Mallard’s moa idea is not going to fly

Written By: - Date published: 1:38 pm, July 1st, 2014 - 97 comments
Categories: colin craig, david cunliffe, labour - Tags: ,

Politics is a funny thing.  The most earnest and well constructed of policies by an opposition party are often ignored.  Then someone makes a joke or a gaffe or gets caught out in some sort of personal scandal and then main stream and social media goes berserk for all the wrong reasons.

Today has been a bit like this.  This morning Trevor Mallard said with his tongue at least partially in his cheek that locals and scientists should work towards the possibility of moa one day striding again through the bush of Rimutaka Forest Park.  Scientifically the idea is not one that is utterly impossible.  Work on genetics goes on all the time and it is possible that one day reconstituting an extinct creature from recovered DNA may actually bring that creature back to life.

Our politicians should be future thinkers and should be willing to discuss ideas and concepts, no matter how bizarre they currently may be.

Social media has exploded.  Trevor Mallard and Moa are trending on local twitter feeds in a way which must make the creators of #TeamKey very jealous.

David Cunliffe has joined in the fun.  The Herald quote him as saying:

“I don’t think this one’s going to fly. There’s a lot of scientific work to go under the bridge before moas are going to be flopping around in Wainuiomata.

The moa’s not a goer.”

The quality of Cunliffe’s puns are something that my daughter would approve of.

But some commentators and some media have chosen to complain that Labour is getting sidetracked on irrelevant issues and not concentrating on policy.  Firstly can I assure everyone that Labour has been rolling out policy for a while and intends to continue to do so.  If you compare Labour’s offerings to what National has proposed so far there is significant more detail already.  Apart from more roads and some uncosted and unfunded promises of further tax cuts the lack of detail on the part of National is rather stark.

And oddly enough some in the media have criticised Labour because the media has chosen to report the moa story and not report on the policies which Mallard talked about including housing affordability.  But honestly this is weird, the media criticising Labour because the media chooses to talk about something.

Others have taken the comment in the way it was intended.  Duncan Garner has tweeted “Colin Craig supports the Moa idea and wants to take one to the moon to be the first thing to ever walk there”.  For the record and the avoidance of a defamation suit I should say that I am sure Garner was joking and that Craig does not really want to do this.

And I would not be surprised if some in the National Party automatically thought when Mallard’s comments were broadcast that Labour had nine long years to bring back the Moa and why is it talking about this now?

Politics can be a brutal, overly serious business sometimes.  We should tolerate the odd occasion when our elected representatives break out of their shell and make the odd wisecrack.

97 comments on “Mallard’s moa idea is not going to fly ”

  1. George 1

    The man is only in Parliament now so he can be speaker. If he continues on like this, the job will go to another National backbencher (or god forbid, three more years of the current imbecile), and he will have absolutely no reason to exist.

    At least he isn’t running Labour’s campaign this year.

  2. mikesh 2

    Perhaps it will be nicknamed the neo mallard duck.

  3. amirite 3

    The problem is that the media can’t wait to hook into irrelevant crap like this as just another chance to have a go at Labour.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1

      OK I agree re: the media. Next question: why is there “irrelevant crap like this” being put out there in the first place, 80 days before an election.

      The moa quip could have worked – if Mallard had followed up with serious points on how Labour was going to support genetic and genomic research (and science in general) in NZ over the long timeframes needed to pull off something like a moa project. Backed up by a real commitment of money. Stuff that a government in waiting might say on the campaign trail in other words.

      But no, there was no actual substance or follow up. So it just looks daft.

      As for other Labour policy being announced – I see Twyford has just put out a policy making it cheaper for real estate developers to get council services out to new subdevelopments, and making general ratepayers pay more for their property development projects. Fab.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1

        “Labour backs genetically modified organisms”.

        The media is not your friend. They are not going to become friendly if you cower in the face of their bullying.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2

      No. The problem is that the media isn’t interested in reporting or analysing Left policy unless it’s to report John Key’s opinion of it. Mallard’s mention of the Moa is the only reason his speech was reported at all.

      Perhaps you think humour has no place in public speaking.

      • phillip ure 3.2.1

        aside from being seriously unfunny…no..i don’t think this has any place in labours’ campaign..

        ..now..or ever..

        ..and really..?..you are blaming the media for smelling/sniffing at this pile of crap..?

        ..i’d look to the crapper..if you feel like apportioning some blame..

        • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2.1.1

          No, Phil, it’s you who doesn’t get it – the only way media are going to ignore quips in Labour speeches is if they remove them altogether. Then the media will report on how boring their speeches are.

          If they can’t find something substantive to attack they’ll just make something up.

          The only way to win is not to play – connect directly with people – good luck doing that if they’re not allowed to make people laugh.

          • phillip ure 3.2.1.1.1

            it..wasn’t..funny..!

            ..and any ‘laughing’ is because people think it is utterly stoopid..

            • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2.1.1.1.1

              Not to you. Were you at the speech? Neither was I. Humour is about timing, Phil.

              • humour is also about material..oan..

                ..good timing won’t save crap material..

                ..in the past i have ‘heh!’ed to yr quips…

                ..my confidence is now shaken..

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  There are people on the left whose views I find difficult to reconcile with my own. Trevor Mallard is one of them. Sometimes.

                  You are demanding the impossible.

        • Its a sad state our country has got into under this ghastly government when we are unable to laugh at a great have on.My wife and I really enjoyed the joke we are still laughing.
          Poor old Nats cant see the fuuny side of anything .They would have been a pain in the ass in a situation lile the Blitz. When bombed Londoners still managed to see the funny side of life.

  4. Sanctuary 4

    Valiant attempt at a defense and a very generous interpretation of Mallard.

    However.

    Moas, cycling, biathlons, lazy in his portfolios, listless and bad tempered behaviour in the house, a massive generation gap with his own party – Trevor Mallard comes across as the archtypical time-serving office cynic, petrified of reform primarily because someone might discover how lazy he actually is or he’ll be made to do some real work for a change. He is a walking, talking poster boy for term limits – a completely institutionalised lazy bastard, a dinosaur from another political era who is keeping better talent out of the parliament because he thinks the country owes him a living.

    Mallard is an utter self-serving has-been.

    • George 4.1

      Haven’t seen him at the Lower Hutt Riverbank Markets yet.

      You forgot the punch-up and the endless Twitter idiocy. Tau Henare is his equivalent, but the difference is that Key has had the numbers in his caucus to winnow a large number of the many National Party MPs who are absolutely useless. Cunliffe has no such luxury.

    • TE 4.2

      Sanctuary, That is the very best interpretation of the duck, ever.

      • gobsmacked 4.2.1

        Sanctuary +1

        Mallard’s message to the voters has been the same for years: “I’m here for me, so indulge me”.

        He has screwed up under four successive leaders, and will continue to help Labour’s opponents until he gets the boot he deserves.

        Frankly, defensive posts like MickeySavage’s don’t help Labour one bit. Tell the old guard like Mallard where to get off, call them out instead of covering for them – or stay in opposition.

        • mickysavage 4.2.1.1

          GS I think that humour has a very important place to play in politics. The more that it is branded as a “problem” by people across the political spectrum the more it will become one and I do not see why it has to become one.

          My post is in part an attempt to point out the fickleness of the media and the general population and what the left is up against.

          • Sanctuary 4.2.1.1.1

            You’ve got to do the hard yards first before you can get away with being a wise guy.

            Otherwise, you are just a jerk trying to be funny.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 4.2.1.1.1.1

              Mallard’s views don’t align with mine either, but just one minor point: how many times have you won an electorate seat for the left?

              Where are your ‘hard yards’?

              • he lucked into a safe labour seat…

                ..that didn’t take any particular skill..

                ..that’s like going..’wow!..what a star!’ about mccully..

                ..just ‘cos he has/had (heh!) a safe seat in east coast bays..

                ..(that hotbed of progressive-thought/ideas..)

                ..and i wonder what the poorest in mallards safe labour seat feel about how labour has treated them since rogernomics..?

                ..with mallard in all that shit up to his neck..

                ..a poster-boy for that uncaring/fuck-the-poor!-neo-lib/rand-ite-labour..

                ..i wonder how many non-voters are in mallards’ seat..

                ..that could be quite illuminating/a barometer..

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  Yes, I’d like better MPs too. Read Nandor’s valedictory: they don’t call it the worst possible system apart from all the other ones for nothing.

              • Sanctuary

                @One Anonymous Bloke 1 July 2014 at 4:24 pm

                Did you see the news? One shot of Mallard hanging himself by repeating his stupid idea,. a vox pop of five government minister getting free shots, Cunliffe saying it wasn’t a goer and Mallard contradicting him. FFS.

