Maurice Williamson super jerk

Written By: - Date published: 12:11 pm, September 3rd, 2015 - 111 comments
Categories: uncategorized - Tags:

Maurice Williamson

From Stuff:

National MP Maurice Williamson was “so offensive” in his recent presentation at SkyCity, attendees walked out of the awards dinner where pictures of nearly-naked women were displayed and sex acts were referred to.

The high-profile backbencher and former minister was the MC at the Esri Users dinner last Tuesday, where the theme of the conference was superheroes and supervillains.

Williamson attended dressed as “The Greatest American Hero”.

He displayed pictures of scantily-clad women, and ended his presentation with an audio clip that has offended many.

The fake advertisement features references to sex acts and could be seen as degrading to women.

 

Event organisers Eagle Technology had sent out an email that apologised for Williamson’s actions, and conveyed apologies on behalf of the Pakuranga MP.

But event-goers say that was not enough, and Williamson has been criticised for making degrading comments towards women at an event for an industry trying to attract more females.

Is the clip referred to this clip (warning NSFW or if you have any taste)?

A clearer case of misogyny is hard to imagine. Williamson is a disgrace and not deserving to be in Parliament.

111 comments on “Maurice Williamson super jerk ”

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  1. adam 1
    3 September 2015 at 12:32 pm

    I do wonder when women in this country will wake up to the fact that the Tory establishment hate them, and would like nothing better than to go back to a time, before feminism.

  2. James 2
    3 September 2015 at 12:32 pm

    Yep – It was in poor taste. He clearly misread the audience.

    Saying not deserving to be in parliament is a push (but Im guessing the left will be calling for him to be stood down or to quit soon) is a push too far.

    He should step up and apologise however.

    • dukeofurl 2.1
      3 September 2015 at 12:40 pm

      When you look back he is problem with a capital P

      Almost kicked out of caucus because of open opposition to then leader Bill English

      Kicked out of ministry because of interfering with lower level police who were handling a prosecution of a big donor to national party ( the guy was never a constituent of Williamson)

    • Tracey 2.2
      3 September 2015 at 1:32 pm

      did key lie when he said any mp in his govt would be held to higher standands than labour had?

      list the top 5 behaviours you consider would warrant sacking?

    • ankerawshark 2.3
      3 September 2015 at 1:51 pm

      James is the problem that he misread his audience and it was poor taste or that it was highly offensive to woman and not acceptable.

      My view is the latter.

      • James 2.3.1
        3 September 2015 at 2:43 pm

        Offensive to SOME women. and yes – wasnt acceptable or appropriate.

        • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1.1
          3 September 2015 at 4:55 pm

          No, offensive to all women.

          • James 2.3.1.1.1
            3 September 2015 at 6:30 pm

            Nope – wrong yet again.

            From NZHerald: Next you will be saying that the woman is wrong for not been offended.

            But not all attendees were offended by Williamson – Lauren Sperry said she enjoyed the speech, and was “quite shocked about the fuss everybody is making about it”.

            Sperry thought Williamson was both funny and entertaining, but acknowledged his comments were sexist.

            “The comments that he made were definitely sexist but, hey, we’re big girls now – I didn’t think there was anything extremely offensive, it was just a bit of fun and a bit of ribbing, really.”

            Those that were offended should “get a job in a knitting circle” and stop spoiling her fun.

            “I think that we’ve got to grow up and stop being so politically correct about everything – it was just a laugh and, yeah, get over it, basically.”

            No one in the group Sperry was with at the dinner was offended by Williamson, and she said it was “a good laugh and a good night”.

            • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1.1.1.1
              3 September 2015 at 6:36 pm

              Just because one person wasn’t offended doesn’t mean that it wasn’t offensive.

              I suspect this is like all those people that say that they were smacked as children and it didn’t hurt them only to go to the psychiatrist to find out that all those smacks had seriously damaged them.

              • Tracey …
                4 September 2015 at 10:24 am

                I thought that too. James provided evidence that one group wasn’t offended… sounds like a minority number to me, not a mandate for a green light at all

                • James …
                  4 September 2015 at 11:33 am

                  I didnt say it was a mandate for a green light – all I said that it wasnt offensive to ALL women – yet Draco was teling me I was wrong.

