National can win the next election

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, February 5th, 2018 - 75 comments
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The first part is to wait.

The current government are on a wafer-thin majority within a fragile coalition.

Labour will go down from where they are, as all first term governments do.

Once the electorate has finished inhaling new-baby estrogen, wept swimming pools of salty tears to their politically abject historical inquiries, and stacked the firewood of their middle class tax transfers, stuff gets hard.

Just simply wait.

And let Time place his mighty finger on the scales.

The second part is to increase popularity.

Initial part of that is to change leaders.

Bill English is a dead weight. He knows that and they know that. If John Key had wanted to, he could have stayed on and got them to close to 50%.

Call it 48% and easily ruled alone. They got a respectable result, but they would have won with John and without Bill.

2-3% for them begging to be taken by just ditching Bill. That would easily get you back to 45%

The next part is to be prepared.

Plenty of money in the bank, plenty of proxy mouthpieces in the real estate and development community, plenty of talent in the lineup, and others willing and hungry to take their place. Labour have almost no businesses donating, and have not worked Auckland’s bourgeoisie to shore them up.

National sure don’t need media stunts.

But the time is coming to drive a proper wedge between the entire agricultural community and economy – together with major business, against this government. Let the Greens keep that 5% joyless vegetarian vote, and feed the rest actual red meat. Eat all the pies.

The government’s Minister of Finance wants to make the economy be “about” people and stuff. When the first farm foreclosures arrive, when the mortgagee sales of apartments start after Twyford deflates the market too fast, when the same stories appear in 2018 in

winter about the same 2017 families sleeping in the same cars, remind the public that, whatever the economy is “for”, the Labour-led government is in charge. The economy is simple: show me the money.

Eat the pies.

On the list is get Shane a job. Won’t be hard, obviously. Newly married, roguishly charming as ever, biddable and priceable, he’s the easy way to eradicate the succession plan for New Zealand First. Kill NZF. It will be as hard as rolling that besuited geriatric off a cliff. 1-2% redistributed is yours.

The really easy bit is to hold the current government to account. Great, treasure what you measure, and top work Jacinda.

Few of this governments’ own measures are within their control. It is exceedingly noble to hold yourself accountable to the powerless, and to let that be writ large in the media for all to see without controlling the outcomes.

Nobility, as Frank Underwood would say, doesn’t give you shit. A few gentle reminders to the news teams that accountability is only used in performance reviews, and the debates go south fast. .5% is yours.

In the last year, election year, tell them this: we will make you rich. Not happy, not not-poor. Rich. Have fun with it.Grow the pie? Eat the pie.

That’s the extra 2% that gets you to 48%. Just a gentle reminder, National was polling ready to govern alone in September 2017.

None of those are hard moves.

75 comments on “National can win the next election ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Cinny 1
    5 February 2018 at 12:14 pm

    The way I see it re leadership it’s bill because of NORA (no other real alternative) and bill has been wanting to retire for years but key pipped him at the post.

    With MMP can one party govern alone if they have the numbers please? I really don’t think national will be able to manage to do so by 2020.

    • ropata 1.1
      6 February 2018 at 5:20 pm

      FJK fucked over NZ then left the Nats in the lurch and skipped town. Bill must be steaming. But what can you expect from a vulture capitalist bankster like Key. The Nats had it coming.

  2. Antony Cotton 2
    5 February 2018 at 12:39 pm

    National Party and it Supporters cannot count they think 44.4 per cent Majority its Not National and there Supporters Hate MMP.

  3. patricia bremner 3
    5 February 2018 at 1:10 pm

    You are hopeful!!

    This government will show how to work together to achieve goals by being inclusive, in all areas of life and across all cultures.

    Stunts like Bill English’s lies regarding consultation on child poverty, were shown up when Jacinda Ardern published the letter sent on the 13th Dec asking for a meeting!!

    Like a great chess player she is ahead of the game anticipating and preparing. Today she asked to be judged each Waitangi week, and generally held to account.

