Leftie Kiwis

Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, April 21st, 2016 - 66 comments
Categories: polls, us politics - Tags: , ,

Received political wisdom is that NZ is a conservative country, tending to the right. Interesting then, to see this data on our voting preferences re American presidential candidates (Stephen Mills in The Herald):

If only Kiwis could vote for president

There has been some debate among New Zealand political commentators about whether a candidate like Donald Trump could emerge in New Zealand.

Perhaps one already has.

What is clear is that New Zealanders would much prefer a Democrat won this year’s contest in the US. Given a hypothetical vote in the US presidential election in a UMR survey in early April, 82 per cent would go for Hillary Clinton and only 9 per cent for Donald Trump.
…
If the choice was between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, New Zealanders would decisively elect the socialist senator from Vermont. He wins by 77 per cent to 8 per cent and even National voters prefer the avowed socialist by 76 per cent to 13 per cent.

Interesting!

New Zealanders are not too keen on Ted Cruz either. In a contest between Cruz and Clinton 72 per cent prefer Clinton and 14 per cent Cruz. If between Sanders and Cruz, Sanders wins 48-19 per cent, though 33 per cent are unsure of their vote facing this lower-profile match up. National voters veer a little right on this head-to-head but still prefer the socialist Sanders over Cruz by 39-28 per cent.

Perhaps there is hope for us yet.

We prefer Hillary Clinton to Bernie Sanders as well. Given that choice 55 per cent of New Zealanders go for Clinton and 25 per cent for Sanders.

Bother!

In an almost exact parallel to United States demographic breakdowns, younger New Zealanders were much more likely to go for Sanders. Among under 30-year-olds 39 per cent preferred Sanders and 34 per cent Clinton. Clinton had big leads among older age cohorts.

If only the young would get out and vote.

66 comments on “Leftie Kiwis ”

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  1. save NZ 1
    21 April 2016 at 9:22 am

    Interesting post. I wonder if Clinton wins in NZ due to Kiwis MSM not mentioning Sanders, therefore Kiwis have not heard of him. Older people in NZ probably still watch NZ ‘news’, where news is devoid of content.

    Apparently even the Guardian had reporting bias to Clinton.

    • weka 1.1
      21 April 2016 at 11:15 am

      When I asked my left voting elderly parents about Sanders vs Clinton, they said that they didn’t really know anything about Sanders. They’re reasonably thoughtful and informed people but they do rely on the MSM (TV, radio and newsprint mostly, not sure how much they look online). The fact that Sanders has had so little coverage is a disgrace in the US and here. But I also think it’s probably the NZ conservative element kicking in. Not political conservativism, just caution (hence the huge antipathy towards KDC). Liberals like my parents are still going to be a bit cautious about those that are perceived as more radical. However I’m pretty sure one of my parents, maybe both, would vote Sanders if he were actually being reported properly in the MSM.

    • Delia 1.2
      21 April 2016 at 1:20 pm

      I have read plenty about Sanders in the UK press.

  2. david 2
    21 April 2016 at 9:25 am

    Fatal flaw in your argument, you assume ‘left and right’ of politics is the same in New Zealand as in America.

    I find it an amorphous term, more a badge of tribal affiliations than an accurate reflection of views.
    E.g is Brexit progressive or neoliberal? Depends on who is supporting it, it seems; than based on principles.

    If you look at Democrat’s policies of charter school, common core, health system based on insurance companies, interventionist foreign policy, TPPP etc.

    The Democrats are in the ‘far right’ category in New Zealand’s political taxonomy.

    • Lanthanide 2.1
      21 April 2016 at 9:39 am

      +1

    • scotty 2.2
      21 April 2016 at 10:14 am

      Not sure about the relevance of where on the NZ spectrum the Democrats would sit .
      But the current National government is the most Right wing in New Zealands’ history.
      Some of our backward environmental laws and the ease at which private interests have usurped control over common water assets for example – would have Republicans dribbling all over their cheque books.

    • Mosa 2.3
      21 April 2016 at 10:21 am

      New Zealanders can’t make up their minds to be socialist or capitlist

    • Phil 2.4
      21 April 2016 at 1:06 pm

      To flesh out your comment a little bit, I perceive the NZ left-right spectrum as being very tightly economic-focused: tax, competition/privatization, trade etc.

