National has some strange candidates – Pakuranga

Written By: - Date published: 9:25 am, April 18th, 2017 - 86 comments
Categories: election 2017, national, Politics, same old national - Tags:

I hear there are murmurings in National’s ranks at the number of fundamentalist christians being selected in winnable seats.

One of them is in Pakuranga which is one of the safest of National seats.  His name is Simeon Brown.  He is aged 24 and is the former deputy chair of the Manurewa Local Board. Given his age it is possible that he could be in Parliament for a long time.

He has some very conservative views and is a self confessed christian.  You only have to search Parliament’s website to find out what they are.

He is anti abortion and anti student union at the same time, surprise, surprise.

He is against marriage equality and thought that the Act would make criminals of those who thought that marriage ought to be only between a man and a woman.

I wonder what Maurice Williamson thinks of his selection?  The man who mocked celibacy and talk of the gay onslaught and said famously how there was a big gay rainbow over Pakuranga on the morning Marriage Equality was passed is being replaced by a fundamentalist christian who is one of the people that Williamson mocked.

My impression is that National is going through a similar phase that Labour went through in 2008 when morale was declining, attention to detail was not optimal and as membership waned groups with more extreme views held sway. And with the collapse of the Conservative Party the only place for christian conservatives to go to is National.

It may be that as with the Republican Party in America National’s pursuit of support at all cost will mean that it selects some candidates with decidedly fundamentalist christian views. Although all views should naturally be tolerated I worried at the prospect of having a Government where such views dominate.

86 comments on “National has some strange candidates – Pakuranga ”

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  1. Gosman 1
    18 April 2017 at 9:51 am

    This opens up a perfect opportunity for a socially liberal but fiscally conservative party to target National party supporters who are uncomfortable with the direction National is heading at the moment.

    • DoublePlusGood 1.1
      18 April 2017 at 9:55 am

      So, Labour?

      • Gosman 1.1.1
        18 April 2017 at 10:01 am

        Labour is hardly fiscally conservative

        • roy cartland 1.1.1.1
          18 April 2017 at 10:11 am

          What’s ‘fiscally conservative’? Doesn’t borrow or doesn’t spend? Or…?

          • Gosman 1.1.1.1.1
            18 April 2017 at 10:13 am

            Doesn’t look to increase the size and role of government in the economic sphere.

            • dukeofurl 1.1.1.1.1.1
              18 April 2017 at 11:04 am

              Ah . So borrowing to the hilt is now seen as good, as it doesnt increase the size of the government in the ‘economic sphere’ ( ie taxes )?

              • Incognito …
                18 April 2017 at 11:10 am

                It is called redistribution to the private sector.

              • Gosman …
                18 April 2017 at 11:36 am

                No, borrowing to fund spending is still increasing the size of the government.

                • left_forward …
                  18 April 2017 at 2:11 pm

                  Not if its not new spending.
                  e.g. borrowing to compensate for reduced dividends as a consequence of selling assets

                  • Gosman …
                    18 April 2017 at 2:27 pm

                    Incorrect. If the economy is contracting the size of government would be increasing as a proportion of the total economy. That generally is what concerns fiscal conservatives. Of course you could attempt to redefine the term to satisfy what you want it to mean.

                    • left_forward …
                      18 April 2017 at 2:50 pm

                      Don’t understand any of this –

                      -why are the so called fiscal conservatives so generally concerned about this contracting – increasing thingy?

                      -not sure what you are inviting me to redefine.

                    • Gosman …
                      18 April 2017 at 2:56 pm

                      Fiscal conservatives generally care about how large the State is in relation to the rest of the economy. They would prefer more private sector activity than government sector. If the economy is contracting even keeping the same absolute amount of spending by the government sector will increase it’s size proportionate to the rest of the economy. That generally is why fiscal conservatives advocate reduced spending in times of a downturn.

                    • Matthew Whitehead …
                      18 April 2017 at 7:42 pm

                      Basically Gosman is arguing that we should make recessions worse by cutting government spending even more dramatically during a recession, just like Herbert Hoover did, to the marvelous effect of creating the great depression.

                      He believes National haven’t gone far enough by putting the country into debt in order to cut services, and wants them to cut more so they can pay off that debt.

                      I mean, I’ve called National and their biggest cheerleaders economic saboteurs before, but that’s just being brazen about it.

