my rose coloured tinted glasses off the moment it became apparent to me that Key’s policies are only working for 10 % in the country, because that group is the group which has benefited.

  34. RedLogix 34

    There are 144 comments on this thread. I’ve just done a quick scan and failed to spot much in the way of ‘seething hatred’ for John Key.

    We don’t like his politics, we see plenty of evidence that his actions tend to benefit the few rather than the many and that in the long run the govt he is leading will cause much detriment to this country as a whole.

    On the other hand many of us have from time to time expressed respect for Key’s strong political instincts, he is an opponent we do not underestimate. He is very good at tapping into that strong undercurrent of kiwi ‘she’ll be right anti-intellectualism’, declaring himself to be ‘relaxed’ and then walking off with a smile. (Which never reaches the “Smiling Assasins” eyes by the way. A nick that Key earned long before he entered poltics.)

    But hatred…no.

    • Nick C 34.1

      Oh come on, the hatred here goes far beyond policies. You would have to be blind not to see that. If you’re looking for examples try comments 2,5,6,10,11.1,18.11111, 20, 21, 24, 26.

      I’ve been reading this blog with varying degrees of interest since it was formed. It started off as nothing more than a hate blog of John Key, getting further into the gutter as he looked more and more likely to win the 2008 election. Admittedly its been a little better and focused on policy since he got elected, but occasionally the raw hatred comes through as it has done here.

      Also your defense of Clark is really pathetic. She quit parliament because she knew she had better job prospects than opposition backbencher. Key could probably also get a top job somewhere if he left parliament. At least hes prepared to be honest about it.

      • Colonial Viper 34.1.1

        At least hes prepared to be honest about it.

        Yes we have a 0.7 term Prime Minister who is honest with the fact that he has already thought through his exit plan and would be ready to move on to something bigger and better at the drop of a hat.

        But good on you for defending his “honesty”.

      • RedLogix 34.1.2

        She quit parliament

        She resigned as party leader. It was some six months later that she accepted another senior political role with the UNDP. This after a 27 yr career in Parliament , three terms as PM, two terms as Leader of the Opposition and a Minister of Health before that.

        I think Helen Clark gave extremely long service to the country as Prime Minister and even longer service to the people of her electorate. And has now moved on to serve the interests of the poorest and most vulnerable in the world.

        Contrast with your hero who before even his first term as PM is complete talks about quitting politics altogether if he can’t have the job he wants.

        By contrast whose interest’s do you think Key is serving?

        • Speaking Truth to Unions 34.1.2.1

          “She resigned as party leader. It was some six months later that she accepted another senior political role with the UNDP.”

          I think even in Nadsat that’s equivalent to “She quit politics”. She would have stayed on as PM had she been re-elected and left after she lost. It’s fairly simple and no one expected her to stay on, indeed she got some brownie points for going quickly.

          Add Phil to that list in about 11 months.

          It seems a rather minor point to get upset about.

      • RedLogix 34.1.3

        You would have to be blind not to see that. If you’re looking for examples try comments 2,5,6,10,11.1,18.11111, 20, 21, 24, 26.

        Perhaps you are seeing what you want to see. This is a left-wing blog, and moderated at that. We certainly do not allow the raw kind of raw emotive slander and filth that is routinely permitted on other blogs… especially of that hysterical and personal nature that was aimed at Helen Clark before 2008.

        I’ve checked all the comments you list. None except perhaps 26 was out of the ordinary for a political blog or forum anywhere. They do of course express opinions that I realise you don’t like reading… but it’s quite another step to project your own negative reaction onto the other person as hatred.

      • Treetop 34.1.4

        Nick, I posted 6 on this thread. I do not have an issue with you having an opinion, nor whether or not you disagree with a posting of mine. I do have an issue with your statement that I “live my life seething with blind hatred.”

        Are you currently online, because if you are switch on 2zb and listen to the public’s opinion of Key quiting politics if he does not win the next election. Similar has already been said about my posting and other callers have said similar to what is on this thread. May I suggest that you make a complaint about the callers opinion’s you do not agree with.

        I came across this today:

        “The true goal of leadership is not to cross the finishing line first, but to take as many others with you as you can.”

        Bob Gass

  35. randal 35

    sounds like he has had enough already.

Links to post

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
    16 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
    58 mins 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
    18 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
    23 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
    24 hours 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
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

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

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 2024-07-27T00:42:58+00:00