                  I gave evidence backing up my point – he didnt.

                  Personally, I can see how it was offensive to some (heck even a majority).

            • stever 2.3.1.1.1.2
              3 September 2015 at 7:54 pm

              Perhaps we need a Key-style response to this person. I.e. some passive-aggressive insinuations about her political leanings, the sort of friends she keeps, her job, her income.

              “She’s probably just some rich, right-wing sympathiser. She’s probably friends with Williamson, and probably works in PR or something like political lobbying.”

              Fact-free, but damaging…and leading to her message being de-valued and hence ignored.

            • Clemgeopin 2.3.1.1.1.3
              3 September 2015 at 9:14 pm

              She may not be offended, but I think that most of the country is.

              • Chris …
                4 September 2015 at 12:25 am

                I think most of the country mightn’t be, which is more the problem.

                • Tracey …
                  4 September 2015 at 10:26 am

                  I am not so sure. The Herald was trying very hard with its location and printing of one woman’s view that her group thought it was hilarious. Sexist but hilarious. When the Herald tries that hard you have to wonder if the numbers offended (as shown in the first article) made it feel it needed to get a message out quick-smart to make those in the public feeling offended by a MP’s behaviour think they are in a minority, not a majority.

            • mac1 2.3.1.1.1.4
              3 September 2015 at 10:16 pm

              Ms Sperry, talking about “being politically correct” is a disrespectful person’s way of saying that I do not care about good manners. Good manners is about respect for others.

              I understand that you do not understand that.

              Such understanding comes with maturity.

              Mature people understand respect for others. It is one of the defining attributes of a true adult, a ‘grown-up’.

              Otherwise, you stay being a ‘big girl.’

              • Tracey …
                4 September 2015 at 10:27 am

                I agree.

                Mature people can be funny without it being at half the population’s expense. Why not male porn stars, why not small penis jokes?

            • Potato 2.3.1.1.1.5
              4 September 2015 at 12:30 am

              “Those that were offended should “get a job in a knitting circle” and stop spoiling her fun.”

              In other words, Herald discovers that offensive person not offended by another offensive person.

        • Tracey 2.3.1.2
          4 September 2015 at 10:22 am

          and SOME men. How many SOMES are enough James?

          Tracey 2.2
          3 September 2015 at 1:32 pm
          did key lie when he said any mp in his govt would be held to higher standands than labour had?

          list the top 5 behaviours you consider would warrant sacking?

    • miravox 2.4
      3 September 2015 at 3:34 pm

      Misread the audience?!!?

      And which audience is the right audience for being a misogynist? Especially when you’re a MP.

    • Heather Grimwood 2.5
      3 September 2015 at 4:29 pm

      To James : Poor taste??!! should have read his audience??!! For goodness sake James, such filth ( and there s no other word for it) and disgusting inbuilt attitude to women ( and lack of consideration for that matter to those men who feel shame over promotion of such) has no place in our society, let alone in a M.P. I just find the infantile behaviour of Williamson unbelievable.
      I notice the P.M. using dismissive phrases about the incident.
      How about men with such puerile attitudes take a good look at themselves and undergo intensive counselling AFTER resigning their positions…..from one who has suffered throughout a long life from and supported others after their encountering such rubbish .

      • Karen 2.5.1
        3 September 2015 at 5:04 pm

        +1 Heather

      • James 2.5.2
        3 September 2015 at 6:31 pm

        What about the women who were there and were not offended?

        Should they be made to quit their jobs and take counselling as well?

        • ankerawshark 2.5.2.1
          3 September 2015 at 7:33 pm

          James @ 2.5.2. No those woman shouldn’t be made to quit there jobs as such.

          But there is a problem with their attitude. If MW jokes and pictures were shown in the workplace, they may say “Gee I wasn’t offended”……which enables sexiest entitled males like MW who clearly think its o.k………

          So I would suggest a feminist group, so they learn about why denigrating women is harmful.

          • Tracey 2.5.2.1.1
            4 September 2015 at 10:30 am

            I wonder why he didn’t choose white men to be the brunt of his comdeic turns that evening? Probably just coincidence.

          • James 2.5.2.1.2
            4 September 2015 at 11:39 am

            Oh so now you suggest Feminist training. Thats hilarious..

