Muller is floundering

Written By: - Date published: 9:39 pm, June 30th, 2020 - 47 comments
Categories: China, grant robertson, jacinda ardern, national, todd muller, winston peters - Tags: , ,

Poor Matthew Hooton must be wondering about what he has let himself in for.

Because it seems pretty clear, even at this early stage, that Todd Muller will not be the saviour for the National Party that they were hoping for.  They may as well give up now and regroup so that after the election they can make the ex Air New Zealand guy leader.  Or Judith Collins.  Or someone else.

Two incidents yesterday showed why.  One was the leaking of National’s internal poll results.  55 Labour to 34 National is not the leadership bounce they were hoping for.  And Muller reluctantly disclosing it, and someone leaking that Muller reluctantly disclosed it suggests that the wounds evident in National’s caucus immediately after Simon Bridges was dumped have not healed.

Then yesterday afternoon in the house Todd Muller was destroyed.

Here is the video.

Hansard is interesting:

It started with this question from Winston Peters:

Rt Hon Winston Peters: Prime Minister, should we, despite there being a spike in COVID-19 cases in Beijing, open our borders with China, as Mr Muller from the National Party suggests?

Todd Muller: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Apart from knowing me for 30 years and he still can’t get my name right, that is not what I have said, and I have never said that directly.

Peters then raised a point of order relating to whether or not Muller was telling porkies.

Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. A member’s word must be taken, but if that question has been put at least four times in this House—and the Hansard will attest to that—on the fifth time he can’t ask us to surely believe his word.

And Labour’s research unit went into overdrive and immediately fed Grant Robertson with the relevant media source:

Hon Grant Robertson: What is the Prime Minister’s response to the statement from National Party leader, Todd Muller, that it was critically important that we considered broadening the bubble beyond Australia: “It’s totally appropriate that Australia is our number one priority, but concurrently we need to be thinking around ‘so how do we open up to China, what does that look like?”

Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): I would confirm what I’ve said many times in this House: regardless of the overseas country we are considering, the criteria needs to be the same—that is, the safety of New Zealanders, the ability to keep our economy open, and our ability to move around domestically freely. Importing cases puts all of that at jeopardy.

Muller chose to continue to ask when the Government is going to open up the border.  This was an incredible line to keep pushing given that National had the Government on the ropes last week because the border was not sufficiently sealed.  Big business may want to open up the border but I can guarantee you that the vast majority of ordinary kiwis do not.  And he kept feeding Jacinda home run ball after home run ball.

Todd Muller: To the Prime Minister, again, could she please confirm for New Zealand what is the criteria that would meet her satisfaction for the border of New Zealand to be opened to other countries?

Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: For the third or possibly fourth time: a country or state being free of community transmission, the ability to rapidly contact trace along the same criteria that we have in New Zealand, and the ability for rapid turnaround of testing so that we can be assured of the public data for any country being accurate data from which we make our judgments. To come back to the principle of what the member seems to be getting at, the suggestion that somehow New Zealand is standing in the way of opening up a trans-Tasman bubble is simply incorrect. There are two issues at play. One, community transmission in Australia—the idea that we would open up to the entire nation right now I think is out of step with where the New Zealand public is, and would threaten our position. Secondly, the possibility of state-by-state openings is not a matter for New Zealand; it is a matter for Prime Minister Morrison and is up to him. If the member takes issue with that, he should contact his counterparts in Australia.

Winston also had a dig:

Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I ask the Prime Minister, on the question of opening up the border with China, has she seen the Stuff article of 25 May—that’s last month—where Mr Muller said, “How can we move into other countries, like China, in due course”?

Nick Smith then chose to raise a point of order on the basis that quoting Muller in questions was an attack on him.  I kid you not.

Hon Dr Nick Smith: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I refer to Speakers’ ruling 159/5, that states: “It is not reasonable to use questions from the governing party or its support parties to attack other members of the House.” …

I am not sure that Nick’s interjection was helpful.  Maybe he was trying to help Muller.  Maybe he was pointing out what an own goal Muller had just scored.

Even now it is clear that Todd Muller does not have the ability to match Jacinda in the house and National must be dreading the thought of what will happen in the campaign debates.  And going on yesterday’s performance his tenure as opposition leader may be short lived.

