Matt King goes full nut job

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, December 29th, 2018 - 77 comments
Categories: censorship, child welfare, making shit up, national, poverty, Propaganda, quality of life, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, twitter, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Tis Christmas time.  When MPs and political commentators go on holiday, recharge their batteries and make plans for the next year.

Unless your name is Matt King in which case you scour the papers for evidence of extreme left wing propaganda and then allege that the voices of the right are being suppressed.

Yes, this is exactly what he did recently.

The offending article, written by Lana Hart in Stuff is well written and I found myself agreeing with her every paragraph.  I guess this would be Exhibit A for King and his claim of left wing bias.

The theme of the article is the level and extent of neglect that the change of Government has unearthed.

Like in Health:

Middlemore Hospital was the poster child for chronic under-resourcing, but it was far from the only hospital in the country with asbestos and mould, earthquake-prone and leaky buildings, and entire departments that had stumbled along for years with facilities not acceptable in First World countries.

And the alarming increase in child poverty:

From social welfare benefits that hadn’t kept pace with cost of living and the wearing down of services that directly affected children, such as mental health and education funding, to a housing crisis created mostly by a belief that the free market could provide for everyone, kids in our country suffered disproportionately by government responsibilities left undone. The government’s role of protecting the most vulnerable members of our country from the crush of poverty had been largely ignored.

And even the most mundane aspects of the Government’s responsibility to regulate in the public good:

The NZ Transport  Agency had for several years reneged on its regulatory function to monitor companies that certify vehicles for road safety.

Due to what the transport minister described as “process failures and under-resourcing over the last decade”, cars and trucks with meaningless warrants of fitness are now on the road, with one estimate of the number of potentially unsafe vehicles at 150,000. Unlikely that will help improve our road toll this year.

Or how about the last Government overseeing the use of private investigators to spy on us like goddam totalitarian thugs?

It’s not OK, we’ve learned, for insurance companies to use private investigators engaged by government departments to record our conversations about personal interests such as property or environmental views. We don’t like it when we are forced to unleash a flood of personal information to someone working in a government agency or to comply with government regulations that may have seemed important to the policy wonk who wrote them in 1984, but now seem onerous and irrelevant.

I thought her conclusion was very apt:

Surely this – enabling people to live good lives –  is the role of all governments, whether local or national. They should exert some influence over us with legitimate rules without getting in the way of our individual rights to autonomy and free choice. Since some of us need more help than others, governments also need to step in to even out the inequalities that life throws at us.

After a few years looking after what Kiwis have collectively built, it will probably be time for the current Government to move out. Hopefully they will leave the public house in a better condition than when they first arrived.

Drawing on real life examples she formed a conclusion about the overall direction the last Government took us in.  And concluded, rightfully in my opinion, that it was the wrong direction.

The comments were interesting.  It seems to me that National must have a whole army of old men shaking their fists at clouds ready to fill comments sessions with their bile.  Like this one from Sherbert2:

Lana must have had her head in the sand if she thought all the problems she mentioned came to light after the election.They were invented by Labour pre-election.Remember the 80,000 kiddies living in poverty ? where are they now ? The homeless that were on our screens day in and day have been forgotten because it was all staged by the most honest, transparent, and caring govt ever .Give me a break.

Mr F Dagg had a rant:

it’s amazing the blinded bitterness the socialists still cling to… if you take a deep breath & look at the numbers you’ll find that clark/cullen under-funded core services cv to the relative generosity of national… the latter had a few fiscal issues to deal with on the few resources they were left, yet managed to relatively over-fund core services whilst carving an economy the envy of the oecd world…

what you clearly overlook is that all public services are money sinks, no matter how much money you throw at them they’ll always want more… the greed from striking public servants this year is clear proof of that…<

#socialismisaracetothebottom

And Flintstone:

well the writer of this opinion piece does highlight the fact that more needs to be spent on mental health!