            If the people here are so appalled – why not picket the comedy clubs – You should hear what some of the local comedians say.

            Humour can (and often is) inappropriate. Dosnt make it not funny, and it does not mean that people support, or endorse the views of the joke.

            I saw Michelle A’Court live. (She is a leftie BTW) – She opened with a joke about her indulging in beastality. Does anyone believe that she actually does this? Im sure not. Is it appropriate for most audiences – again no. Was it actually funny in the context delivered – yes it was.

            • freedom 2.5.2.1.2.1
              4 September 2015 at 12:03 pm

              As you say James, comedy is about context. (and timing). I cannot imagine any context where an MP, not a paid entertainer, an actual Member of Parliament will be in a contextual circumstance suitable to present sexist rascist or similarly confrontational humour. Think what you want about their politics but their responsibility to the community is meant to uphold a standard of behaviour that is beholden to a code of conduct outside of the more relaxed and colourful forms of expression the rest of us enjoy.

              The restrictions put on their behaviour may be unfair, unwelcome, even unreasonable in a world flooded with fluid values.
              But like the perks they voraciously enjoy, it comes with the job.

        • Tracey 2.5.2.2
          4 September 2015 at 10:29 am

          so if a few women were not offended that makes offending some women BY AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE AND MEMBER OF GOVERNMENT, ok?

          • James 2.5.2.2.1
            4 September 2015 at 4:36 pm

            No – I never said it was OK.

            Just people on here saying that all men who found it funny should lose their jobs, or women who were not offended should attend feminist training is beyond stupid. Actually – I find that more offensive than his joke.

  3. maui 3
    3 September 2015 at 12:55 pm

    If there’s any video of that event, the public would rightly call for his head.

    Walking into a technology conference and presenting to highly educated people your blatant sexism means you shouldn’t really be representing anyone, apart from other like minded sexists.

  4. mac1 4
    3 September 2015 at 1:10 pm

    What is it with men who leave their brains behind when they don silly uniforms and costumes?

    This ranges from haka parties to paramilitary groups.

    I just know that as a member of the Labour Party I would never have contemplated such an exhibition, both through fear, knowing I would have to justify myself to my peers, both male and female, and through respect for them and for women in general. Let alone Mrs Mac1, and my daughters and friends!

    Mindboggling, but it does show that for some the veneer is pretty thin.

    • Tracey 4.1
      3 September 2015 at 1:33 pm

      it shows you how hard some people who hold public office must have to work to keep their true selves under wraps.

    • Chris 4.2
      3 September 2015 at 1:49 pm

      Don’t think it’s a matter of men leaving their brains behind. It’s a matter of men like Williamson not being too bright in the first place. Williamson, like so many other so-called MPs, is simply an idiot.

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 4.2.1
        3 September 2015 at 2:11 pm

        “so-called MPs”

        He’s an actual MP.

        • Chris 4.2.1.1
          3 September 2015 at 2:17 pm

          MPs are supposed to represent citizens. How many MPs do you really think do this?

          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 4.2.1.1.1
            3 September 2015 at 2:47 pm

            This could get boring, so called Chris.

        • Gabby 4.2.1.2
          3 September 2015 at 2:49 pm

          He’s an actual turd in human form.

          • marty mars 4.2.1.3.1
            3 September 2015 at 3:52 pm

            BAM!!! Nice one joe – take that tgffkao

          • Macro 4.2.1.3.2
            3 September 2015 at 4:22 pm

            yeah as I say – it was just a bit of banter and as you can see – he was wearing a different hat – I mean wig – I’m completely relaxed about it – how about a bottle of my red plonk.

          • mac1 4.2.1.3.3
            3 September 2015 at 4:43 pm

            I hope that Key’s office, acting as the Prime Minister, was a little more directive in telling Williamson off than the usual imprecise John Key, who however was not acting as leader of the National Party since Williamson was not acting as an MP.

            According to this logic, Williamson could tell Key to naff off, since his actions as a private misogynistic idiot have nothing to do with his day job.

            But, if the PM’s office have had a word with Williamson, he must have been acting as an MP?

            • Chris 4.2.1.3.3.1
              3 September 2015 at 4:56 pm

              It was okay because Key had his idiot hat on when he spoke to Maurice.

