Key’s Nixon moment
Written By:
- Date published:
6:15 am, April 11th, 2013 - 55 comments
Categories: accountability, brand key, john key, law, making shit up, spin -
Tags: blaming the law, GCSB, kim dotcom, richard nixon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejvyDn1TPr8
“When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal”
– Richard Nixon
John Key would have you believe the same thing, that when his agency, the GCSB, has been breaking the law, the problem lies with the law. No – the problem lies with the GCSB and its oversight.
The law is not unclear. Part 3 of the Act (ht The Jackal, see the full Government Communications Security Bureau Act 2003 PDF) makes it perfectly clear that the purpose of the Act is to obtain foreign intelligence. Section 14 is core, and is explicitly referred to by other sections:
Restrictions imposed on interceptions
14 Interceptions not to target domestic communications
Neither the Director, nor an employee of the Bureau, nor a person acting on behalf of the Bureau may authorise or take any action for the purpose of intercepting the communications of a person (not being a foreign organisation or a foreign person) who is a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident.
What’s unclear about that? Hello reporters – there is no “doubt” over the spy agency role. Key’s plan to allow the GCSB to spy on Kiwis is not “cementing” its powers, it is creating them! Key and those who are blaming the law are just making excuses to try and confuse the fact that they have been breaking it.
Shorter Key: “When the PM does it that means that it is not illegal”. Rounding off our Nixon connection, we have this interesting tweet from Kim Dotcom last night…
Stay tuned.
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- Our preoccupation with Māori theatrics while sacrificing economic realismMay is significant in the New Zealand parliamentary calendar, given the Minister of Finance delivers the Budget - a whopping $128 billion last year, over a third of our GDP. This year Grant Robertson is riding a unicycle on a tightrope. The sugar rush is over but will he still ...3 weeks ago
- Labour left floundering on seabed healthLabour has once again avoided taking decisions to protect ocean health and shown exactly why we need more Green MPs. ...3 weeks ago
- Minister Sepuloni to attend 61st Anniversary of Samoa’s Independence
Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Carmel Sepuloni will represent New Zealand at Samoa’s 61st Anniversary of Independence commemorations in Apia. “Aotearoa New Zealand is pleased to share in this significant occasion, alongside other invited Pacific leaders, and congratulates Samoa on the milestone of 61 ...7 hours ago - Govt backs retailers with expansion of fog cannon programmeThe Government is continuing to support retailers with additional funding for the highly popular Fog Cannon Subsidy Scheme, Police and Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today. “The Government is committed to improving retailers’ safety,” Ginny Andersen said. “I’ve seen first-hand the difference fog cannons are making. Not only do ...11 hours ago
- Government will consider recommendations of Intelligence and Security Act reviewThe Government has received the first independent review of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says. The review, considered by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, was presented to the House of Representatives today. “Ensuring the safety and security of New Zealanders is of the utmost ...14 hours ago
- Govt expresses condolences on the passing of HRH Princess Sui’ilikutapuPrime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. “New Zealand sends it’s heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...14 hours ago
- Govt expresses condolences on the passing of HRH Princess Siu’ilikutapuPrime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. “New Zealand sends it’s heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...14 hours ago
- Security support to Solomon Islands extendedDefence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have today announced the extension of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deployment to Solomon Islands, as part of the regionally-led Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF). “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long history of working alongside the Royal Solomon ...17 hours ago
- Minister Mahuta to attend the first Korea-Pacific Leaders’ SummitForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to the Republic of Korea today to attend the Korea–Pacific Leaders’ Summit in Seoul and Busan. “Korea is an important partner for Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific region. I am eager for the opportunity to meet and discuss issues that matter to our ...2 days ago
- Agreement between Indo-Pacific partners for supply chain resilienceTrade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor joined ministerial representatives at a meeting in Detroit, USA today to announce substantial conclusion of negotiations of a new regional supply chains agreement among 14 Indo-Pacific countries. The Supply Chains agreement is one of four pillars being negotiated within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework ...2 days ago
- Celebrating Samoa Language Week 2023Our most spoken Pacific language is taking centre stage this week with Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa – Samoa Language Week kicking off around the country. “Understanding and using the Samoan language across our nation is vital to its survival,” Barbara Edmonds said. “The Samoan population in New Zealand are ...2 days ago
- Nationwide test of Emergency Mobile Alert systemOver 90 per cent of New Zealanders are expected to receive this year’s nationwide test of the Emergency Mobile Alert system tonight between 6-7pm. “Emergency Mobile Alert is a tool that can alert people when their life, health, or property, is in danger,” Kieran McAnulty said. “The annual nationwide test ...2 days ago
