Nat Civil War: ceasefire breached

Written By: - Date published: 6:35 am, May 9th, 2012 - 90 comments
Categories: Judith Collins, national, Steven Joyce - Tags: , ,

Well, that didn’t take long. A couple of weeks of quiet (probably thanks to some good polls more than anything) and, now, the National Party Civil War has re-erupted as the Collins and Joyce factions fight over the post-Key future.

A few weeks ago, we got tipped off about a candidates’ course for Nats that Simon Lusk and Cameron Slater were going to run in Christchurch. It’s part of their model, seen as dirty by many in the National Party, of identifying potential candidates to take on as clients, and running smear campaigns for them against other Nats for cash. Our stringer fell through and then the Banks stuff blew-up, so we never covered the meeting. But it seems the anti-Lusk leaks kept coming.

Here’s the description of the event we were sent:

Running for Local Government
Simon Lusk & Cameron Slater
Training Session
April 21st & 22nd 2012
The purpose of this session is to help aspiring National candidates and those who want to win local government races. This will be an interactive session with an emphasis on Q&A. It will build knowledge about campaigning and how individuals should win
Venue
The Copthorne Hotel Commodore, Christchurch. One of the South Island participants suggested a South Island venue to see how committed Aucklanders are. Details to be confirmed.
Cost will be $100 to cover lunch, dinner and the venue. Please bring cash to pay on the day.
Note agenda is rough, it will go over two days like last time, but I have to confirm speakers etc.
1.       Why Local Government?                     Simon Lusk                   10.00

2.       Council, Community Board, DHB or Consumer Trust?       Cam Slater  10.15

 

And here’s Slater giving the game away, as is his wont, on Facebook:

I bring this up now because of TV3’s piece last night and the Dom’s article this morning. It seems someone has leaked National Party board minutes. There can hardly be a greater breach of the party’s security than having that information in the public eye, except for the leaking of the emails of the leader himself.

The leaking itself highlights the level of factional infighting in National, as do the contents.

The minutes reveal that Micheal Woodhouse has been warning MPs off using Slater/Lusk’s services saying he had had discussions “to let them know it is not appropriate … to engage”. He went on to report a “disturbing discussion that he has had with Simon Lusk that highlighted his motivations and a very negative agenda for the party”.

“Negative agenda” and the names Lusk and Slater go together automatically. The whole modus operandi of the pair is to get in the pay of a prospective National candidate or a company with union troubles and then smear their opponents. So much of this activity is directed against other Nats that it is self-destructive. And it clearly worries senior Nats.

So, what is the “negative agenda for the party” that Woodhouse refers to? Lusk must be feeling pretty confident about the future for his agenda if he is willing to openly discuss it with a senior MP who isn’t aligned to him. And well he might. His machinations have gotten at least a dozen MPs their seats. But Woodhouse’s comments hint at something larger, as does the leaking of the minutes in and of itself.

You can’t help but see this as a continuation of the Collins faction vs the Joyce faction. Lusk and Slater are known to be agents of the Collins faction, and Joyce is known to have particular ill-will for Lusk because of his party-damaging tactics.

Another area of disagreement appears to be on how to treat the Conservative Party. The more liberal Joyce faction sees the need for a rightwing partner and sees space for a separate social conservative party. Party President Peter Goodfellow has been openly courting the Conservatives to fill that space and there is talk of giving them the Rodney electorate next election.

But the Collins faction doesn’t like it. They don’t want a partner party in the socially conservative, Christian space as that’s exactly where they want to take National. They would have preferred a revitalised ACT (remember Slater/Lusk were up to their eyeballs in the Brash coup of ACT).

You can see the evidence in Slater’s writing on the subject. He doesn’t want Mark Mitchell (another Lusk scion) to have to step aside to let Colin Craig win Rodney. He says that Steven Joyce would “do a deal with the devil to preserve his own power, and if this means tanking a seat he will try”. He criticises Joyce for National’s decision not to actively campaign for FPP, which would eliminate the need for National to have governing partners.. He lashes out at Murray McCully saying that if anyone should be giving up his seat for Craig, it should be McCully.