                Look, Mallard was once a fine MP. The operative word there are “was once”. He was clearly burnt out by the time Labour lost in 2008. Generationally and ideologically he belongs in a museum. He has been completely ineffective in opposition, he hasn’t fired a shot. He has not had a fresh policy idea or shown any enthusiasm for his job for six long, useless years. Worse, his weird demeanor, speech and general attitude indicates he now inhabits a surreal reality of his own making. Classic symptoms of an institutionalised inmate.

                What is really telling about this Moa episode isn’t that he came up with the idea – it is that he somehow thought it would be taken seriously by the public or the media.

                Finally, where the fuck is his discipline? He is like some strange guy rambling off message about fuck knows what. And you and me and everyone reading this is paying that clown to sit there and take the piss out of his employers – us.

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  Yes, let’s accept right now that the election is all about Trevor. With associates like you, who needs friends?

          • Nakiman 4.2.1.1.2

            Good to see Labour concentrating on the important stuff.
            Cunners was not happy with another distraction from Mallard and Mickey makes a feeble attempt to try and spin this as some sort of joke and blame the media.
            Labour are the joke.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 4.2.1.1.2.1

              Nakiman provides yet more evidence that authoritarian followers cannot cope with anything other than Stalinism.

              Read all about it.

          • Clemgeopin 4.2.1.1.3

            Don’t know for sure what was going on in his active brain. Mallard is a very clever man. May be he wants to keep his Wainuimata residents eager, proud and happy so that they may continue to vote for him for another 50 to 100 years, or may be he is a little bit pregnant longing for a very large hot cup of small moa soup some day. Who knows! In Trevor’s case, ANY publicity IS good publicity!

    • alwyn 4.3

      And that is the good things about Trevor from Sanctuary.
      Now, how about telling us about his negative qualities?

    • Karen 4.4

      +1 Sanctuary

    • fisiani 4.5

      Mallard is part of the ABC faction. Do not think for a moment that this was not a deliberate ploy. For the first time he has a candidate who will thrash him in the meet the candidates meetings. You do not appear on Seven Sharp with a loony idea unless you want to take the focus off your leader. The Cunliffe was blindsided by this. He is a saboteur.

  5. freedom 5

    The Moa was always going to make an appearance in the house today.

    But who would have thought it would expose the heart of the National Party so vividly.
    The PM’s very first mention of the Moa, was for it to be consumed.

    “the special will be a Moa Burger”

  6. fender 6

    I think it’s rather charitable of Mallard to give Key a new subject to bang away on in his attempt to get laughs during his question time stand-up routine.

  7. really..?..really..?

    ..not a brain-fart..but just some jolly-hijinks..?

    ..you put this clown-routine next to his immigration policy release on sun..

    ..where nobody told the media it was happening…(!)

    ..and that’s a good-look..?

    ..you reckon..?

    ..a good look for labour..?

    ..at this particular point in time..?

    ..when you hardly have gravitas to burn..?

    ..send mallard on a cycle-tour until the election is over..

    ..and take his mobile phone off him..

    ..and there he sits in parliament..reveling in being the butt of nationals’ serial-one-liners..the centre of attention..

    ..he’s been there for so long his past-use-by date sticker has yellowed..and peeled away…and fallen off..

  8. gobsmacked 8

    Look at the photo in this link:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/10219380/Top-five-reader-comments-moa-edition

    It wasn’t an off-the-cuff remark, a “wisecrack”. It was in his speech, prepared, planned, deliberate.

    So, a senior Labour strategist and spokesman sat down and thought: “This will be good. This will get publicity. This is what my party needs.” And then he acted on that thought. Yes, really.

    I can’t be bothered to explain yet again how stupid this is, since so many of us said it all in 2011. Nothing has changed. He must go.

  9. infused 9

    Well. That’s one way to spin it.

  10. Tautoko Viper 10

    Lighten up , everybody. Remember, we are fighting against the Blue team. FFS we don’t need to waste our energy scrapping with each other. Eyes on the ball will help. The referee (media) is blind. Just keep playing until the whistle blows.

    • gobsmacked 10.1

      But Trevor’s not fighting for the team. That’s the whole bloody point.

      Please don’t tell us to do unpaid what MPs won’t do for us.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.1

        Bollocks – media driven bollocks to boot.

        Are all Labour’s public speakers to dull their speeches down to “media-acceptable” levels then?

        • gobsmacked 10.1.1.1

          No, just to campaign-acceptable levels.

          Fill in the blanks: “To all Labour MPs: from the leadership team

          Today the campaign will focus on …… , we will be talking to the media about …… , and the leader would like all MPs to support this by focusing on …..”.

