Kiwiblog loses the plot

Written By: - Date published: 10:48 pm, November 5th, 2007 - 79 comments
Categories: dpf - Tags:

Regular readers of David Farrar’s National Party blog will be aware that it’s been in a bit of trouble lately. Aside from the setting up of robust left-wing opposition in the form of The Standard, Kiwiblogblog and others, DPF’s had to contend with an increase in left opponents in his comments section who are willing to call him on his National Party spin.

Bill Ralston summed up the situation well in the Herald on Sunday recently:

If the blog authors are tough in their analysis, the hundreds of comments they get can be even more rabid. In the columns, on the blogs, on talkback and in the letters to the editor pages of the major papers, the tide of opinion has turned rabidly against National. Some of this has been helped by Labour activists who always outgun National supporters when rallying for a fight online and in feedback to the traditional media. “They’re much better at this than us,” admits one of John Key’s advisers

This was bad news for a man whose reputation within the party relies on the success of Kiwiblog, so to crack down he introduced a moderation system. This was done supposedly in the name of cleaning up the sewer and providing for more constructive debate, while those of us on the left suspected it it would be abused (or designed) to crush dissenting views. Farrar tried to give it an air of legitimacy by appointing a supposedly independent, non-partisan moderation team.

One of his moderators, “Rakaunui” (DPF’s Maori foil for Tane?), has been more than a little partisan in his moderation, under Farrar’s express orders. Just today I found several of my comments deleted for supposedly being “off topic”, even in cases when I was directly responding to questions or accusations from other commenters.

This evening was a classic example. Here’s right-wing regular Kimble debating with my old mate Robinsod in a thread about the Electoral Finance Bill:

At the risk of sounding paranoid, but is it a coincidence that the Labour Union movement in NZ never donates money to the National Party campaign? Aren’t these groups supposed to be non-biased politically? Mmmmmm, suspiciouser and suspiciouser!

Robinsod replied:

Kimble you moron – the labour party grew from the labour movement. A lot of unions are still affiliated to the labour party (it’s because National wants to fuck their members). Stop trolling.

Whale – hello? Hello Whale? Um, press report of $20K? Bob? McCroskie? Hello?

The language is slightly coloured, but nothing out of the ordinary for Kiwiblog. He’s clearly replied to a direct question from Kimble, on a topic directly related to election finance. His answer was deleted, Kimble’s stayed. The question to Whaleoil was also directly related to election funding and Farrar’s Kill the Bill campaign. That was deleted too.

I posted a comment quoting both parties and pointed out that there appeared to be partisan censorship going on. That comment was also deleted. As I say, this is just one example of what has become quite a trend – indeed a policy – over at Farrar’s house.

Now David Farrar owns his blog and he’s free to do what he likes with it. But if it is just a home for National Party lines where dissent and contradiction aren’t welcome then he needs to make that clear. Swanning around as an independent ‘political analyst‘ while he carries on like this is simply not credible. Nor is purporting to stand for free speech when he can’t even handle mild criticism.

Anyone else had similar experiences?

(UPDATE: Looks like Robinsod has been banned indefinitely, without warning.)

79 comments on “Kiwiblog loses the plot ”

  1. Robert Owen 1

    Well I can’t get moderated I have an indefinite ban
    I wear it with pride

  2. You’re just cranky, Tane, that your desperate attempt to hijack a thread was foiled. The last thing you want is people actually talking about the insane attempts of this torrid government to abuse its power to buy another election with taxpayers’ money.

  3. Santa Claws 3

    Ho Ho Ho

    Tane – if you are going to defend the biggest attack on free speech ever in NZ then its a bit lame about complaining about having your comments deleted.

    As for Robespierre, well, what would you expect from someone who lives in the gutter?

    No doubt your pals at KBB would ever do such a thing eh?

    At least its good to see you admit that this is a labour-funded website run by labour activists. After your whining about KTB I’m sure you won’t mind opening the books here.

    Losers.

    And were you not threatening to moderate me a couple of days ago.

