Latest Reid Research poll result disastrous for National and Bridges

Written By: - Date published: 6:04 pm, February 11th, 2019 - 248 comments
Categories: greens, jacinda ardern, Judith Collins, labour, national, nz first, Simon Bridges, the praiseworthy and the pitiful - Tags:

 

Tova O’Brien described this poll as being “a doozy” and “huge”.

She was not wrong.

From what I can tell this is the first Reid Research poll since May last year.

Results are:

Labour 47.5%

National 41.6%

NZ First 2.9%

Green 5.1%

And the preferred Prime Minister results are:

Jacinda Ardern 41.8%

Simon Bridges 5%

Judith Collins 6.2%

That scraping sound you can hear is the sound of National caucus knives being sharpened.

248 comments on “Latest Reid Research poll result disastrous for National and Bridges ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. r0b 1
    11 February 2019 at 6:06 pm

    Hopefully we will see other polls confirm this result. This very pleasing result.

  2. Dennis Frank 2
    11 February 2019 at 6:11 pm

    Dramatic result, eh? Labour up 5% despite Kiwibuild set-back! Contradicts the end of year Colmar Brunton poll not long ago, so the holidays must have shifted how centrists feel. Winston will be spooked though…

    • mickysavage 2.1
      11 February 2019 at 6:13 pm

      The Colmar Brunton poll was an outlier and contradicts all of the private polling that was happening. This result just reconfirms what is happening.

      • Dennis Frank 2.1.1
        11 February 2019 at 7:12 pm

        Well it does put their methodology into question. I heard Tova call Reid “the country’s most accurate poll” but she can’t make that claim on the basis of stats, eh? Both poll a thousand – same margin of error.

        The Reid website says they split 750 by phone and 250 online. Is that a credible basis on which to claim it is more accurate?

      • AOC 2.1.2
        13 February 2019 at 11:12 am

        Outside of this echo chamber (and your group think cricles) New Zealand is painfully aware of the shortcomings of this socialist elite that call themselves a coalition government. The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation Report published today,has criticised the ‘wellbeing-focused Government’ for not doing enough to lift the most vulnerable New Zealanders out of poverty. People pay attention to this stuff, and no matter the smoke and mirrors communities chatter and vote accordingly. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

        [Adjusted your name for obvious reasons – MS]

    • Tricledrown 2.2
      11 February 2019 at 11:40 pm

      Winston always has a better turnout at electioms

      • Phil 2.2.1
        12 February 2019 at 9:26 am

        Winston always has a better turnout at elections

        No, he literally doesn’t. It’s a myth.

        He had two lucky late-breaks that raised his profile significantly in ’05 and ’08 that were never able to be picked up in the last set of polls before those elections. In all other MMP elections from ’96 onward, NZF results are comfortably in line with where final polling says they are.

        • swordfish 2.2.1.1
          12 February 2019 at 9:54 am

          Given that we’re focussing on the latest Newshub Poll:

          NZF does indeed have a tendency to perform mildly better on Election Day:

          2002
          TV3 last poll 8.0
          Election 10.4 (+2.4)

          2005
          TV3 last poll 6.8
          Election 5.7 (-1.1)

          2008
          TV3 last poll 3.4
          Election 4.1 (+0.7)

          2011
          TV3 last poll 4.1
          Election 6.6 (+2.5)

          2014
          TV3 last poll 7.1
          Election 8.7 (+1.6)

          2017
          TV3 last poll 7.1
          Election 7.2 (+0.1)

          • Dennis Frank 2.2.1.1.1
            12 February 2019 at 10:06 am

            It would help if a political scientist were to produce statistical analysis of NZF voters, eh? Down to 3% now, just sitting on the margin of error.

            So, using identity politics as a tribalist frame, we can deduce that their tribe is too small without centrist supporters. Defining centrists collectively as voters who are so opportunistic they go whichever way the zeitgeist blows, then some will vote NZF again to ensure it remains in parliament to limit the natural idiocy of the Nat/Labs.

            If Shane Jones abandons pomposity and grand-standing in favour of delivering regional development policies that genuinely seem suitable, enough centrists will vote in support of NZF anyway. Kiwis like to give credit where it’s due.

            I reckon the shift of centrists from National to Labour in last nights poll is a vote of confidence in the direction the coalition is trending in, combined with a feeling that National isn’t adapting to the change in global circumstances.

            • Incognito 2.2.1.1.1.1
              12 February 2019 at 5:23 pm

              Incorrect, the MOE at 2.9% is 1.04%; the mentioned MOE of polls almost always refers to the midpoint of 50% unless indicated otherwise.

            • swordfish 2.2.1.1.1.2
              12 February 2019 at 9:21 pm

              Mr Dennis Frank

              statistical analysis of NZF voters, eh?

              .

              The 2008-2014 iterations of the New Zealand Election Study suggest the bulk of NZF voters hold very similar views to the more morally conservative wing of Labour’s voting base.

              Not entirely surprising given that – over those 3 Elections – voters swinging to NZF were more than twice as likely to have been former Labour voters as former Nats.

              That represented a pretty healthy injection of Left-leaners into the NZF support-base, tilting the Party’s constituency ever further towards a Red rather than Blue orientation.

              From the NZES % stats … I calculated that, over those three consecutive elections, (and we’re talking particularly about 2011 & 2014 when NZF enjoyed their two-part comeback) something like 110k Lefties swung in Winnie’s direction as opposed to roughly 45k Nats (with a little over 60k from the broader Right as a whole).

              Essentially, younger moral liberals swung from Lab to Green … while older Labour moral conservatives headed in Winston’s direction.

              So in both the previous electoral behaviour of its new adherents and in the reciprocal swings going on between the various Parties, New Zealand First was beginning to look more and more like a third (albeit somewhat loosely affiliated) member of the Left Bloc.

              Also explains why in 3 of the last 4 Elections, a plurality or outright majority of intending NZF voters preferred a Labour rather than Nat Govt.

              • Dennis Frank …
                13 February 2019 at 8:02 am

                Cool, thanks for that. Looks like the brand-building the Greens & NZF spent years doing to get their vote up around 10% failed to actually work – the people they attracted turned out to be merely fair-weather friends, just switching as a protest against the main parties.

          • Phil 2.2.1.1.2
            12 February 2019 at 11:41 am

            Ah, I got the years wrong.

            ‘Tea tapes’ was 2011 and is the year that immediately springs to mind where Winston was the MP that got the most last-minute traction.

            In 2014 the SFO scandal with Collins bought NZF back from the brink of oblivion in the month before the election.

            Without a scandal to give Winston media oxygen, NZF’s results are fair to middling against polling.

  3. millsy 3
    11 February 2019 at 6:16 pm

    Thought it would be the other way round to be honest. Good stuff

  4. Drowsy M. Kram 4
    11 February 2019 at 6:16 pm

    Hang in there Mr Bridges, long may you continue to ‘lead’ the opposition National Party.

  5. James 5
    11 February 2019 at 6:17 pm

    Excellent news. Bridges is gone burger.

    Nz first are shot.

    Greens close to gone.

    Judith comes and saves the day.

    As a national supporter I’m al good with this.

    I stopped my donations while bridges was leader. Looks like I get to donate again soon #JudithForPM

    • r0b 5.1
      11 February 2019 at 6:23 pm

      Nz first are shot.

      Only someone with the political attention span of a gnat would conclude this about NZF from any mid-cycle polls.

      Oh.

      As you were, then.

    • The Al1en 5.2
      11 February 2019 at 6:23 pm

      Ignoring the fact Collins is a ‘massive’ 1.2% ahead of Bridges at 6.2%, and the nat caucus hates her more than Labour’s did with Cunliffe, yeah Judith for PM 😆 :smirk: :bellylaugh:

      • marty mars 5.2.1
        11 February 2019 at 7:01 pm

        She loves herself so much it doesn’t matter that others don’t even like her.