      By contrast, in the US there is a broad consensus about economic policy between the two major parties. The spectrum for left-right is much more about social conservatism and liberalism in areas where NZ policy is ‘settled’: abortion, justice and the death penalty, gun control.

  3. ropata 3
    21 April 2016 at 9:30 am

    The reality is politics bores most people, they have zero clue about policy, and just vote on fleeting impressions. Hence we have governments focused on PR and spin, but their actual policies are criminal.

    • James 3.1
      21 April 2016 at 10:49 am

      this

    • Nessalt 3.2
      21 April 2016 at 12:57 pm

      that’s not true, people resent politicians taking them for granted when they talk about “all” or “representing” under an MMP system. proportinality is good, but voters feel disengaged from about half of parliament and hate it when a leader is electorally unaccountable in an electorate as there is no measure of how grounded they are outside of their soundbites. dismissing people as uninterested is almost as fascinatingly moronic as bomber cursing out middle new zealand for not voting how he wants people to vote straight after an election.

      • ropata 3.2.3
        21 April 2016 at 5:01 pm

        The electoral consequences of voter ignorance

        Abstract
        A great deal of research has suggested that scholarly and popular concerns about low levels of citizen political knowledge are exaggerated. One implication of that research is that political history would have unfolded just as it did even if electorates had been more politically informed. This paper presents evidence that counters these claims, showing an infusion of electorally relevant information in twenty-seven democracies would have likely led to a lot of vote “switching”, ultimately changing the composition of many governments. The paper also directly and systematically examines what we might call the “enlightened natural constituency” hypothesis, which expects lower-income citizens to vote disproportionately for left parties once armed with more political knowledge. While the basic argument about how political ignorance disproportionately affects the left’s natural constituency is not new, the hypothesis has thus far not been tested. The analysis provides provisional support for the hypothesis.

        Highlights

        ► Large numbers of better informed voters would have switched their votes. ► Low income voters were more likely to switch compared with other groups. ► Left parties would have benefited if voters were better informed in many cases. ► Vote changes would have been great enough to alter the composition of governments in many cases

    • Whateva next? 3.3
      21 April 2016 at 10:46 pm

      Bang on ropata

    • Incognito 3.4
      21 April 2016 at 11:59 pm

      The reality is politics bores most people

      Politics is literally everywhere: at playgrounds, kindergartens, schools, workplaces, sport clubs, households, among flatmates, etc.

      It needs rebranding (and a new flag?).

      It’s a bit like sex; nobody wants to talk about it or discuss it but (almost) everybody is ‘interested’ in it!

  4. swordfish 4
    21 April 2016 at 9:34 am

    “We prefer Hillary Clinton to Bernie Sanders as well”

    So, the “received political wisdom” that we’re “a conservative country, tending to the right”
    is pretty much on the money, then ? 👿

  5. Lanthanide 5
    21 April 2016 at 9:37 am

    “Interesting!”

    Hardly. The democrats in the US are to the right of National in NZ.

    The Economist found in 2012 that most of the world would vote for Obama over Romney: http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/10/charting-us-election

    Unfortunately the actual voting app / large diagram seems to be broken, but you can see a small map in the article above.

  6. save NZ 6
    21 April 2016 at 9:43 am

    F**k Sanders, says Clinton aide, bragging “We kicked his a**” after massive voter purges and irregularities in NY primary
    Hillary staffer gloated to Politico reporter after beating Bernie in NY, amid accusations of voting problems

    http://www.salon.com/2016/04/20/fk_sanders_says_clinton_aide_bragging_we_kicked_his_a_after_massive_voter_purges_and_irregularities_in_ny_primary/

  7. Ad 7
    21 April 2016 at 9:47 am

    Any poll done on New Zealanders eight years ago on whether they preferred Obama over HR Clinton?

    • swordfish 7.1
      21 April 2016 at 10:56 am

      Yep … April 2008 Poll … 47% preferred Obama, 31% Clinton, 22% Unsure.

      Little difference between Labour and National voters:
      Lab: … Obama 47% / Clinton 33%
      Nat: … Obama 44% / Clinton 33%

      (National voters, incidentally, strongly preferred both Obama and Clinton to McCain in the Dem vs Rep match-ups: by 35 points (Obama) and 28 points (Clinton))

      And no appreciable Gender difference of opinion. New Zealand women were not markedly pro-Hillary.