    Honestly, your hypocrisy is breathtaking.

  4. Tane 4

    Why did you get banned Robert? You’re always so polite!

  5. r0b 5

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I’m actually worried about DPF’s health. The man should take a holiday. Somehwere far from politics for a couple of weeks. Get some fresh air.

  6. illuminatedtiger 6

    Yes I had two posts deleted in reply to DPF’s despicable accusations that Labour was a party of violence. I stated that if Labour is a party of violence then by DPF’s logic National is a party of corruption (a business he was involved in was investigated by the serious fraud office). Rakaunui didn’t take kindly to this and deleted my posts saying I was “off topic”. So the only way you can be on topic now apparently is if you are slagging off Labour or making personal comments about the Prime Minister.

  7. Tane 7

    Ah Santa, we’ve been through all of this before.

    1) The EFB is about restricting spending, not speech. There’s a big difference.

    2) I’m not sure what you’re on about regarding Labour. Many of the contributors are Labour Party members, others are not. We’re all labour activists with a small l, though. A blog costs nothing to run.

    3) Yes, when you were repeatedly spouting vile homophobia I said I’d rather not have to introduce moderation. I didn’t. Not that there’s anything wrong with moderation when it’s fair and non-partisan. David’s isn’t – he’s fighting for his reputation within the party.

    Remember when my comment about the Bell Gully Trust Fund’s donations to National made it onto Newstalk ZB and DPF was stupid enough to give it further oxygen by vanity posting about it? Being called on his shit ain’t good for business.

  8. illuminatedtiger 8

    In my post above when I refer to “he” I refer to John Key.

  9. Santa Claws 9

    Well Tane, if you call getting an irrelevant smear onto ZB good for Labour then I guess you won a point there.

    I don’t see why you expect David to provide you and Robespierre a forum for outright lies and personal attacks. There is plenty of dissent tolerated there, but it needs to be reasonably expressed. Other seems to manage OK. I wonder if you think the Public Address would permit the sort of comments that you and Robespierre prefer?

    DPF puts his name and reputation behind his site – you don’t.

    Ans vile homophobia – I suppose you can justify anything with that label. Next you’ll be calling me a racist.

  10. Robert Owen 10

    I think I got banned because someone here ( my sons and/or his scarfie mates apparently
    Typed a similar message to this
    ” you are a Short fat ugly Tory
    unfortunately you can only change two of the above ”

    Which I feel deserved to get banned
    The bastards, Green supporters too
    Youth of today eh ?
    If only I had smacked him as a child

  11. illuminatedtiger 11

    If you don’t have anything positive to contribute Santa than may I make the suggestion that you leave?

  12. Benodic 12

    Santa is a genuine troll. He very rarely has anything constructive to offer and is frequently off-topic. Yet the guys (and girls, I presume) at The Standard tolerate him. Shows you which side really stands for free speech, eh?

  13. Benodic 13

    Oh, and I don’t even bother commenting on sewerblog. Frankly I think it’s only the remaining lefties who are keeping it alive.

    How long do you think before the media catch on to what everyone else in the blogosphere already knows?

  14. Robert Owen 14

    Santa claws is DPF
    Same writing style
    http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=614#comment-2953

    “Kudos for Chris on being up-front though, and it is a good tune.”

    “Kudos” he uses it all the time

  15. illuminatedtiger 15

    Exactly. He is tolerated, I’m sure he could be banned but thats not what this place is all about. Perhaps some sort of Digg-style moderation system could be used. If someone writes a good constructive post then they get a vote and if they are a troll like Santa is then they get a vote deducted. The posts with the most votes are the most visible on the page.

  16. Benodic 16

    I’m not so sure. DPF calls kill the bill ‘KtB’ with a small t. Santa uses a large T. But it wouldn’t surprise me. Robinsod had a theory that DPF was Redbaiter for a while, and the lunatics on Kiwiblog seem to be under the impression that the standard and blogblog are both run out of the ninth floor by Helen’s paid advisors.