        • The Al1en 5.2.1.1
          11 February 2019 at 7:11 pm

          She won’t go for it, I reckon. She knows she’s widely detested, and people like her, despite all the front on show, can’t deal with rejection that will surely eventuate.
          She’ll get behind Mitchell and play for a ministerial salary and all the business opportunities she can open for her old fella’s company.

          • marty mars 5.2.1.1.1
            11 February 2019 at 7:55 pm

            She will struggle with her animal cunning will to survive and the ego-preening that comes from people addressing you as leader. Time is ticking and there are only so many opportunities for her to grasp power. I think she’ll pounce soon – what the hell has she got to lose? Nothing.

            • The Al1en 5.2.1.1.1.1
              11 February 2019 at 9:07 pm

              Time will tell. I suspect it all depends on whether she’s arrogant enough to think she can keep her ‘dealings’ on the down low. She’s been caught out more than once already, and as a party leader, the scrutiny isn’t going to lessen any.
              If she runs, and wins, every little thing will be dragged up again and looked in to, so there’s always that silver lining.

          • Muttonbird 5.2.1.1.2
            11 February 2019 at 8:01 pm

            Mitchell? He’s the worst liar of the lot since Key abandoned ship.

            • The Al1en 5.2.1.1.2.1
              11 February 2019 at 9:08 pm

              And that negatively affects nat leadership candidates how exactly?
              In fact, some would say, that’s 90% of the job description.

          • patricia bremner 5.2.1.1.3
            11 February 2019 at 9:13 pm

            That is what I think as well.

        • cleangreen 5.2.1.2
          12 February 2019 at 7:32 am

          She’s to soiled by her underhanded connections and obvious work she has with the Chinese communist party..

          The Chinese Communist party do not sanction such a close alliance with anyone who is not Chinese as they have with Collins.

    • McFlock 5.3
      11 February 2019 at 6:25 pm

      How many times have NZ1 been doomed, never to stalk the halls of Parliament again?

      Bold call, that man.

      [edit: [snap] R0b

      • Stunned Mullet 5.3.1
        11 February 2019 at 8:18 pm

        Winston will be 75+ at the next election, NZ first is widely panned by a number of their supporters who perceive a betrayal of promises made before the election in relation to immigration in particular and the heir(s) apparent to Winston’s throne in NZF are either not well liked or not in the same class as WP.

        Unless one of the other parties provide a seat for NZF at the next election I’d be very surprised if they don’t fail to make the threshold and disappear from NZ politics for evermore.

        • McFlock 5.3.1.1
          11 February 2019 at 8:55 pm

          Always a possibility, never a certainty.

          I suspect later on this year the smaller parties will begin trumpeting one or two key policy wins that clearly separate them from each other. If it’s background fizzle, they’ll take a hit, but if a wee bit of kayfabe goes on with Labour going “goddamn it, we’d have done/avoided X if it weren’t for those meddling kids”, the partners get back a few percent.

        • patricia bremner 5.3.1.2
          12 February 2019 at 6:42 am

          Fear not Stunned Mullet, Winston has been grooming Tabiteau for the succession. He is brilliant and a good communicator. But Winston is enjoying life and he is capable of continuing. Winston at half speed could out manoeuvre any of the gnats… especially Collins and Mitchell. He is like a good whiskey, better with age.

      • Wayne 5.3.2
        12 February 2019 at 8:06 am

        Twice (1999 and 2008) NZF has dipped below 5%, both times in the election following their choice of government. Though in both those cases there was also a change of government. So NZF are at genuine risk.

        In 2020 NZF will have to show how they can be an effective handbrake on Labour, if it looks like Labour will be the largest party after the 2020 election (and thus the government). Though they will have to pitch that in a positive way.

        • KJT 5.3.2.1
          12 February 2019 at 8:15 am

          I doubt that many NZF, supporters, especially the working class ones, who voted for him after Labour abandoned them, will be very happy about his parties sell out to Talley’s, and his failure to limit immigration. The handbrake from NZF on workers rights will not be ignored by them.
          Winston may have done his dash?

          We could start a party for those people. Maybe it could be called the “Labour party”.

        • Dennis Frank 5.3.2.2
          12 February 2019 at 8:15 am

          Struck me last night that the NZF drop is the main news, although I do acknowledge centrists are giving Labour more support than they deserve.

          David Mac got it. Shane Jones is turning people off. His style somewhat, but mainly his delivery of regional development. I reckon they don’t like how he’s doing it. So I give credit to National for exposing him effectively.

          Other centrists are not, however! Or, more likely, they grudgingly concede that point to National but are so underwhelmed by National’s total failure to notice that the world has changed and they need to change with it, that they are feeling the need to support Labour temporarily in order to get the message through the concrete in National heads.

        • McFlock 5.3.2.3
          12 February 2019 at 1:31 pm

          lol so maybe they’re the kiss of death to governments – makes the centrist/swing vote argument look a bit suss I guess.

          But either way, both of those times they came back from oblivion, which is the relevant point. As opposed to JAPC, UF and ACT, which lasted a while on electorate life support – a couple for decades. Recovery from their comas is unlikely.

          NZ1? I’ll call it dead when it deregisters, lol

    • Cinny 5.4
      11 February 2019 at 6:42 pm

      Happy for you James, re judith.

      She’ll never ever be PM of NZ, too polarizing, but I do admire your continued adoration of her, it’s very sweet.

      • ScottGN 5.4.1
        11 February 2019 at 6:48 pm

        Apparently she only got 1 vote from the caucus in the leadership election to replace English. So it’s probable she’ll never even get as far as leader of that party, let alone leader of the country. I’m happy though for National to inflict as much damage as possible to the party as she tries to install herself as leader.

      • veutoviper 5.4.2
        11 February 2019 at 7:31 pm

        Hey, hey – James has to compete with Puckish Rogue re Judith’s affections …

      • woodart 5.4.3
        11 February 2019 at 7:48 pm

        no,its not sweet. its yet another right wing male with a hardon for being dominated . instead of the rest of us being under the collins whip, james should front up to his local dominatrix by by himself…personal responsibility,,,nah,he needs his hand held……

      • James 5.4.4
        11 February 2019 at 8:08 pm

        Thanks.

        I think she’s a far better woman than Jacinda.

        • Muttonbird 5.4.4.1
          11 February 2019 at 8:14 pm

          But she’s proven to be corrupt. Only another corrupt person could consider Judith a good woman.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 5.4.4.2
          11 February 2019 at 8:30 pm

          Could have believed ‘a better woman’, but “a far better woman” – well now you’re being perverse.

          They are each in their own way very genuine human beings, but I wouldn’t invite the genuinely awful one to my BBQ dinner. And, based on the number of votes Collins received in the recent opposition National party leadership contest, neither would most of her caucus ‘colleagues’.

        • Cinny 5.4.4.3
          11 February 2019 at 9:01 pm

          You’re welcome.

          I truly hope you get to meet her one day.

          Personally I think crusher thrives on any attention, is corrupt, greedy, a closet dominatrix and bat shit crazy.

          But hey everyone’s got different tastes.

          It looks like more nat’s prefer judiths flavour than simon. It’s gonna be game on in the blue house.

        • Psycho Milt 5.4.4.4
          11 February 2019 at 9:31 pm

          I think she’s a far better woman than Jacinda.

          Where angels fear to tread, eh? Can you tell us what definition of “woman” you’re operating?

        • patricia bremner 5.4.4.5
          12 February 2019 at 6:46 am

          Your taste is all in your mouth James!! Too many charred steaks.

        • cleangreen 5.4.4.6
          12 February 2019 at 7:37 am

          James; – Whats better about Collins than Jacinda?

    • Sabine 5.5
      11 February 2019 at 7:09 pm

      5.1 is enough.
      however
      41.6 is not .

      funny how numbers work ey?