- Whakatōhea and the Crown sign Deed of SettlementENGLISH: Whakatōhea and the Crown sign Deed of Settlement A Deed of Settlement has been signed between Whakatōhea and the Crown, 183 years to the day since Whakatōhea rangatira signed the Treaty of Waitangi, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little has announced. Whakatōhea is an iwi based in ...3 days ago
- New Chair appointed to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCOElizabeth Longworth has been appointed as the Chair of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, Associate Minister of Education Jo Luxton announced today. UNESCO is the United Nations agency responsible for promoting cooperative action among member states in the areas of education, science, culture, social science (including peace and ...3 days ago
- Tourism transformation starts with peopleTourism and hospitality employer accreditation scheme to recognise quality employers Better education and career opportunities in tourism Cultural competency to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces Innovation and technology acceleration to drive satisfying, skilled jobs Strengthening our tourism workers and supporting them into good career pathways, pay and working conditions ...4 days ago
- Tourism transformation starts with peopleTourism and hospitality employer accreditation scheme to recognise quality employers Better education and career opportunities in tourism Cultural competency to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces Innovation and technology acceleration to drive satisfying, skilled jobs Strengthening our tourism workers and supporting them into good career pathways, pay and working conditions ...4 days ago
- Te ao Māori health services cheaper and more accessible for whānauGreater access to primary care, including 193 more front line clinical staff More hauora services and increased mental health support Boost for maternity and early years programmes Funding for cancers, HIV and longer term conditions Greater access to primary care, improved maternity care and mental health support are ...4 days ago
- Te ao Māori health services more accessible for whānauGreater access to primary care, including 193 more front line clinical staff More hauora services and increased mental health support Boost for maternity and early years programmes Funding for cancers, HIV and longer term conditions Greater access to primary care, improved maternity care and mental health support are ...4 days ago
- Government’s work for survivors of abuse in care continuesThe Government continues progress on the survivor-led independent redress system for historic abuse in care, with the announcement of the design and advisory group members today. “The main recommendation of the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Abuse in Care interim redress report was for a survivor-led independent redress system, and the ...4 days ago
- Humanitarian support for the Horn of AfricaAotearoa New Zealand is providing NZ$7.75 million to respond to urgent humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. The Horn of Africa is experiencing its most severe drought in decades, with five consecutive failed rainy seasons. At least 43.3 million people require lifesaving and ...5 days ago
- Two brand new mental health facilities opened in ChristchurchHealth Minister Ayesha Verrall has opened two new state-of-the-art mental health facilities at the Christchurch Hillmorton Hospital campus, as the Government ramps up its efforts to build a modern fit for purpose mental health system. The buildings, costing $81.8 million, are one of 16 capital projects the Government has funded ...5 days ago
- Government invests more than $24 million in regional projectsThe Government is continuing to invest in our regional economies by announcing another $24 million worth of investment into ten diverse projects, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. “Our regions are the backbone of our economy and today’s announcement continues to build on the Government’s investment to boost regional economic ...5 days ago
- Budget 23 supports the growth of Māori tourismAn $8 million boost to New Zealand Māori Tourism will help operators insulate themselves for the future. Spread over the next four years, the investment acknowledges the on-going challenges faced by the industry and the significant contribution Māori make to tourism in Aotearoa. It builds on the $15 million invested ...5 days ago
- First Bushmasters ready to rollDefence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the first 18 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles for the New Zealand Army, alongside personnel at Trentham Military Camp today. “The arrival of the Bushmaster fleet represents a significant uplift in capability and protection for defence force personnel, and a milestone in ...5 days ago
- Humanitarian support for the people of SudanAotearoa New Zealand is providing NZ$3.5 million to help meet urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. The severe fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has had devastating impacts for civilians. At least 705 people have been killed and 5,287 injured. ...6 days ago
- Clean-up at Hawkes Bay facility to help region deal with cyclone wasteRepairing a Hawke’s Bay organic composting facility devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle is among the latest waste reduction projects getting Government backing, Associate Environment Minister Rachel Brooking announced today. “Helping communities get back on their feet after the devastating weather that hit the northern parts of the country this year is ...6 days ago
- 8% pay boosts for GP & community nursesAbout 6,100 more GP, community nurses and kaiāwhina will be eligible for pay rises of 8% on average to reduce pay disparities with nurses in hospitals, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. The top up comes from a $200 million fund established to remove pay disparities between nurses ...6 days ago