And Beachboy:

What a load of dribble, firstly Middlemore had no leaks or mould, secondly the Minister does not do Warrant of Fitness inspections or run the companies which do them, thirdly the previous govt had put aside $20 plus billion to do its 17 roads of National Significance. All this govt has done is cancelled those so the roads are again delayed so they can re allocate the money to their pet projects. They have been great at reannouncing like all the homes being built by the previous govt as their own.
This government needs to take ownership of its stuff ups and there have been many of those with its KiwiJoke, lack of transparency, secretly signing the UN MOU on Migration, stopping oil and gas exploration, just to name a few.
Most people do not want government to interfere with their lives and we don’t want waffle and continual b*&(sh&^ with outright lies and mis truths. The general population can see through the waffle that nothing is being done except lots of non productive meetings

And Fisherman:

Its interesting that even 15 months into its term, this government and its deciples continue you place blame for everything that is supposedly still wrong in NZ at the feet of the Key/English administration. At some point the blame game is going to have to cease and this rabble will have to actually become accountable. The PM in particular will at some stage have to front and provide some proper leadership.

And Annon:

It was completely unnecessary to start something about government control in our lives with an attack on the previous government and their supposed lack of funding. They only had so much to spend after auntie helen squandered it and they had to deal with several natural disasters during their time in power and still managed to leave money in the bank to be squandered by this government.

BTW labour are notorious for wanting to control people’s lives. They walk the extremely fine line between socialism and communism and history has shown that NEITHER of these work – even China has headed towards capitalism given the growth in their economy.

There were a number of anti Government comments, verging from slightly to considerably nutty.

It looks like a couple of comments got through but were deleted by the moderator.  One response to a deleted comment was this:

You are a sad person wishing poor people who aren’t as fortunate as you are not to breed. The fact that your comments have got past the Moderator surprises me.  You see my parents were poor, my siblings and I changed that through hard work. My family are successful Business people now.   If your comments were enacted by a previous Government my family wouldn’t be here. Good luck to you I hope no misfortune happens to you or your family which reduces you or them to being poor.

The deleted comment must have been pretty extreme in a eugenics sort of way.

But Matt King was having nothing of this:

Responses were interesting:

https://twitter.com/richardneateNZ/status/1078406015014424576

https://twitter.com/fxbtnz/status/1078728914439208960

https://twitter.com/jeremy_pm/status/1078436756800716800

And it looks like SnarkyMcSnark had a screen shot of the deleted comment:

I think that Matt should set out publicly what comments he had made which Stuff did not publish. They should be allowed the light of day to shine strongly on them so we can either revel in their magnificence or laugh at their stupidity.

But for a National MP to claim there is some sort of conspiracy to suppress right wing views in the media is bizarre.  Right wing voices are incredibly loud and vociferous.  To suggest otherwise is the sort of Trumpesque nuttiness that America sees far too much of.

77 comments on “Matt King goes full nut job ”

  1. Kat 1

    Matt King will most likely be back pushing lawnmowers and chainsaws after the next election. He may consider the security business or even a stint at medicinal cannabis farming.

    • veutoviper 1.1

      Don’t mention lawnmowers !!!!!!!!!!!!

      Otherwise you will be condemned to comment at least 50 times a day on Kiwiblog for eternity.

      • veutoviper 1.1.1

        PS – not a criticism; just a bad attempt at humour. Sorry, Kat.

        Sometimes ignorance is bliss and I recommend it for anyone who doesn’t understand the references to lawnmowers at Kiwiblog.

    • Wayne 1.2

      Pretty sure that Matt will comfortably win Northland at the next election.

      As for the article/opinion piece, well, it might just have well been written at Labour HQ. But the be fair to Stuff, they have regularly published opinion pieces from the right as well, just not that many of them.

      I personally find Stuff has a more left wing tilt than the Herald, which has a better balance of right and left commentators. Seems to be about 50% balance in the Herald and 75% left in Stuff. Which reflects that Wellington’s population and thus readership is generally more left than Auckland.