              • mac1 …
                3 September 2015 at 5:02 pm

                He however didn’t speak to Maurice. Key lost the moral authority to tell people off long ago about how to act in public, the ponytail-pulling, pathetic, vainglorious puppet.

                He had his office do it.

                • Chris …
                  3 September 2015 at 5:05 pm

                  Yeah, that’s much better:

                  It was okay because Key had his idiot hat on when his office spoke to Maurice.

                  I like that, thanks.

            • Hanswurst 4.2.1.3.3.2
              3 September 2015 at 6:42 pm

              According to this logic, Williamson could tell Key to naff off, since his actions as a private misogynistic idiot have nothing to do with his day job.

              Yes, apparently Judith Collins yesterday mooned the Prime Minister and squirted lemon juice in his eyes, but he was relaxed about it because she was doing it in her capacity as a lawyer concerned about his government’s treatment of the Law Society. Asked about whether her actions were appropriate, he said, “Look, I obviously wasn’t in a position to see the entire incident and don’t have all the details. It’s clear that she did cross a line, but at the end of the day, New Zealanders know that parliament’s full of high jinks and banter.”

        • Tracey 4.2.1.4
          4 September 2015 at 10:32 am

          You are dead right, and that is why he needs to be held to a higher standard than this “turn” shows he is capable of. Hard to believe the man who wrote the Rainbow speech and read it in Parliament, wrote and delivered this.

  5. Chris 5
    3 September 2015 at 1:52 pm

    Is the linked video clip really the one that Williamson played as part of his presentation? That’s what I want to know.

  6. Ad 6
    3 September 2015 at 1:59 pm

    Maurice is immortal; his Pakuranga majority means he has the job as long as he wants it, National have demoted him so far that he has nothing to lose, and he has the same fleshy shout-down manners as Trump.
    While the moist media will rattle their jewellery at him for a moment, his popularity will go up as a result, not down.

    • Chris 6.1
      3 September 2015 at 4:36 pm

      So this latest behaviour is more likely to help his mayoralty chances should he decide to stand, rather than hinder them? Heck, maybe it will. Guess at least voters get to see more of what the guy’s capable of.

      • Ad 6.1.1
        3 September 2015 at 5:05 pm

        Nope – Boag is pushing for Theresa Gattung to stand, together with a full ticket.

        • dukeofurl 6.1.1.1
          3 September 2015 at 5:37 pm

          I heard her pick is Lester Levy.

          Gattung doesnt have any local body experience, so the council bureaucrats would eat her alive.

          • Ad 6.1.1.1.1
            3 September 2015 at 5:59 pm

            As Chair of Auckland and North Shore District Health Boards, major shareholder in Ascott, and Chair of Auckland Transport (among many other interests), in many ways he already has more power than the Mayor already. He has also been renewed on the Auckland Transport Board, which knocks him out.

            Theresa would be doing the eating.
            She may pass on the idea, but they are already planning total dominance of Auckland Council in 2016.

            • Northsider 6.1.1.1.1.1
              4 September 2015 at 7:52 am

              Sadly Labour’s Auckland MPs don’t “caucus” on leading the party organisation in Auckland Council. They have abdicated their responsibility to those Labour people who are fully engaged in City Vision. City Vision is a weakness for Labour as much as a strength.
              The current slight lead that the “left” has in Auckland is a result of C&R (National) weakness last time around.
              Auckland will be easy picking for the Nats unless the Labour MPs get their lazy fingers out of Wellington arses and provide leadership.

        • Tracey 6.1.1.2
          4 September 2015 at 10:37 am

          Citizens and Ratepayers morphed again about 7 years ago. I saw one of their new signs and thought “oi Oi, Michelle is a plannin and a strategisn”

          Interestingly, now named Communities and Residents, they claim on their website “Existing for over 77 years, Communities and Residents is a voluntary grass-roots association of members, and is the longest standing political grouping in Auckland local government. ”

          Which is a little bit misleading, cos they have legally, but not under this name.

          • Northsider 6.1.1.2.1
            4 September 2015 at 4:31 pm

            It is a lie.
            C&R is as much the National Party in Auckland local politics as the Pope is a Catholic.
            To characterise them as anything else is dissimulation.

            Then that is Boag for you.