47 comments on “Muller is floundering ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Incognito 1
    1 July 2020 at 8:16 am

    Maybe Paula could do an Amy Adams and not leave come back when Todd is rolled? It is not too late, Paula; nice dance moves, BTW.

    What I can say, at the end of the day, is that rattled people make mistakes. Woodhouse, Paul ‘the Wizz’ Goldsmith, Kaye, and Todd must be very rattled.

    I think somebody should rattle their cage some more.

    PS they have found Woodhouse’s invisible man. He’s been hiding in Parliament all that time masquerading as a National MP.

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/invisible-man-national-mp-jian-yang-reporters-two-year-attempt-get-him-front

  2. Treetop 2
    1 July 2020 at 8:37 am

    When it comes to giving business certainty when the border is going to be opened how long is a piece of string?

    Even if there was a comprehensive plan to open the border for business, at anytime the plan could be paused or modified due to Covid-19.

    I cannot see any way to prevent the virus from entering the country other than mandatory isolation for 14 days and testing at day 3 and 12. This can only work if people are compliant and there will be some cases which are not detected.

    I have seen footage of countries where cases are at such a high level that people are unable to do much to prevent cases from increasing.

  3. Dennis Frank 3
    1 July 2020 at 8:51 am

    A fair critique. Muller seems insufficiently nimble in how he responds. I presume the pandemic has not closed down China trade and he's just keen to know how business folk can go there & develop enterprises. The PM replied by listing the key principles of public policy involved. He ought to have followed up with a question to identify what the business folk will have to do in practice – that's what they probably want to know, eh?

    • Tricledrown 3.1
      1 July 2020 at 9:12 am

      It was the hollow man in the quaranteen hotel.

      Where you find Hooton you will find the hollow man.

    • RedBaronCV 3.2
      1 July 2020 at 1:24 pm

      Well if business folk want to go to China all they have to do is get on a plane and go there -providing China has it's border open. Then pay for quarantine when they come back. Are they too thick to work that out by themselves?

      • Dennis Frank 3.2.1
        1 July 2020 at 2:02 pm

        Folks have learnt from past experience I suspect (`never trust a bureaucrat') so I imagine he was trying to represent them on that basis to make the thing explicit. Or maybe he was just grandstanding. Understanding the mind of any politician is pure guesswork, eh?

  4. Muttonbird 4
    1 July 2020 at 9:07 am

    Incredible that Muller has been forced into a cabinet reshuffle after just 3 weeks. Is this going to be a regular occurrence?

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/todd-muller-hints-at-couple-of-changes-in-upcoming-caucus-reshuffle-as-questions-swirl-on-m-ori-representation.html

  5. Robert Guyton 5
    1 July 2020 at 9:52 am

    " I have never said that directly", said Todd, which might perhaps be true, but Winston didn't accuse him of saying it directly. Winston said:

    "open our borders with China, as Mr Muller from the National Party suggests?" and went on the demonstrate that Muller certainly had suggested just that on several occasions. The texts flowed quickly into the phones of Labour MPs, in order to inflame Muller's self-inflicted wound.

    Todd certainly fluffed it yesterday in the House and his performance there was wan, un-engaging and tepid. His own team look dispirited. I'm amused by the training Muller and Kaye have received around delivering their questions/accusations with the air of faux gravitas, the drawn-out tail to each question and the whiff of superiority left hanging in the air, briefly, at least until Jacinda begins to apply the air-freshener.

    • JanM 5.1
      1 July 2020 at 11:59 am

      At least we are now spared that frightening rictus grin from the recently departed Paula

  6. Hooch 6
    1 July 2020 at 10:38 am

    The headline gave me visions of Muller wading around a tidal inlet with a torch and spear. Blindly jabbing at moving objects and continually missing. Anyway, who are we opening the borders for? There can’t be any demand from hordes of tourists willing to travel currently? International students? Apart from enriching university chancellors where is the benefit? If you look more broadly they just put pressure on student accomodation, driving up rental prices. Get taken advantage of in low paying jobs or immigration scams. Actually now I can see why National would want them back.

    • Ed1 6.1
      1 July 2020 at 2:14 pm

      Has anything happened regarding America's cup people? They can presumably book a hotel, hire a plane and come in and pay for controlled isolation – would we have a problem with that?

    • NZJester 6.2
      1 July 2020 at 7:35 pm

      The headline gave me visions of Muller wading around a tidal inlet with a torch and spear. Blindly jabbing at moving objects and continually missing.