  17. Benodic 17

    Deborah – You mean the Tories I’m guessing?

  18. illuminatedtiger 18

    Well of course. It’s impossible to support Labour these days without being labeled a party member.

  19. Robinsod 19

    I can’t believe I missed it – Claws is DPF! Well welcome DPF, I’m glad you’re visiting the standard. Just one question though: if you bang on about people hiding behind anonymity over there then why not come clean here – are you afraid? Oh and I’ve no problem with anonymity it’s just you make such a big issue of it…

  20. Robert Owen 20

    Robinsod
    Yeah I’m pretty sure it is
    To many similarities

  21. Deborah 21

    Ooops – that ‘post’ up there under my name is not actually from me. My partner accidentally posted while our computer was logged into my own wordpress blog, so his post on The Standard came up under my name. If you have a look at my blog (inastrangeland.wordpress.com), you will see that the post really is NOT the sort of thing I would say.

    Umm… is anyone able to delete the post? Please?

    As you might imagine, we have some interesting conversations in our house at times.

    [Tane: Done.]

  22. Margaret 22

    That happens to me from time to time too Deborah! You would think having different log-ins under Windows would deal with it but sadly not.

    On the issue of moderation at Kiwiblog, I am quite surprised at the way Farrar has decided to impose it. On forums I have experienced that have a team of moderators it is usual for a moderator to be someone already active in the forum, and therefore someone with some credibility with the readership. I don’t read the comment threads at Kiwiblog much but I don’t remember ever coming across Rakaunui before moderation started?

  23. Deborah 23

    Thank you, Tane. And Margaret.

  24. Robinsod 24

    Margaret – Rakaunui is a fake. As far as I can tell he’s been made up by DPF to give the blog some “bro” creds (I suspect this is a reaction to Tane)

  25. slightlyrighty 25

    Tane.

    You are arguing semantics. At face value restricting spending may not be the same as restricting speech, but the reality is far different. What the EFB will do is allow the New Zealand government to conduct “public information” campaigns to promote the benefits of legislation passed into law such as WFF, and 20 “free” hours. Although Labour would not be specifically mentioned, (although the recent 0800 service launched by the health ministry would have done exactly that until John Key brought that to the attention of parliament) you would have to have been living under a rock not to make the connection given that Labour is the government.

    The EFB would dramatically reduce the ability of genuine interest groups to respond. Yes they can openly criticise the government, but in the face of a well funded, multimedia campaign, would that criticism be effective if limited to a $60,000 cap?

    Or to put it philisophically, If a group criticises the government, and no one is able to listen to it, does that group make a noise?

  26. Robinsod 26

    SR – A centre govt increases public service and support. These public services and supports are advertised in order to make people aware of their eligibility of them. What a conspiracy. The only reason the right whinge about this is that they know that when they are in govt they can’t do the same thing? Why? Because ads like – we’ve cut your benefit, you’re gonna have to pay more for health/education etc don’t really appeal to voters. They just don’t like having the light shone on them, those righties…

  27. You are making inroads in your quest to write the most facile comment of the day, Robinsod.

    The Government spends far more on “public information campaigns”, which just happen to advocate its policies, such as kiwisaver, WFF, 20 free hours, subsidised primary healthcare, environmental sustainability, etc etc than ever before. You simply cannot turn on the television without seeing a government advertisement. The entire New Zealand media industry is now dependent on government advertising to sustain itself.

    No amount of spending by private individuals can ever counter the massive spending by government advertising government services. Government advertising gives incumbency a vast benefit. You could put together twenty of your much-hated Exclusive Brethren organisations, and they would still have zero impact on the political debate compared to the masses of propaganda coming in every direction from government departments.

    Now, the fact is, Robinsod, Labour will lose the next election. It will lose the next election really rather heavily. Now, if the EFB goes through and has this kind of effect on political opposition, and this level of state-sponsored advertising enforcing the policies of the Government of the day, would you be comfortable with this outrageous political advantage keeping Labour out of office for fifteen years?