      Papers/news media websites tend to reflect their communities/readerships. Which is hardly surprising.

      • Muttonbird 1.2.1

        No, Stuff is 50-50, and The Herald is 75% right wing.

      • Sacha 1.2.2

        Really? Please do tell us which Herald commentators you see as left-wing.

        • Chris 1.2.2.1

          The reason Spray and Walk Away Wayne will not answer your question is because while of course he will say that he thinks the Herald is 50/50, what he believes is that every commentator at the Herald is left-wing.

          There you go Wayne, saved you the trouble.

      • Anne 1.2.3

        I think you’ll find Stuff is just out for click-bait and the right give them more ammunition than the left. 😉

      • KJT 1.2.4

        Probably.

        As Northland farmers will vote for a gumboot, so long as it is coloured blue.

        One of the 100k, MP’s?

        • the other pat 1.2.4.1

          ah the humble blue band gumboot.!!!….leaks like a sieve and costs a thousand bux a pair…but the peasants who make em get paid 2.50 a day

      • David Mac 1.2.5

        I think Northland is in a state of flux and I’d say all bets are off re: Who wins the seat next time round.

        I feel my thoughts are confirmed by Winston scooping the pool time before last.

        I’ve been up here for over a decade now and the change I speak of seems to have many faces. eg:

        Freehold home owners cashing up in Auckland, buying a beaut house on the coast and sticking 500k in the bank – Right voters.

        The reverse urban drift, people returning to a less pressured lifestyle in locations that their families have lived in for 700 years. – Left voters.

        I think the Northland seat is open to the candidate that offers the most palatable offering of bipartisan hope, regardless of what party they are attached to.

        • Kat 1.2.5.1

          Matt King is desperately trying to make himself relevant, he has two more years but based on current performance he won’t. The odds are against him winning the Northland seat again. Total share of votes in 2017 was: Matt King 15,243, Winston Peters 13,854, Willow Jean Prime 8,599 (others are not worth mentioning). Matt Kings majority of 1,389 is very assailable and especially if Winston stands again and that unknown may be the main “state of flux” that could influence the outcome.

          • David Mac 1.2.5.1.1

            Hi Kat, I’m hoping the next MP for Northland is someone that has never stood. Almost everytime I catch a comment from ex New Zealander of the Year Dr Lance O’Sullivan I think ‘Yep, that makes sense to me.’

            I encounter his grassroots good work at every turn. Sorting out a kid’s clicky hips or signing the paperwork to get a family home properly insulated. I don’t care what party he aligns with, he has my vote.

            I think a wise party would be hard-out wooing him.

            • Kat 1.2.5.1.1.1

              David, Northland will be a political hot potato come next election. Matt King is the sitting MP and unless hit by a bus or a runaway lawnmower will be standing for National. Willow Jean Prime is the Labour candidate and a current MP and difficult to see her not standing. For a credible shot on a party ticket that leaves Dr Lance O’Sullivan joining NZF as well as standing in Northland. He may join a party and stand somewhere else but highly unlikely to be Northland.

              • David Mac

                Yes Kat, I agree with your take on the Northland political landscape.

                At the risk of pooping in my own nest, I’ve been a bit disappointed with how invisible Willow Jean appears to be.

                It seems to be an ailment that follows list MPs about. I think she should be lighting fires, rattling cages and getting her name in the paper and through my eyes, it just hasn’t happened.

                I saw Dr Lance romancing with the Maori Party but I think he has the potential to appeal to a wider audience. Willow Jean is there because the Labour party appointed her. I think Lance has the potential to pull up a chair in the Beehive because the people of Northland want him there.

                • One Two

                  You’re correct about MP’s in general , David…not just list MP’s…

                  Although list MP’s must follow the gatekeepers agenda more than electorate…or it’s list demotion time…

                  Lance O’Sullivan is unstable and unsuitable to be taken seriously…on any subject matter…

                  • KJT

                    I am now convinced he is a good bloke. If One two doesn’t like him.