      Actually I don't think he was continually missing as you have suggested, I think he hit a few of those moving objects he saw. But those moving objects he jabbed at and hit where his feet. ;-p

  7. te reo putake 7
    1 July 2020 at 11:23 am

    Regarding Nick Smith claiming that repeating Muller's words is actually an attack on him, I can only defer to the late comedian Peter Cook:

    "I've lived a long time; I've been distorted, I've been misrepresented, and I've been quoted accurately, which is perhaps the most appalling."

  8. AB 8
    1 July 2020 at 12:35 pm

    If Muller fails, does that actually harm Luxon's chances? They both seem to be out of the same stable – middle-aged business guys with a a Key-derived schtick. Luxon might be more polished (not just cranially), but it's essentially a repackaging of the same thing.

    • Poission 8.1
      1 July 2020 at 1:17 pm

      They both seem to be out of the same stable

      They are from the so called managerial elite , a set of qualities that could be automated (as it requires no sentient thought).

      John Raulston Saul defined the functional set as thus.

      Because the managerial élites are now so large and have such a dominant effect on our educational system, we are actually teaching most people to manage, not to think. Not only do we not reward thought, we punish it as unprofessional.

      Our élite is primarily and increasingly managerial. A managerial élite manages. A crisis, unfortunately, requires thought. Thought is not a management function.

      • mikesh 8.1.1
        1 July 2020 at 4:47 pm

        Back in the sixties Antony Jay wrote a book on management titled "the Yogi and the Commissar". The Yogis were the ideas people, thinking and creative; while the commissars were the managerial types, good at pushing things along and getting things done. Jay argued that businesses needed both types.

        Jay, incidentally, was co-scriptwriter of the TV series "Yes Minister".

  9. ianmac 9
    1 July 2020 at 1:12 pm

    Isn't a Business man one who sets up a business and takes risks and works hard to be successful?

    Muller has never set up a business and taken no risks and has not worked hard to be successful. He has been part of management teams on existing businesses though and "above" all the grind and nitty gritty. Now Luxton….

    • woodart 9.1
      1 July 2020 at 1:42 pm

      top post ianmac. successful businessman(?) or management clone. key, luxon, etc are NOT businessmen. they havent started and run a business, done the gst,hired staff, made out wages, done the ird thing. paid the rent etc. bollocks to this endless claim of businessmen. riding a desk in somebody elses ship, is completely different.

  10. weka 10
    1 July 2020 at 2:33 pm

    Even now it is clear that Todd Muller does not have the ability to match Jacinda in the house and National must be dreading the thought of what will happen in the campaign debates

    The schadenfreude is in this is very strong.

    Love the post title btw, Muller, the name that keeps on giving. I'm surprised we don't have a Hooton/Muller portmanteau. Hoomull? Mulltoon? Hootler?

    • Incognito 10.1
      1 July 2020 at 2:48 pm

      Hooty and the Blowfish

      • weka 10.1.1
        1 July 2020 at 3:00 pm

        lol.

        Hootonanny.

      • Patricia Bremner 10.1.2
        1 July 2020 at 3:00 pm

        Three things which told me he wasn't an improvement on Bridges….

        1. Muller chose his friend Hooten as his advisor.

        2. Muller supported Woodhouse in his lack of community responsibility and his homeless man perfidy.

        3. Muller's hubris .

        • Incognito 10.1.2.1
          1 July 2020 at 3:12 pm

          I hear you but I do think he’s an improvement over Simon. It is the rest of the bunch that is not adapting to the circumstances and in typical Darwinian style will lead the party to a downtrou in September. The party blames (it on) the leader, the leader falls on their sword, the party selects a new leader. Rinse, spit, and repeat.

          • weka 10.1.2.1.1
            1 July 2020 at 5:36 pm

            Even if they bought John Key back they wouldn't beat Labour. Muller is probably the best replacement for SB, who had to go. Don't know why people think Muller would bring about a fast recovery.

          • Patricia Bremner 10.1.2.1.2
            1 July 2020 at 7:21 pm

            The Party has an idea of a Leader. Acceptable to their base, religious, "Strong" so same type gets chosen, it is a trap for closed minds.

            That has left out the following….quick thinking, communication, leadership skills, valuing people, policy and planning skills. delegation skills, just to mention a few things.