- Govt turns the sod on new Jobs and Skills Hub for Hawke’s BayNew Jobs and Skills Hub to begin construction in Hawke’s Bay The Hub will support the building of $1.1billion worth of homes in the region and support Cyclone Gabrielle rebuild and recovery. Over 2,200 people have been supported into industry specific employment, apprenticeships and training, by these Hubs across NZ ...6 days ago
- Community Housing Aotearoa Conference SpeechTēnā koutou e nga maata waka. Kia koutou te mana whenua tēnā koutou Ngā mate huhua o te waa, haere, haere, haere atu ra. Hoki mai kia tātou te kanohi ora e tau nei, Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa. Tēnā koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te ...6 days ago
- New mental health tool launched for small business owner-operatorsThe Government has launched a new tool to help small business owner-operators manage and improve their mental wellbeing, Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today. The Brave in Business e-Learning series is another tool the Government has delivered to support small businesses with their mental health and wellbeing. “A pandemic, ...6 days ago
- TAB partnership helps secure future of racing industryMinister for Racing Kieran McAnulty has announced the approval of a 25-year partnership between TAB NZ and UK betting company Entain that delivers at least $900 million in guaranteed funding for the racing industry over the next five years. Entain, a UK based group that operates multiple sports betting providers ...6 days ago
- Government project delivers more reliable and resilient water source to NorthlandThe Government has delivered the first of three significant water security projects in Northland, boosting regional business and climate resilience, with the opening of Matawii reservoir today, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced. A $68 million Government investment supported the construction of the reservoir, along with two other water storage ...7 days ago
- Trade Minister to US to attend Ministerial meetingsTrade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor will travel to Detroit tomorrow to represent New Zealand at the annual APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting from 24 – 29 May. Whilst in Detroit, Damien O’Connor will also host a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Ministers ...7 days ago
- Murihiku Regeneration energy and innovation wānangaI want to start by thanking Ngāi Tahu and the Murihiku Regeneration Collective for hosting us here today. Back at the Science and Innovation Wananga in 2021, I said that a just transition in New Zealand must ensure Iwi are at the table. This is just as true now as ...7 days ago
- New Ambassador to Mongolia announcedForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced the appointment of diplomat Dr James Waite as Aotearoa New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Mongolia. He is currently the Deputy Head of Mission at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing, a role he will continue to hold. “New Zealand and Mongolia share a warm and ...7 days ago
- Government commitment to Māori Education continuesBiggest-ever investment in property with more money for new sites and modernisation Roll-out of learning support coordination in kaupapa Māori and Māori Medium Schooling Boost in funding for iwi and schools to work together on Local Histories content Substantial support for Māori Education has continued in Budget 2023, including ...7 days ago
- More students to benefit from next round of Creatives in SchoolsApplications for the next round of Creatives in Schools will open on Friday 16 June 2023, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni announced today during a visit at Te Wharekura o Mauao in Tauranga. “The Creatives in Schools programme funds schools and ...7 days ago
- Speech to WasteMINZ conference, HamiltonTena koutou katoa and thank you all for being here and welcoming me to your annual conference. I want to acknowledge being here in Tainui’s rohe, and the mana of Kingi Tuheitia. I hate waste. So much so that when we built our home in Dunedin, I banned the use ...7 days ago
- Extra boost for Southland’s Just TransitionSouthland’s Just Transition is getting a further boost to help future-proof the region and build its economic resilience, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods announced today. “This Government is committed to supporting Southland’s just transition and reducing the region’s reliance on the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter at Tiwai Point,” Megan ...7 days ago
- PM concludes successful Pacific visit, confirms intention to visit IndiaPrime Minister Chris Hipkins has concluded a series of successful international meetings with Pacific region leaders in Papua New Guinea. Prime Minister Hipkins secured constructive bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, PNG Prime Minister James Marape, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and United States Secretary of ...7 days ago
- Agreed statement from NZEI, PPTA and the Minister of EducationOn Friday 19th May, Minister Tinetti facilitated a meeting between NZEI and PPTA with the Ministry of Education to discuss options for finding a way forward in the current stalled collective bargaining. The meeting was constructive, and the parties shared a willingness to work towards a solution. The following was ...1 week ago
- Five community energy projects kick startEighty-nine households will soon benefit from secure, renewable, and more affordable energy as five community-level energy projects are about to get underway, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods announced today. Five solar projects – in Whangārei, Tauranga, Palmerston North and Christchurch – are the first to receive funding from the ...1 week ago
- Background to SCORI – is this a sell-out of Pacific’s ‘Sea of Islands’?
