Nastiest election ever?

Written By: - Date published: 8:06 am, September 17th, 2014 - 79 comments
Categories: brand key, election 2014, twitter - Tags: , ,

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79 comments on “Nastiest election ever? ”

  1. mickysavage 1

    I keep thinking about the turmoil the right created over anti smacking, lightbulbs and sausage rolls in school and compare it to dirty politics, mass surveillance and the abuse our PM hands out without thinking and I wonder what National supporters are thinking of …

  2. Ad 2

    Most annoying election since 1981.

    1981, all the activist stars were aligned, Sprinbok Tour that year, Muldoon appeared on the ropes. Righteous fervour demanded he go.
    Nope. Opposition unsteady and poorly led in the vital week for Undecideds.

    2014, massive activist froth, Key tilting from astonishing popularity, but opposition largely sucked dry of oxygen. Righteous fervour demanded he go.
    Opposition generally nowhere in the vital week for Undecideds.

    Harrumph!

    • Tom Jackson 2.1

      The 1981 election merely delayed the inevitable, since Muldoon couldn’t even limp to a full term. If National/Act don’t get an outright majority, I think we’ll be back at the polls before too long, especially if Key resigns (I give him about a year).

      1996 was much the same. A cobbled together, desperate government on its last legs.

      This government is too beset by scandals to continue for much longer, even if it wins. Perhaps the worst thing that could happen for them is for Collins to be found innocent, because the public will see the vindication as yet another act of cronyism whatever its merits.

      • Ad 2.1.1

        Hope you’re right.
        Because a win’s a win.

        • JRT 2.1.1.1

          This election so reminds me of 1996. It will remind Winston too. He got 13% of the vote in the 1996 election, and after getting into bed with a third term National government he got less than 5% in the next election. I see we even have Paula Bennett with a deja vu Shipley makeover, cue for her to roll Key just like Shipley’s faction rolled Bolger during that third term. National got tossed out in 1999, but they were able to do a lot of damage in those last three years.

          • alwyn 2.1.1.1.1

            Winston will also be reminded of course that he had 5.72% of the vote in 2005, went into bed with a third term Labour Government and dropped 30% of the party vote in the next election and got kicked out of Parliament. Labour got tossed out in 2008, but they were able to do a lot of damage in those last three years.
            I suspect that if it meant being number 3 in a centre-left Government or number 2 in a centre-right he would waffle about stability, get a firm promise of an easy portfolio AND a knighthood and go with National

    • Ergo Robertina 2.2

      One big difference between now and 1981: Labour received more votes than National. And that was despite the vote splitting factor of Social Credit.

  3. sockpuppet 3

    Certainly the weirdest election in my memory (60years).

    The sooner the portly chap for Coatesville slings his hook the better as his profile and egocentric behaviour has been an unwanted distraction.

    Also a double thumbs down for the MSM and the blogs who seem to have made the election all about them to the detriment of the poetical parties and informing the voters. IMO NZ political journalists are at the lowest ebb and are a disgrace to what was once a respected profession.

    • ropata 3.1

      KDC has been a lightning rod exposing some important truth about the Key government.

      John Key’s bully-boys don’t like it when their boss is under scrutiny. Steve Crow and a few other shady characters were the *actual* henchmen that had 4 big black Mercedes-Benz SUVs plastered with anti Dotcom slander and parked illegally in front of the Town Hall before the “Moment of Truth” meeting. They looked pretty intimidating.

      • sockpuppet 3.1.1

        KDC is a fraud and an egomaniac that some on the left cling to him in the delusion that my enemy’s enemy must be my friend is both childish and worrying.

        • ropata 3.1.1.1

          So that justifies illegally wiretapping his calls, seizing all his assets, destroying his business (and millions of people’s stored data), and using the armed offenders squad to arrest him and terrorise his family?

          Looks like the FBI, NSA and Warner Bros are running the National Party these days. They already have the GCSB and police doing their bidding.

        • Tracey 3.1.1.2

          Makes you wish te Nats hadnt overturned/ignored the concerns drawn to their attention about his past…

        • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1.3

          Nope. KDC comes across as a guy who’s suddenly realised that politics matters and who’s now thinking about how things should be. His ego’s still a bit large though.