                      Also, Gosman thinks that keeping the government the same size constitutes an increase in size if the private sector goes into recession. It does not. It constitutes an increase of the public sector’s share of the economy, which is a very different thing, and he doesn’t seem to understand that growing the public sector temporarily in a recession helps the private sector bounce back, at which point we can reasonably cut under-performing non-essential programs.

                      Basically, for “fiscal conservatism” read “we should pay off debt at any cost, and if we’re done paying off debt, we should cut taxes instead.” It’s a stupid doctrine for intellectual lightweights that deserves no political or academic respect, and fundamentally misunderstands political economics on basically every level. It deserves to be laughed at in exactly the same way that Ayn Rand is.

                    • adam …
                      18 April 2017 at 8:19 pm

                      And that is why fiscal conservative bring about long and protracted depressions. But hey, capitalism is falling over, so it’s all mote anyway.

            • Guerilla Surgeon 1.1.1.1.1.2
              18 April 2017 at 2:16 pm

              So it’s okay if you’re a fiscal conservative to cut taxes and blow out the deficit then? As every fiscal conservative has done in the US.

              • Gosman …
                18 April 2017 at 2:28 pm

                They aren’t a true fiscal conservative then. Fiscal conservatives are interested in balanced budgets not large deficits. That stated they can stomach increased deficits in the short run if they lead to a reduced size of the state as a proportion of the total economy longer term.

            • left_forward 1.1.1.1.1.3
              18 April 2017 at 2:36 pm

              Neoliberalism: reduce the size of Government in order to increase the wealth of private sector – i.e. away from common interests to selfish, individual interests.

              It doesn’t make sense Gosman to assign some virtue to the middle ground of no change. Since the mid 1980s, we have gone so far down track of dismantling the role of Government – that supporting the middle ground merely ‘conserves’ neoliberal dogma.

              • Gosman …
                18 April 2017 at 2:58 pm

                The size of the State in the economy as a whole is much greater now than it was during the heyday of the welfare state many leftists bang on about (circa 1950 -60’s)

                • Molly …
                  18 April 2017 at 4:10 pm

                  Link?

                  And can you give your reasoning why you think that is so?

                • left_forward …
                  19 April 2017 at 12:33 pm

                  Yeah right! – as if selling the railways, Telecom, Air New Zealand, electricity infrastructure, and all the rest didn’t happen.

            • peterlepaysan 1.1.1.1.1.4
              18 April 2017 at 10:35 pm

              What is the precise acceptable “size and role of government in the economic sphere”?
              OBTW what the hell is “the economic sphere”?

              • left_forward …
                19 April 2017 at 12:43 pm

                I don’t think Gosman knows the answer to that – I suspect that he and his so-called ‘fiscal conservatives’ don’t want to consider any acceptable size for Government. After-all the greed of private interests have no bounds.

                Of course there is no ‘economic sphere’ – this is a figment of the grand illusion.

    • Tamati Tautuhi 1.2
      18 April 2017 at 1:00 pm

      NZF only viable option.

  2. ropata 2
    18 April 2017 at 9:59 am

    Probably no weirder than Bill English in those views. His “conservative” right wing views do not represent the teachings of Jesus Christ. (Love thy neighbour etc)

    Jesus was on the side of the poor and exploited. Christian politicians should remember that

  3. gsays 3
    18 April 2017 at 10:43 am

    Two things come to mind:
    A conservative Christian in pakuranga, will probably have a fair amount of support,
    and,
    was Maurice Williamson all that much of a tolerant, inclusive MP?

    I feel he was more expedient than tolerant and just moved with the polls.

  4. Pete 4
    18 April 2017 at 11:03 am

    Murmurings in National’s ranks? How many tsumamis of murmurings would there need to be before there was any meaningful affect? The way things are a 23 year old conservative fundamentalist Christian convicted of arson could stand for Act in Epsom and she would be elected.

    • Gosman 4.1
      18 April 2017 at 11:40 am

      Ummm…. why would a 23 year old conservative fundamentalist Christian convicted of arson stand for ACT when ACT is a socially liberal party whose members generally support euthanasia and liberalising the laws around recreational drugs?