    Because that’s what will happen.

    Be honest now, Robinsod. If National in Government used anything like the resources that Labour is using now to stay elected, you would riot in the streets. Have a smidgeon of integrity about you, Robinsod. Admit that it’s wrong for any political party to raid the taxpayer’s money and trust for those purposes.

  28. “actually worried about DPF’s health. The man should take a holiday. Somehwere far from politics for a couple of weeks. Get some fresh air.”

    Agree whole heartedly. When I saw DPF a couple of weeks ago he looked over-worked and under-exercised. Like many on the right he seems to prioritise work, money and status over nearly everything else. At his present rate I can’t see DPF living past the age of 60, which is a shame.

  29. We’ve noticed the same thing – in response to some of our/your regulars, we’ve opened a thread for people to repost anything deleted or edited by the moderators. We’ve done this for two reasons. One, ’cause it’ll be fun and boost our traffic. Two, because the whole point of our existence is to question Farrar’s bona fides – by deleting comments from the left (which largely confirms our suspicions) he silences the very commenters who’re regularly and eloquently pointing out his spin.

  30. Robinsod 30

    You are making inroads in your quest to write the most facile comment of the day

    Ha! Delusions of grandeur again Prick? No one care what you think mate because you never back it up with anything but snide nerdyness. You’re a punter mate and I get the feeling it probably really frustrates you that you’re not taken seriously. Get back to work.

  31. Matthew Pilott 31

    Interestingly lucid comment from Ralston – now I admit I read sweet F.A of his work and have no idea as to his slant, but I am generally amazed that someone from the MSM has noticed that the tide in virtually all forums is strongly against National.

    Now, are all the pro-National bloggers/commentors/letter writers “National Activists”?

    I am strongly pro-Labour (capital ‘L’ as I am referring to the party, although it clearly follows I will be a supporter of the wider movement) but don’t see myself as a Labour Party Activist. The reason that I note this is that it galls me somewhat to be ctaegorised as such, as it will for many people. Must one be a Labour Party wmember/activist to support them and their policies?

    Many people like their policies if not their politics and philosophy.

    Others hate them for a variety of reasons but pragmatically support them due to an even greater dislike for the right.

    Yet you’ve got to be a “Labour Party activist” to be a supporter of their policies, or to critique those of National and the comments of its supporters…I think not.

  32. the sprout 32

    Grasshopper, what is the sound of Kiwibog’s wheels coming off?

  33. Robinsod 33

    It’s kind of a mixture of a high pitched whine and the gnashing of teeth I suspect.

  34. Well done, Robinsod. You’ve proven your intellectual dishonesty and inability to engage in debate, because you consistently lose. Feel free to prove me wrong by beating me with an actual argument.

  35. the sprout 35

    yeah. sort of squeely and crunchy.

  36. Robinsod 36

    Prick – you’re a punter. That’s why you’ve attached yourself to DPF – he represents the closest thing you have to a real insider. It’s also why you bandy naive phrases like “intellectual dishonesty” about. I’m not gonna waste my time with a hack like you. Honestly? It was kind fun winding you lot up for a while but bro? There’s more important stuff for me to be doing. Go back to punter-lad where you belong.

  37. Santa Claws 37

    Ho Ho Ho

    Wot a larf!

  38. the sprout 38

    that belly makes a good resonator dave

  39. Benodic 39

    Sprouty you crack me up.

  40. Santa Claws 40

    Typical lefties, just attack the messenger.

    It was obvious to anyone with half a brain (which you obviously lack) that Robespierre was going to get a ban. Nice to see that it is indefinite. If you behave like the arse you obviously are, then what do you expect?

    Carry on calling me DPF if it gives you a thrill. You are totally wrong though. I’m sure the site owners will have been recording my IP address already and would be making plenty of noise if it was resolving to Curia or InternetNZ.

    How about it Tane – am I DPF?

  41. Tane 41

    Typical lefties, just attack the messenger.