          • TheContrarian 3.1.1.3.1

            “KDC comes across as a guy who’s suddenly realised that politics matters”

            Bullshit, he comes across as some guy that didn’t give a fuck until he was personally affected and is concerned only with what matters to him

            • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1.3.1.1

              Yes, the personally affected bit was the trigger. Before then he just went through playing the game by the rules as he understood them. Now, IMO, he’s learning the rules as they actually apply and he’s realising that they’re wrong. He’s got a way to go yet but he’ll get there. That intellect of his won’t allow anything else.

              • TheContrarian

                If it were Labour in power when his raid went down I have no doubt he’d throw his weight behind National in opposition. Dotcom does what is best for Dotcom. End of.

          • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.3.2

            His ego’s still a bit large though.

            And thank grod for that. No other sane person would jump up on stage and start a political party.

      • CeeEm 3.1.2

        Crow hates Dotcom because mega users are downloading tons of porn that Crow can’t sell them.

      • Mary Anne 3.1.3

        Intimidating is correct.
        Prospective beneficiaries of the State have a lot to fight for.
        I am pleased that this disgusting behaviour is in the light for us to see, considering their behaviour in the past was veiled.

  4. AsleepWhileWalking 4

    Most engaging election ever! So far we are short of a sex or drug scandal and a mysterious accident (perhaps something minor like tripping over an AV cable) which would both be explained away by some kind of conspiracy involving a pack of feral chihuahuas, five moon phases and of course a silver shaped weather balloon owned by a Labour party member residing in Twizel.

  5. Rrr 5

    If Key gets back into power he will be as lame a duck as Len Brown after all the half truths etc , etc

    • Colonial Viper 5.1

      Way lamer than Len Brown, who was a politician who had an affair. Meh. Whereas Key has sold the sovereignty of this country out to foreign powers without even mentioning it until he was made to.

  6. ropata 6

    2008 Wishart, Farrar, Whale published some ridiculous sh1t about Helen Clark’s personal life.

    On the Electoral Finance Act reforms, the Herald ran a scaremongering “Democracy Under Attack” campaign, and seemed to forget about the “hollow men” saga that prompted it.

    There was a nationwide petition against the “anti-smacking” law, propagated by the uninformed.

    Michael Cullen was vilified for being stingy with the national surplus and not handing out tax cuts! (but the media gives bill english a free pass to run deficits, raise taxes, pile up huge debt, and get a double downgrade for good measure)

  7. greywarbler 7

    The Standard has been scrutinised and criticised by Your NZ blog with the motto ‘Reason, Reasonable, Robust’. It is undated but quotes lprent from 7/9/14 with a sarcy comment, “This tries to portray The Standard as independent authors”.

    Apparently TS is flaky because it seems to have labour activists commenting but they mightn’t actually declare their political leanings so that readers from Your NZ know it’s right to despise them or not.

    And secondly, though Labour is pushing for a Positive campaign, TS persists in criticising things, which is sooo negative.

    They have put a lot of work into this nonsense passing itself of as intelligent analysis. It’s very National ie, doesn’t concentrate on studying policies that should be being presented to patch the holes in various places of our economy.
    http://yournz.org/2014/09/08/vote-positive-and-the-standard/

    • Te Reo Putake 7.1

      Yawn NZ. An attempt to put into writing the sound of gentle snoring from a grandparent who has nodded off in front of the telly. Ssssh, don’t wake him, he might accidentally swallow his dentures again.

      • greywarbler 7.1.1

        @TRP
        You’re sharp TRP Like that knife always on tv adverts! LOL

        • Te Reo Putake 7.1.1.1

          Cheers, greywarbler! As weka notes, the closet tory is still trying to inflict damage behind his Mr Reasonable facade, so the occasional witty skewering is the least I can do to prick his pomposity.

      • weka 7.1.2

        That’s all very well TRP, but PG has very good priority on google search results and some MSM outlets seem to think him a worthy person to quote from time to time. He’s an active part of the smear machine who hides behind his respectability and he fools many people (looking at you Rory factchecker dude). In other words, he’s quite capable of doing damage.

        On the other hand, he did get a ban from Public Address 😀

      • Tracey 7.1.3

        TRP

        The labour stickers dont have an authorisation on the stickers themselves.

        The orange national stickers likewise.

        They DO look at a glance like the electoral commission

    • lprent 7.2

      …labour activists commenting but they mightn’t actually declare their political leanings…

      It has all sorts of activists commenting. Including ones like Pete George who tries to say that he isn’t a old right wing conservative when his writing clearly labels him as such.