By concerned citizens of the Pacific The signing of the memorandum of understanding between the University of the South Pacific’s vice-chancellor and president, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, and the Indian government’s National Centre for Coastal Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, in March for the setting up of a Sustainable Coastal and ...1 hour ago - No sedition charges against Kanak pro-independence leader, says prosecutorBy Walter Zweifel, RNZ Pacific reporter The president of New Caledonia’s largest pro-independence party Daniel Goa will not be prosecuted for alleged calls for violence and sedition. Last month, a coalition of anti-independence parties had lodged a formal complaint with the Public Prosecutor over a speech given by Goa at ...1 hour ago
- Kramer still working on ‘unfinished’ exposure of PNG corruptionPNG Post-Courier Dismissed Member of Madang Bryan Kramer says the dismissal notice by Papua New Guinea’s Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae does not affect his appeal. “What I can confirm is that on the morning the notice was issued, I had filed my appeal before the National Court,” he said. “My ...1 hour ago
- PNG lawyer Paraka found guilty of misappropriating K162mBy Todagia Kelola in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea lawyer and businessman Paul Paraka has been found guilty of misappropriating K162 million (NZ$75 million) belonging to the state. Criminal track judge Justice Teresa Berrigan, in a comprehensive and detailed judgment in 114 pages, found him guilty on all five charges ...2 hours ago
- Tokelau covid: Two new cases announced as lockdown endsBy Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Tokelau’s largest atoll, Nukunonu, is now out of lockdown after experiencing its first community cases of covid-19. In a statement, the government said Fakaofo Atoll has had two cases at the border and Nukunonu now has six positive community cases — all within the ...2 hours ago
- Mark McGowan quits in his own time, after dominating Western Australian politicsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martin Drum, Lecturer Politics and International Relations, University of Notre Dame Australia One of the most dominant premiers in recent Australian political history, Mark McGowan, has resigned as Western Australian premier and the member for Rockingham. Put simply, McGowan has dominated WA ...7 hours ago
- Can high-stakes debt-ceiling brinkmanship in the US lead to unprecedented political unity?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jared Mondschein, Director of Research, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP/AAP Congress appears to be on the cusp of passing legislation that would not only avoid an unprecedented US government default – and economic catastrophe – but ...8 hours ago
- National's housing backdown: Preserving character or ditching a fit for purpose framework?
While some say the move will help preserve culture and heritage, others are concerned about what it could mean for the future of New Zealand's cities. ...8 hours ago - National's housing backdown: Preserving character or ditching a fit for purpose framework?While some say the move will help preserve culture and heritage, others are concerned about what it could mean for the future of New Zealand's cities. ...8 hours ago
- Hipkins accuses National of dog-whistling over bilingual roadsignsThe prime minister says bilingual signs are nothing new to countries around the world, and do not create public safety concerns. ...9 hours ago
- Stuart Nash donor communications review delayedPrime Minister Chris Hipkins says he has deliberately kept out of the investigation into the former minister, but the reviewer has asked for a couple more weeks. ...9 hours ago
- WA Premier Mark McGowan quits in shock announcement, declaring he is ‘exhausted’Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Aaron Bunch/AAP Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has announced he is quitting as premier and leaving parliament. In a shock announcement, McGowan told a news conference in Perth on Monday he had ...10 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Visualising Countries’ Deficits and Debts, Surpluses and Credits, ...Analysis by Keith Rankin. The topic of financial debt is one of the hardest for humans to get their heads around. The normal understanding of a debt is a sacrifice made by one party (the owner of the debt) in favour of another party (the ower) which will be remedied ...10 hours ago
- A warning to NZ Succession fans: Avoid social media
The final ever episode of Succession will be hitting Neon at 7pm tonight, just a few hours after it’s finished airing in the US. Right now, Twitter is a Succession spoiler minefield. My feed is currently made up of news, clips of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour… and Succession spoilers. ...11 hours ago - Watch: PM Chris Hipkins speaks after Cabinet meetingPrime Minister Chris Hipkins is speaking to media after this week's Cabinet meeting. Watch live. ...12 hours ago
- Extra $11m for expansion of fog cannon subsidyThe government’s announced an additional $11 million to extend the fog cannon subsidy scheme, which the police minister said has given shop workers peace of mind during a spate of retail crime. So far there have been 582 installations completed, said Ginny Andersen, with 1,664 applications approved. “The scheme has ...12 hours ago
- Green MP says ‘fake meth’ at WINZ adds to argument for inquiry into agencyReports a Work and Income staffer brought “fake meth” to a “cultural diversity” morning tea add to the argument for an inquiry into the agency, said a Green Party MP. The Spinoff first reported today that a worker at the Hornby branch of Work and Income had taken bags labelled ...12 hours ago
- Melbourne earthquake 2023: are they becoming more common? A seismology expert explainsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Geologist, Monash University Report locations from people who felt the Sunbury earthquake on May 28. Geoscience Australia Last night at 11:41pm local time, the greater Melbourne region was shaken by a magnitude 4.0 earthquake – as calculated by the ...12 hours ago