                    Actually he talks sense. Which means he will probably never be a politician.

              • Chris

                Highly unlikely to be Labour, too.

          • Wayne 1.2.5.1.2

            Kat,

            For you to be correct would require a deal between NZF and Labour. Now that could be possible. If Labour’s voters were prepared to follow direction, a win is possible for NZF. That assumes the Winston (or other serious NZF candidate) held on to at least 80% of the 2017 Winston vote. That will be a big ask in itself.

            My money would still be on Matt holding the seat, since not all of the Labour vote would actually switch.

            As for the Herald balance of commentators, Wilson, Marvelly and Rudman would all be left, Roughan, Hooton and O’Sullivan are right. Trevett, Dann and Young are basically centre.

            • Wayne 1.2.5.1.2.1

              I should also mention Fallow. Hard to pick. Maybe centre right, but could be centre left.

            • Sacha 1.2.5.1.2.2

              Young and Roughan are tribally Nat rather than Act, but I’d hardly call that ‘centre’. I’ve most often seen Trevett slavishly echo Nat talking points and angles too.

              You seem to have omitted Hosking, Hawkesby, Soper and Duplessis-Allen – or do they also count as ‘centre’ in your eyes?

              • Andre

                It’s all consistent if ‘centre’ is ‘where National is’.

              • Wayne

                Hosking is typically on the back page. Half the time I don’t get there. But yes, he is right. Soper, I would say is centre, though I think Dupleiss-Allen is centre right. As for Hawkesby, centre. While they are both couples, they are not political mirrors of each other.

                While Audrey is from a National family, she works hard to be a centre voice. Yes. some of her articles might seem right, but then plenty are also left. It depends on how well the govt or the opposition are actually doing.

                Clair Trevett puts a lot of humour in her articles, seems happy to prick anyone’s ballon.

                • Sacha

                  Interesting. Thank you for responding.

                  • Wayne

                    I should also mention Little. He is left, but is primarily a social rather than political commentator. Also an entertaining writer.

                • Anne

                  I have come to enjoy Claire Trevett. Even when I don’t agree with what she is saying, I love the way she says it. She has a remarkable way with words.

            • Kat 1.2.5.1.2.3

              There won’t be a “deal” between Labour and NZF. Only National/Act supporters need directions on how to vote, as in Epsom. Voters have two ticks remember, party and candidate and come the next election if Winston or Shane Jones stands it will be a no brainer for Labour/NZF voters what to do. This is the nightmare reality for National in Northland and a number of other electorates.

              The other problem for National is that on one hand they accuse Shane Jones of buying the electorate being the champion of the provinces and on the other accuse the govt of doing nothing in Northland. National can’t have it both ways and if they have any hope at all they need to change tact and start producing serious alternative policy that is relevant to the 21st century.

              Have a great New Year, Wayne.

      • Pete 1.2.6

        King comfortably winning next time is more a comment on the idiots who vote for him.

        National treated Northland like crap for years and got a scare when Peters won it. Then they crapped themselves when their buddies didn’t get into Government. That has seen clowns like King running around all aggrieved and saying how badly Northland is doing with roading.

      • Unicus 1.2.7

        Can anyone from the National gaggle haunting this site explain why a corporate focused Murdoch -esq media – even in its most indulgent moments support the a Labour Party or its allies – or even democracy itself for that matter.

      • PaulC 1.2.8

        I’ve cancelled BOTH my Taranaki Daily News & NZ Herald. Neither are papers as they used to be. Neither publish balanced reports, only biased ones.

  2. NZJester 2

    Matt King If he was telling the truth would not have “Matt King For Northland” on his sign, it would read “Matt King For Himself (and anyone who gives him a decent legal bribe)”

  3. R.P Mcmurphy 3

    Watch him on channel 31 and he is a bi-polar right wing bombiddybom tory nutter.