      • In Vino 5.5.1
        11 February 2019 at 7:33 pm

        And silly James (although he has, I am sure, been told before) seems ignorant of the proposition that the Greens have a 5% solid core of voters who will not vote for anyone else. I am in that category – even though I am saddened by some of the dumb things Green politicians have recently done. For that solid core of Green voters, all other parties are inferior and unacceptable. James – forget your dumb pipe-dream of the Greens going below 5%. If it was ever going to happen, it would have happened now, as with NZ First.
        So face it – the Greens have proven that they are here to stay. Not good news for you and your ilk.

        • James 5.5.1.1
          11 February 2019 at 8:10 pm

          I love the fact it’s a 5% core vote. Only a couple of days ago someone was saying it was 7 or 8 %.

          And now it looks like there is green competition.

          Only has to take 1% of what you th8nk is their core vote and they are goneburger.

          • In Vino 5.5.1.1.1
            11 February 2019 at 8:30 pm

            Just who said that, James?? Last election result was only 6.3%, so it would not be a clever thing to say. Are you making it up?
            If you want to talk about burgers, stick to the ones you make on your infamous barbecues.
            solkta (below) is on the money. You are on wishful fantasy.

          • cleangreen 5.5.1.1.2
            12 February 2019 at 7:47 am

            James;

            Greens have a 5.3% solid base even after those like me left after 2002..

            The greens will be around a long time, and will now press hard for regional rail and other ‘common sense’ environmental sustainable platforms that NZ First had stood for before the election.

            If you want ‘NZ First common sense policies’ I will willingly post them for you if you never were familiar what they all were before the last election.

            Have a nice day.

            • james 5.5.1.1.2.1
              12 February 2019 at 11:34 pm

              2011 – 2014 you would have said that the greens had a 10% core base.

              It’s halved in the last few years. Its not a good trend for your friends the greens.

        • solkta 5.5.1.2
          11 February 2019 at 8:14 pm

          Yes, while there are many Labour voters happy to drift over to the Greens, true Green voters have nowhere else to go.

        • Blazer 5.5.1.3
          11 February 2019 at 9:12 pm

          I suspect it is less than 5%.I voted for them for the very first time ..to try and keep them in the game.
          On performance would not do next time.

          • Pat 5.5.1.3.1
            11 February 2019 at 9:14 pm

            and thanks to that they achieved 6.9%…..I would be surprised given current circumstances if they fell below threshold in the foreseeable

    • mpledger 5.6
      11 February 2019 at 7:11 pm

      The minor parties always suffer mid-term because voters are just thinking left or right – Labour or National. It’s only when it gets close to the election that voters think more in depth amongst about their left or right preference e.g. will strategic voting help their cause. Also near the elections, minor parties get more airtime.

      If National continue to sink then some of those National floaters will probably float NZ First’s way.

    • woodart 5.7
      11 February 2019 at 7:43 pm

      judith saves the day…hahahaha. “here, let me steer the titanic for a bit”

    • Gabby 5.8
      11 February 2019 at 8:11 pm

      Hopefully Judee has the solution to the housng crisis at her talontips.

      • patricia bremner 5.8.1
        12 February 2019 at 6:53 am

        Yes her husband might help lol lol Like Orivida or the Swamp Kauri. Swamp something that’s for sure. “James James Hold the ladder steady! Michell’s got the bag! What do you mean half of them want a Southern boat?”

    • Tricledrown 5.9
      11 February 2019 at 9:28 pm

      No friends National where are they going to find a coalition partner. Winston was their only lifeline now National continue to try and destroy their only viable partner.

      • cleangreen 5.9.1
        12 February 2019 at 7:56 am

        True trickedrown;

        The competition now begins between National in midterm and labour offing Winston a ‘safe seat’ as national did for David Seymour in Epsom.

        We need to look at the political scene as being ‘just a big game’ not making common real as we thought.

    • Bearded Git 5.10
      12 February 2019 at 5:43 am

      If this trend continues plenty of room for greener labour people to tactically vite Green to be assured of partner and power

    • Rae 5.11
      12 February 2019 at 7:12 am

      If you are prepared to accept such a tainted and arrogant person as Collins “I don’t like swamps” Collins then it probably says as much about you as it does her

    • Jenny - How to get there? 5.12
      12 February 2019 at 8:10 am

      Judith Collins New Zealand’s version of Donald Trump?

      As unlikely as it may seem now, Judith Collins may one day be PM.

      From this poll it looks like Winston Peters’ red neck base are looking for a new home

      All Collins has to do to become leader of her party, (and potential PM), is to whip up racist hysteria about illegal immigrants and Maori.

      How will the Liberal Left in this country respond?

      Play up to the racist anti-immigrant anti-Maori gallery?

      Or mount a vigorous anti-racist counter attack?

      • solkta 5.12.1
        12 February 2019 at 8:33 am

        Don Brash couldn’t make it via Maori-bashing and that was with the seabed and foreshore stuff going on. People have moved on a lot since then and this shows in things like the number of Pakeha learning and wanting to learn Te Reo Maori. Most people don’t actually have a problem with immigrants even though they may have concerns about infrastructure coping with the numbers. While there is clearly a minority who respond to Winston’s strategic racism, they do not a majority make.

        I think in this scenario you would get the full on fight that you so obvious crave. I think Marama would do really well in this context and the Green vote would likely increase. National would suck a lot of vote off Winston putting NZF out of Parliament, but they would also lose some vote. End result, Labour/Green government.

        I think Collins and National Party strategists would also think that such a strategy would fail. National has been successful because they have been able to maintain a broad appeal. It is also unlikely that Collins would be able to get anti-immigration policy past her colleagues. They are the pro-immigration party remember.

      • james 5.12.2
        12 February 2019 at 11:30 pm

        “How will the Liberal Left in this country respond?”

        Prob do another “chineese sounding names” effort like last time.

  6. Hooch 6
    11 February 2019 at 6:20 pm

    So based on this, Nationals attempts to wipe out nz first and the greens next election will result in labour governing alone. Classic.

    • Chris Randal 6.1
      11 February 2019 at 6:26 pm

      Labour governing alone?

      Great idea

      • Bearded Git 6.1.1
        12 February 2019 at 5:45 am

        Labour really needs to be sure of a support partner…this is the reason the Nats are out of power

        • cleangreen 6.1.1.1
          12 February 2019 at 8:00 am

          yes Beaded Git;

          Labour will obviously offer a ‘safe seat’ to their preferred support partner, like national did many times over their checkered history. David Seymour/ACT is the latest example.

  7. McFlock 7
    11 February 2019 at 6:22 pm

    Way early yet, but the trends seem interesting.

    There will be some ructions after Soimon gets stabbed, though. Caucus meeting tomorrow, isn’t it? 👿

    • ianmac 7.1
      11 February 2019 at 6:32 pm

      Jamie-Lee reckoned that Simon had been with-holding their own poll results from caucus. Wonder why?
      Roosting vultures are getting clucky.

    • patricia bremner 7.2
      12 February 2019 at 6:55 am

      JLR had a good sleep. Job just about done.

  8. ankerawsharkP 8
    11 February 2019 at 6:29 pm

    Wow this is very good news.

    Very unfortunate for Simonl

    James attempt to spin this positively is laughable though

  9. Reality 9
    11 February 2019 at 6:32 pm

    It seems people are astute enough to know that despite some Kiwibuild difficulties, at least the Government is recognising the housing shortage and is working hard to rectify that. Along with all the other neglected issues over nine years.

    NZ is very fortunate to have Jacinda Ardern as our PM. She has never become arrogant and smug and is very aware there is much to be done.

  10. Ad 10
    11 February 2019 at 6:34 pm

    We have an awesome Prime Minister.

    Great start to the year.

    • patricia bremner 10.1
      12 February 2019 at 7:01 am

      We absolutely do Ad. PM Ardern is amazing.
      The Opposition including “Mouth pieces” have tried to wear her down in every way possible, and Tracey’s comment was to let us know that Dirty Politics was alive and well. The PM is so far above the nasties, and the polls confirm this.

    • cleangreen 10.2
      12 February 2019 at 8:07 am

      True that is Ad.