- Ten tips for your first noho maraeThe prospect of your first marae stay can be daunting, but go in armed with Airena Ngarewa’s top tips and you’ll come out feeling like a pro. Noho marae are a fundamental part of many Māori haerenga, whether you are preparing for the stage, learning the reo or simply trying ...13 hours ago
- Is it true the faster you lose weight the quicker it comes back? Here’s what we know about slow an...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Fuller, Charles Perkins Centre Research Program Leader, University of Sydney Pexels/Andres Ayrton, CC BY When people decide it’s time to lose weight, they’re usually keen to see quick results. Maybe they have an event coming up or want relief ...13 hours ago
- Milton Moon: the Australian artist who brought a Zen Buddhist, modernist and painterly sensibility t...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Speck, Emerita Professor, Art History and Curatorship, University of Adelaide Milton Moon in his studio in Tarragindi, Queensland, 1966, photo: John McKay, Milton Moon archive Milton Moon (1926-2019) was not your regular potter. He was deeply imbued with Zen Buddhism ...13 hours ago
- Beer Tax Hits During Cost-of-living Crisis
Joint media release from the Brewers Association of NZ and Brewers Guild of NZ The Government has just announced it will implement the second largest beer tax increase in 30 years. The annually adjusted alcohol excise rate has been confirmed to increase ...13 hours ago - New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this weekWhat are you going to be watching this week? We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, Neon and TVNZ+. The biggies I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (season three streaming on Netflix from May 30) When the ...14 hours ago
- Slow down Simeon Brown – bilingual traffic signs aren’t an accident waiting to happenSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics, Massey University Getty Images When the National Party’s transport spokesperson, Simeon Brown, questioned the logic of bilingual traffic signs, he seemed to echo his leader Christopher Luxon’s earlier misgivings about the now prevalent use of ...14 hours ago
- Act owns ‘coalition of cuts’ line: ‘The next government will need to make cutbacks’If you’ve been paying even a loose attention to politics over the past few weeks, you’ll almost certainly have come across two competing attack lines. One, the “coalition of chaos”. That’s the line National’s been rolling out to reference a prospective Labour, Green and Te Pāti Māori coalition. Then there’s ...14 hours ago
- Free but unfair election: how Erdogan held onto power in Turkey, and what this means for the country...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mehmet Ozalp, Associate Professor in Islamic Studies, Director of The Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and Executive Member of Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University Ali Unal/AP Recep Tayyib Erdogan will remain president of Turkey for another five ...14 hours ago
- More Police Pursuits Will Mean More Deaths And InjuriesAn increase in the number of police pursuits will inevitably mean an increase in the number of serious injuries and deaths, says the car review website dogandlemon.com . Dogandlemon.com editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, who is an outspoken road safety campaigner, ...14 hours ago
- Why are cafes still charging extra for coffees made with non-dairy milk?There are myriad reasons why an increasing number of us are opting for dairy alternatives in our coffee orders – and that comes with a hefty fee. It’s such standard practice that most of us, in our daily caffeine-hungry haze, probably take it for granted. If you’re lactose intolerant, trying ...15 hours ago
- Australian shelters and pounds kill 50,000 mostly healthy cats and kittens in a year. There’s a wa...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacquie Rand, Emeritus Professor of Companion Animal Health, The University of Queensland Shutterstock Stray cats are a longstanding problem in Australian towns and cities. Common complaints about roaming cats include nuisance (fighting and urinating), disease risks to humans and other ...15 hours ago
- Get ready for Taskmaster NZ season fourBig news for Taskheads dropped over the weekend as TVNZ unveiled the cast for the upcoming fourth season of Taskmaster NZ. Dai Henwood, Karen O’Leary, Melanie Bracewell, Ray O’Leary and Bubbah are the lucky five who will be tackling whatever is thrown at them by Jeremy Wells and Paul Williams. ...16 hours ago
- Newsletter: May 29 2023 – Items of interest and importance todayNew Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. Today’s content LABOUR PARTY CONGRESS Luke Malpass (Stuff): Labour congress lays bare Chris Hipkins’ and Labour’s election strategy Claire Trevett (Herald): Labour Party Congress: Energy ...16 hours ago
- 114,000 Not-for-profits In Aotearoa Make A Difference To People And Planet!Community Governance Aotearoa is set to launch our first ‘I Love Community Governance’ Nationwide Online Event on Friday 16 June, 2023. This free online event is designed to be interactive, engaging, and connect attendees to the many organisations and ...16 hours ago
- Government Clings To Ambulance At The Bottom Of The Cliff Approach To HealthThe New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association is warning that the Government’s winter preparedness plan is a continuation of its ambulance at the bottom of the cliff approach to healthcare Chiropractor and NZCA spokesperson Dr Jenna Duehr says: ...17 hours ago
- National's backdown on bipartisan housing accord 'a massive flip-flop' – Sepulo...The National Party is denying stepping back from a bipartisan housing policy, which it helped to draft, is a backdown. ...17 hours ago
- Business as Unusual: A new series with the University of Auckland Business SchoolIn an exciting new regular series, we’re going to look deeper at the local research innovations bringing us closer to the big, weird and buzzy future of business. Are widely accessible large language models going to cause a collective atrophy in the broader population’s writing ability, or serve as an ...17 hours ago
- Business as Unusual: A new series with the University of Auckland Business SchoolIn an exciting new regular series, we’re going to look deeper at the local research innovations bringing us closer to the big, weird and buzzy future of business. Are widely accessible large language models going to cause a collective atrophy in the broader population’s writing ability, or serve as an ...17 hours ago