      • Andre 4.1.1
        18 April 2017 at 2:32 pm

        “…ACT is a socially liberal party whose members generally support euthanasia and liberalising the laws around recreational drugs…”

        And John Banks did such a sterling job of representing their views…

      • Pete 4.1.2
        18 April 2017 at 4:10 pm

        ACT may be a socially liberal party whose members generally support euthanasia and liberalising the laws around recreational drugs but I thought mostly, ahead of all other principles and platforms, they believe that going with the voting flow was the most important thing?

        But to the specifics of why a 23 year old conservative fundamentalist Christian convicted of arson would stand for ACT when ACT is a socially liberal party whose members generally support euthanasia and liberalising the laws around recreational drugs. One so described, and a professed vegan who publicly ate raw meat every Tuesday at that, would stand for Act in Epsom because they know they’d get in.

      • peterlepaysan 4.1.3
        18 April 2017 at 11:15 pm

        freedom to do whatever you like.. that is the ACT platform. I can’t wait to see a trump or isis supporter turn up in epsom.

  5. dukeofurl 5
    18 April 2017 at 11:12 am

    “Simeon (Simeon the God-receiver) at the Temple is the “just and devout” man of Jerusalem who, according to Luke 2:25–35, met Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they entered the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses on the 40th day from Jesus’ birth.- wikipedia

    Next we will have a national MP named after the Circumcision of Jesus-
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumcision_of_Jesus
    The Holy prepuces.

    once it was claimed that after the resurrection, the foreskin became the rings of Saturn.

    • garibaldi 5.1
      18 April 2017 at 3:32 pm

      Hey dukeofurl, that claim about the rings of Saturn is no more ridiculous than the rest of their crap; probably more believable in that we can see the evidence!

      • seeker 5.1.1
        18 April 2017 at 6:14 pm

        Hi garibaldi here’s an effort to provide “evidence”:

        https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/14/what-is-the-historical-evidence-that-jesus-christ-lived-and-died

        I particularly liked the last sentence of the article:

        “The more interesting question… ….. ….. is whether Jesus died and lived.” !!

        I guess many here won’t find out until they, like me, ‘kick the bucket’.

        • Anne 5.1.1.1
          18 April 2017 at 6:44 pm

          <i…..whether Jesus died and lived.” !!

          Imo, he lived then died like all creatures do.

          I liken him to an historical version of Nelson Mandela. A great man/philosopher of his time who ‘lived on’ after his death through his heroic deeds and teachings. In the course of the next few hundred years he was given deity status by those who worshiped those teachings. He was of course just one of those exceptional human beings who only come around once in a while.

          • seeker 5.1.1.1.1
            19 April 2017 at 11:26 am

            Thanks Ann. Jesus was certainly exceptional, hence Easter day.

            Btw. always appreciate your comments. You are one of the main commenters that make me want to follow the standard., cheers, and Happy Eastertide.

          • MikeS 5.1.1.1.2
            20 April 2017 at 4:31 pm

            Unlikely. If he was a great man/philosopher of his time you would expect there to be plenty of documented evidence for his existence, as there is for plenty of exceptional people throughout history, but there isn’t.

            (Before anyone says it, the bible is not documented historical evidence)

            • seeker 5.1.1.1.2.1
              22 April 2017 at 9:59 pm

              MikeS
              For some evidence please look at the link I posted to garibaldi on April 18 @3.32pm, comment 5.1.1

  6. Draco T Bastard 6
    18 April 2017 at 1:12 pm

    And with the collapse of the Conservative Party the only place for christian conservatives to go to is National.

    There is, IMO, no such thing as a christian conservative as both ideologies contradict each other.

    • DoublePlusGood 6.1
      18 April 2017 at 1:43 pm

      There’s plenty of people in both those ideologies entirely comfortable with holding completely contradictory views, and flip-flopping as necessary.

    • Gosman 6.2
      18 April 2017 at 2:07 pm

      You quoted Ezekiel in your previous argument to me on this. Do you think OT verses are a valid basis for Christian thinking?

      • Guerilla Surgeon 6.2.1
        18 April 2017 at 2:21 pm

        You should know better than to ask that. Christians are quite happy to quote whatever backs up their nutty opinions. And they often don’t know their Bible nearly as well as they think they do. Hence the picture of the guy on the Internet with the verse from Leviticus tattooed on his arm explaining that homosexuality is evil. Not realising that Leviticus also forbids tattoos.