It all comes down to who is going to have the numbers post-Key and, importantly in the National Party, whose MPs will be electorate MPs. A strong Conservative Party could see some Collins faction MPs unseated and potentially out of Parliament in a tighter race with Labour as the socially conservative rightwing vote would be split.

With ACT gone, Slater/Lusk would prefer to see the the right remain monolithic – sucking up all the rightwing vote – and concentrate on screwing over their internal opponents and getting more MPs for the Collins faction. Clearly, other factions within the party are keen to put the spotlight on what they are up to.

90 comments on “Nat Civil War: ceasefire breached ”

  1. ad 1

    Are these factions or simply rogue spinoffs or something of both? Odd to have Slater-Lusk, Boag-and-deepblueAuckland, and Collins, and Joyce, all jockeying at the same time. Key’s personal popularity remains strong even if slightly weakened. If I were him I would be swinging people like Eagleson into the action to bang heads – the welfare moves feel like good hard spin in action.

    Such a relief to watch another party rift rather than Labour. Labour’s own remit conferences will be interesting to see activists coalescing around MPs.

    It’s beginning to feel like Key’s just holding it together until Budget, after which the Banks Police report will come in and things get a whole lot harder.

    Hope the next dinner Shearer has is with Russell Norman, geting ready for a real and integrated tilt. We need to start the campaign for 2014 much earlier this time. Like this year.

    • the welfare moves feel like good hard spin in action.
      they are good hard spin, a veneer of common sense masking a deplorable and disgusting philosophy. The last attempt at distraction from the Banks debacle (legislation to discourage alien invasions – WTF?) was pretty ineffective.

      • Pete George 1.1.1

        You do realise that in amongst all the “scandals” there’s an imminent budget and it’s not uncommon for actual government business to get a bit of an airing too amongst all the fluff?

        Or are you suggesting Paula Bennet anticipated and coordinated her release with Trevor Mallard’s grand announcements before the media that got the same information beat him to it.

        • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1

          Or are you suggesting Paula Bennet anticipated and coordinated her release with Trevor Mallard’s grand announcements before the media that got the same information beat him to it.

          Uh, it looks like YOU just suggested that.

        • Armchair Critic 1.1.1.2

          With regard to your first question, yes, and the second qquestion, no

    • dan1 1.2

      Just look at Key’s eyes. Dead man walking. He knows what is in store. It is sad. He is out of his depth. Fascinating politics.

  2. higherstandard 2

    I’m sure Cameron Slater loves the attention he gets from this site.

    • Colonial Viper 2.1

      He can get even more if he leaks us jucier stuff from the top 🙂

  3. Sanctuary 3

    Rod Lingard must be worried, they are stealing his business!

  4. I found Key’s interview last night on TV3 fascinating.  And can’t think but he told porkies.  First he was not aware of any problems and then when he realised TV3 had the minutes he downplayed them.  

    It appears he has been given lessons by John Banks on the handling of crises and on how to retain information in his memory.

    And you really get the feeling that in their pursuit of winning the leadership battle they have lost sight of what for all political parties should be the ultimate goal, the Government benches.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1

      Or the ultimate goal of helping the people of NZ and this great country get ahead and stay ahead in what is going to be a very difficult next 25 years.

  5. Hilary 5

    MS – In that TV3 piece there were some interesting expressions on the faces of other National Party MPs.

  6. captain hook 6

    seems like there is a need for a new defintion for the national party.

  7. deuto 7

    Re the DomPost article linked to in the post, it would be interesting to know who the five Nat MPS were that attended the Puhoi conference in January and the two who attended the April conference in Christchurch.

    Found the following at the end of the article hilarious:

    A National insider denied there was a serous rift.

    “Simon’s a bit of a loose element. … but there’s no civil war in National. There’s not a lot [of relevance] apart from there are people in the National party who don’t like each other.”

    People who don’t like one another within the party is not a rift or potential rift?