  11. Fireblade 11
    11 February 2019 at 6:36 pm

    👹BM
    8 February 2019

    Bridges is far better than I first thought.
    I was harsh on the man, to begin with, but he’s got some serious smarts and is working to a plan.

    2020 is looking like a National win, to be honest.

    • Robert Guyton 11.1
      11 February 2019 at 7:06 pm

      That BM! Finger on the pulse.

      • Charlie 11.1.1
        11 February 2019 at 7:14 pm

        The only thing BM has his finger on his is dick, and he finds that and his balls hard to find. BM is a Farrarbog troll. His agenda is to infiltrate the Standard and oppose all pro coalition opinion vigorously. He and David F will be slutted as these results.

        • Muttonbird 11.1.1.1
          11 February 2019 at 7:16 pm

          BM is a gadfly. An annoyance to everyone, everywhere.

          • Charlie 11.1.1.1.1
            11 February 2019 at 7:20 pm

            Titi you are too generous, gadfly’s are interesting, BM is more a headless turd.

            • In Vino 11.1.1.1.1.1
              11 February 2019 at 8:38 pm

              I am sure BM will soon reply to justify his outburst of 8 Feb. Unless he is like so many other Rightie trolls who run for the hills when they know the thread is lost. Please don’t discourage him with unnecessarily harsh language!

            • Tricledrown 11.1.1.1.1.2
              11 February 2019 at 9:34 pm

              Boringly Monotonous wind up Troll. The Dogmatic version like Simple Simon barks at cars continuously.

          • cleangreen 11.1.1.1.2
            12 February 2019 at 8:09 am

            Yes Muttonbird

            BM is a twat. – like a pimple on a dickie.

  12. R.P Mcmurphy 12
    11 February 2019 at 6:37 pm

    time has passed the nationals party by. they are like every other privileged elite who were not able to see the end of the ancien regime. the world has turned.

    • Observer Tokoroa 12.1
      11 February 2019 at 9:22 pm

      Hi R.P Mcmurphy

      ” time has passed the Nationals by ”

      You are so right ! They never came up with anything useful. Just slumped in their mysterious strange ways.

      As far as the Public voting for National – they are not going to Vote for a Pm who fiddles with little girls Hair – and perceivably get his Jollies. He Stinks – does that Rat.

      Even His wife has to tug him away for harassing young waitresses in the local Cafe. He has only one thing on his mind. Filth. National adore that smelly evil man.

      As you imply – The Public want affordable Housing and affordable Rentals. National gave them neither. Although Key built one house in 2017.

      So while John Key was sexing up on Kids, he and his mate Bill English were starving workers and their Families. Via Low low Wages. They Hated the honest workers. Both claimed there was no housing Crisis. For Crying out loud !

      Judith Collins is a selfish one family issue. Totally Selfish. A trouble maker and dishonest.

      Simon is a “hey Look at me man”. Achieves nothing. years after years. Tries to smash Jacinda – and looks a Fool. A non achiever.

      National has no Future.

    • cleangreen 12.2
      12 February 2019 at 8:14 am

      RP Mcmurphy 100%

      It sends images of this;

      The ‘rotting carcass of the old ‘once proud National Party’ is now wriggling with worms’ turning and trying to escape.

  13. Tamati Tautuhi 13
    11 February 2019 at 6:38 pm

    The knives are being sharpened as we speak within National however a logical successor for the long term does not stand out IMHO.

  14. Cinny 14
    11 February 2019 at 6:46 pm

    Miss 14 watched the poll results with me…… both of us burst out laughing.

    • patricia bremner 14.1
      11 February 2019 at 7:25 pm

      Well Cinny and Miss 14, I have been called “Biased in la la land”, but I’m hap hap happy today. So I’m laughing too.
      Jacinda Ardern and team you rock!!. Go Labour and the Coalition!!

  15. Andre 15
    11 February 2019 at 6:50 pm

    Keep the faith, Nats.

    Just remember Auntie Helen had her low points in polling, but then she became Prime Minister (and a highly respected one) for nine years. Slimin’ can do it too!

    Or not.

    • Tamati Tautuhi 15.1
      11 February 2019 at 6:54 pm

      Correct Simon is doing his Apprenticeship and in 7 or 10 years time could well be the PM of NZ.

    • Tricledrown 15.2
      11 February 2019 at 11:37 pm

      National don’t like loosers never have Bridges is running out of time.

      • cleangreen 15.2.1
        12 February 2019 at 8:43 am

        Tricledrown 100%

        absolutely as Bridges is a shallow man seen by all.

        NZ hates a looser.

        He should have bent towards some regional rail freight and passenger services and other infrastructure policies to shore up his NZ wide base rather than just going on his talk fest .

        He did say he was keen to have an “enduring’ relationship wit the green party’ didn’t he?

  16. Robert Guyton 16
    11 February 2019 at 6:57 pm

    James…Pucky…Keeping Stock…Pete George… do you have people you can be with?
    Feel our love.

    • Tamati Tautuhi 16.1
      11 February 2019 at 7:02 pm

      The National Party Trolls will be crying into their pillows tonight.

    • Puckish Rogue 16.2
      11 February 2019 at 7:16 pm

      With Queen Jude the first polling that high as preferred PM I’ll be feeling the love tonight all right don’t worry about that (I mean sure I’m by myself but it won’t lack for passion)

      The plan is coming along nicely, WinstonFirst is slowly being edged out of the picture no matter who wins so that’s a bonus and Jude the Magnificent will ride in on Nationals hour of need, take us to her bosom and rescue us all

  17. Pat 17
    11 February 2019 at 7:08 pm

    before everyone gets too excited , remember this is a (rare) mid term poll…it means little….and the fact Bridges is not rated is hardly news

  18. Muttonbird 18
    11 February 2019 at 7:08 pm

    Lol. While trying to find what preferred PM rating Andrew Little resigned on I stumbled upon this dozy from Hoskings:

    It’s not Little, it’s Labour

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11897447

    Sums up Hoskings’ grip on politics. 🤣

  19. mary_a 19
    11 February 2019 at 7:10 pm

    This result favouring Labour and Jacinda, combined with the spectre of JLR hovering in Parliament, as well as a lot of questions which will need answering, will be giving Simon nightmares. No sleep for him tonight, or several more nights I’d say!

    Oh dear, what a shame, never mind …

  20. Muttonbird 20
    11 February 2019 at 7:10 pm

    At least we know why the Nats and their cronies have decided to Venezuela-ise every discussion about the government.

    They’re looking very, very desperate.

    • ankerawsharkP 20.1
      11 February 2019 at 9:34 pm

      Yes the Venezulian line. That’s all working out well isn’t it! Keep going Simon and National. Your digging yourself into a ditch. It won’t be a one horse race for leadership in National IMHO……….

      BTW 100 + Ad further up. Jacinda Ardern is a total heroine. We are lucky to have her.

  21. timeforacupoftea 21
    11 February 2019 at 7:11 pm

    This was no surprise, Bridges was dead meat at all the barbecues over Xmas and nothing changed now halfway through February – except the dead meat is now composting nicely.

    • Muttonbird 21.1
      11 February 2019 at 7:14 pm

      No, no, timeforacupoftory. The consensus among you deluded Nats was that Bridges was doing better and and it was all looking good for governing alone.

  22. David Mac 22
    11 February 2019 at 7:11 pm

    Judith Collins would be a sensational Prime Minister said 3 people ever.

    Jacinda has Judith’s redeeming aspects in spades.

    John Key rose very quickly but they do currently appear to be bankrupt of charisma. I wonder if they’re about to enter their soul searching decade of election bridesmaids.

  23. JustMe 23
    11 February 2019 at 7:11 pm

    Repeatedly Simon Bridges is coming across as weak.

    And so whilst National keep Bridges as being their leader then it’s unlikely National will ever be worthy of voting for at say next years’ general election.

    Still my advice to National and its MPs is to please keep Bridges as YOUR Leader because every comment, statement etc that he makes reflects so badly against National that it’s a joke.