      Particularly strong support for Obama from Maori, Pasifikas and those under the age of 45 (more or less mirroring Obamas key demographics in the US)

  8. Colonial Viper 8
    21 April 2016 at 9:56 am

    Received political wisdom is that NZ is a conservative country, tending to the right.

    NZ regional conservatism has very little to do with right wing neoliberal economic ideology.

    In that sense, both the Labour and National Parties have been hijacked – by the neolibs – for their own ends.

    John Key was spot on when he described NZers in general as being socialist.

    We are. And no political party in Parliament today is really able to speak to that constituency.

    They all primarily aim to speak to the pundits and the press gallery as if they are the constituents that they represent.

  9. Redbaiter 9
    21 April 2016 at 10:02 am

    Received political wisdom is that NZ is a conservative country, tending to the right. Interesting then, to see this data on our voting preferences re American presidential candidates

    When is the Labour Party going to realise that their portrayal of National as a far right cabal looting the country is doomed to failure and they need a new strategy?

    This survey shows NZers would never vote for such a party, and therefore that they do vote for National sends the message that they do not see National as such a party.

    Keep telling the voters that they’re stupid and wrong, that will win the election for you.

    • save NZ 9.1
      21 April 2016 at 10:18 am

      Or maybe the Nat lite strategy is not working anymore, being the lessor of two evils… Note to Labour, Sanders concentrates on getting taxes off the super wealthy not the middle class, he refuses to take corporate donations and wants to reform the political system against lobbyists buying policy, is firmly against TPP….

      The Democrats need to stop being the “lesser of two evils” party — starting now

      “According to a report from Pew Research Center, the least financially secure Americans largely preferred Democrats in 2014, but a majority of them did not vote. There is an understandable political apathy among lower class Americans — not to mention voter suppression, which tends to hurt poor people and minorities. After all, both parties supported corporatist trade deals that eliminated working class jobs, both parties supported Wall Street bailouts, both parties are largely dependent on big money donors — it goes on and on.

      When Sanders announced his candidacy last year, he barely registered in the national polls, and Clinton had a enormous 60 percent support. Today, Clinton and Sanders are just about tied in national polls (according to HuffPost Pollster, 47.9 to 44.1 percent). Sanders’ egalitarian vision has energized many Americans who had lost faith in the political process — and while Clinton’s hold on delegates may be insurmountable, her hold on the Democratic Party is not.”

      http://www.salon.com/2016/04/18/the_democrats_need_to_stop_being_the_lesser_of_two_evils_party_starting_now/

      • Ad 9.1.1
        21 April 2016 at 4:47 pm

        Sanders is not Obama.
        Sanders lost against Clinton for a very simple reason.
        More people voted for Clinton.

        Don’t be Burned by sentiment.

        You win elections by getting more votes than they did.

        • RedLogix 9.1.1.1
          23 April 2016 at 4:57 am

          Clinton is more of the same,Bernie might not be. Sod your sentiment Ad.

        • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.2
          23 April 2016 at 9:15 am

          You win elections by getting more votes than they did.

          Tell that to Gore.

          “Democracy” in the USA does not work the way you think it does. Just look at the reports of massive Democratic voter suppression in NY targeted against likely Bernie supporters.

    • Colonial Viper 9.2
      21 April 2016 at 10:24 am

      When is the Labour Party going to realise that their portrayal of National as a far right cabal looting the country is doomed to failure and they need a new strategy?

      I’m picking sometime after losing the 2020 election.

      • Expat 9.2.1
        21 April 2016 at 11:08 am

        “I’m picking sometime after losing the 2020 election.”

        What, after they’ve been in for a full term already, I can’t see that happening,

        History says Key is gone in the next election, the Nats are tired and boring, run out of ideas and the voters are recognising NZ has lost it’s identity and respect as a clean, green country.

  10. swordfish 10
    21 April 2016 at 10:04 am

    I read recently that Democrats abroad (those eligible to vote in the various State primaries) have gone heavily for Sanders. In Germany, for example, close to 70% headed in the Vermont Senator’s direction. A specific example: 556 US citizens living in Berlin cast a vote in the Wisconsin primary and 79% chose Sanders over Clinton.

    In Japan the vote to date has been 1190 to Sanders / 176 to Clinton.