    As people see the mahi put in to improve lives on many levels, groups like the Maori Kingitanga will change their past allegiance and move to support, (as has happened).

    National always try to divide and conquer to keep control, while spouting “freedom and independence”. (Think diminishing returns for contractors).

    National fail to form relationships with all levels, preferring the elite, so their vote is at its maximum now.

    Women and men will gradually change over as they see improved lives for themselves and their daughters and sons.

    Those whose livelihoods are threatened by technology will find more support, as legislation put in place by this government will see fairer outcomes, and that includes farmers.

    Sharing the growing pie is not National policy, as your “eat the pies” shows.
    Sharing caring and strengthening community through democracy is the progressive way.

    For those reasons I don’t see National back soon.

  4. One Anonymous Bloke 4
    5 February 2018 at 1:30 pm

    National will also try to drive a wedge between the government parties, although they do get help from the occasional useful idiot on the Left.

    • BG 4.1
      7 February 2018 at 8:10 am

      Hence the real reason for the undemocratic Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill (an oxymoron if I ever saw it, there is no integrity in this bill)

      Winston is NZF and his MPs do his bidding, and will do for always. He doesn’t another 1998

      • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.1
        7 February 2018 at 8:23 am

        It’s an interesting conceit, the notion that you not only know what goes on inside Winston’s head, but can also read the minds of all NZF MPs.

        I think Lprent’s recent analysis of the party’s internal dynamics is probably closer to the truth.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.2
        7 February 2018 at 8:37 am

        …and if they all do what Winston tells them, why does he need a Waka-jumping bill?

  5. One Anonymous Bloke 5
    5 February 2018 at 1:43 pm

    Labour will go down from where they are, as all first term governments do.

    Apart from the fifth Labour government, that is, where Labour increased their vote between 1999 and 2002.

    • Ad 5.1
      5 February 2018 at 1:49 pm

      The way Prime Minister Ardern is going so far she could probably add to that.

    • McFlock 5.2
      5 February 2018 at 1:56 pm

      and the nats 2008-11, too.

      The lesser party vote went down, but the conservatives also killed 2.5% of votes that weren’t exactly going to ally with Labour…

  6. Stuart Munro 6
    5 February 2018 at 1:53 pm

    A lot of long ignored issues are visibly maturing these days – failure to grow the real economy, failure to grow productivity, failure to protect local jobs and wages, failure to regulate the housing sector and rents. This government will likely stand or fall on whether it is responding effectually to these issues. If so it has a stick to beat the Gnats with, if not it is not long for this world.

  7. red-blooded 7
    5 February 2018 at 2:56 pm

    Nzers don’t often chuck a government out after one term. Yes, the majority is wafer thin. But that’s often true of MMP governments. If labour can win over a small number of “safe pair of hands” Nat voters, that’ll make a difference. That’s why all the “Drive Labour left!” cries from people on this site are counter-productive. Labour already has a core of left motivations and principals, but it needs enough voters to be able to actually be in government and the committed left voters already vote Labour or Green.

  8. Brian Tregaskin 8
    5 February 2018 at 3:29 pm

    This article sums it up ADVANTAGE
    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/09/homeless-sleeping-under-national-billboard-at-city-mission.html

    Want to see a return to this mess? Ive said it before and will say it again their policies hurt even their own voters (Some anyway)

    • BM 8.1
      5 February 2018 at 5:20 pm

      Has Cindy fixed homelessness?no one living in cars anymore?

      Truth is things have got a hell of a lot worse for homeless people, there will be no more shopped articles to stuff or NZ Herald about all the homeless, homeless won’t be mentioned by any of the left wing journalists or if they do it will be buried somewhere deep within their websites, don’t want anything negative to detract from the Princess.

      Yep. the Homeless people have served their purpose, there’s no more need to hear about them anymore, it will be like they never existed.

      • Ad 8.1.1
        5 February 2018 at 5:24 pm

        Winter is coming.

        • BM 8.1.1.1
          5 February 2018 at 5:28 pm

          Seemed to be a year-round daily occurrence when National was in government, haven’t seen one article about the homelessness since the election.