    • ghostwhowalksnz 7.1

      For National insider , read David Farrar. Hes playing the one armed paper hanger role here

  8. deuto 8

    Ooops – for some reason that went up twice and it would not let me cancel the second one.

  9. “we got tipped off”, “Our stringer”, “we never covered the meeting.” “we were sent”

    Eddie, seems like you are talking on behalf of multiple people. Is it not unreasonable to expect that you say who you are speaking for? Or have you posted something given to you by someone else and have forgotten to attribute it?

    • Zetetic 9.1

      Eddie’s writing about material sent to The Standard – the we referred to is Standard authors.

      The Standard doesn’t do ghost written pieces, unlike farrar and slater.

      Think carefully before making such insinuations again.

      • Pete George 9.1.1

        I wasn’t insinuating, I was asking. It gets a bit confusing here.

        Sometimes we are told very strongly that we must attribute what we include in comments. Sometimes it doesn’t seem to matter.

        This was posted under Eddie’s name, usually generic or joint efforts are posted under “The Standard”. There was nothing in the post that explained this was “The Standard” posting.

        “the we referred to is Standard authors.”

        And that is also confusing, because as we are often reminded “The Standard” is not a single entity, it is a bunch of individuals who usdually post independently under a common banner.

    • We are witnessing civil war breaking out in National’s ranks, the leaking of highly sensitive information possibly from within the PM’s office, the destabilizing of the Government and Petey wants to speculate on who Eddie might be …

  10. Sanctuary 10

    You know Pete George is completely banned at the dimpost and things are going along swimmingly without him… Just sayin.

      • Pete George 10.1.1

        While trying to talk up “civil war” with the other lot…

        Labour faces Samoan ire in Mangere

        Labour’s Mangere MP Su’a William Sio is facing a rebellion from a big group of his own Samoan people who plan to stand their own candidate against him.

        I’d have thought that the Chair of Labour’s Auckland-Northland Regional Council would be more concerned about his own “rebellions” than putting all his focus into petty interparty pointscoring.

        • deuto 10.1.1.1

          WARNING – attempted diversion. Please do not feed the troll.

        • mickysavage 10.1.1.2

          You know Petey as I type this you have made five comments on this page.  They cover a number of subjects such as the budget, who Eddie is and who he or she is speaking for, possible problems in Mangere because Sua William Sio thinks that some collectors are too exuberant, and whether or not you are banned from dimpost.

          You have not addressed the subject matter once, not even to decry gotcha politics which in this case admittedly is a completely stupid thing to say.

          You aren’t trying to divert attention or destroy the thread are you? 

          • Pete George 10.1.1.2.1

            You’re right, it’d be a quiet post if I hadn’t commented – it’s worth noting that for every one of my comments there’s several associated comments – no diversions or varied topics amongst them?

            But it’s hard to get excited about differences within a party – without which we’d probably have leaks about how conformist everyone was forced to be.

    • Odd, how do you know that? I’m not aware of anything specific like that, Danyl doesn’t appear to have guts to say anything about his censorships – to me, anyway.

      • Colonial Viper 10.2.1

        Censorship? Banning you is simply exercising a reasonable sense of decorum, surely.

      • bbfloyd 10.2.2

        actually petey… your comments are just clutter…..i stop reading the comment section when you start monopolising it….it just get rather self serving and tedious….

        and to put your last comment in rational perspective… if you weren’t commenting here, then we may be able to actually have a useful discussion…… you really are becoming a pest…..

        the only reason i’m bothering this time is to inform you of an opinion i have held since the first time you spoiled a perfectly good discussion with your party political drivel…

    • deuto 10.3

      Agreed that there is a marked difference/improvement without his continual diversions/trite comments. Don’t know whether or not he was formally banned or whether the scathing nature of many of the responses to his comments led him to desist commenting there.

      • tc 10.3.1

        Would clean up alot of diversionary and irrelevant dross off the many threads PG jumps on.

        It’s the one he leaves alone that say alot about the diversionary trolling he indulges in all cloaked in waffly statements and links to his site to appear ‘reasonable’.

        • Pete George 10.3.1.1

          It’s the one he leaves alone

          Are you suggesting I shouldn’t leave any alone so as to appear balanced?