    Astonishingly, Sanders is even beating Clinton in Israel.

    Seems to be the same in New Zealand. On Super Tuesday … Among American Democrats in Wellington the Bern absolutely trounced Hillary by 21 votes to 6 (presumably leaving the former First Lady reeling) … http://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/02/new-zealand-feels-the-bern/471390/

    • Wayne 10.1
      21 April 2016 at 11:09 am

      swordfish,

      This is is not a reflection on New Zealanders, rather it reflects the nature of the US citizens, many of whom are students, who are in New Zealand. Seemingly the same applies elsewhere, including in the US.

      As I have indicated before that part of the Democratic Party that supports Hillary Clinton quite comfortably maps across much of the National Party, and the conservative part of Labour. So the level of her support among New Zealanders is no surprise to me.

      Conversely I am not surprised that left activists on this site prefer Sanders. I would note that many students shift right, at least to some extent during their lifetimes.

      On a similar theme Winston Peters support keeps getting renewed. Although his older supporters may die, there are new retirees every day. Once people retire, the pull of the two traditional parties seems to lessen and Winston becomes a realistic option for their support. I have certainly observed this in my wider family.

      • adam 10.1.1
        21 April 2016 at 12:11 pm

        Does this you will make a come back with New Zealand first Wayne?

        Note: Tongue firm in cheek on that question.

  11. TC 11
    21 April 2016 at 10:15 am

    Ditch the whole left/right meme and align policy to equality, social justice and concepts voters can identify with.

    Johnny and his DP brigade love to dumb it down to lefty communism when it suits so change that conversation to poverty, equality etc

    Stop boring the crap out of people with pointless philosophical positioning.

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 11.1
      21 April 2016 at 10:54 am

      We need the enthusiasm AND IDEAS from those young people who participated in the road blocks on TPP signing day. We need to LISTEN to THEIR vision of what they want for THEIR future. Bernie Sanders makes sense to the youth of USA. Here in NZ we don’t need just a watered down version of the status quo, the “don’t frighten the horses” approach. We need boldness.-
      We will pull out of the TPP if elected.
      We will raise the top tax rate if elected.
      We will implement a financial transaction tax if elected.
      We will have zero fees for tertiary training/study, etc

  12. Ian H 12
    21 April 2016 at 10:27 am

    One great thing about NZ politics is that whereas the religious right dominates the republican party in the US, our right wing parties, including our most right wing party ACT, are all socially liberal.

    In the US the culture wars are about social issues. Their political axis divides social liberals from the social conservatives. Abortion and gay marriage form their political dividing line. NZ is almost completely on the liberal side of that political line. The political axis in NZ is drawn at right angles to theirs and is economic. Our division lines involve things like taxes and asset sales.

    There seems to be about 5% support in the electorate for socially conservative Christian type politics, which probably is just about enough to get a right wing Christian party off the ground here. But every time someone has tried to form such a party it has ended in kiddy fiddling or bad poetry. Wonderful! Although I must say probably bad for Labour.

    National has been fortunate not to be beholden to a moral conservative party for its majority. Whereas people look at Labour with suspicion because of fear of the Greens, National has not been saddled with such a scary coalition partner. ACT does scare people a bit, but as they are marginal and depend on a deal with National for their electoral survival it is clearly National who are in control.

    • Redbaiter 12.1
      21 April 2016 at 10:43 am

      Ian H-

      National have completely capitulated in the battle of ideas.

      NZers are left wing only because the National Party willingly submits to the left’s rule over discussion and comment and refuses to argue for any alternative ideas.

      National are gutless far left scum.

      Far worse than Labour who at least have the guts and integrity to allow a political ideology to underpin their party and their policies.

      • swordfish 12.1.1
        21 April 2016 at 12:29 pm

        “National are gutless far left scum”

        OMG This ^^^^, Sooooo much This !!!
        (as some of the younger, more impulsive Wellington feminists on twitter might say)

  13. Colonial Viper 13
    21 April 2016 at 10:34 am

    One great thing about NZ politics is that whereas the religious right dominates the republican party in the US, our right wing parties, including our most right wing party ACT, are all socially liberal.

    Ahhh, that’s the “received wisdom.”

    Because even though Trump admits that he’s not much of a church goer, US Republican evangelists have been voting for him in droves, ahead of uber faithful Christian Cruz.