  4. Matt King ate a pie once – hold the front page, more details soon, now back to the studio for expert commentary…

  5. Gabby 5

    Matt Headroom.

    • Jacquelyne 5.1

      Please Gabby hon
      Max Headroom was funny.Still is.
      Also the invention of clever dry minds.
      Matt King more like a concoction of missing wonky links,a little bit like his current leader..

    • WeTheBleeple 5.2

      In Australia back in the day they had introduced video relayed court proceedings. I was locked up for drunk and disorderly (which is how we roll in Aussie) and not presenting a passport (was in a safe in Bundaberg, long story) and put in a video courtroom with a Brisbane judge on a monitor – who looked just like Max Headroom. To make matters worse there was a video delay giving him the jerky appearance of the TV character.

      I was biting my cheeks really hard to stop from laughing. It was uncannily like the show, and everything seemed detached from reality that hungover day…

  6. Pat 6

    All symptoms of the fear that comes with the elites loss of control thats occurring worldwide…..something about chickens and roosts.

  7. mosa 7

    Collins – King ticket for 2020.

  8. greywarshark 8

    Matt King and probably the whole of the National Party and their apparatchiks
    should donate their brains to science so that the effects of modern civilisation can be studied from those who have been most diseased by the neo-liberal, free market plague.

    • fender 8.1

      That suggestion just makes me visualise a laboratory full of empty jars and scientists sitting around twiddling their thumbs.

      • greywarshark 8.1.1

        Oh there is mass there, but it’s a mess. And as full mask and safety gear will need to be worn to prevent the virulent strain from spreading, there is likely to be a high turnover in lab staff.

  9. veutoviper 9

    Thanks for bringing this to notice, MS.

    A thought provoking article well worth reading, which I would probably have missed.

    (Please note that the Press journalist’s name is Lana Hart – not Hutt as in your post. No criticism – summer holiday brains are allowed.)

    I find Matt King’s Twitter response to her article really interesting as a day or so ago (27/28 Dec) there were reports on both RNZ News and in The Herald that Dr Shane Reti – King’s Whangarei Nat MP mate – had also not ‘closed down for summer’ and was criticising the Government on the Northland meningococcal vaccine roll-out being too slow.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=12181790

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/379131/officials-slow-on-meningococcal-w-outbreak-mp

    At the time, cynical me thought OK is this a one off? Or are the Nats going to spend the Summer recess chasing cars and barking about every little which thing they can find to attack?

    One MP does not a strategy make; two a coincidence? Time will tell. A bit like the sudden appearance of the motorway signs…

    No rest for the wicked?

    Isaiah 57:20 “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”

    LOL

    [Ta. Now fixed – MS]

  10. JustMe 10

    National and their various MPs and supporters eg the Mouthpiece of the NZ National Party(aka the NZ Herald)will always blame everyone else but the faces staring back at them in the mirror.

    Perhaps such denial by National MPs that they caused alot of problems due to their arrogance, pig-headedness, greed, ego, etc.etc.etc should have such an illness identified as being the “Denial Syndrome”.

    It’s clearly a mental illness that is rampant amongst politicians that have been in a job far too long and taking it, the job of being an MP on a fantastic pay packet and perks of the job, a little bit too much for granted.

    Anthony Robbins once referred to a relationship in crisis as being something where the “Law of Familiarity’ comes into effect. That is being with someone(or in the instance of Matt King and co)in a job like politics for far too long is they start taking things for granted.

    Politicians do start behaving as if the world OWES THEM a living and not vice-versa.

    If King, like Key, doesn’t like hearing National and the previous government being criticised then it’s time King dropped off the scene and gave the job to perhaps a more credit-worthy and meritable person.

    But we all know he like his ilk in politics(the National Party)will not do the honourable thing and resign. Not whilst there is the NZ taxpayer to rip off at every opportunity.

  11. farming …..failed………Cop…….failed…..MP…….Completely failed.Give it up Rodders.