          Why do you reckon that is?

            • BM 8.1.1.1.1.1
              5 February 2018 at 6:09 pm

              Never saw them obviously buried deep somewhere.

              1 article about the homeless
              1 article about the government giving homeless people money
              1 about the dangers of the homeless to good law abiding folk.

              Not even one a month, it’s as if the media has lost interest.

              • McFlock …
                5 February 2018 at 6:21 pm

                Three links from a leading MSM site found on first search attempt.

                There are many others. Hardly “buried”, either.

                For some reason you just seem to overlook them. Can’t think why.

                • Anon …
                  6 February 2018 at 7:47 am

                  Big difference between searching for it, and having it across the front of all media. Stuff doesn’t give a timeline of articles, they can be on the front page for days or never even posted there.

                  • McFlock …
                    6 February 2018 at 6:18 pm

                    Oh, sure, if you only read the front page above the fold you’ll miss a lot of news.

                    BM never mentioned front page only. I’d be surprised if there were any year that had front page stories on NZ poverty as “a year-round daily occurrence “. Frankly, I took it as an exagerration for it to be any level of poverty-related content on a daily occurrence.

          • Ad 8.1.1.1.2
            5 February 2018 at 5:41 pm

            Key got a honeymoon from the media as well.
            Don’t worry, Campbell Live won’t be able to help themselves.

            • BM 8.1.1.1.2.1
              5 February 2018 at 6:10 pm

              Would you be disappointed in Campbell if he stopped doing homeless and poverty stories?

            • McFlock 8.1.1.1.2.2
              5 February 2018 at 6:23 pm

              The stories will change into being about the problem actually being addressed.

            • Jimmy Ramaka 8.1.1.1.2.3
              6 February 2018 at 4:40 pm

              NZ Media fell head over heals in love with JK, Paddy Gower, Corrin Damm, Mike Hoskings, Barry Soper, just to name a few.

          • Psycho Milt 8.1.1.1.3
            5 February 2018 at 6:34 pm

            Why do you reckon that is?

            Because a government that’s been in power a couple of months doesn’t get held to the same standard as a government that’s spent nine years worsening the problem? Or maybe biased journalists – beats me, it’s a mystery…

            • Anon 8.1.1.1.3.1
              6 February 2018 at 7:51 am

              Either answer is biased journalism, there’s no “grace period” for the homeless in ignoring the problem for awhile.

              • Psycho Milt …
                6 February 2018 at 8:21 am

                Bullshit.

                Under a government that’s encouraged a property bubble that’s drastically worsened homelessness, and which consistently pretends there’s no housing crisis resulting in increased homelessness, you bet there’s going to be a lot of media stories calling bullshit on the government. That’s their job.

                Under a government that’s recognised the housing crisis and promised to do something about homelessness, the media stories are going to be more about holding that promise to account. That’s their job. But there’s not much point in running such stories in the first months the government’s in office, because uh, duh-uh, you can’t fix problems on that scale in a few months.

                So, there won’t be any media stories calling bullshit on this government until it becomes clear whether they’re having an effect on the problem or not – that’s not “biased journalism,” it’s “journalism.”

  9. greywarshark 9
    5 February 2018 at 4:01 pm

    I don’t think this is helpful to people who want a continuing left-leaning government Advantage. If it is supposed to frighten Labour into behaving like a reformist government and make a better job than we have seen for the last three terms, then you are too quick to heave half a brick. Maybe halfway through the term, in early 2019 would have been the time.

    If you want to aid National. why not have written it as an Opinion piece in the Herald? To put it on The Standard is provocative and it shows you outsmarting yourself in thinking out all the possibilties in favour of National, and how dismissive of Labour and lefties you actually are. One can know such things and discuss them but publishing them here shows you are so smart you’ll cut yourself as the saying goes, and if not yourself, others who you mix with as having some sort of esprit de corps with lefties, but apparently in your case it’s spelt corpse.