    • Ian H 13.1
      21 April 2016 at 1:02 pm

      This US election is unusual and I don’t think left vs right is the best way to view it.

      We are seeing tremendous disillusionment with politics right across the political spectrum in the US. And fair enough too – the US government is a total mess in a way which really has nothing to do with left and right. It is perceived over there mainly as a problem with the influence of money on politics. From my point of view the main problem is that their constitution sucks and their system of government has broken down and simply isn’t working properly, but you’d never get an American to admit there was anything wrong with their “oh so perfect” constitution.

      Trump and Sanders are the big news in this election. Both lay claim to being mavericks independent of the usual party political money machines and they owe much of their popularity to that claim and not to how far left or right they are.

  14. srylands 14
    21 April 2016 at 11:45 am

    “Received political wisdom is that NZ is a conservative country, tending to the right. ”
    _____________

    Says who?

    New Zealanders generally want a significant role for government and a strong social welfare safety net. There is simply no way that a right party would win an election. We currently have a centre-left Government. That is not going to change any time in the next decade.

    • framu 14.1
      21 April 2016 at 12:50 pm

      ” There is simply no way that a right party would win an election.”

      thats why they spend so much on PR and marketing – the fact that the rights policies are unpopular is known and admitted by the right all ready. Its why act poll so low and why national swallow all those dead rats in o4rder to gain power.

      ” We currently have a centre-left Government.”

      no, we dont (not by a local yardstick anyway)

      please tell me your smart enough to know theres a difference between the advertising and the reality – for everything

      • Expat 14.1.1
        21 April 2016 at 1:37 pm

        ” We currently have a centre-left Government.”

        No, we have a Govt that masquerades as centre left, while introducing right wing policies.

        Your right about the PR, but not too many are smart enough to distinguish the difference, not with the reinforcement by most media outlets.

    • scotty 14.2
      21 April 2016 at 1:27 pm

      “We currently have a centre-left Government.”?

      As evidenced by the current strength of ACT.

    • Redbaiter 14.3
      21 April 2016 at 2:50 pm

      “That is not going to change any time in the next decade.”

      Not as long as the spineless progressive surrender monkey JK has anything to do with it that’s for sure.

      You can take the boy out of the state house, but you can’t take the state house out of the boy.

    • Matthew Whitehead 14.4
      22 April 2016 at 5:57 pm

      We currently have a liberal government. That isn’t a centre-left government, it’s a right-wing government that pivots away from its conservative base on the odd social issue for PR reasons.

  15. Magisterium 15
    21 April 2016 at 12:57 pm

    (T)o go from America — amid the G.O.P. primaries — to Down Under is to experience both jet lag and a political shock. In New Zealand and Australia, you could almost fit their entire political spectrum — from conservatives to liberals — inside the U.S. Democratic Party.

    Or as Paul Quinn, a parliamentarian from New Zealand’s conservative National Party, once told a group of visiting American Fulbright scholars: “I will explain to you how our system works compared to yours: You have Democrats and Republicans. My Labor opponents would be Democrats. I am a member of the National Party, and we would be … Democrats” as well.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/opinion/friedman-elephants-down-under.html

    • Phil 15.1
      21 April 2016 at 1:15 pm

      I prefer the old Two Ronnies view of US politics:

      In America they have the Republican Party, which is a lot like our Conservative Party. Then they have the Democrat Party… which is a lot like our Conservative Party.

      • Expat 15.1.1
        21 April 2016 at 1:43 pm

        That’s actually a pretty accurate description, how ever, one is more extreme than the other.

        I just prefer the “Two Ronnies” to the comical Trump, he’s funny, but not in a laughable way.

      • Te Reo Putake 15.1.2
        21 April 2016 at 7:10 pm

        As unionist Bill Andersen used to quip that American politics was “the evil of two lessers”. But the Democrat party currently has millions of supporters who are voting to be lead by a socialist, so lets not tar the whole party as being right of centre.

        • Ad 15.1.2.1
          21 April 2016 at 7:31 pm

          If they are lucky, Sanders will turn into a genuine democratic renewal for the Democrats.

          That will take skilful leadership from Sanders during the Democratic Convention, and immediately afterwards. While he’s now left it far too late to get a good position in a future Clinton Cabinet, he could still have a very positive role to play for the Democratic Party.