  24. Muttonbird 24
    11 February 2019 at 7:12 pm

    Wasn’t 47% the number Bridges thought he’d need to govern alone? Ironic that Labour have hit that just days after he said it. 😁

    • David Mac 24.1
      11 February 2019 at 7:20 pm

      He’s not out of the running, he could ring Jacinda and say “We want to buy your job.”

      • Charlie 24.1.1
        11 February 2019 at 7:25 pm

        And probably that would be the first time Jacinda utters a public profanity, fuck off Simon we are not forsale.

      • mary_a 24.1.2
        11 February 2019 at 8:46 pm

        @ David Mac (24.1) … love it 🙂 In desperation, anything could be on the cards from Simon Britches.

    • ankerawsharkP 24.2
      11 February 2019 at 9:36 pm

      Muttonbird, yes that’s right. 47% Simon’s figure. Oh dear, its all going wrong. Never mind

  25. Dennis Frank 25
    11 February 2019 at 7:28 pm

    Farrar carefully avoids mentioning the Nat drop (what elephant? where?):
    “I understand the poll wasn’t done last week but is mainly from January. It is curious they waited so long to release it, if that is the case. January was of course when the PM had huge attention at Davos and issues such as the Kiwibuild meltdown had not really gone full frontal. Governments often get a bump in January as it is the quiet season and there is no Parliament. So I’ll be more interested in the next poll.”

    I checked the Reid poll page and it does not specify the dates of the actual polling. Extremely unprofessional of them!!

    • Muttonbird 25.1
      11 February 2019 at 7:33 pm

      Farrar also fails to mention the scaremongering he and the Nats and the property investor community have been indulging in having the opposite effect from what they intended.

      The closer Labour get to announcing a CGT, the higher they go. Seems New Zealand is finally mature enough to begin taxing capital.

      • Dennis Frank 25.1.1
        11 February 2019 at 7:36 pm

        Yes, good point. If I were them, I’d wait for the next poll. If still ahead, I’d do the CGT announcement pronto, so there’s plenty of time for the country to adapt before the poll after that…

      • patricia bremner 25.1.2
        12 February 2019 at 7:25 am

        Yes Muttonbird. That “Oneroof” crowd. Every Advertorial had Gnat’s signs all over.

    • Craig H 25.2
      11 February 2019 at 9:05 pm

      Newshub has the dates – 24/1 to 2/2.

  26. Kat 26
    11 February 2019 at 7:37 pm

    National won’t be calling for a “snap election” any time soon then. The truth is they have actually gone up from the last recent Colmar Brunton poll result which had National at 46% which was in reality 38%……the one Wayne said was “pubic” and “professional'”.

    Be very wary of polls.

  27. Stuart Munro 27
    11 February 2019 at 7:46 pm

    There are two obvious moves the left must make in response to a poll like this. The first a running a sweepstake on when the metaphorical knife will dice Simon’s giblets. The next is a sweepstake on where the turning point will be on the Gnat’s precipitous descent – the line from down to 41 still looks fairly steep, and the last year has not shown the Gnats moving past the first stage of grief – denial. They might level out at 35, but the line under their rock bottom support used to be 23 – plumbed by Bill English with a strong contribution from the bogeywoman. Rebuilding support is a hard task, and the thickets of deadwood aren’t going to do it for them.

  28. ScottGN 28
    11 February 2019 at 7:52 pm

    You’d have to think that this poll leaves National’s primary strategy of driving NZFirst and the Greens below 5% and governing alone on about 47% at the next election dead in the water.
    If anything it gives those smaller parties an excellent opportunity to harvestwhat seem still to be plentiful votes at the edges of National. “Vote for us to keep Labour honest!” National could be heading to a very dark place for the next few years.

  29. David Mac 29
    11 February 2019 at 8:07 pm

    I wonder if Shane’s mission has hurt the NZ First vote. I don’t think their core vote would be happy with his touring the country looking for things to throw cash at while so many of their friends struggle to pay for their power. When launched it appeared to have value as an activity incubator but gee, is it delivering?

    Just as with Kiwibuild, making adjustments mid journey are not signals of failure, with big jobs, they’re crucial.

  30. Fireblade 30
    11 February 2019 at 8:25 pm

    Newshub are really taking the piss.

    National plunges to worst result in over a decade.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/02/national-plunges-to-worst-result-in-over-a-decade-newshub-poll.html

  31. David Mac 31
    11 February 2019 at 8:27 pm

    In the population sparse Far North there is a company called Advance Homes. Under a big roof, last year they built and then delivered over 50 new homes, 1 a week, their waiting list stretches out before them.

    I think Shane’s money should be meshing in with that kind of activity, attach a Polytech arm.

    Planting trees that will mature in 30 years is well and good. Right now we need lots of viable paths to 100k incomes. Winston’s voters want to see their loved ones prospering. Clambering around a mountain-side with a knapsack of seedlings, it’s not a career.

    • Sacha 32.1
      11 February 2019 at 9:54 pm

      Hardly a happy family: “At the end of last year, Bridges’ own MPs were talking to Newshub on background about the likelihood of the leader being rolled.”

    • Muttonbird 33.1
      11 February 2019 at 8:34 pm

      That’s got to hurt. You do all that work and think you’re doing ok and yet the public prefer a corrupt cow over you.

    • David Mac 33.2
      11 February 2019 at 8:49 pm

      If I was forced to sail a 30ft yacht up to Fiji with either Simon or Judith I’d pick judith but I’d rather swim.

      Like Jacinda, Judith is never far from having a laugh, we like that in people. Has anyone ever heard Simon Bridges’ genuinely laugh? I can’t recall the occasion. He sniggers in sarcasm and chortles at the misfortune of others, but a genuine LOL, nope, I’m coming up blank.

  34. Liberal Realist 34
    11 February 2019 at 8:51 pm

    Hmm wonder if the Nats will try and parachute the next John Key(?) in this election cycle. It’s a long bow, but who knows? The new teale thingy of Tava doesn’t have legs methinks. Collins or Mitchell, too many skeletons!! Who else is there?

    I must say, for only a single poll, the tears of the tory mass over at Stuff are delicious!

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/110518398/poll-hit-for-national-party-and-leader-simon-bridges

    • Drowsy M. Kram 34.1
      11 February 2019 at 9:40 pm

      Thanks for posting the link. I did laugh at this comment under that Stuff news item:

      Interview with National MP:

      “Do you support Simon Bridges?” “Yes, I am 100% behind our leader”.

      “Are you enjoying the summer weather?” “Yes, I am 100% behind our leader.”

      “Will the All Blacks win the World Cup?” “Yes, I am 100% behind our leader.”

      “Are you just repeating like a robot, which makes you look totally insincere?” “Yes, I am 100% behind our leader.”

    • Kat 35.1
      11 February 2019 at 9:08 pm

      Audrey, that poor old National poodle, will be having kittens you can be assured. Given that National/Act in the current MMP environment represent the entire opposition this result is equivalent to Labour being on 30% or much lower. When the average “public” poll gets below 35% for National then is when Collins will make her move. May the blood run.

    • Craig H 35.2
      11 February 2019 at 9:08 pm

      Thank the Lord, I was concerned!

    • newsense 35.3
      12 February 2019 at 1:06 am

      Wait for the commentariat to agree with Matthew and call her an experienced journalist. Imagine the howls of derision which would have greeted a Labour leader

  36. AB 36
    11 February 2019 at 9:14 pm

    National disturbingly high at 41% when they represent a retrograde ideology that should have been dead and buried long ago.
    It means another National government is inevitable at some point in the future, which is like having a little bit of sick in your mouth permanently.

    • Tony Veitch [not etc.] 36.1
      12 February 2019 at 10:44 am

      I don’t agree, AB – another Nat government is NOT inevitable at some point in the future.

      There has been a subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) shift in NZ politics. Most people are well aware that neoliberalism is in its death throes and that the Nats only achieved a surplus by poor management of the sort of services we all depend on – like education, health and welfare and the environment.