            But yes, perhaps on reflection Muller would not drive the length of the North Island under lockdown, ….. then again, he is sure he is born to lead… …where is the question. He often looks lost, as though this is all much harder than he thought.

            • roblogic 10.1.2.1.2.1
              2 July 2020 at 2:03 am

              Shows that "business experience" is over-rated compared to experience of the daily rumble of political debate and the hard work of policy development, keeping up with current affairs, and connecting to the electorate. Also grace and quick wits in front of a camera.

              Muller makes Bridges look actually competent, even tho he was yapping and petulant, he at least knew how to play the game.

  11. observer 11
    1 July 2020 at 2:37 pm

    Today was Muller's last chance to tackle Ardern in the House, before a 2 week break. He asked the same question 4 or 5 times, all scripted and ineffective. I've never seen a leader of the opposition do patsy Qs to help the PM, until now.

    He seems to over-estimate his own talent, by some margin.

    • Incognito 11.1
      1 July 2020 at 2:52 pm

      Shame, the Greens should have given them more of their QT.

    • Chris 11.2
      1 July 2020 at 3:12 pm

      Long may he stay leader of the nats.

      • Barfly 11.2.1
        1 July 2020 at 4:32 pm

        Longer May he Burn In Hell

        • rod 11.2.1.1
          1 July 2020 at 4:55 pm

          I expect Toddy will be wearing his MAGA hat on the 4th of July smiley

        • Incognito 11.2.1.2
          1 July 2020 at 6:36 pm

          FFS! What has Todd Muller done to you to deserve this curse?

        • Chris 11.2.1.3
          2 July 2020 at 3:59 pm

          The left need people like Muller to hang around as long as they can. I was disappointed when Bridges left but quickly rejuvenated by Muller's performance. I will miss Paula. I'd like her to change her mind. If she had the ability to analyse things a bit more deeply she'd realise Muller's chances of sticking it out are slim and she'd likely have a good chance of making it back. But I guess that's the trade-off when you're wanting low-calibre performers to stay put. At least we've got the advantage of having an opposition with little depth – or a lot of depth, depending on how you look at it.

  12. Just Is 12
    1 July 2020 at 5:23 pm

    I see Muller has reverted to the National party default setting for attacking Labour today, the usual Tax increase scaremongery, he's trying to attach the Greens policy to Ardern and the Labour party, Ardern responded accusing him of "spreading blatant misinformation" during a time of unusual circumstances.

    Personally, I think if Muller and his party were to change their strategy from constant criticism to asking "How can we help the Govt and NZ" during this once in hundred year pandemic in a non partisan way, displaying true Leadership, cooperating for the sake and bebfit of the country, putting petty politics aside.

    I think that tactic would increase Mullers popularity overnight, but unfortunately, it's not in their DNA, it's a fight to the death and always, always oppose for opposition sake.

    • I Feel Love 12.1
      1 July 2020 at 7:48 pm

      Just Is, totally, I felt back when Lockdown started Bridges should have stood with the PM, united front, ra ra ra, might have made a difference. As mentioned above it seems the Nats have a narrow view of what a leader is, not understanding that things change, tastes change, but National doesn't. I guess Key did it when he supported Bardford bill way back when, it was big news. I couldn't stand Key, but he certainly was a clever operator.

      • Just Is 12.1.1
        1 July 2020 at 8:35 pm

        They just can't help themselves, playing attack dog is all they know, literally, as their concern for for everyday Kiwis is non existent, self indulgence and the born to rule mantra is all history will record, they had many opportunities, Bridges proved he was incapable, Muller has been a major disappointment for everyone.

  13. Brian Tregaskin 13
    1 July 2020 at 5:44 pm

    I expect the Reid Research (TV3) poll will show us the trend –Can National still hold on to 38% or be close as last weeks Colmar Brunton poll.

  14. newsense 14
    1 July 2020 at 10:42 pm

    Who has been in parliament the next longest after Winston? The others all left long ago. I mean Bolger was PM in the distant past, but him and Peters are contemporaries.

  15. observer 15
    2 July 2020 at 11:26 am

    Simon stares down Todd, and gets the job he wanted, but was originally refused by Muller. Score one for Bridges.

    Muller gets it wrong in all possible ways: the Right think he's caved to the "PC mob", but his front bench is unchanged.

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  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    6 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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