    That’s exactly what rakaunui/dpf said today!

    And Santy bro, unlike the censors over at kiwibog we don’t track IP addresses or threaten to reveal people’s names or place of employment. It’s all good bro – relax.

  42. Robinsod 42

    Methinks the DPF Claws protests too much. I’d be very surprised (and a little disappointed) if DPF didn’t have the good sense to use an anonymiser (here’s a tip: hidemyass.com – and there’s hundreds more). And Like Tane says Claws “attack the messenger” is verbatim Rakaunui/DPF. Do you miss me David? Oh and just for old time’s sake? Fuck off.

  43. the sprout 43

    for dave, and people with a sense of humour

  44. Don’t lie, Robinsod. The truth is that you’ve disengaged from the argument because you keep getting beaten.

    Crikey, you lefties are an ill-tempered lot. As soon as you fail to win debates you do all sorts of kicking and tantrum-throwing to avoid debating.

    Why don’t you just shut down the comments section entirely, Robinsod, if you can’t handle people with better arguments confronting your narrow view of the world?

  45. burt 45

    the sprout.

    You said over here: http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=544#comment-1957

    “oh and by the way bertie, the surplus was 2.9bn, not 8.”

    Interestingly that was in a thread where you were telling me I had much to learn about propaganda over surplus analysis.

    So how are Labour going to pay for tax cuts? National was o so nasty and needing to borrow for tax cuts but Labour seem to have it waxed? How so?

  46. r0b 46

    “So how are Labour going to pay for tax cuts?”

    Out of ongoing surpluses, which Treasury now advises them are structural. No borrowing, no cuts, those were Dr Cullen’s criteria.

  47. burt 47

    But it’s only a $2.9b surplus, we have previously had “an $8b surplus and not tax custs – wot’s the cunnection?” so just how much more is it predicted to rise.

  48. Perhaps, Robinsod, you don’t see the irony yourself, and need it pointed out to you. You really are a parody of yourself when, in a post claiming that kiwiblog is losing the post because it is cracking down on commenters who try to hijack threads, you resort to hurling abuse instead of engaging in debate. So you lost the debate, Robinsod. Grow up. You’re not going to win any arguments if you descend to shit-flinging when you run out of debating points.

  49. burt 49

    IP

    Robinsod descents to shit-flinging at the first opportunity to comment. It’s the Labour way – come out punching.

    Jordan nails it here: Jordan Carter on Benson-Pope

    “I am glad that David Benson-Pope has come out punching.”

    Quite the visionary on Labour tactics our Jordan.

  50. Benodic 50

    Burt I understand Labour’s tax cuts are going to be paid for out of cash surpluses. That’s closer to the $2b figure.

  51. burt 51

    Benodic

    So gullible… OK I’ll spell it out. The (cough cough) $2.9b surplus in 2007 will be used to fund $about $2b of tax cuts from 2009 on wards…. Treasury forecasts an even bigger surplus next year (2008) and one must asume for 2009 as well. About which time the $2b from 2007 will start to be spent throwing tax cut crumbs to working class scabs.

    You think this is an acceptable way to fleece a country?

  52. Robinsod 52

    Working class scabs, Burt? You sicken me.

  53. Robinsod 53

    Why don’t you just shut down the comments section entirely, Robinsod,

    Prick – I can’t shut down the comments because I’m not a part of the standard. I make comments. Now, if I said to you – “if you don’t like me posting at KB then shut me out” you’d (rightly) find it absurd.

    Y’see prick – this is why I can’t be bothered debating with you. You don’t let the facts get in the way of your argument. It’s a credibility thing bro.

  54. r0b 54

    “Working class scabs, Burt? You sicken me.”

    I’ll second that. Come on Burt, you can make your case without govelling in the gutter.

  55. Santa Claws 55

    Tane: “And Santy bro, unlike the censors over at kiwibog we don’t track IP addresses or threaten to reveal people’s names or place of employment.”