- A hopeless quest to find something half-decent to watch on linear TVWatching whatever was on TV used to be fun. Why is it so bad now? According to the great Aotearoa oracles, Flight of the Conchords, Wednesday night is the night to make love. By their own teachings: Wednesday night is the night that we make love. Cos everything is just ...17 hours ago
- A hopeless quest to find something half-decent to watch on linear TVWatching whatever was on TV used to be fun. Why is it so bad now? According to the great Aotearoa oracles, Flight of the Conchords, Wednesday night is the night to make love. By their own teachings: Wednesday night is the night that we make love. Cos everything is just ...17 hours ago
- National's housing plans need more infrastructure investment – construction expertNational says its new policy would require councils to zone enough new land for 30 years of demand, but an AUT professor says a stronger commitment to improve infrastructure is needed first. ...18 hours ago
- Mike Puru’s new live shopping show is absolutely hecticNZME’s wild live shopping show is the perfect vehicle for New Zealand’s chattiest man, writes Alex Casey. Mike Puru is proudly presenting a royal blue jug emblazoned with lemons and peaches. “Keri Blue: it is pre-loved but I think it is straight out of the box, in all honesty,” he ...19 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Bouquets and brickbats for Wellington mayor Tory WhanauAndrea Vance had an in-depth profile of Wellington mayor Tory Whanau on the paywalled Post (and a write-off on the free-to-read Stuff) that looks at her rise to the top job, and how she’s doing six months in. “She has delivered on a promise to unite council – public spats are largely a ...19 hours ago
- Our cemeteries face a housing crisis too. 4 changes can make burial sustainableSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Falconer, Lecturer, T.C. Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Australia’s housing crisis is no secret. What many people don’t realise is that there’s another, less visible housing crisis. Australia’s urban cemeteries are running out of space to house the ...19 hours ago
- Over half of eligible aged care residents are yet to receive their COVID booster. And winter is comi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Shutterstock As Australia heads towards the fourth winter of the pandemic, we have once again started seeing an increase in the level of COVID circulating. With this comes an increased risk of infection ...19 hours ago
- 3 little-known reasons why plastic recycling could actually make things worseSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pascal Scherrer, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business, Law and Art, Southern Cross University Chanchai Phetdikhai, Shutterstock This week in Paris, negotiators from around the world are convening for a United Nations meeting. They will tackle a thorny problem: finding a ...19 hours ago
- DIY degree? Why universities should make online educational materials free for allSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard F. Heller, Emeritus Professor, University of Newcastle Sam Lion/Pexels This article is part of our series on big ideas for the Universities Accord. The federal government is calling for ideas to “reshape and reimagine higher education, and set it ...19 hours ago
- Why taxing the world’s biggest companies at 15% won’t fix the gaping hole in global tax rulesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerrie Sadiq, Professor of Taxation, QUT Business School, and ARC Future Fellow, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock Australia’s federal government has a plan to discourage companies from shifting profits to tax havens. The idea is to impose a “global minimum ...19 hours ago
- A long and fishy tail: before Disney’s Little Mermaid, these creatures existed in mythologies from...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Pryke, Honorary Research Associate, University of Sydney 13th century painting of mermaids from a house in Barcelona. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, Barcelona Mermaids are multicultural mythical figures, reflecting the continuing human fascination with the sea in stories echoing thousands ...19 hours ago
- Bishop says u-turn on housing accord will offer more ‘flexibility’ for councilsThe opposition’s housing spokesperson Chris Bishop has defended the decision to pull out of a cross-party policy agreement announced in 2021. National and Labour worked together on legislation that would make it easier for higher density housing to be constructed in main centres. Now, National has decided it wants out, ...19 hours ago
- National u-turn overshadows low-key Labour congressIt was supposed to be Hipkins’ moment in the spotlight, but all anyone was talking about was a backtrack by Luxon, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A policy-light Labour conference ...20 hours ago
- 'Coalition of chaos' versus 'coalition of cuts' – the voters will decidePower Play - Labour is ramping up its pitch to regain power, telling voters they "deserve to know the choices they have" in election year, Jane Patterson writes. ...21 hours ago
- How NZ plans to force tech giants to finally pay their taxesA tax bill introduced alongside the budget commits the government to global rules aimed at stopping the likes of Meta and Google NZ sending their profits offshore. Terry Baucher explains the story so far. Tax is full of acronyms; PAYE, GST, FBT… and BEPS. If you’re not familiar with BEPS, ...22 hours ago
- Work and Income staffer took fake ‘meth’ to ‘cultural diversity’ morning teaA photo leaked to The Spinoff shows ziplock bags labelled ‘methamphetamine’ were brought to the morning tea, allegedly as a comment on the culture of Work and Income clients. Stewart Sowman-Lund reports. A staff member at a Canterbury Work and Income branch brought a bag of fake methamphetamine to a ...23 hours ago
- 'Pacific aspiration is not an appendage': Mahuta pushes Pacific-Asia ties in Korea
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Nixon headed up team, that with the relatively primitive technology of the time, illegally spied on the Democrats in the Watergate Hotel.