  12. JustMe 12

    I am strongly feeling like I need to do a “Lets Bash National and their MPs urge coming on”.

    And lets go:
    Where was Matt King when John Key was sexually harassing a waitress on more than ONE occasion by pulling her ponytail despite the fact she told him not to????!! Oh right he, King, was probably thinking all righteousness shines out of Key’s rectum. Either that or he just deemed the waitress as a lowly worker and not one meriting any rights as a worker.

    Where was Matt King(if he was even an MP at the time)when John Key in one of his ‘pre-election promises'(tui billboard time)promised no increase in GST? Oh right King was probably still admiring the aforementioned rectum.

    Where was King when Bill English was Double Dipping and treating those who caught him out with such disdain because English considered it(ripping off NZ taxpayers)as being his democratic right? As per usual not a peep out of King.

    Where was King when Key promised just to impress Prince William to ‘bring out our boys’ after the Pike River disaster? Naturally not a peep out of King.

    Where was King when over $64million was spent on Beemers with bum warming seats that ONLY a few eg King and co; could enjoy? Not a peep.

    Where was King when Key on one of his Ego-quests wasted $26million on a flag referendum no-one but John Key and the National Party wanted? Not a King peep.

    Where was King for the promised bridges that the current national party leader Simon Bridges promised for Northland whilst he was transport minister? Probably doing what National are infamous at i.e behaving like the three monkeys ‘see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil(which there is a National government).

    National and its various MPs will always try to paint themselves as being as pure as the driven snow. They will try to give us voters the illusion they have never, ever made a mistake in their entire lifetime especially in politics. It just shows how shallow minded and selfish they truly are.

    Where was King for when Aaron Gilmore yelled at a waiter: Do you know who I am? or Brownlee saying to yet another worker(another law abiding NZ citizen ‘I am running late for a plane’?

    And so it comes across that King wants to be noticed and have attention heaped upon him He obviously misses the publicity that he deems as his right and privilege whilst giving scant attention to those homeless people and everyone else living in poverty which has become more pronounced over the past 9 years there was a National government that were living on a Meth Myth and evicting families from HNZ homes with the intent of on-selling to wealthy overseas investors who donated heavily to the NZ National Party.

    And so whilst National were so busy demeaning and denigrating NZ workers at every opportunity they conveniently forgot through selective amnesia as to whom was paying their pay packet and perks of the job. And so whilst Key was referring to NZ protesters as “rent a protestor’ he was in fact showing to us all how much he hated NZ, NZers and the NZ workers.

    And that says alot about National and their MPs when all things considered.

    • Unicus 12.1

      ” Where was King when Key ect”

      Oh and where indeed was Matt when his predecessor slunk off – his disgraceful peccadillos hidden behind a National Party created media smokescreen

  13. Muttonbird 13

    I reckon this, and Chris Bishop’s bill to get drunk at the races, and the three billboards outside any holiday traffic jam is a calculated Nat strategy to try to keep relevant in the summer break.

    Most people will have had enough of polititians by now but National MPs having the ego they do think we need a little more when trying to spend time with our families.

  14. Muttonbird 14

    Right wing voices are incredibly loud and vociferous.

    They are but they are uttered by deaf old white men who have trouble recalling their latest rant.

  15. Sacha 15

    The striking thing about that column is how unusual its perspective is in our press.

  16. Ad 16

    lana hart is so accurate she males me feel like a commie.

    king will need to work a lot harder on his Trump-style to shift any votes. its a stale as pitching roads to farmers.

  17. Sanctuary 17

    Matt King is one of those people that you just know has never had an original thought in his life. He displays the pathology of the provincial squatocracy, perched on the edge of the Empire. Acutely aware of his status and living what he thinks is an exemplar life of the capitalist, but which is actually just a stale and sterile parody of how the ruling elite live in Virginia or Florida.