    You know Tane, I have a really hard time believing that this policy will always apply. After all there doesn’t appear to be any such policy stated on the blog at the top level, and y’all are running this anonymously. Not confidence-inspiring I’m afraid.

    And Robespierre keeps throwing that ‘SIS files’ line around, or is that just another lie?

  56. Clearly, robinsod, you’re too ignorant to recognise that “working class scabs” was a reference to a phrase used by Michael Cullen in the House to describe a group of people he didn’t like.

    The phrase sickens you? Complain to Michael Cullen.

  57. Robinsod (moderator) 57

    DPF Claws – it’s a joke based on the fact you righties are constantly accusing me of professional trolling from the 9th floor. D’ya geddit?

    Prick – yes, yes, I’m ignorant and you’re smart. I had a look at your blog for the first time today bro and I’ve gotta say if you’re gonna take this highfalutin attitude you should either make sure you can walk the talk or just take it down. Oh and yeah – the phrase sickens me whether it’s Cullen or Burt using it. Though now you’ve elucidated its origin I might just pop across the Hall and have a talk to Mike about it (I’ve got to drop him off a new batch of SIS files anyway…)

  58. Tane 58

    Santa, Robinsod doesn’t write for the standard. He’s a commenter and he’s a mate of mine, but he doesn’t have access to your details, let alone your SIS files. We don’t have a comments policy, but we’re working on one. As yet, I’ve only deleted one comment and that was on the request of the person responsible for it.

  59. dave 59

    can someone tell me why the commentors and authors of the blog spend more time writing irrelvant comments on KiwiBlog than on their own little blog? It’s people like you who make the political blogosphere BORING………

  60. Benodic 60

    Which ones would those be? Of the authors of this blog I’ve only seen Tane over at Kiwiblog and he leaves you lot for dog tucker. And hey, someone’s gotta do it. I’m just glad it’s not me.

  61. r0b 61

    ” It’s people like you who make the political blogosphere BORING…”

    Yeah right. The Standard has been a breath of fresh air in NZ political blogging. Thanks to the team with the time and the energy to make it happen!

  62. dave 62

    Thanks Robin Sod. Why, could it be that Robinsod and R0b the same person – is posts under two names? Perhaps he does that over at Kiwi BLog as well…

  63. Tane 63

    Dave, I thought we were over this game. I can assure you that r0b and ‘sod are not the same person. Anyone barely literate would be able to tell that from their writing styles.

  64. r0b 64

    “Thanks Robin Sod. Why, could it be that Robinsod and R0b the same person – is posts under two names? Perhaps he does that over at Kiwi BLog as well.”

    Not the same person I promise you. And I have never posted at Kiwibog.

  65. dave 65

    well that sorts that out, thanks Tane for emailing ROb to ask him to do a post on your blog…

  66. Tane 66

    Dave, pathetic. Is that really all you’ve got?

  67. r0b 67

    I’m sorry dave

    Really, I’m not interesting enough for a conspiracy theory. I’ve never met or communicated with any of the fine people who host The Standard. I’m just a big fan of their work.

    Cheers eh. R0b.

  68. burt 68

    Oh

    Here is a link where the phrase “working class scab” was referenced from.

    http://www.hansard.parliament.govt.nz/Documents/20061024.htm

    John Key: In the Minister’s forthcoming speech to the Labour Party conference this weekend, will he be explaining why, after 7 years of healthy and, particularly lately, bumper surpluses, after 7 years of fiscal drag, and after 7 years of seeing tax increase as a proportion of national income, he has finally come to the realisation that tax cuts might make sense; can he also understand why the workers in his audience listening to his speech on Saturday or Sunday— whenever he delivers it—who look across the Tasman will feel a 7-year itch when they see an Australian Labor Party that is arguing for tax cuts and has been doing so for quite some time?

    Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN: When it comes to 7-year itches, the Labour Party members know a working-class scab when they see one.

    Some things never change … that is till an election year!