      I expect the trend in Nat poll figures to continue to drop, maybe even as low as the mid twenties, as the ‘kindness’ of the Coalition government seeps into the consciousness of people.

      While the Labour led coalition is nowhere radical enough – either for my expectations or for what is necessary to do something meaningful about climate change, their softer face of government is having an impact.

      Couple that with the referendum on cannabis at the same time as the next election, which will bring out the young people (for better or worse) and the Coalition government (in various forms) will bolt in.

  37. alwyn 37
    11 February 2019 at 9:14 pm

    I guess the left will very shortly have to drop the “no mates” label they have been using about National.
    On this poll New Zealand First is dead. As the Green Party never do as well at the election as they do between elections they are dead also.
    I guess that the election is going to between “no mates” Labour and “no mates National, except perhaps for the single remaining member from the ACT Party.
    Oh well, as has happened at every MMP Government the main party in the coalition will have destroyed any other party that has gone into coalition with them.

    • Sacha 37.1
      11 February 2019 at 9:18 pm

      You do not have much faith in our fellow voters. There will be more than two parties in the next parliament.

      • alwyn 37.1.1
        11 February 2019 at 9:48 pm

        Well, you will note that I did suggest it would probably be 3.
        Do you think the real Green Party will get in? Or the Gareth Morgan will finance another go and succeed this time? I suppose it is possible but I don’t really expect it to happen.

        • Sacha 37.1.1.1
          11 February 2019 at 9:53 pm

          Act’s poll result doubled to 4 out of 1000 this time, after all!

          • alwyn 37.1.1.1.1
            11 February 2019 at 10:00 pm

            Did they really. Doubled! Incredible.
            As long as they continue to win Epsom they will remain in Parliament as you must surely be aware. The party vote is irrelevant.
            On the other hand I cannot see the Green Party ever winning an Electorate and the chances of New Zealand First doing so are very, very slim.

            • Sacha 37.1.1.1.1.1
              11 February 2019 at 10:12 pm

              One MP is not much of a partner to crow about.

              • alwyn …
                11 February 2019 at 10:33 pm

                “One MP is not much of a partner to crow about”.
                Of course not. On the other hand it is certainly more than the zero members that Winston First and the Water melons will have after the 2020 election, isn’t it?
                Should I have put /sarc/ or something after the first line which starts “Did they really”?

        • You_Fool 37.1.1.2
          12 February 2019 at 11:33 am

          Yes, I think the real Green Party will continue to be in parliament, and probably in government proper next time

    • Muttonbird 37.2
      11 February 2019 at 9:20 pm

      Pardon me if I don’t take your analysis seriously. You’ve been spreading lies about the government recently and don’t even have the guts to retract.

      I suspect it’s to do with your state of mind on seeing that the best the National Party can do is boosting Labour.

      • alwyn 37.2.1
        11 February 2019 at 9:35 pm

        “Spreading lies”?
        Don’t be silly you diesel soaked seagull.
        I have merely been telling the truth about the Government. I realise you may not like it but I fail to see that I have any obligation to support your fantasies about them.
        You should read my comments with an open mind. Then you will understand what the Bible says in John 8:32.
        “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”.

        • Muttonbird 37.2.1.1
          11 February 2019 at 9:52 pm

          You should read alwyn 5:92

          Six houses…are being dumped onto the open market.

          You may have to repent, alwyn. God doesn’t like a liar.

          • alwyn 37.2.1.1.1
            11 February 2019 at 10:04 pm

            My description seems to be quite accurate.
            Did anyone who had registered for the Kiwibuild program want to buy any of those houses? NO. Did a Land agent then have to try and get rid of them to other people who had never even registered? YES.
            That definitely sounds like dumping properties to me.

            • Muttonbird 37.2.1.1.1.1
              11 February 2019 at 10:08 pm

              Liar. You said they were “dumped onto the open market”. This would be of great concern were it true but it isn’t true. is it?

              And again, if you read the article you would have found that people who registered were interested in those houses but were apparently unable to access the required finance.

              • alwyn …
                11 February 2019 at 10:29 pm

                That is mostly because the price for them was a lot higher than they could afford, and a lot higher than Phil Twyford had said they would be.
                Seems quite ridiculous, and reprehensible, that they bought properties that a developer had built without even finding out whether anyone wanted them doesn’t it?
                Pretty much par for the course for that idiot Minister though.

                • Muttonbird …
                  11 February 2019 at 10:31 pm

                  Another lie. Kiwibuild properties were always $650K for three bedrooms.

                  • alwyn …
                    11 February 2019 at 10:39 pm

                    Absolute rubbish
                    “Labour’s KiwiBuild programme will build 100,000 high quality, affordable homes over 10 years, with 50% of them in Auckland. Standalone houses in Auckland will cost $500,000 to $600,000, with apartments and townhouses under $500,000. Outside Auckland, houses will range from $300,000 to $500,000.”
                    https://www.labour.org.nz/housing

                    That was their announced policy. Even in Auckland they were never conceived as costing $650,000.
                    Surely you owe us an apology for that lie of yours?
                    After all “God doesn’t like a liar” as someone said just a little above here.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      11 February 2019 at 10:54 pm

                      Meh. 2017 election policy.

                      It’s 2019 now, two years on under the house price inflation caused by the previous government’s addiction to cheap foreign labour and to corrupt foreign capital.

                      However I will admit I got that 2017 figure wrong. Now how about that “open market” statement of yours?

    • Kat 37.3
      11 February 2019 at 9:21 pm

      Except what you fail to realise Alwyn is Labour went into coalition with NZ First. Shall leave you to ponder that one.

      • alwyn 37.3.1
        11 February 2019 at 9:29 pm

        That is the reason I made the comment.
        Shall I explain it further?
        New Zealand First, the minor party went into coalition with Labour, the major party.
        New Zealand First are now on 2.9%, which is far below the number they need to survive.
        ergo. New Zealand First, after going into coalition with Labour has been destroyed.
        What don’t you understand about that?

        • marty mars 37.3.1.1
          11 February 2019 at 9:33 pm

          Lol that poll is a classic eh – there must be some restless sleepers tonight and they’re all gnats. So funny.

          • alwyn 37.3.1.1.1
            11 February 2019 at 9:39 pm

            Not being a member of any party it certainly isn’t going to spoil my sleep.
            I’ll bet Winston and the Water melons will be a bit uncomfortable though.
            I think we will be better of when both those parties are out of our Parliament.

            • In Vino 37.3.1.1.1.1
              11 February 2019 at 10:48 pm

              A pity from your point of view that despite unfavourable circumstances, the Greens remain solidly above 5%. Logic would say that they should have sunk like NZ First. Got some wishful spin about that to condescendingly ‘explain’?

        • Kat 37.3.1.2
          11 February 2019 at 9:37 pm

          They say explaining is losing but one last time, Alwyn, you think NZ First went into coalition with Labour, I said in fact Labour went into coalition with NZ First. There is a subtle but very important difference. Hint: policy.

          • alwyn 37.3.1.2.1
            11 February 2019 at 9:44 pm

            Well, apart from the fact that Labour were so desperate that they gave total control to Tsar Winston and he has the exclusive ability to set policy I can’t really see what the “subtle” distinction is.
            Do you really think that their complete and utter surrender to Winston’s dictates is the mark of a competent and confident party?
            I cannot imagine Helen Clark ever agreeing to such a situation and Bill English certainly wasn’t having a bar of it.

            • Peter 37.3.1.2.1.1
              11 February 2019 at 10:11 pm

              You can’t really see what the “subtle” distinction is? No surprise there as
              what you can see is that Labour gave total control to ‘Tsar’ Winston and him having the exclusive ability to set policy.

              Specsavers is in most major centres. Someone will help you find your way to one.