    Stuck in the cultural cringe of the white settler mindset he is simply intellectually incapable of developing an indigenous variation of anything, so of course he seeks solace and information from the true home of the colonial – the Anglo-Saxon Empire and it’s current cultural nexus of the USA. And as befits any hayseed colonial aping his supposed superiors, he adopts a crude pastiche of the most extreme views found on Fox News, in order to prove his loyalty by being a better citizen of the Empire.

    The worrying thing is that you only have to listen to Bridges spouting conspiracy theories about UN agendas on immigration to realise that the Breitbart paranoia and conspiracy theories of the US hard right are colonising National’s base. What a shitty party. Half of it wants to sell us out to Trumpism, and the other half wants to sell us out to the Chinese Communist party. I guess what unites them is a greed for foreign cash, presumably so they can leave this horrible colonial outpost and shoot through to a country estate somewhere more civilised.

  18. mpledger 18

    I think there is something screwy about stuff’s comment section. I have posted comments that have never turned up but I have seen them when I go and look for them in another browser. Also the count of comments can be different on different browsers, it’s not just out by one or two but substantially out.

    • the other pat 18.1

      what i found was that when you reply to several right leaning comments on one issue it is trolling apparently and will get you banned….had an interesting convo with their editor who wasnt interested at all….they are definitely right leaning….just not as overt as the NZ Herald

  19. Darien Fenton 19

    Not that its a biggie, but Matt King has blocked me on Twitter. I can only recall responding to a tweet of his once – and then it was a stretch to remember who he is. Doesn’t take long for new MPs to think they know best and only want to hear good things about their very important selves. Having said that, I give grudging kudos for Simeon Brown who plugs along, albeit stupidly, but at least leaves comments open.

  20. Rapunzel 20

    The Natz holiday hysteria reeks of true desperation and for what? What are they offering? A leader few people rate at all and if even only ½ of the issues in the news item applied in revealing the way they let NZ down over nine years and they have not changed what do they expect NZ to accept any sort of sound and forward thinkg govt? It pretty shallow and digusting really.

  21. Morrissey 21

    Aaron Gilmore all over again.

    • North 21.1

      Morrissey…..if you mean to identify Matt King with your Aaron Gilmore reference you probably go too far. Matt King is ‘nice’, Demonstrably so. ‘Nice’ to the point of gushing over the rock hard scones and over-sweet feijoa jam still found in Northland’s rural hinterland.

      Nothing to add. Errh…..In respect of the scones…..baking powder maybe.

  22. mike 22

    what a dick we had to put up with 9 years of the hosk whale blubber dirty politics john keys lies now that there lies doesn’t work they complain just another gnat twat

  23. Lynette Stevens 23

    I bet poor young Sarah Higgins got to the bottom of the meth testing rort…any politician who tries to do something good, get’s ‘dirty politicked’…some stand up to the EUOF like Jami-Lee Ross…others like Sarah fail dismally and it was fatal…Meka Whaitiri MP got accused of bullying…is it because she got too close to what goes on with John Key’s immigration scam? Or drugs coming into the country through Customs? And Clare Curran accused by Carol Hirschfield…was it because of Clare finding out about the likes of Rob Pope (he who framed Scott Watson and whitewashed the Crewe review) being head of CERT? Yet those like old Judas Collins can ignore a sworn affidavit about a gun not handed to police in one of NZ’s largest cold cases, the Crewe murders, gets away with it….all starting to add up?

  24. DJ Ward 24

    So all of the article points out thing the Nats did and portrays them in a bad light. Then his attempts to comment are blocked.

    So he is correct in saying this was a left wing article, and in blocking comments Stuff supports the left wing narrative. Just one article is not proof of a trend.

    My own veiw.
    I’ve looked at 100s of Stuffs articles, analysing and commenting on another site, and they are experts at propaganda in regard to feminism, and yes they are left wing biased.

  25. greywarshark 25

    It’s the old story again, cherchez la femme!

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    4 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    8 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    8 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    8 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    9 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    10 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    13 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    13 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    15 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    16 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    18 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T10:47:32+00:00