  69. r0b 69

    I won’t defend Cullen’s use of the phrase – in my opinion it’s the most distasteful thing that he’s said – it’s awful. But it’s a rare lapse from a man who is usually intelligent, compassionate, and witty.

    You Burt, do not appear to have any of Cullen’s redeeming features. You used the line “working class scabs” to refer to everyone getting a tax cut. It might have been a subtle play on Cullen, or it might express your your true belief, I don’t know. But either way it was gutter stuff. Hope you’re proud.

  70. Amusing how rOb feigns indignant when he drops the ball and misses an ironic reference to a line from Michael Cullen.

    rOb, I’ll try another one for you. Do you wake up every morning concerned that the rest of the world is so against you because you’re just so popular and competent?

    Let me guess. The idea of being popular and competent offends you and sickens you now, doesn’t it?

  71. r0b 71

    “Amusing how rOb feigns indignant when he drops the ball and misses an ironic reference to a line from Michael Cullen.”

    Yup – larfs all round! If it was an ironic reference that is, and not Burt’s view of the world. Kinda hard to tell.

    Here, I’ll let you in to a secret or two IP. I don’t know everything, I’m sometimes wrong, when I’m wrong I admit it, I don’t agree with everything Labour says and does, I don’t attack individuals, and if it’s ever necessary for me to apologise for something then I’ll apologise.

    And you, IP, are very predictable. I was expecting you to come after me after I smacked you so hard here:

    http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=618

    And here you are! Out for vengeance! Yee hah.

  72. Robinsod (moderator) 72

    IP – Damn yeas popular and competent sickens me big time. That’s why I’m gonna vote tory next year…

  73. Robinsod (moderator) 73

    See – I’m already spelling like one.

  74. santa claws 74

    Hi Santa here
    Does anyone know how long it takes to get cleared for moderation on Kiwiblog
    for some reason it taken a while
    I can’t possibly think why

    I know its pretty instant here, to your credit

    # Santa Claws Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
    November 7th, 2007 at 10:02 am

    # Santa Claws Says: Your comment is
    awaiting moderation.
    November 8th, 2007 at 11:57 am

  75. santa claws 75

    Maybe they have to check my IP address

  76. Tane 76

    Hi Santa, a mate of mine tried the other day and I’m not even sure he’s been approved yet. Seems to take some time.

  77. Robinsod 77

    Tane, I’m not sure this is santa. The tone is way wrong. I know you don’t check IP’s but it might be worth doing so here to make sure DPF Claws isn’t being misrepresented.

  78. santa claws 78

    Don’t bother I was taking the piss
    I reckon if Santa wasn’t dpf he wouldnot be able to log on to KB and if he was he wouldn’t be able too
    I will now dissapear

  79. ANGUS 79

    I used to be able to comment about the ridiculous videos posted to YouTube by the National Party’s highly paid online worker. But, due to being one of the people who are eager to point out the flaws in Nationals ideology, speeches, and MP’s I was blocked due to quote, “trolling”.

    It seems to me that the National party is more than eager to moderate their sites (johnkey.co.nz; billenglish.co.nz; etc. are all moderated) to filter through only Right-wing dribble. It would be a jaw-dropping day if Labour ever chose to censor their sites.

    If the National party is prepared to connect with the constituents via the internet then they must be prepared to put up with some bloody opposition. Nothing annoys me more than MP’s actively IGNORING the public – so a political party that chooses to censor public opinion does not deserve to be a political party. Politics is people, Labour is people, National is censorship!