      But I guess that trying to judge where other people are coming from by looking at what they actually say is something that his fossilised brain finds too hard to do. If he doesn’t have a wee label handed to him saying “commie” or “woman”, the jerk is too damn lazy to exert himself to figure it out.

      (cue another outraged diatribe) 😈

    • ropata 7.3

      Pete George is an irrelevant blowhard with a grudge, banned from TS for pompous offtopic verbiage, concern trolling, and derailing threads. Thankfully started his own blog where he can be safely ignored.

  8. BM 8

    Labour vote will be in the very low 20’s, most of their new talent will be gone.

    Has this election being successful for the left, I don’t think so.

    Big winners out of this, the old drunk Peters and conspiracy boy Craig.

    Thanks lefties.

    • ropata 8.1

      The left is attempting to give NZers an informed choice. If you prefer a low information environment f*ck off to whaleoil.

      • Hayden 8.1.1

        f*ck off to whaleoil

        That’s not necessary.

        BM spends most of his time* on Whaleoil already.

        * disclaimer: I don’t actually know that

        • greywarbler 8.1.1.1

          @ Hayden
          I don’t know about that. though it’s a possibility. He seems like one of those quiet blowflies that I hate even more than the noisy ones. But he isn’t always here and I think he uses the blog like a junkie getting a fix.

          So where does he go when he is not here. Perhaps his doctor recommends a little light gardening, a short drive in the country to settle his nerves, or even to train up for a half marathon for the oldies bracket. Where does the idle man spend his time when he is old? Sitting round annoying the wife possibly.

    • emergency mike 8.2

      Yeah that’s right BM, the dirty truth described in Hager’s book and the hollow lies of Key shown by Greenwald and co is ‘the left’s fault.

      If only they had STFU about it, then National voters who would chew their own foot off before voting for Labour or the Greens wouldn’t be forced to vote for Winston First or Christian First in the desperate hope that they will keep the current bunch of sociopaths honest.

  9. Tom Gould 9

    And now, only days after Ashburton, Bennett declares a fresh war on beneficiaries. Obscene. Nasty.

    • weka 9.1

      Link? Or even just an explanation?

      • Lanthanide 9.1.1

        They’re going to reduce benefit numbers by 25% in their next term through a range of initiatives.

        • weka 9.1.1.1

          Ta.

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/policies/10508263/Nats-promise-cut-to-benefit-numbers

          Had a quick skim, but can’t be bothered really. It looks like a clean presentation which means they’re saving the nasty shit until after the election.

          • Lanthanide 9.1.1.1.1

            My exact response, too. It’s the usual dog-whistling to the uninformed.

            I’m not against a 25% drop in beneficiaries. I just want to see it through creating jobs and uplifting people, rather than punishing them.

            • weka 9.1.1.1.1.1

              in which case we should talk about a 25% drop in unemployed beneficiaries. Many beneficiaries aren’t unemployed and some of those are being wrongly categorised as work ready. This isn’t just semantics, it’s because National have real world policies and practices that are damaging people’s lives by forcing them into punitive schemes when they need support in other ways. Even Labour doesn’t get this, and constantly uses the term ‘beneficiary’ when it really means unemployed.

    • greywarbler 9.2

      @ TomGould
      That’s a very Oliver remark. Want more!

  10. Enough is Enough 10

    I don’t actually think it has been that nasty.

    Essentially it has been Key defending himself for 5 weeks against clear evidence that he is a crook and a liar.

    The dirtiest thing is the fake email from Dotcom. The sooner he leaves New Zealand the better.

    • weka 10.1

      Do you have proof that it is fake, or even some evidence that this is likely? If not, then using that to further your antipathy towards KDC is just part of the bullshit.

      • Enough is Enough 10.1.1

        Ok for arguments sake lets assume it is genuine.

        Dotcom has known about it for two years. Don’t you think it a wee bit underhand to hold onto it for that long and then reveal it the week of an election.

        We would have won this election on policy. In my view the bullshit which he is pulling will only harden the determination of the righties to get and vote.

        • weka 10.1.1.1

          That’s all very fair enough, although I personally have no idea about KDC’s motives re the email. or the legalities. We can talk about all that, and the impact on the election, but that wasn’t my point. My point was that we don’t know what the deal is with the email, so if we call it fake as part of furthering our antipathy for someone we deem an enemy, when we don’t have evidence yet that it is a fake, then it’s just the same old bullshit that the right are doing.