          Don’t worry, I don’t intend posting on more things – apart from not having the time or inclination many topics simply don’t interest me, some I think are too ridiculous to bother with, and some topics I keep and eye on to see where they are going and to learn from them.

          Why do you leave some things alone? Are you a diversionary drosser or something?

          • bbfloyd 10.3.1.1.1

            thanks for that petey…. so i can look forward to not having to skim past the “pete george” section to get to the real debate? that’s fantastic news….

            btw…you do the “sniff and stalk off in a dignified huff” really really well…

  11. Hillary 11

    “cash” to cover lunch, dinner, venue!!!?????

    Why does Slater deal in cash?
    Does the lunches, dinner & venue become a ‘business’ expenses?
    Is this cash declared?
    Does Slater have any business operating?
    Who with?
    How many?
    Where are they registered?
    NZ or offshore?
    Has Cactus Kate given Slater any advice about offshore entities?
    Where does Slater get his fees from?
    How does Slater survive financially?
    Does Slater get advertising revenue from his website?
    Does Lusk pay Slater to write stories pro / anti candidates?
    Does Slater get fees from candidates as part of the Slater/Lusk duo?
    Is Slater still collecting a Winz/sickness benefit?
    How does Slater pay for lavish drinks and means on a beneficiary income?
    Is Slater obtaining an income or earnings from businesses?

    So many unanswered questions.

    Maybe someone has some answers?

    • Sanctuary 11.1

      Or perhaps someone could raise this “cash” stipulation with the IRD?

      • ghostwhowalksnz 11.1.1

        It just means they have no eftpos/credit card facilities.
        I wouldnt read too much into the cash only comment.

        Would have to show IRD the venture was for business purposes to claim the cost of venue hire -airfares, so declaring the money is best way to do it.

        • felix 11.1.1.1

          *Declaring some of the money, hence the requirement for cash only.

    • felix 11.2

      Also, “is the $100 fee GST inclusive?”

    • deuto 11.3

      LOL – great list of questions! I am sure many people would be interested in the answers to these.

      Perhaps someone should raise these questions with IRD and/or WINZ. They both have confidential phone numbers to discuss possible fraud/misuse of benefits etc

      IRD – 0800 225 610
      WINZ – 0800 556 006.

    • tracey 11.4

      My understanding is that he has never collected from WINZ. Apparently his insurance covered mental illness.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 11.4.1

        Well it did , until they stopped paying it because he was back ‘working’
        He made a big fuss about taking on Fidelity Life, and how he doesnt back down. But its been quiet on that front for a year or two.
        Could be on the civil list or his lawyer told him he doesnt have a real chance of success unless they settle at the ‘steps of the court’

        • Tracey 11.4.1.1

          I have no time for him, his methods and his deep seated anger, however I don’t believe he would be stupid enough to draw a benefit given his stance on those very things.

          • ghostwhowalksnz 11.4.1.1.1

            His wife works so that wouldnt be possible

            • Akldnut 11.4.1.1.1.1

              If I remember correctly he took a trip to Egypt about 12-18 months ago, he wouldn’t have been able to do that while on the dole.

          • John M 11.4.1.1.2

            He definitely was getting a sickness benefit and he definitely isn’t getting one now. Issue though is how did he present his finances including assets or income received from those assets in order to qualify for a sickness benefit? Hillary asked what advice did he get from Cactus Kate on offshore arrangements but I wonder whether the question should be what advice did he get from her on how to structure his finances so that WINZ still paid him a sickness benefit? I always thought you had to have pretty much nothing to get a benefit so surely structuring (or hiding) money to get a benefit is fraud? Anyone know about the benefit rules?

            • Descendant Of Smith 11.4.1.1.2.1

              “I always thought you had to have pretty much nothing to get a benefit ”

              When advocating for people this is one of the phrases I used to dislike the most.

              So many people were left with nothing because they were told this – in some sad cases (when workers were laid off from a firm by an idiot union delegate who decided he knew better than the Social Welfare staff (I’m showing my age now) who had explained things quite clearly)) people spent up to $60,000 in redundancy before seeking benefit assistance.