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  • Mana or Money
    Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged.  After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    40 mins ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Thursday, May 2
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 11:10 am on Thursday, May 2:Scoop: Government sits on official advice on fast-track consent. The Ombudsman is investigating after official briefings on the contentious regime were held back despite requests from Forest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 hour ago
  • The Art of taking no Responsibility
    Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 hour ago
  • The shabby “Parliamentary urgency” ploy – shaky foundations and why our democracy needs trust
    Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust.  The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 hours ago
  • Jones has made plain he isn’t fond of frogs (not the dim-witted ones, at least) – and now we lea...
    This article was prepared for publication yesterday.  More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written.  We will report on these later today ….    Buzz from the Beehive  There we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 hours ago
  • Infrastructure & home building slumping on Govt funding freeze
    New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 hours ago
  • Brainwashed People Think Everyone Else is Brainwashed
    Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    7 hours ago
  • Peters’ real foreign policy threat is Helen Clark
    Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    8 hours ago
  • NZ’s trans lobby is fighting a rearguard action
    Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    15 hours ago
  • Your mandate is imaginary
    This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    20 hours ago
  • 14,000 unemployed under National
    The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    23 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Discontent and gloom dominate NZ’s political mood
    Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    23 hours ago
  • Taking Tea with 42 & 38.
    National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    24 hours ago
  • Beware political propaganda: statistics are pointing to Grant Robertson never protecting “Lives an...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”. As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Winding back the hands of history’s clock
    Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
     Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    1 day ago
  • Business confidence sliding into winter of discontent
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the coalition’s awful, not good, very bad poll results
    Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
    1 day ago
  • New HOP readers for future payment options
    Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary: April (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
    2 days ago
  • At a glance – Clearing up misconceptions regarding 'hide the decline'
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    2 days ago
  • Road photos
    Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
    The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • NZDF is still hostile to oversight
    Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Winding Back The Hands Of History’s Clock.
    Holding On To The Present: The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
    2 days ago
  • Sweet Moderation? What Christopher Luxon Could Learn From The Germans.
    Stuck In The Middle With You: As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
    2 days ago
  • A clear warning
    The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Poll results and Waitangi Tribunal report go unmentioned on the Beehive website – where racing tru...
    Buzz  from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example.  This shows National down ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Listening To The Traffic.
    It Takes A Train To Cry: Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
    2 days ago
  • Comity Be Damned! The State’s Legislative Arm Is Flexing Its Constitutional Muscles.
    Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
    2 days ago
  • Ending The Quest.
    Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
    2 days ago
  • Will political polarisation intensify to the point where ‘normal’ government becomes impossible,...
    Chris Trotter writes –  New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, April 30
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:30am on Tuesday, May 30:Scoop: NZ 'close to the tipping point' of measles epidemic, health experts warn NZ Herald Benjamin PlummerHealth: 'Absurd and totally unacceptable': Man has to wait a year for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Worst poll result for a new Government in MMP history
    Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Pinning down climate change's role in extreme weather
    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
    2 days ago
  • Serving at Seymour's pleasure.
    Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Webworm LA Pop-Up
    Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • “Feel good” school is out
    Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 6 Months in, surely our Report Card is “Ignored all warnings: recommend dismissal ASAP”?
    Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic plan, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy. Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    3 days ago
  • Bread, and how it gets buttered
    Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Justice for Gaza?
    The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
    Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Reti
    span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
    3 days ago
  • Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
    Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
    3 days ago
  • Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
    Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
    You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Of the Goodness of Tolkien’s Eru
    April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
    4 days ago
  • Pastor Who Abused People, Blames People
    Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Vic Uni shows how under threat free speech is
    The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Winston remembers Gettysburg.
    Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • 25
    She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8.  The universe was ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Is Antarctica gaining land ice?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
    5 days ago
  • Policing protests.
    Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Open letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith
    Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: FastTrackWatch – The Case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Luxon gets out his butcher’s knife – briefly
    Peter Dunne writes –  The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • More tax for less
    Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Real News vs Fake News.
    We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Another way to roll
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
    5 days ago
  • Cutting the Public Service
    It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s demoted ministers might take comfort from the British politician who bounced back after th...
    Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious:  we live in a troubled ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • This is how I roll over
    1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Waitangi Tribunal is not “a roving Commission”…
    …it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition   NOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes –  The High Court ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same? Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Three Strikes saw lower reoffending
    David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s ruthless show of strength is perfect for our angry era
    Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • 'Lacks attention to detail and is creating double-standards.'
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • One Night Only!
    Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • What did Melissa Lee do?
    It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    48 mins ago
  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
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