          It’s fine that you don’t like KDC or his impact on the election, I’m just suggesting that there is plenty of real stuff to talk about with that without perpetuating an idea that we have no idea is true or false.

          • Enough is Enough 10.1.1.1.1

            Yes and no.

            Remove the word “fake” from my post and lets start again.

            Lobbing a grenade into an election campaign when you have had the pin pulled for 2 years, is in my view underhand.

            It is politics alright but it is dirty.

            Flip it around. Imagine if Slater had been threatening something for two years and then pulled out the questionable evidence today, even though he had held it for the whole time.

            Its dirty and we should call dirty on whoever does it.

            • Lanthanide 10.1.1.1.1.1

              Slater’s modus operandi seems to be to unleash the dirt after the important election has a occurred, vis-a-vis Len Brown…

              KDC has always been planning to release the ‘proof’ at his extradition trial as evidence that the government was colluding, therefore his extradition is illegal etc. The extradition trial date kept being pushed back, as far as I can tell through no fault of KDC’s own.

              So, he had planned to have it out in public before now, it just didn’t pan out that way. Even as it is, his lawyers have told him not to comment on it publicly, which is why he’s been very evasive and why we had the vacuum on Monday night.

              But, given how flimsy it looks – a single 3rd hand email without anything to verify it, he would have been better off not publishing it at all.

              Edit: snap @ yeshe.

              • Enough is Enough

                My problem with all this is people do not like it.

                I work in an office which is overrepresented by John Key fans. A large proportion of them were a bit indifferent and were turning against him as a result of Hager’s revelations and I was confident those people would vote left or stay at home.

                What I have seen in the past week is it has turned the other way again. People are getting animated about Dotcom in a negative way. He has hijacked the headlines and stolen our voice in this most critical week.

                The left wins this election on policy. Unfortunately the public is not getting the opportunity to hear that though.

            • weka 10.1.1.1.1.2

              “Remove the word “fake” from my post and lets start again.”

              thanks for getting the point.

              • Enough is Enough

                I think you missed the point of why I think it is dirty.

                Hint: It has nothing to do with the authenticity of the email.

                • weka

                  No, I get it. Like I said, let’s talk about that, but we don’t have to call things fake when we don’t actually know.

        • yeshe 10.1.1.2

          Enough is enough — a small point, but likely worth making.

          KDC has promised always he would reveal in his extradition trial in the High Court the evidence he had that Key knew earlier of his existence; it would be part of his evidence.

          This trial has taken many twists and turns but was expected to be heard in full including this evidence, prior to the election. However, it has not, and is now re-scheduled to early next year.

          KDC and his eminent legal team must have made a strategic decision about entering it into evidence it or releasing it. ( In fact, Paul Davison QC referred to the email outside court on Monday.)

          But I do not think we can say KDC has lied or been duplicitous about it.

          He has always said he had the evidence. The only fact that has changed is the promised release — in this time, not delaying until his High Court extradition hearings.

          • Enough is Enough 10.1.1.2.1

            Yes

            Why did he pull it out this week then?

            • Lanthanide 10.1.1.2.1.1

              Presumably because he thought the public should know that John Key is a liar?

              His problem is that it was very weak.

              • Enough is Enough

                Obviously because he thought that. The issue (or the reason I think it is “dirty”) is the timing.

            • Tracey 10.1.1.2.1.2

              His case was back in court on monday and tuesday. It may have been tabled as evidence.

              It does seem that key was scared enough to release documents which he had been told the release of which was a danger to national security.

              One question key, joyce etc… Are not asked often enough, is why not release those documents when the gcsb bill was under debate

              August 2013 gcsb bill passes and the GCSB is still working on the business case for option 2…

              IOW Key was still intending to go with it, so he kept quiet…

              December 2013 rescinding of decision to get a business plan for option 2.

              Key says between april 2012 and December 2013 key says he never saw the business case….

              No draft? No, hows it coming along?

              I do not believe that NOTHING was done in that time on the business plan, do you?

        • Tracey 10.1.1.3

          Because it is part of his legal strategy. People dont have an obligation to reveal things when others want it.

          Slater releases shit all the time which the msm runs with, without checking authenticity.

          Farrar and others recently released BS about a song getting public funding. The msm regurgitated and then NZ on Air tweeted it had not funded it.