          I would not wish another incoherent Occupy/Black Lives Matter charismatic glug glug upon the efforts of Sanders’ loyal followers.

        • Matthew Whitehead 15.1.2.2
          22 April 2016 at 6:06 pm

          That’s more revealing about democratic voters than democratic candidates, however.

          Sanders had to run as an independent to get into national politics because the Democratic Party institution is designed to weed out candidates like him.

  16. Delia 16
    21 April 2016 at 1:19 pm

    I found that heartening, had just about given up on many New Zealand voters,nice to see somethings, are just to ‘out there’ for them.

  17. The Real Matthew 17
    21 April 2016 at 1:46 pm

    The Herald may have a poor standard of journalism but it has nothing on this blog piece!

    The majority of the Democrats would be to the right of National let alone the Republican Party. Why are these results are being portrayed like they are? Who knows but it’s a good laugh.

  18. One Anonymous Bloke 18
    21 April 2016 at 5:31 pm

    This government is “right wing” insofar as it is bought: not a government of ideas or, a government of self-interest, policy auctions and back-handers.

    The first rule of Cabinet Club is you do not talk about Cabinet Club.

    • Incognito 18.1
      22 April 2016 at 12:24 am

      The first rule of Cabinet Club is you do not talk about Cabinet Club.

      What’s said in the pub stays in the pub AKA mum’s the word.

      At the end of the day, when you wish to feel really relaxed and comfortable, unruffled, and downplay anything that might upset your peace of mind you can always bring up the excuse Ich habe es nicht gewusst.

  19. Michael 19
    22 April 2016 at 6:22 pm

    If you look at Hillary Clinton’s record and policies, she’d be in the National Party here. She’s a socially liberal centre-to-centre-rightist. Pretty similar to the more centrist faction of National. Just shows how far to the right the US political system is. Bernie’s policies are probably somewhere inbetween Labour and the Greens, with a little bit of NZF thrown in.

  20. DS 20
    22 April 2016 at 10:30 pm

    Pretty much everyone in New Zealand would fit within the US Democratic Party. The only sorts who’d fit with the Republicans would be the outer fringes of ACT, the Sensible Sentencing Trust, Destiny Church, and the National Front.

    Fun fact – since World War II, when the Democrats are in power in the US, National tends to be in power here, and when the Republicans are in power in the US, Labour tends to be in power here. This rule has held during 1949-1953, 1957-1960, 1961-1969, 1972-1975, 1977-1981, 1984-1990, 1993-1999, 2001-2008, and since 2009.

    • Colonial Viper 20.1
      22 April 2016 at 11:02 pm

      “Pretty much everyone in New Zealand would fit within the US Democratic Party”

      Sure, because most Kiwis are bankster loving war mongering arms dealing foreign country Wall St deregulating destabilising bastards

      • DS 20.1.1
        23 April 2016 at 1:09 am

        I suppose it never occurred to you that if the Democrats encompass virtually the entire New Zealand political spectrum, that means the Democrats themselves have a pretty broad range of opinions.

        No doubt there are plenty of “bankster loving war mongering arms dealing foreign country Wall St deregulating destabilising bastards” in the party. There are plenty of people who are not.

        • Colonial Viper 20.1.1.1
          23 April 2016 at 2:11 am

          Dude who cares who is “in the party”; have you never noticed who runs the party, its establishment, its hierarchy and what kind of creepy corporate malfaesants donates to the leaders of the party FFS?

          BTW most NZers would be considered commie loving hippies in the Democratic Party, with our belief in free socialised healthcare and universal guaranteed pensions for all.

          • DS 20.1.1.1.1
            23 April 2016 at 2:51 am

            Ted Kennedy was as Establishment as they come. He was also a big supporter of free socialised healthcare.

            (Obamacare is itself an attempt to replicate universal healthcare via the private sector. Obama went with that because, you know, it was all that had a chance of actually passing).

            • Colonial Viper 20.1.1.1.1.1
              23 April 2016 at 9:19 am

              Ahhh yest the US system which is totally compromised by corporate bought politicians.

              Also this talk about Obama did the best he could…laughable.

              This is why AMericans are turning en masse away from the establishment.

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    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
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

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

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

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

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 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
    22 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

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