          If the missing word is “Moa”, then Trevor was working for the Labour election campaign. Maybe there was a memo, who knows?

          But I’m guessing there wasn’t, otherwise Cunliffe would be backing his man. Sadly, Trevor doesn’t care about the team, and it shows.

          The media reported Mallard’s comments because he wanted them to. Labour don’t. National do. That’s the problem, right there.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.1.1.1

            Yes, because that would totes work, because the media is so impartial the way to win elections is to bypass them completely.

            Clearly, Jonolism is Trevor Mallard’s fault.

            headdesk

            • gobsmacked 10.1.1.1.1.1

              Where did the story come from? Who provided it? A journalist’s imagination?

              See link at #8.

              You think it was a good idea. I think it was a bad one. You think the media are to blame. I think the guy who gave it to the media is to blame. I think election campaigns should be disciplined and smart. You think “Whatever”. I think 2011 was a self-inflicted disaster, Mallard was in charge, and now he should STFU.

              Fine, we disagree.

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                Yes, and let’s be clear about what we disagree on: I don’t think the left has the motivation, the philosophy, let alone the resources (for fuck’s sake) to employ sycophants who toe the party line, and therefore partisan media will be able to lampoon our MPs for independent thought in much the same way as they report on the behaviour of David Garrett and Graham Capill and Judith Collins and Maurice Williamson and John Banks and the stupidity of Simon Bridges and the mendacity of John Key and the incompetence of Hekia Parata and Gerry Brownlee and Bill ‘Double Dipton’ English (who gets a special mention for incompetence and corruption).

                Take a deep breath and remember that Trevor will be Trevor, and Jonolists will strive to rise to Paddy depths.

                • Sanctuary

                  “…Take a deep breath and remember that Trevor will be Trevor, and Jonolists will strive to rise to Paddy depths…”

                  Dude, WTF?? What do you think parliament is, Hogwarts? I haven’t got time for “Trevor to be Trevor”. Taxpayers working bloody hard don’t fork out the thick end of 200K PA so Trevor can swan around being Trevor. He is there to do his fucking job, for Christ’s sake. Talk about a sense of entitlement. Do you really believe the taxpayer owes “Trevor will be Trevor” Mallard a fucking living?

                  Labour MPs are not put there to be indulged like brats at a posh boarding school. They are put there to do a job for the poor, the marginalised, the sick, the battlers, the low paid working three jobs. Those people – does Trevor even remember them? Or is he to busy picking a new $5,000 bike to help with his new personal best time?

                  Get outta there Mallard, and let someone else who appreciates the privilege of serving the people and will take the job seriously have a go.

                  Trevor Mallard is a relic from the 1980s, a waste of space that is blocking better talent and new ideas.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    Nah, I’m more concerned about John and Bill and Hekia and Judith and Paula and Simon just at the moment. You want to make the election all about Trevor? Way to go.

                  • blue leopard

                    I actually think that was a set-up by Labour – not just Mallard. Injecting some light-hearted distraction – as in distracting the media from attacking Labour. It worked too. Keeping their faces on the news, yet in for a light-hearted reason is all good. Nothing like coverage that is a bit out of the ordinary to get people noticing you.

  11. Adrian 11

    Bring back Haasts Eagle, I reckon. Just imagine, very obedient kids ( something really scary to frighten the little buggers with ) great for the tourist industry, not so good for the trampers though and would completely fuck sheep farming but that’s rooted anyway.
    But boy, what a sight!!.

    • mac1 11.1

      +1 Adrian.
      The we could have a Four Eagle Day and watch HE at play. I’m on the border of Wales, about to visit Dylan Thomas’s haunts and perhaps see a ‘hawk on fire’ above Sir John’s just hill.

      Anniversary of the Somme today, on a more serious note. Warfare- that’s something I wish we could lose the DNA for.

    • Stuart Munro 11.2

      And you they’d love to hunt in spaces like golf courses …

  12. greywarbler 12

    Think outside the square. It sounded silly and time-wasting to me first, and then I thought what a game-changer. And it is not about money spent or sleeping partners. Mind you a little bit of moa goes a long way. But keep it going a while Mallard, you’ve hit a six there.

  13. Puckish Rogue 13

    Well its Mallard so its not like anyone takes him seriously anyway

  14. Clemgeopin 14

    I think some of you here and in the media are missing the most subtle point here:

    The media has hardly given any publicity to so many of the important policies announced by Labour so far, whereas Key and National get enormous publicity to their few unremarkable announcements.