          No one, not even the msm, rang nz on air first… But dotcoms email is a fake cos the ceo of warners who secured law changes, rebates and an extradiction of someone he considers is hurting his profit said so.

        • Murray Olsen 10.1.1.4

          Ok, assuming the email is genuine….then Key schemed with Hollywood executives and the FBI to pervert our immigration procedures and basically hold someone hostage until a Rambo operation could be mounted. Don’t you think it a wee bit underhand to do all that and never mention any of it? In fact, to lie and deny it all instead?

          The fact that so many Kiwis still accept that such a crook is fit to be free, let alone our PM, is what is bullshit.

    • greywarbler 10.2

      @ Enough is Enough 10.22
      Our politics is a serious game, if we could package it properly we might get into the Olympics or perhaps the thinking Chess Olympics with it. We need experienced contenders as good as we can find. It’s not enough to turn up and pass a ckean hands and fingernails test.

      There are only two situational possibilities in NZ at present – the quick and the dead. The quick are rich or getting there. Dotcom is one of the better rich ones. Don’t be too hasty to boot him out, wanting only saints managing our country. Having some experienced financial and business exponents with knowledge of finagling comes in useful.

      Saints are for the dead, then you get canonised. NZs will get cannonised if we don’t think more quickly. Keep our political and financial stars as long as they can present a case for their inclusion and reliability in their dealings now..

  11. sable 11

    Government is a contrivance and never has it been so explicitly demonstrated than this election.

  12. James Thrace 12

    Latest roy morgan poll is out

    Again, still too close to call. National-led Government: National Party, Maori Party, ACT NZ, United Future on 49% (up from 46.5% in August 31 poll)

    Opposition Parties: Labour Party, Green Party, Internet-Mana Party alliance, NZ First; down to 46.5 (from 49% in August 31 poll)

    Nothing more than an old switcherooni.

    National is up 1.5
    Labour down 2
    Greens down 2.5
    NZ1st up 2
    Maori Party up 1

    No real change for everyone else.

    Even so, based on those numbers, assuming Dunne is gone from Ohariu, and even with Seymour in Epsom, it still leaves National short. Have assumed conservatives get 4.5% and are out of parliament. The percentage signs relate to the party vote gained on the day.

    I am worried that Labour will get less overall, particularly as the weather on the day is shaping up to be nasty.

    ACT New Zealand 1.50% 2 MPs (1 electorate + 1.5% PV)
    Green Party 16.00% 21 MPs (no electorates)
    Internet MANA 2.00% 3 MPs (1 electorate +2% PV)
    Labour Party 26.00% 34 MPs (29 Electorates+ 5 list)
    Māori Party 1.00% 2 Mps (2 electorates)
    National Party 39.00% 50 Mps (37 electorates + 13 list)
    New Zealand First Party 7.00% 9 Mps (no electorates)

    121 seats total.

    Using the numbers:

    National + Act + MP = 54 seats
    Even if Dunne gets in, that still only gives them 55 seats

    Labour + Green + NZ1st = 64 seats, if Dunne gets in, that makes it 63 seats for the left block. I have factored in the probability of Ginny winning Ohariu.

    I can’t see Winston wanting to be part of a four headed monster, or even in a Nat+NZ1+Act/MP/Dunne configuration.

    However, If National got 42% and Labour got 23% on Saturday in their respective party votes (n/c to electorates won), then the left block would likely need IMP to be part of a formal coalition, or in a confidence and supply arrangement.

    Other alternative is that Lab+Grn+NZ1 combined on a 60 seat bloc in 121 seat parliament could run a minority government.

    A national+act+uf+mp bloc is only 58 seats in a 121 seat parliament.

    I haven’t done any configurations with Conservatives as I believe people will shy away from them at the last minute and switch to Winsome Winnie instead of Crazy Colon.

    Overall conclusion? This election is coming down to the wire.

  13. philj 13

    Can’t wait for the movie to screen! Especially the walking on water scene.

    • alwyn 13.1

      That is the one where on Morning Report, if John Key does it, the story will start “Key too mean to pay the fare on the ferry” and if it is Russell Norman “The Messiah has returned”.

  14. DS 14

    The nastiest election this country has ever had was 1951. Sid Holland and John Key bear more than a passing resemblance.

    • Theodora 14.1

      I just read SId Holland’s Wikipedia page and he sounds revolting. And yes, very similar to the incumbent.

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    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

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

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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