    • dukeofurl 6.2
      3 September 2015 at 5:41 pm

      So hes going to run for re-election driving around in a clown car !

      Anyway national has a ‘way’ of getting rid of embarrassing time servers among its Mps.

      I hear Kim Jon Un heard about it and found it works too!

  7. Gangnam Style 7
    3 September 2015 at 2:04 pm

    Corin Dann was really annoying me on the telly last night saying things like ‘I don’t know what Williamson said’ well I call bullshit on that, of course he knows what was said, he just doesn’t have the guts to let the rest of us know. What is his job again? (I know hes John Keys favorite ‘political commentator’).

  8. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 8
    3 September 2015 at 3:00 pm

    I don’t know what he said, but I am offended. Most things offend me. I demand people stop offending me. This instant.

    [lprent: That is my line. I DEMAND you stop using it. I have ways of making people feel really offended. 😈 ]

    • weka 8.1
      3 September 2015 at 3:30 pm

      it wasn’t what he said, it was what he did. And the problem isn’t that he offended people, it’s the thing that caused the offense that is the problem.

  9. sabine 9
    3 September 2015 at 3:16 pm

    ahh,
    he was just horsing around

  10. Coaster 10
    3 September 2015 at 4:00 pm

    He wasnt an mp at the time, give him a break, we all have to let our hair down occasionaly.

    Its just like zak guilfords naked a bloody drunken romp in raro, he wasnt an alblack at the time so he didnt get into trouble with the nzrfu now did he.

    And did jesse ryder the blackcap get into trouple for drinking and fighting off the clock????.

    Williamson should be treated exactly like zak and jesse, after all can williamson seriosly bring the organisation he represents into disrepute?

    • Macro 10.1
      3 September 2015 at 4:28 pm

      Williamson should be treated exactly like zak and jesse, after all can williamson seriosly bring the organisation he represents into more disrepute?

      Fixed it for you 🙂

    • mac1 10.2
      3 September 2015 at 4:36 pm

      Sue Moroney is asking good questions.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11507342

      I especially liked this comment.

      Ms Moroney said she believed earlier controversy over Mr Key’s pulling of a waitress’s pony-tail would “make it very difficult for him to raise this issue with MPs like Maurice Williamson”.

      The main point of the article is Williamson announcing that he would be standing for the mayoralty of Auckland. I couldn’t help but notice the ressemblance of Williamson in his superhero wig with Boris Johnson, mayor of London, another buffoon.

      Maybe our Mr Williamson is modelling the laddish behaviour of Boris, as if that will be his trump card.

      • Gangnam Style 10.2.1
        3 September 2015 at 8:41 pm

        He wasn’t an MP at the time, but used his (MP) staff to help with the presentation, including images of porn stars in super hero outfits.

    • vaughan little 10.3
      4 September 2015 at 7:17 am

      tho there is the bit where zac had a moment of clarity..

  11. Byrnz 11
    3 September 2015 at 4:24 pm

    At Ad 3:12pm

    Anyone wanting a speaker at conferences who rolls in sparkles like him, please contact his office asap.

  12. greywarshark 12
    3 September 2015 at 4:47 pm

    Well that is so sleazy to present to mixed company. The men should have been offended that they would be considered to be so gross as to find that amusing for private or public listening.

    What lurks behind the clean, well clipped, well dressed males around business and government. Are there any genuine, likeable blokes there or just closet — choose your own word from the google selection. And let me say there were more on offer so perhaps this type is actually the norm, and the type of man I just described is a rare bird.
    However I do seem to know large numbers of men who have okay standards of behaviour.
    But then I don’t know too many politicians, business entrepreneurs or captains of industry

    Google from debauched – dissolute, dissipated, degenerate, corrupt, depraved, louche, rakish, shameless, sinful, unprincipled, immoral, impure, unchaste, lascivious, lecherous, libertine, lewd, lustful, libidinous, licentious, promiscuous, loose, wanton, abandoned, unrestrained, fast, decadent, profligate, intemperate, sybaritic, voluptuary, pleasure-seeking, indulgent, self-indulgent;

  13. One Anonymous Bloke 13
    3 September 2015 at 4:55 pm

    Eagle Technology hired some National Party trash to speak and got exactly what they paid for.