    However, a statement by Mallard (not the Labour party) gets huge publicity, the media and the posters going crazy! This moa has taken a big flight here! That is the point. A dig and a wake up call to the media and the public to pay more attention to the REAL serious policies of Labour which have either been ignored by the media or have received scant exposure, unlike those of National. Isn’t the media irresponsible, biased and unfair to the country, its people and democracy? Take a look at the Labour party website to see the number of policies already released so far and compare them to the scant exposure they were given by our wonderful print and TV media to see the point I am making.

    Perhaps this flying moa will help cause some much needed better take off for Labour now. Here is hoping!

    • One Anonymous Bloke 14.1

      +1

    • McFlock 14.2

      pretty much.If you can’t get the point across because they won’t give you serious exposure, you might want to make a point any way you can.

      Mallard suggests that sometime in the future we might be able to bring the Moa back from extinction. While the nats are willing to make Maui’s dolphins extinct for a quick buck. Illustrates the left/right divide, in my opinion.

      • poem 14.2.1

        +1000 McFlock
        Interestingly there are other countries that do take this seriously, Australia want to bring back the Tasmanian tiger and Russia have already brought back an extinct flower.

    • poem 14.3

      +1000 Clemgeopin and there some on here that need to lighten up !!

      • blue leopard 14.3.1

        +1

        It kept the airheads in the media happy. It was good natured and I don’t think it was solely conducted by Mallard as others appear to have assumed – I really think we need moa of this type of stuff 😉

        [yeah, o.k sorry, I just couldn’t resist; corny as it was….]

        • poem 14.3.1.1

          Yes, and I agree with you Blue Leopard, Mallard most definitely didn’t do this on his own, he would have the support of Cunliffe and team.

          I loved it when Mallard said he only wanted small ones, so he could pat them on the head !! Lol Warm fuzzy !!

    • miravox 14.4

      +1 quite subtle

      It’s a bit of a reminder that Labour hasn’t forgotten the local issue that Hutt is a science base through the endangered CRIs, which increasingly have a commercial function. The rest of the speech got sod-all coverage and probably wouldn’t have got any at all without musing about moas.

  15. dimebag russell 15

    SEE YA SAMOA!

  16. One Anonymous Bloke 16

    If Mallard’s joke one day comes to fruition, think what that would mean. Would the neo-Moa be a genetically modified organism? Would it make sense to bring back Haast’s Eagle to prey on them (why not?), and more importantly, would this lead to parents being able to increase the IQ of their offspring despite the fact this would be bad news for the National Party?

  17. thecard 17

    ha ha what a jolly jape.

  18. JK 18

    Right on, Clemgeo. and Mickey for highlighting this. Maybe some posters need to go looking for their sense of humour !

  19. Clean_power 19

    What is Trevor Mallard trying to achieve? Heard him on the radio saying he is serious about the moa.

    His undermining of the party continues. he needs to be think again or be kicked out.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 19.1

      Your concern has been noted and is now being used as toilet paper.

    • dimebag russell 19.2

      clean power sounds like he uses tooooo much soap.
      never mind he will never in a million years be able to wipe away the stench of corruption and evil that hangs around the national party.

    • Nakiman 19.3

      “His undermining of the party continues. he needs to think again or be kicked out.”
      Clean_power you cant tell the truth like that you will upset the deluded left who want to blame others for Labours clusterfuck.

  20. dimebag russell 20

    that sounds great coming from someone that was hatched on a piece of corrugated iron in the son.

  21. notowenglenn 21

    David Cunliffe resurrected the Mallard so anything is possible. Hopefully cloning is out of the question.

  22. vto 22

    he who laughs last laughs best…

    so the saying goes..

  23. lurgee 23

    Awesome. Labour waste precious airtime with waffle about extinct indigenous fowl.

    Carry on setting the agenda, you colossal hopeless cuticles. You’re doing the workers and poverty stricken children proud with you moa-mooning moronical musings.

    I think Mallard was really suggesting not that the Moa should rejoin the modern world but that Labour should join the ranks of extinct species.

  24. fisiani 24

    The Moa became extinct 600 years ago. Mallard becomes extinct on September 20th.

  25. fender 25

    Apparently Key wanted to bring back a dinosaur, until it was pointed out that he already had one as Finance Minister. So he set his sights on bringing back feudalism instead..