              Benefits such as unemployment and sickness and DPB are not asset tested they are only income tested. The income off any assets is income and may reduce the benefit.

              Addition payments such as food assistance and accommodation assistance is asset tested.

              The information is not hard to find out.

              • John M

                Sure, so did Cactus Kate advise Slater how to hide assets so he could get the accommodation benefit and how to hide income from those assets so he could get the sickness benefit?

                • Cactus Kate

                  Hilarious. A local accountant from West Auckland would be far more useful to use for that than me. Funnily enough getting around a few hundred dollars at WINZ doesn’t really rip the kilt nor provide me with income to keep me in the style I am accustomed to. I never did that sort of work even when I was in NZ.

    • mac1 11.5

      Haven’t they just learned, slow though they be, that cheques for services rendered cause problems a la Bankie? They can be photocopied, traced, used as evidence of fraud, corroborate individual involvement……. useful things, cheques.

    • Cactus Kate 11.6

      What utterly dumb questions.
      If Slater had offshore cash stashed away then he could pay more often for bloody lunch.
      I prefer my clientele to be ones that pay me. I know it is a hard concept to deal with but charity has never begun at home with me.

  12. Ugy 12

    Is the insurance company still covering him?

    • ghostwhowalksnz 12.1

      No. Thats what all the talk about ‘suing the pants off them’ was about.
      His previous business went bust which was the trigger for his depression.
      But that sort of illness is pretty certain for someone like him who exits all the symptoms of Oppositional defiant disorder. Usually starts in childhood and symptoms are
      Actively does not follow adults’ requests

      Angry and resentful of others

      Argues with adults

      Blames others for own mistakes

      Has few or no friends or has lost friends

      Is in constant trouble in school

      Loses temper

      Spiteful or seeks revenge

      Touchy or easily annoyed

      Not necessary to have every sympton

      • ianmac 12.1.1

        Crikey ghost! That’s me to a Tee! No wonder my Mum tied me to the clothesline as a kid!

      • Can we please not discuss Slater’s illness(es) and benefits in a public forum? Not just because it treats mental illness as a football, but also because it’s a distraction from the many legitimately unacceptable things Slater does that he can be rightfully criticised for.

        His benefit shouldn’t be up for public discussion, either, if he received one. If he’s committed fraud to get one, then that’s something that should be forwarded to the authorities, and only discussed publicly if they fail to act on that information.

        • felix 12.1.2.1

          +1 WINZ are big and ugly enough to sort him out if need be without any of our help.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 12.1.2.2

          Its in the public domain- mostly by Slater himself.

  13. Dr Terry 13

    I hope that everybody has read the reports concerning this country posted on Internet, from Amnesty International, and the Human Rights Commission on NZ welfare reforms? I think such bodies deserve to be taken seriously, even by those who are unhappy with them..

  14. Despite all the urgent scandalising – the “leaked” (or stolen) documents are over a year old – March 2011.

    I’ve got some questions for David Shearer.

    Is it ethical for a Labour run website to store and make available documents that are obviously confidential and belonging to another party? And are reported as possibly stolen?

    • ghostwhowalksnz 14.1

      They always say they are stolen….its funny they dont go to the police at the time , only when they become public.
      Its Lusk Campaign School 101- Blowing smoke ( to cover up )

      • Pete George 14.1.1

        Poor attempt – at the very least they knew they weren’t documents they should have in their possession. Not a good look for a supposedly senior MP – or do you think that sort of thing is fine?

        • McFlock 14.1.1.1

          Seems to be a significant “public interest” factor there, petey. 
                
          After all, it’s not like it’s a leak of WINZ recipients’ personal information. the people have a right to know if their ruling party is fracturing badly beneath the surface.

      • tc 14.1.2

        Doesn’t stop Petey from running his masters spin lines out though like the good troll he is.