    • Bearded Git 9.1
      6 February 2018 at 12:29 am

      +1000 Grey

    • ropata 9.2
      6 February 2018 at 6:41 pm

      Agreed maybe we should look at what the Left can do rather than worrying about what shitty stunts the Nats are going to try for the next election.

      New governments don’t get elected, old governments get kicked out. And National is still the old crusty government that has no mates.

      Here’s the NZ mood in a nutshell (click image)

      New Zealand. Old Zealand. pic.twitter.com/eUtN2Jnbkm— Enzo Giordani (@EnzoGiordani) February 6, 2018

  10. UncookedSelachimorpha 10
    5 February 2018 at 4:10 pm

    Don Brash for leader!!

    Please God please

  11. Michael 11
    5 February 2018 at 4:39 pm

    Reads like a memo from Macchiavelli; I’m sure the Nats have got him on some think tank’s payroll. The old adage that oppositions never win elections, governments lose them may have been upended by Jacindamania but it appears Niccolo did not get that message. Labour has to earn the right to govern; so far, it’s proved adept at knitting together a diverse range of political actors with one single common element: a deep loathing of the Nats’ front bench. Whether that visceral emotion is sufficient to keep the coalition together until the next scheduled election is anyone’s guess but Labour sure has a lot riding on it. As for lifting children out of poverty, providing social housing, access to medical and disability care, …?

  12. Pete 12
    5 February 2018 at 4:51 pm

    There is a staunch group of very hurt, very nasty National supporters who will spend until election time doing every little thing they can to undermine the Government, every single day.

    The weird thing is you look at comments online and the mentality behind them and you have to remember that even though the election will be within three years, they will be at least 18 years old then.

    The level of the ‘debate’, the tirades, the spew of invective is what you’d expect from some maladjusted sore loser four year old.

  13. Ed 13
    5 February 2018 at 4:54 pm

    Shouldn’t this be on Kiwiblog

    • fender 13.1
      5 February 2018 at 6:34 pm

      Shouldn’t you read the policy

      Especially this bit: “……. including telling us how to run our site or what we should write.”

      • mauī 13.1.1
        5 February 2018 at 6:58 pm

        Isn’t Ed allowed to voice his displeasure?

        I found this line particularly offensive:
        “Let the Greens keep that 5% joyless vegetarian vote”

        • Bearded Git 13.1.1.1
          6 February 2018 at 12:37 am

          Agreed…It is indicative of the level of debate Maui. The Greens will be back at 8 -9 per cent on their suite of well thought through policies and issues and with Jacinda will rule with 52 per cent in 2020’s 2-party coalition.

  14. greywarshark 14
    5 February 2018 at 5:28 pm

    Yanis Varoufakis
    Capitalism will eat Democracy – (if we don’t stop taking them for granted.)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB4s5b9NL3I

    Tedtalk 2016
    Have you wondered why politicians aren’t what they used to be, why governments seem unable to solve real problems? Economist Yanis Varoufakis, the former Minister of Finance for Greece, says that it’s because you can be in politics today but not be in power — because real power now belongs to those who control the economy. He believes that the mega-rich and corporations are cannibalizing the political sphere, causing financial crisis. In this talk, hear his dream for a world in which capital and labor no longer struggle against each other, “one that is simultaneously libertarian, Marxist and Keynesian.”

  15. Tanz 15
    5 February 2018 at 6:04 pm

    Next election will bea FPP style in all but name. NZ First are gone, the Greens may go under and Act arn’t worth counting. Yep, one term govt, and at last the party with the most votes in govt, and our democracy honoured, instead of Labour being gifted govt, even after coming second in an election, via Winston Peters. Voters arn’t stupid and know that both English was robbed as well as our robust democracy. Cobbling together second, third and fourth does not a true winner make, no matter how the left spin it, including the MMP apologists.