    • RedBaronCV 13.1
      3 September 2015 at 6:59 pm

      Hear hear

      Sucking up to the Nats can go horribly wrong at times can’t it. Now what do Eagle actually supply – makes you wonder how good the products are if this is a sample of their judgement

    • mickysavage 13.2
      3 September 2015 at 8:04 pm

      You think they paid money for him?

      • RedBaronCV 13.2.1
        3 September 2015 at 10:03 pm

        Maybe. I hadn’t really considered that interesting question ? If they had I think they’dd be asking for their money back under the consumer guarantees act – not fit for purpose really.

        I was more along the lines of wondering if their poor judgement in conference speakers flowed over into poor judgment over the rest of their business decisions/products.

      • Tracey 13.2.2
        4 September 2015 at 10:40 am

        He doesn’t strike me as a freebie kind of guy… although he once was a cable guy in his spare time.

  14. dv 14
    3 September 2015 at 7:11 pm

    Had a look at Eagles site, and searched for Williamson.
    There was a link to his address.
    But surprise surprise the was a error!!

    I thought Eagle was a tech co. How come there is an error.
    Oh they may not want anyone to see it!!!

  15. RedBaronCV 15
    3 September 2015 at 7:18 pm

    And if you go to the Eagle website and search by Williamson there is a link to a you tube video which looks like it has been ‘disappeared’

    • RedBaronCV 15.1
      3 September 2015 at 7:19 pm

      Hey DV didn’t mean to post over you but they are a pretty sorry tech mob if they can’t get youtube to run. Are they NAct donors?

      • dv 15.1.1
        3 September 2015 at 7:27 pm

        Great minds think alike Red

        I thought a smarter move would have been either to remover the link OR to say the video has been removed because the content was completely inappropriate

  16. millsy 16
    3 September 2015 at 8:25 pm

    Now that is a man who knows how to end his career in a spectacular fashion.

    • mickysavage 16.1
      3 September 2015 at 8:35 pm

      Rumours are that he wanted to run for the Auckland mayoralty. Maybe he overestimated the size of the misogynist vote …

      • Chris 16.1.1
        3 September 2015 at 10:32 pm

        The size of that vote can never be overestimated, unfortunately. The reason for this is precisely where Williamson’s behaviour has come from.

  17. Clemgeopin 17
    3 September 2015 at 9:05 pm

    Here is a quiz for you:

    (a) One National MP repeatedly pulls a woman’s pony tail in spite of her asking him to stop.

    (b) Another National MP, in a public meeting, makes disgusting, unbecoming, rude porno jokes about women and blow jobs.

    (c) One other National MP when drunk in a bar and refused a drink says, “Do you know who I am?”

    Question :
    Guess which one of the above three had to resign in disgrace and leave parliament?

  18. Robert Atack 18
    3 September 2015 at 9:14 pm

    We thought it was funny. Not appropriate to play it to strangers, but in the privacy of where most of us have done it, then all good by me.
    Beats having children any day. And is way less planet destroying than say Kiwi Saver.
    We are going to need to lighten up in these end days, or we could revert to witch burning, or stoning gays?
    Don’t forget you have no human rights, in the end it is might that will be right, its what all bacteria do.
    That was as good as it gets. You have all lived the best of what ‘mankind’ can deliver, it is down hill from now on. Ask someone in at the Budapest railway station.
    “You can come to Germany, if you make it over this burning trench, with most of your children, or someone elses (???) …… you can apply.
    sorry got serious (

    • greywarshark 18.1
      4 September 2015 at 6:45 pm

      How many drinks did you have before you tapped that out Robert Atack? Sounds like you need a tap on the head.

      [lprent: Huh? I know why I am cranky tonight. Leaving at 1530 and getting to the top of the Bombays at 1715 does that to you. But why is everyone trying to get a ban off me tonight? The only reason you only get a warning is because the statement is just ambiguous enough. But if I see too much of this then I will just start assuming the worst of motivations. ]

  19. Tanz 19
    4 September 2015 at 1:49 pm

    Looks like the rainbow vanished…what hypocrisy from the left…

  20. greywarshark 20
    4 September 2015 at 6:46 pm

    Tanz
    What are you hypo about?

  21. Tanz 21
    5 September 2015 at 11:44 am

    greywarshark – you tell me, lol.

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  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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