      • McFlock 14.1.3

        Frankly, I’m not sure which is worse – an organisation that is so dysfunctional that authorised people are breaching confidence to score minor political points; or that an organisation that has not even basic protocols for securing confidential information in place is running the country  (e.g. ministerial emails being forwarded to private webmail accounts)

    • Um the documents are dated March 2012.

      Farrar is running the line they are “stolen” but has provided no proof.  He says that one board member claimed his were stolen and his name were on them but there is no proof of either happening.

      Besides the copy that has been photocopied were obviously sitting in a ring binder and had holes punched in them.  More likely someone’s office copy was recopied.

      Crosby Textor would be proud of your efforts today Petey. 

      • Pete George 14.2.1

        TV3 was running the line they could be stolen. I hope you know a bit about law.

        I see the heading has 2012, but all the footers are 2011, confusing.

        It’s not a good look for Labour to be directly involved in this sort of thing?

        • mickysavage 14.2.1.1

          So you assumed you were right and used this as a weapon without checking.

          If you had given it the slightest thought you would realise it must be from 2012.  It refers to the death of Barry Leay which occurred in October 2011 and also refers to the MMP review which is happening now.

          And then you cite a source which says the papers could be stolen and without thinking of it at all use this as support for a proposition that the minutes are stolen.

          I am all for free speech and the contest of ideas.  But Petey your comments are so full of spin that it is really hard to take you seriously.

          • Colonial Viper 14.2.1.1.1

            I always have to remind myself that PG is not an algorithmic troll bot, he’s apparently a flesh and blood human being.

          • QoT 14.2.1.1.2

            It’s a wonderful illustration of how Petey has never had to type his own minutes, too.

          • Pete George 14.2.1.1.3

            Mallard has claimed the documents were leaked, as have you and lprent and Eddie.

            But Mallard also claims not to know where they came from, so how could he know it was a leak?

            Mr Mallard said he received the minutes by fax and they were also posted to him in a brown envelope. He did not know the source.

            http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6891867/Key-suggests-leaked-minutes-were-stolen

            So he doesn’t know if he has retained possession of stolen property or not, and then stored and distributed them via the Labour MP website.

            Not a good look for a senior MP who accuses others of ethical deficiencies.

            • mickysavage 14.2.1.1.3.1

              Any proof Mallard stole his fax paper or that the photocopy paper was stolen?  If not please go away and stop being a repeater.

              • As a lawyer, if you received documents by fax that were clearly confidential and obviously not intended for your use, could you ethically keep them? Would you store them on your company website and make them available for others to view. Would you distribute them?

                There’s some simple questions that should be simple for you to answer.

                • So Petey one minute the documents are stolen and Mallard has received them, now it is “unethical” to keep them.

                  Do you think it is unethical to accuse someone of having committed a crime when you agree they have not?

                  • a) I haven’t accused someone of having committed a crime
                    b) I haven’t agreed they have not committed a crime

                    You have avoided answering the questions.

                    • I haven’t accused someone of having committed a crime

                      You have done everything but.  For instance you have said:

                      Is it ethical for a Labour run website to store and make available documents that are obviously confidential and belonging to another party? And are reported as possibly stolen?

                      TV3 was running the line they could be stolen.

                      So he doesn’t know if he has retained possession of stolen property or not

                      You should learn Petey that being a repeated is not a defence in a defamation suit.

                      And I look forward to your answering my question “Do you think it is unethical to accuse someone of having committed a crime when you agree they have not?”

                    • You must have missed seeing my last comment. I answered you:

                      a) I haven’t accused someone of having committed a crime
                      b) I haven’t agreed they have not committed a crime

                      You have avoided answering the questions. Twice now.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      Pete: Did you, or did you not, say this:

                      “Shearer stands silently by while Labour website is used to distribute illegally obtained documents.”?

                      That’s a statement (not a question) saying that the documents were illegally obtained.

                    • lprent []

                      Yeah, you have to love that assertion that the documents were illegally obtained. Since physical security is the primary way of keeping documents secure, it is far more likely that the were leaked by someone than they were physically stolen.