Nixon took the fall.
But today with the advances in electronic snooping, presumably the GSCB didn’t have to illegally break into hotel rooms.
But who knows?
What other illegal activities they are up to?
We only know of these ones because they have been brought to light in the fall out of the Dotcom affair.
The message Key is giving the secret police, (and the regular police) is that law breaking is all right. If it is done by you guys. And if you are caught in the committing of them. The laws will be changed to allow you to get away with it.
A law change to protect law breakers. These criminals now know that they will not be reprimanded if they break the laws of the land, there will be no consequences. Just make greater efforts not to be caught.
That this will happen is guaranteed. Because those agents who have committed these crimes. (And they were crimes.) Are to be left in their posts, hidden behind their secret identities to carry on their criminality unchecked.
“The laws will be changed to allow you to get away with it.”
Parliament can’t do the impossible. Conspiracy against the common good is never lawful regardless of how many times the media pontificates that new policy was “passed into law”.
I hope you are right Anthony that this is Key’s Nixon moment. The Nats have resorted to the when all else fails line of “blame Helen Clarke” as reported in the Granny Heralds article today “Key slammed over spying”
The white paper that Dotcom refers to could be interesting?
Total nonsense as a reason for breaking the law
Let the law enforcement agencies ignore any law that was inserted only to get votes in the house, shall we? E.g. why not ignore Key’s insertion into s59 “where the offence is considered to be so inconsequential that there is no public interest in proceeding with a prosecution” and go straight back to interpreting the law as Sue Bradford’s original, because that line was only inserted “to get votes in the house”.
Sheesh.
Yep, right there is Bill English saying what he really thinks of democracy. If it’s just something you did to get votes, it doesn’t count.
National has never liked democracy as it prevents their rich mates doing whatever they want.
What a tool. someone should call him out on that. The bill passed with near full support, the Greens forgot to vote or something, but everyone else voted for it.
So who is he talking about that section being inserted for?
Similar bullshit with Key saying he didn;t mislead anyone because “his” legal team told him they didn’t bleieve there was any unlawful spying going on. Who is he talking about? Crown law would be the PMs legal team I guess, but turns out he was talking about the SIS and GCSB’s legal teams.
It’s like a policeman saying they didn’t think there was any crimes done because he had a word with the defence lawyer who advised nah all good mate.
If what we heard in Parliament QT yesterday is accurate, and why would it not be, can anyone explain why the DotCom saga was specifically excluded from the report’s mission?
When’s the fat German getting kicked out the door?
Hurry along, BM, or you’ll be late for school.
BM hasn’t started school yet.
I can’t decide whether watching the so-called freedom loving Right reveal their true nature is hilarious or sickening.
You have to bear-in-mind that every time the Right mention ‘freedom’, they are only talking about theirs, not everyone else’s.
+1
and they mean their freedom to oppress everyone else.
I never thought that I would support a wealthy right wing german with a shadowy past …
You’d support Satan if it got your team back in power.
And you’d support domestic surveillance by a secret organisation, controlled by the Prime Minister, and then have the imbecility to talk about the Stasi.
Bit like the Clark years then.
Thanks for playing along so well.
Yes, BM, and if you’d discovered it then you would have been wetting your pants and squealing, but you’re such a Quisling hypocrite you’re defending it because your lying Prime Minister is implicated too.
I’m pleased to say I don’t suffer from your double standards.
No where near as much as Clark though.
If I took a punt I’d say the numbers would be
Clark-84
Key-1
Interesting thing is how involved Grant Robinson is in all of this, from some of the stuff I’ve read, he’s right up to his neck.
Clark lost her Prime Ministership.
Now it’s John Key’s turn. You agree, right?
Course he does. It’s not like he’s a brainless fuckwit who came here with the sole desperate motivation of defending his hero at any cost.
BM is trippin’
but it is not unrealistic to consider that a clear timeline of those 88 instances would make interesting reading
Grant Robertson has perjured himself the way John Key has?
Doubt it.
You’re dreaming if you think there was only one case over the last four years, but seriously, who cares what an apologist for the Stasi thinks?
I think BM has good reason to be irritable today.
From some of the stuff I’ve read, he shat his pants this morning and rolled around in them.
I believe over half happened under Key.
use of the word “team” only highlights exactly why this country is so fucked!
They are groups who supposedly wish to become Representatives of the People in a functional Democracy and need to start being reminded of this fact. The obsession of modern politics is personality and the sporting culture crossover is not helpful in restricting the growth of this material toxin.
+1
You already do, Mephistopheles too.
“That is not advice there is a problem. In fact, the advice I got from my legal people was there wasn’t a problem.” – John Key
If legal advice state there was not a problem, this suggests at some point there was a concern that there may be a problem, which is when the Minister who is tasked with “control” of the GCSB is meant to go to the Crown Law office for advice.