  26. Scott1 26

    In the end – the first country to breed an extinct animal will have the lead in an incredibly valuable industry as well as getting a massive tourism boost.

    If you laugh at it as being impossible you are clearly just wrong. If you laugh at it as being something that one cannot support (maybe with some tax breaks or supporting policy) again you are clearly just wrong. And if you find it immoral then you are a dinosaur and are in need of a bit of reincarnation..

    As a political move I think it is OK, it is a bit of a distraction and, those that are idiots or Luddites get a chance to stamp idiot or Luddite on their heads, good for them.

    • so..anyone who don’t support mallards ‘i had a dream..about 50 yrs into the future’..

      ..is a ‘luddite/idiot’..?

      ..and we should hurriedly allocate funds/tax-breaks/policy to make mallards dream come true..eh..?

      ..right ho..!

      .you’re onto it there..scott..!

      ..heh..!

      ..(you’re funny scott..!..you can keep on hanging around..

      ..just keep those laffs coming..eh..?..)

      • Scott1 26.1.1

        Trevor isn’t proposing tax breaks.
        Can you try to engage with the argument as opposed to just being a laughing fool?

        • phillip ure 26.1.1.1

          well..y’see scott..to ‘engage’ with any degree of seriousness..with this particular brain-fart..

          ..would indeed label me as a ‘fool’..

          ..so i’ll just keep on ‘laughing’ at those who do..eh.?

          ..and i believe you piled on even more idiocy..with the tax-breaks call..

          • Scott1 26.1.1.1.1

            It isn’t a call for tax breaks – my point was that there are things one could do to assist in planning for the future. A tax break is an option but to decide to do that one would need to look at the facts of the matter.

            If you are saying you would oppose a the government having policy (or even stating an opinion) even if the facts of the matter proved it was highly beneficial – then I don’t know what to say… You should join the libertarianz party I suppose because only they would be that stupid.

            As far as I can tell that is what you are saying…

            • phillip ure 26.1.1.1.1.1

              “.. one would need to look at the facts of the matter…”

              well..there’s yr problem in one there..scott..

              ..’cos it being just a mallard brain-fart..

              ..means there are really no ‘facts of the matter.’..eh..?

              ..aside from that brain-fart-stain on on the inside of his cycling-cap..eh..?

      • Scott1 26.1.2

        As to what I can make out of your argument I’ll just say – I think it would be nice if we did have some consideration for the long term (and were willing to at least debate it seriously) – but apparently you don’t seem to believe in that.

        • phillip ure 26.1.2.1

          do i ‘believe in’ mallard..?

          ..no scott..no i don’t…

          (see comment number four..for why..eh..?)

          • Scott1 26.1.2.1.1

            Even from a straight pragmatic perspective – labour can deal with this all by themself with a quiet little “yeah it was interesting but we won’t be doing anything” if that is the thing they think will work politically.

            I find it hard to imagine they will get seriously hurt by it UNLESS phillip ure unleashes his scathing attacks and tears the heart out of the party.

            In the end the problem as per OAB is when media are going through your speeches with a fine tooth comb for stuff to laugh at you don’t want to play the game at all. Anyway, better to be mentioned and laughed at than never mentioned at all.

      • Clemgeopin 26.1.3

        I suspect that people would have made similar points/objections as yours when scientists and visionaries first proposed ideas years and years ago for space exploration, moon and mars landing etc.

        May be for computers, telephone, radio, live pictures picture images on TV, automobiles, printing, driverless cars, human organ transplants, sheep cloning, round Earth etc too?

        May be in 50 to 100 years. along with the cryogenically still preserved Walt Disney Trev Mallard may himself, be brought back to life laughing all the way to Bee Hive once again as the new young Trev the moa man. Who knows!

  27. Bob 27

    “Politics can be a brutal, overly serious business sometimes. We should tolerate the odd occasion when our elected representatives break out of their shell and make the odd wisecrack”, an interesting point you make Mickeysavage, yet you don’t seem to take the same stance when it comes to our Prime Minister….

  28. Mr Tank 28

    Trevor did not come up with the idea. That also explains why he had no idea how to present it and no idea as to the context in which it should have been used. The heat it generated is indicative of just how useful it could have been if done right. The next time someone catches a whiff of one of my ideas I suggest they talk to me before shooting their mouths off. Incidentally, I would NEVER have run that up the (public) flag pole without making sure that my colleagues knew enough to help make it fly. Ambushing your own is not a smart move…

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  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
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    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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