                      If they were stolen, then presumably there is a complaint about a breakin to the police? Nope? Probably leaked by someone with legitimate physical access. That puts it into the realm of a whistleblower and out of the realm of a crime.

                      Pete is just trying to make up his own laws again. The best that National could do is argue that they own the copyright. But that runs into issues of public interest.

                      Lusk and Slater appear to be quite divisive to National. We have been getting quite a lot of material from inside National about them arriving here. I would guess that it is in response to their negative campaigning against members of National.

                    • felix

                      lol Pete. Have to be careful with language and punctuation, some people think it’s used to convey meaning.

                      the “leaked” (or stolen) documents

                      In this instance the “quotes” could be sarcastically saying “not really leaked”, and the parentheses could be whispering (but we all know they were actually stolen).

                      Or maybe you didn’t intend sarcastic quotes. A more charitable – and literal – reading might be that the quotes are actual quotes. In this instance the quotes would be saying “leaked is a word that has been used to describe the documents and I’m making a point of not using that word to describe them myself” while the parentheses offer the alternative possibility (stolen).

                      As no other alternative possibilities are given, it’s reasonable to infer that you think it’s one or the other – they were either leaked or stolen – but you definitely don’t want to say they were leaked (hence the quotes).

                      There may be other ways to interpret your comment but those are the two obvious ones, sarcastic or literal.

                      In either version it’s difficult to see how you’re not claiming the documents were stolen, but maybe you do have another interpretation. I guess we’ll see.

        • MikeG 14.2.1.2

          It’s interesting how that according the the right, anything from the National Party that gets into the wrong hands is “stolen”, but anything of a similar nature that comes from Labour is “leaked”.

          • Pascal's bookie 14.2.1.2.1

            Personally, If I was going to make a big deal about something being stolen, I’d go to the police.

            but I’ve always been a bit odd.

            • Colonial Viper 14.2.1.2.1.1

              If it was 2 weeks before an election, ShonKey would have organised the police raid personally.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 14.2.2

        Poor old Pete , dying in a ditch to defend some National party documents. Who would have guessed, since UF wins no matter what the voters choose

        • Pascal's bookie 14.2.2.1

          He’s frothing away over at kiwiblog that the reaction here proves, something:

          When the usual suspects swarm on a post you know they are trying to cloud out something sensitive.

          Then asserts that there has been a crime commited, and that Shearer should do, something:

          Shearer stands silently by while Labour website is used to distribute illegally obtained documents.

          And then asks if the thing Shearer should do something about, is a crime:

          Can any lawyers say what the legal situation is on distributing documents known to be confidential and obviously not intended to be seen by the recipient?

          And then fades away with a bizzare claim about, something:

          “Public interest” has been claimed, but an MP on party blog is hardly an unbiased media.

          He’s pretty weird. I don’t know why people still encourage his, whatever it is.

  15. Te Reo Putake 15

    I think I’ve just spotted the quote of the day! One minute in, a weary man contemplates the future. It’s almost Beckett like in its bleakness.

  16. bomber 16

    The Lusk & Slator conspiracy: The God & Guns Republicanization of the National Party – http://tumeke.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/lusk-slator-conspiracy-god-guns.html

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  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
    You talking about me?  The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
    3 hours ago
  • A crisis of ambition
    Roger Partridge  writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 hours ago
  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 hours ago
  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
    Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 hours ago
  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
    Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 hours ago
  • The worth of it all
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    8 hours ago
  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    10 hours ago
  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    10 hours ago
  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    11 hours ago
  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    11 hours ago
  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    11 hours ago
  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    11 hours ago
  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    11 hours ago
  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    11 hours ago
  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    11 hours ago
  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    17 hours ago
  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    19 hours ago
  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    20 hours ago
  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    21 hours ago
  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    23 hours ago
  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    24 hours ago
  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    1 day ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    2 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    2 days ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    2 days ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    2 days ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    2 days ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    2 days ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    2 days ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    2 days ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    2 days ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    2 days ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    3 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    4 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    4 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
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  • Judicial appointments announced
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    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
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  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
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  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
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  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
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    5 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
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    5 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
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    6 days ago
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
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