    • The Fairy Godmother 15.1
      5 February 2018 at 6:14 pm

      I think that the Green voters the Labour voters and most of New Zealand First are very happy with the result. You are insulting over half the voters here and if your party continues to do this they will lose the next election and probably two after that. Voters don’t like being insulted and I am sure the supporters of the two governing parties and the support party all feel they have good reasons for voting the way they did. I know I did. i wanted a government that actually cared about its people. That just won’t happen with National.

    • alwyn 15.2
      5 February 2018 at 6:22 pm

      You really should have stopped at the end of the first sentence.
      National will win because they will get a few more votes than Labour. However Winston First will drop below the 5% line and Labour will continue to cannibalise the Green vote and they will also drop out of Parliament with less than 5%.
      That is it. The current Government is completely valid, even if it will collapse at the end of this term and Labour will be out of power in 2020.

      • Sparky 15.2.1
        6 February 2018 at 10:14 am

        If they keep on as they have ignoring voters wish and failing to keep their promises then I suspect you are quite right in terms of the outcome. In spite of the hoopla from red stamp tribalists and the MSM a lot of lefties I know are simply furious with this govt. The CP-TPP is key but their tax policy is pissing people off too. Its yet more take take take from the middle and working class and give sweet FA back.

    • Psycho Milt 15.3
      5 February 2018 at 6:41 pm

      Voters arn’t stupid and know that both English was robbed as well as our robust democracy.

      You continue to specialise in oxymoron, I see.

      …at last the party with the most votes in govt, and our democracy honoured…

      It’s fairly typical of a Nat voter that they imagine democracy is “honoured” by a party with a minority of the votes being able to govern via the votes of people who vote for minor parties being forcibly expropriated and redistributed to major parties, courtesy of a 5% threshold imposed by those same major parties. People with something other than contempt for democracy would regard that as democracy being pissed on, not honoured, but I guess National have spent so much time pissing on the lower orders they’ve lost track of what it means.

    • Cinny 15.4
      5 February 2018 at 8:12 pm

      Correct voters are not stupid, that’s why 85% of them voted in a referendum to change the FPP electoral system way way back last century in the year 1992, 70% of them wanted to change it to MMP. This lead to another referendum at the 1993 election when MMP was voted in by the majority (myself included) as the preferred political system for NZ. It’s called progress

      The true winners are those who are in government. national did not have the seats or the friends to create a government, hence they lost.

      Hey Tanz why don’t you organise a referendum to bring back FPP and see what happens? Walk the talk and all that.

      Did you say english was robbed? What of? Did some one steal/hide the todd barclay recordings?

    • Bearded Git 15.5
      6 February 2018 at 12:41 am

      ha ha ha ha ……that cheered me up on a snowy morning in Asturia.

    • Exkiwiforces 15.6
      6 February 2018 at 1:27 am

      I’ll send a box tissues to you at the next elections when we win again, because you still can’t understand why you lost and we won. First step you Tories need to understand MMP, next step you need mates, 3rd stepunderstand the punters and then you might win the next election. But since you don’t have step 1 and 2, you will have more chance at winning lotto or picking a winner at this years NZ Cup than no mates National winning the next election.

      A famous Ozzie pollie once said “ Opinion polls are like assholes as everyone has one” as he neck has yard glass and also he said you’re a playing a mug’s game if you a opinion poll after just after election because if you can win now, you could be down at the race track this weekend backing last weekends winner or use this last weeks lotto number and see how you go.

      Suck it up princess still 3 yrs to go as he sings 1 nil, 1nil, 1nil, stand up if you hate national, stand up if you hate national, stand up if you hate national, stand up if you hate national, clap your hands for Jandals, clap your hands for Jandals. clap your hands for Jandals and Winne is the 2nd coming.

    • Brian Tregaskin 15.7
      6 February 2018 at 8:19 am

      Tanz how old are you? Im guessing you are a baby boomer which would explain your thinking progress. National party is born to rule
      Well the world has moved on and baby boomers have had their time.

    • Jimmy Ramaka 15.8
      6 February 2018 at 4:43 pm

      Winston will be at 10-15% some very competent people in the NZF Party.