Cabinet rules require that legal opinion is to be sought in the first part from the Crown Law office and according to recent questions in Parliament, this never happened. So who did Key get advice from?
GCSB and SIS in house lawyers.
The people he was supposed to be a check on.
This whole Key scandal has been reminding me of something else (Oliver Stone’s) Nixon said.
It’s the lie that gets you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKbmNIneR7M
Funny how the righties never want to talk about the lie, eh?
LIE, a word that still has not been used in the msm.
In what way is Key’s claim about not knowing anything till September not a lie?
“mislead the Country” at least that part is accurate and can be applied to Key’s Government in its entirety
It hasn’t been used by the opposition either and it won’t be. Some tradition about not calling people in government liars even when it’s obvious that they lied.
Spot on Felix.
Issue 1: the GCSB is out of control.
Issue 2: The Prime Minister lied to Parliament and the public about it.
They broke the crimes act and their own governing legislation. He perjured himself.
the GCSB is out of control.
What’s the bet that if a full, independent inquiry was carried out we would find that the GCSB only became seriously out of control after the change of government.
Which is probably the reason why Key doesn’t want a full, independent inquiry – with the emphasis on the word independent.
Gotta admit Tricky Dicky was so much more fun than Key!
Saw Kissinger in the background, so if Henry was Punch to Dicky’s Judy who is Keys Punch?
that texting fellow
It’s KEY..KEY…KEY!
Rhonda Farr said: ‘Publicity, darling. Just publicity. Any kind is better than none at all.’
[1933 R. Chandler in Black Mask Dec. 26]
Classic Nixon. Key has been very touchy about this issue and DotCom, right from the start. Now that it is really unravelling, someone with time and energy needs to dig back a couple of years and get a full timeline together. Even the public record is damning.
It seems increasingly likely that Key has been taking orders from the US on DotCom, since maybe early 2011. He would have been well briefed on how to go about it, and the sort of statements need to cover his tracks.
Possible also that Shearer was set up for humiliation in the House by a ‘leak’ of planted false info, which he naively swallowed.
The NZ law, as can be seen above, is plain and simple. Extraordinary that DotCom has more credibility now than the Prime Minister.
Interesting times.
Hmmmmm…it seems to me that Dotcom’s staff have the time, energy and money needed to do a thorough background investigation like this. Dang it.
Looks like Andrew Williams had a go yesterday: http://nzfirst.org.nz/sites/nzfirst/files/the_john_key-kim_dotcom_timeline_1.pdf
It seems increasingly likely that Key has been taking orders from the US on DotCom, since maybe early 2011.
I would go further and say it was a certainty. The Hobbit controversy started around Aug/Sept. 2010, and Key would have been ‘communicating’ with his Hollywood mates – in particular Warner bros.- before it even hit the media spotlight. I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave Key a heads-up on Dotcom at the same time.
Key meeting with the SIS on 12 October 2010 is very significant.
IMO, Key has been taking orders from the US since before he returned to NZ. In fact, I think his return to NZ was an order.
Exactly my thoughts too DTB.
There’s a very interesting pattern developing… and it looks like it began around the start of Labour’s third term in office. The demonising of Helen Clark and her ministers, Key’s rapid rise through the ranks, the ever accelerating progress towards the ‘privatising’ of NZ and now the ‘secret’ collaborations between Key and members of the US based international corporate giants.
And it’s beginning to look like the GCSB boss, Ian Fletcher is complicit in the cover-up over the obvious on-going ‘friendship’ he and John Key have enjoyed for years.
Our very own Watergate it may turn out to be…
Oh for a whistleblower then. If this stuff has happened there is knowledge of it somewhere.
Is it possible that Key talking of making GCSB spying on NZers legal, is an attempt to out-manoeuvre the Dotcom team? Kim has said that he has proof that Key was lying about his involvement and somehow there is a connection, perhaps, maybe?
there is no way they will try to make it a retro-active law, surely not
that is low even for the parasitic molluscs that they are
-apologies to molluscs
The spin is this:
Key is trying to get his mates off charges
We need a full criminal investigation now
Only the police can decide if charges should be laid or not as per normal criminal investigation procedure; not the PM
How do we trust that the police don’t just fall in behind the PM?
On Citizen A tonight, Selwyn Manning said it requires a full, independent investigation overseen by someone independent with a solid legal background. Sounds like a good plan to me.
Ahhhhh yes that’s a significant point in due course but not important at this juncture in terms of spin; all that is important PR wise is that John Key is painted as interfering with what should be a criminal investigation, because he is trying to protect his mates.
ONCE the PM accepts that he needs to step back and that a police investigation is required THEN calls for an independent investigation start
Its death by a thousand cuts you see
Couldn’t resist
if this crosses some legal line please feel free to delete it
but i clearly state it is an altered original
must be interesting with a touch screen