          • alwyn 37.3.1.2.2
            11 February 2019 at 9:57 pm

            Oh, by the way.
            At the time Winston himself said that he was going into coalition with Labour. Ardern agreed with the statement.
            “Peters says NZ First will go into coalition with the Labour Party”
            https://www.interest.co.nz/news/90427/peters-says-nz-first-will-go-coalition-labour-party-turn-around-new-zealand-capitalism
            I realise that you might remember it differently but I would tend to accept the statement made by the people involved at the time.

            • Sacha 37.3.1.2.2.1
              11 February 2019 at 10:02 pm

              “Ardern agreed with the statement.”

              Funny how the linked article does not say that at all. But keep on grabbing for some consolation.

              • alwyn …
                11 February 2019 at 10:13 pm

                Well she didn’t contradict it in any way did she. She said that it was an “exciting day”.
                She was also surprised at the time and I believe she said she didn’t know what Winston was going to say. That certainly doesn’t sound like someone who had made the Coalition decision does it?
                No Winston picked her because he knew that he could totally control such a coalition.

                By the way, did you see this statement further done the article?
                “She also said that the full texts of the agreements with NZ First and the Greens would likely be released next week as well.”.
                We are still waiting aren’t we? Obviously Tsar Winston put his foot down and she was in no position to upset him.
                What was in those 36 or 38 or however many pages there were I wonder?

                • Sacha …
                  11 February 2019 at 10:20 pm

                  I believe you have said enough for people to judge the honesty of your words.

                  • alwyn …
                    11 February 2019 at 10:44 pm

                    You are being very sensible to stop now Sacha.
                    If you had kept on you would be just like Muttonbird who has never learnt that when you are in a hole you should stop digging.
                    I am pleased to see that you have accepted that what I have said is fully backed up with facts.

    • ScottGN 37.4
      11 February 2019 at 9:42 pm

      I think both minor parties will be pretty happy, after all they both seem to have a core vote that’s within coo-ee of the threshold (unlike the previous government’s support partners who all languished well below 1%) and must be confident that there are votes to be gained when National’s constituent parts start to fracture as Bridges leads them to an even more comprehensive election defeat in 2020.

    • Bearded Git 37.5
      12 February 2019 at 6:01 am

      You forget there are some Labour voters with some green blood who realise Labour needs a partner and so will tactically vote Green.

      Labour especially needs to be sure of the Greens still being around in the 2023 election (2020 is looking all over)

  38. Tricledrown 38
    11 February 2019 at 9:37 pm

    Funny Alwyn the only option National had. JLR hasn’t finished yet.

  39. te reo putake 39
    11 February 2019 at 10:09 pm

    Got home a few minutes ago and caught up with the poll. No point me re-hashing what this result means for Bridges, but I am very, very pleased about what it means for Iain Lees Galloway.

    Despite months of continual attacks, nothing the nasty party threw at ILG stuck. He’s still doing his job, his party are ahead in the polls and his leader has been proved right by showing him solidarity. Cool, ae?

    Oh, and Jami Lee Ross … that thing you’re feeling right now? The Germans probably have a word for it, but you can call it vindication if you want.

    Righto, must dash. I’ve got to pop over and check Trademe, see if anyone has a used Democracy Mum for sale. Price no object.

  40. mosa 40
    12 February 2019 at 12:40 am

    I think Tova must have wet herself given her excitement that Bridges is a dead man walking and that Judith is a viable contender even with 6% support.
    Not surprising who Media Works think should be Nationals leader and who they will supporting.
    Never mind Labour’s remarkable comeback from two years ago.
    Watch the media nasties promote Collins and turn on Bridges in the next few months.
    Parliament should be worth a watch this afternoon.

  41. Sanctuary 41
    12 February 2019 at 7:11 am

    Kate Hawkesby’s headline in today’s online edition of the house journal of the Auckland smug right sums up the right and white MSM response.

    “…Exactly what is it about Simon Bridges that voters don’t like..?” she plaintively wails. The focus from them has entirely been about fretting about National’s fall. I mean, how can all those angry middle aged white men who call ZB be wrong?

    The MSM right wing opinionistas have tried to build a narrative of a ramshackle government government lacking substance reeling under sucker punches from an effective and vigorous opposition. This has evaporated to dust, and the main reaction has been one of disbelief and cognitive dissonance. Matthew Hooton has been exposed (yet again) as being a full on bullshit artist, not that that will stop RNZ considering him to be a decent political commentator rather than just another seriously deluded right wing fantasist with nothing much to offer.

    In particular, the attacks on Ardern, that not so subtle loathing of her by aging white men on ZB who have tried to dismiss her as a “Cindy,” have blown up in their faces. It is almost as if they interview each other for their reckons.

    • Rae 41.1
      12 February 2019 at 7:36 am

      It’s not just ZB anymore, if you want real sore loser syndrome such as you describe, tune into that Magic Talk (the new iteration of Radio Live) 9 to noon and listen to Peter Williams. He has not done his reputation any favours. Thank god for actual 9 to noon on RNZ.
      Might just have to tune into Williams for a while though for entertainments sake

      • Rapunzel 41.1.1
        12 February 2019 at 7:52 am

        Likewise, he is truly unbearable with his lecturing so how he will respond to this will be interesting,
        Why his employers think that the make-up of their new set of announcers will gain a wide audience especially after the National Party failure of “personality” politics has gotten them nowhere.

    • patricia bremner 41.2
      12 February 2019 at 8:09 am

      Sanctuary… “as if they interview each other for their reckons” Just so desperate.

  42. Infused 42
    12 February 2019 at 7:28 am

    I guess it shows how dumb the average labour voter is.

    Nothing delivered. Flagship policies in tatters.

    The mental health policy with no actual policy being farmed out to even more working groups.

    So I can only conclude this is a vote to get rid of simon

    • Rae 42.1
      12 February 2019 at 7:36 am

      Really?

    • patricia bremner 42.2
      12 February 2019 at 8:29 am

      Infused ….A reminder of 17 months worth.
      Outlining our big challenges.
      Climate Change & Inequality
      Te Maori view of the world.
      Dealing with Challenges (Mico Plasma Bovis)
      Doing the research on Wellbeing
      Mental health Committees
      Studying barriers to work and study for youth
      New inspectors finding employment breaches.
      Strengthening commercial law
      Slowing migration with targets
      Building state and private houses
      Helping the poor through winter
      Supporting young parents
      Raising wages
      Increasing the Health Budget
      Making teaching more attractive
      Working as a Coalition team
      Staying positive
      Representing us well overseas
      Having political courage in fraught overseas trade situations
      There will be more I have missed but Infused you are wrong.

  43. te reo putake 43
    12 February 2019 at 7:51 am

    If you think Simon Bridges is doing it tough, spare a thought for his head of media. Poor old Guyon was stuck with interviewing the PM on National Radio and had to bluff his way through ten minutes of airtime without mentioning the poll result.

    Airplanes? Tick?
    IRD? Tick?
    Poll resu … Cross, cross, cross, let’s move on …

    • patricia bremner 43.1
      12 February 2019 at 8:32 am

      That is because he goes in with his instructions and he has to toe the RW party line lol

  44. swordfish 44
    12 February 2019 at 8:24 am

    Latest Newshub Reid Research Poll:
    (A few Stats)

    ————-2017 Election—-TV3 Poll (Feb 2019)—-Change

    Labour——— 36.9 —————- 47.5 ————— Up 10.6

    Green———- 6.3 ——————- 5.1 ————— Down 1.2

    Lab+Green— 43.2 —————– 52.6 ————— Up 9.4

    NZF————– 7.2 ——————- 2.9 —————- Down 4.3

    Coalition——- 50.4 —————– 55.5 ————— Up 5.1

    .

    National——– 44.4 —————– 41.6 —————- Down 2.8

    ACT————— 0.5 ——————- 0.4 —————– Down 0.1

    Oppo———— 44.9 —————– 42.0 —————- Down 2.9

    (All other Parties)– 4.7 ————– 2.5 —————– Down 2.2

    .