  16. Hanswurst 16
    6 February 2018 at 12:17 am

    Large opposition parties can win elections, replacing a jaded leader with someone more appealing can improve fortunes, smaller parties can vanish if their vote drops, and our current government isn’t sitting on 60% of the vote. In other breaking news: Bears implicated in “faeces in the woods” incident.

  17. Brian Tregaskin 17
    6 February 2018 at 8:30 am

    A king that is kind to his people will rule forever.

  18. Jimmy Ramaka 18
    6 February 2018 at 9:16 am

    Labour/NZF & Greens will be in Government for a long time if they play their cards
    right ?

    National will get hammered at the next Election 2020, bunch of arrogant hazz beans and try hards ?

  19. Sparky 19
    6 February 2018 at 10:05 am

    This new govt promised change but not only delivered more of the same but even worse. CP-TPP, 90 day law, capital gains tax, a possible return to antiquated death duty and good ol gift duty, flip flopping on their promise to plant trees, allowing the same resource exploitation that has led to global warming. NOT A GOOD LOOK!!!

    The so called socially responsible CGT which apparently only hurts evil landlords in truth effects a vast number of secondary home owners who are mum and dad investors trying to save money for their retirement and the kids. This will hurt peoples retirement and kids ability to inherit and grow personal wealth that sustains an economy through consumer spending and investment.

    All in all this coalition is in my view a shit sandwich of broken promises. I do not think I could vote National but like a lot of friends on the left we have spoken to we can simply switch off and stay home next election. No point in voting if you don’t get what you voted for.

  20. Ross 20
    6 February 2018 at 10:40 am

    2-3% for them begging to be taken by just ditching Bill.

    They opt for Judith Collins or Simon Bridges and their support crashes! No, ditching Bill won’t see their support rise. It could have the opposite effect.

    You can’t seem to get past FPP thinking. National needs support partners. Desperately.

  21. Me 21
    6 February 2018 at 12:23 pm

    I dunno. People were getting pretty sick of them

    https://youtu.be/GEXo6VfQg6Y

    Which was repeated at a football game soon after.

    john key retired shortly afterwards

  22. ropata 22
    6 February 2018 at 3:49 pm

    What I think National should do is
    – Bill to release the 450 deleted texts
    – Collins to come clean about Oravida’s activities in Northland
    – Bennett to resign for multiple breaches of citizens’ privacy
    – Joyce to apologise for misleading NZ about $11 billion
    – Coleman to resign for inexcusable mismanagement of health sector and cutting mental health services
    – All members of the “Blue Dragons” to declare their affiliations to the Chinese Government and anyone found to have lied about their intentions in NZ to be immediately deported
    – Declare all sources of funding and donate their war chest to a public fund for all parties
    – Apologise to the country for Dirty Politics
    – Renounce their legacy of neoliberalism and cronyism
    – Implement democratic reform of internal party rules
    – Cut all ties with banks, real estate, insurance industries and announce policy to put people before profit, and to jail anyone found to undermine the integrity of NZ democracy with promises of foreign capital.
    – Apologise to the education sector for screwing with their pay and ignoring policy advice. Renouce shonky private school ideology and admit that foreign student visas have been a massive scam.
    – Rename themselves the “blue-greens” and develop environmentally responsible policies that acknowledge economic “growth” is secondary to the proper care of NZ ecology, without which we will die.

  23. ropata 23
    6 February 2018 at 3:58 pm

    PS: Ad, what is up with this negative thinking. A lot can happen in 3 years. I predict that National’s legacy of corruption and incompetence will be a regular feature of the news for a long long time and they will descend into infighting and chaos. The NZ public will be disgusted and Nat support will collapse. John Key will go on TV and express no confidence in his former party. The media will be merciless and expose a shocking level of foreign influence and illegal activity by National ministers. Heads will roll. Foreign relations may be cooled somewhat and the farming sector will lose their minds. But the rest of NZ will realise we don’t need their bullshit any more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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
    19 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
    21 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
    22 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
    24 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

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

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

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

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

    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

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