    ————————-2017 Election—-TV3 Poll (Feb 2019)—-Change

    Coalition leads Oppo by–– 5.5 ————— 13.5 ———— + 8.0

    Coalition leads Right by—– 5.2 ———-—- 12.4 ————– + 7.2

    .

    Preferred PM / Leader Performance
    (Comparisons with same point into first terms of Clark & Key Govts)

    Ardern more popular than Clark at same point into first term / Bridges less popular than Shipley the year she was rolled by the charismatic English

    Feb 2001——————————————-Feb 2019

    Preferred PM

    Clark .. 30 .. (performing well 63) ———– Ardern .. 41.8 .. (performing well 68.3)

    Shipley 13 .. (performing well 54) ———- Bridges …. 5.0 … (performing well 21.9)

    ——————————————————– Collins …… 6.2

    .

    Bridges less popular than Goff at the same stage:

    Feb 2010

    Key … 49.4 .. (performing well 73.5) …. Net …. plus 57.9

    Goff … 8.2 …. (performing well 33.7) ….. Net .. minus 12.9

    Compare with:

    Feb 2019

    Ardern… 41.8 .. (performing well 68.3) …. Net …. plus 51.5

    Bridges … 5.0 … (performing well 21.9) …. Net .. minus 28.9

    • patricia bremner 44.1
      12 February 2019 at 8:35 am

      Thanks Swordfish.

      • Cinny 44.1.1
        12 February 2019 at 9:45 am

        +1 Love your work Swordfish

        Those stats were very interesting, could simon be the lowest polling nat leader NZ has ever seen?

        • swordfish 44.1.1.1
          12 February 2019 at 8:50 pm

          He’s beginning to rival Jim McLay’s woeful ratings … the least popular Nat & Oppo leader since regular polling commenced in 1969.

          (Clark & Bolger both went very low in the Preferred PMs … but they also soared into the 20s during their respective stints as Oppo leader … so their averages were far higher than McLay’s).

          Paradoxically, the Nats enjoyed a significant bump in support when McLay toppled Muldoon, & they held onto (and even consolidated) that lift … even while McLay continued to languish in the Preferred PMs, falling towards low single digits.

          Goff had been the second least popular Oppo leader … but Bridges is now in the process of toppling him from that coveted position.

      • swordfish 44.1.2
        12 February 2019 at 8:50 pm

        Cheers, patricia.

    • mosa 44.2
      12 February 2019 at 11:29 am

      Good work as always Swordfish.
      Interesting analysis.

    • Pat 44.3
      12 February 2019 at 9:03 pm

      im sorry but i’ll have to call the inaccuracy…..”the charismatic English”?

  45. Dennis Frank 45
    12 February 2019 at 8:39 am

    Herald says the polling was Jan 24 – Feb 2: “Some of the political events that occurred over shortly before or over the polling period included Ardern’s trip to London, Davos and Brussels; Bridges’ announcement that National would index tax-rate thresholds to inflation; an acknowledgement by the Government that Kiwibuild would fall well short of its short term target; ex-National MP Jami-Lee Ross re-entering public life and Sarah Dowie being named as the ex-lover who sent him a text message saying “you deserve to die” which is being investigated by police.”

    So nothing in the news explains the poll result which seems caused by a lag effect from last year, and a reflective mood over the holiday period. Labour will be complacent.

    Centrists are endorsing the direction of the coalition, and registering their disapproval of National’s failure to produce policy responses to our changing world. Labour folk won’t realise this. They will interpret it as approving their inability to produce results. If that persists into winter, Labour will drop in polling then.

    Political analysis continues to be banal. That’s due to the ongoing failure to measure the centrist vote. You dorks out there, start accepting that a third of the electorate in western countries are now non-binary. Pull finger! You can do it, you just need to start trying! Put 30 years of abysmal failure to be honest behind you! Moral corruption need not be terminal!

    • KJT 45.1
      12 February 2019 at 10:18 am

      Still indulging your ‘centrist’ fantasy.

      Greens lost votes to Labour, when Labour starting promising more of the Greens, “left wing” policies.
      Not “centrist” policies.

      The “centrist” party, Dunne and co, got done like a dinner, once voters got a good look at them.

      • Dennis Frank 45.1.1
        12 February 2019 at 10:39 am

        But your lack of comprehension of centrists isn’t the point. Nobody ever said they think the same. That’s because they don’t. Why is that so hard for you to grasp?

        Leftist green voters shifting between the GP and Labour aren’t centrists. Centrists are voters who do not self-identify with either left or right. Why is that so hard for you to grasp?

        Dunne’s centrists are in the dust-bin of history. Nobody here is going to be impressed by your delusional attempt to make them seem relevant in 2019. The only thing that matters next election is how all parties market themselves to centrists. We will decide the election result on that basis – as we usually do.

        • KJT 45.1.1.1
          12 February 2019 at 11:01 am

          Bollocks.

          Elections in New Zealand are decided by a relatively small group of swing voters.

          To claim they are in the centre is just wishful thinking.

          In fact they appear to be a group which is swayed by whatever extremist issue the media decide to highlight.
          Hence the dog whistling “tough on crime” and other appeals to mindless “Journalists”.

          • Dennis Frank 45.1.1.1.1
            12 February 2019 at 11:12 am

            You really believe swing-voters aren’t centrist? I’ve never seen anyone advocate that crazy notion before. Good luck with being first cab off the rank!

            • KJT 45.1.1.1.1.1
              12 February 2019 at 12:37 pm

              National are under no such illusion.

              They spend a fortune on focus groups, to find out what will get potential swing voters to swing.

              Shows they are more likely to be evidence denying extremists, like family first, than the “moderates” you think.

              • Dennis Frank …
                12 February 2019 at 1:24 pm

                Maybe so, but I expect the `gigo’ formula to apply to the design of such groups. Garbage in produces garbage out. Depend who selects the participant, on what basis, but primarily on the questions asked.

                Family First are ultraconservative, therefore more likely to binary than you even. Most conservatives have always been rightists – remember Winston was one. Some Labour voter probably belong to FF but I suspect they would be a small minority.

  46. Simon Louisson 46
    12 February 2019 at 9:49 am

    Paula Benefit says poll shows Nats doing “pretty well” https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/02/paula-bennett-says-national-s-doing-pretty-well-despite-disastrous-poll.html
    – probably as well as Nats did with their “pretty legal” Eminem rip-off

    • Dennis Frank 46.1
      12 February 2019 at 9:55 am

      But she’s not wrong if her comment was directed at the poll rating instead of the strategic implication. Does anyone really expect a Nat/Lab politician to factor in deep context? Worry that they have dropped into the thirties can be put aside. Standard positive spin on bad news using glass-half-full thinking…

      • Kat 46.1.1
        12 February 2019 at 10:51 am

        The Nats were already in the 30’s, if this poll is accurate they have actually gone up. My thoughts are the numbers require more scrutiny and if anything I put Labour ahead of National primarily on the excellent performance of Jacinda Ardern. The policy wonks may have other theory of course, and current policy if successful will certainly have an effect with ex National voters that Labour is now obviously starting to pick up.

        My prediction is National is in for a thumping at the next election regardless whether Bridges, Collins or any other of the current crop is leader.

        • Dennis Frank 46.1.1.1
          12 February 2019 at 11:17 am

          Only on internal party polling, which everyone else doesn’t take seriously. I don’t discount the charisma factor, and her performance has been adept some of the time, but my take is that voters are endorsing the coalition’s trajectory, and admonishing National for failing to provide an adaptive response – particularly on climate change. I agree Nat prospects look dire.

          • Robert Guyton 46.1.1.1.1
            12 February 2019 at 11:35 am

            Todd Muller’s tanking. Rod Oram’s chiding the poor sap.

            • Dennis Frank 46.1.1.1.1.1
              12 February 2019 at 1:28 pm

              Oram’s critique was quite savage, eh? Well perhaps incisive is a better way of putting it. Cutting! Rightly so – I thought he did an excellent job. Made toddy seem lukewarm, when he’s trying ever so hard to be hot…

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T01:07:59+00:00