        • Gosman 6.2.1.1
          18 April 2017 at 2:30 pm

          Quite possibly. However you should really direct your post towards Draco as it was he who was quoting Ezekiel to make the point about whether a Christian should support the concept of interest.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.2.2
        18 April 2017 at 2:43 pm

        It’s in their bible so, yes, I do think it’s valid.

        If they don’t then they should remove it from their bible but I’m pretty sure that would prove that their bible isn’t written by their infallible god but by men and thus proves that their religion is complete bollocks.

        Of course, modern research (Piketty and others) is coming to the same conclusion as the Ancients did in that usury and capitalism is bad in that it destroys society.

        • Gosman 6.2.2.1
          18 April 2017 at 3:31 pm

          Except many Christian’s would argue that the NT supersedes the OT on most matters of morality (hence why Christian’s don’t have to practice the strict dietary laws)

          • ropata 6.2.2.1.1
            18 April 2017 at 4:25 pm

            Pretty much, God was grumpy in the OT, smiting sinners and whatnot, then Jesus came along and started forgiving everyone instead. There’s some deep theology around the redemption of the world and the end of the old law in the books of the NT (e.g. Romans 8:1)

          • Matthew Whitehead 6.2.2.1.2
            18 April 2017 at 8:23 pm

            There’s actually significant debate about whether dietary laws were repealed in the NT or not. The council of Jerusalem sat on the issue and decided that gentiles were exempt from Jewish dietary laws and circumcision and only needed faith in God to become Christians, but that was a specific exemption for Gentiles. So certainly in a historical context, people did believe that Jewish dietary law still held after the new testament.

            It’s a novel interpretation that Jesus declared all food clean for everyone, and it’s only specifically Christians that believe it literally, and some of the quoted passages to support that are definitely taken out of context, including even Mark 7:17-23 which seems in context of the original language to be about whether eating before washing your hands makes you ritually unclean or not. (Jesus declares it doesn’t, and the analogy he uses is often then applied to jewish dietary laws as well rather than simply to washing your hands before eating, which was never a religious law. The translations into English here seem to be the problem, thus reinforcing the idea that this is about people re-interpreting the bible)

            I’d say if you believe you’re literally following the bible, you’re probably being either hypocritical or you’re theologically ignorant if you don’t follow old testament food laws. Of course, I think literally following any religious text is probably a bad idea as a matter of principle.

            Of course, you can solve the whole debate by just not eating meat, which you should do anyway to help do your part in fighting climate change.

  7. esoteric pineapples 7
    18 April 2017 at 2:26 pm

    I read in another blog that Christian fundamentalists are infiltrating New Zealand First in a big way

  8. Tanz 8
    18 April 2017 at 2:27 pm

    And Labour wouldn’t put up a devoutly Christian candidate? How sad.

    • ropata 8.1
      18 April 2017 at 4:27 pm

      David Cunliffe has a pretty strong Christian background, his Dad was a minister. Don’t know about his personal beliefs but he had a preachy style

    • Anthony Rimell 8.2
      18 April 2017 at 7:14 pm

      I think they have… 😊

    • mickysavage 8.3
      18 April 2017 at 8:04 pm

      Devout is fine. It is the extremist stuff that is a worry.

    • adam 8.4
      18 April 2017 at 8:13 pm

      That is a lie Tanz, and you need to reflect on your telling lies.

    • TK 8.5
      18 April 2017 at 10:47 pm

      who said they wouldn’t, have the comments here are based on guesses at best. Tamaki candidate is one, as is Mangere MP/candidate as are many other candidates Labour have standing in various electorates and on their list.

  9. The Pink Postman 9
    18 April 2017 at 3:06 pm

    I remember so advice my father gave me when i left home to an apprenticeship away from my home .’He said don’t smoke or drink alcohol and if any bone tells you they are a good Christian ,get well away. I still wary of such people 70 years after r that advice.

  10. Tanz 10
    18 April 2017 at 6:17 pm

    Cunliffe voted for gay marriage, not exactly Christian, like most of the rest, without giving a monkies as to what the electorate wanted, as usual. The wrong side of history.

    • Anne 10.1
      18 April 2017 at 7:05 pm

      And you call yourself a Christian. 😡

      • Tanz 10.1.1
        18 April 2017 at 9:12 pm

        You don’t know what I call myself, you don’t know me. However, the BIble is clearly against gay marriage. That is the source book of life!

        • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.1
          18 April 2017 at 9:31 pm

          That is the source book of life!

          No, it’s just a bunch of stuff written by men. Some of it’s actually worthwhile and some of it’s just BS.

        • Matthew Whitehead 10.1.1.2
          18 April 2017 at 10:20 pm

          Actually, even if you take the bible literally, it has nothing to say on committed homosexual relationships. It only talks about casual homosexuality, (which it condemns no more vigorously than straight people having sex outside of marriage, so I hope you’ve never had a hookup before, or a committed extramarital relationship for that matter! Talk about living in sin) or more specifically, men sleeping with other men out of lust. It doesn’t even talk about lesbianism at all, so it certainly couldn’t be interpreted as banning two women getting married. It has nothing to say on modern homosexuality which often involves committed relationships, if generally more sexually liberated than is the norm for straight people.

          It also advises to judge not lest ye be judged, remember. Nobody gets to cast the first stone because nobody is free of sin, in your own terminology, and the law only requires legal recognition of gay marriage, not religious recognition. In that respect, you should render unto Caesar what is his- the government has that authority, not the church.

          The bible is against a lot of things, but its stance on gay marriage is purely up to interpretation, and if that’s reaching even your top ten priorities of the Things The Bible Tells You To Do, then you need to read it more carefully and with better consultation to expert sources, as it’s a pretty radical left-wing liberal document for its time. (in my opinion all people of faith should closely read their books, it’s the fastest route to atheism for anyone who’s not already liberalised in their religion, and the liberal religious folks aren’t the problem because they don’t insist that the book is where they get their beliefs from.)

          I hope you enjoyed this episode of Atheists Know Your Theology Better Than You.

          (Also, expert sources are great for understanding just how radical the bible was- for instance, that advice to turn the other cheek wasn’t about letting someone slap you twice, it was about the social custom that slapping someone with one hand indicated disrespect, but with the other it was a challenge between equals. “Turning the other cheek” meant they had to slap you with the hand that indicated respect, so it was advising peaceful resistance by demanding the respect of your oppressors, presenting them a challenge between punishing you but treating you like an equal, or letting you off the hook. Pretty left-wing stuff to be advising peasants in a society that still practiced slavery, even if there are numerous ideological problems with the book overall)

          • ropata 10.1.1.2.1
            18 April 2017 at 10:49 pm

            Nice reply, I’ve read the stuff closely but don’t go for the inerrant literal interpretation. Saved a lot of brain cells that way 🙂 Still believe and go to church a lot. The Bible is a book, pretty good in parts, but it’s not God.

            Had plenty of heated arguments over the years with sincere people who see things a lot more black and white. Most of them haven’t done Bible studies 101, i.e. it’s a collection of ancient documents from a time and place quite alien to the 21st century western mind.

          • adam 10.1.1.2.2
            19 April 2017 at 2:02 am

            Good point Matthew Whitehead.

            One of the problems of the Bible, if you take a literal approach is in what language do you do the literal in. Because one part that many people point to justify their hatred of Homosexuality (putting aside letting hate rule you heart seems counter to the faith) reads quite differently in Aramaic. It is about the evils of rape, and it specifically includes Gay rape.

            Personally, not a fan of literal approach to the bible.

            My favorite irony though is that so many of the fundamentalist do take their literal fundamentalism from the King James. Not exactly a stellar translation. Things have improved in our understanding and translation of language remarkably since the late 16th, early 17th century.

        • ropata 10.1.1.3
          18 April 2017 at 10:28 pm

          Got a reference for that? You realise that Christians are not bound by OT law? Read Romans ch. 7-8, Hebrews ch.7-8, 2 Corinthians ch.3, Galatians ch.3

          http://www.phildrysdale.com/2013/10/37-scriptures-that-prove-christians-are-not-under-the-law/

        • adam 10.1.1.4
          19 April 2017 at 1:43 am

          The bible actually says nothing about gay marriage, I’m guessing your repeating a pastor you heard.

          But what is worse it’s now twice you have borne false witness on this web site.

          Now I worry for you soul. Time for you to go back and read the Gospels me thinks Tanz. Try starting with Peter, it might make you remember what it means to feel love and grace.

    • mickysavage 10.2
      18 April 2017 at 8:03 pm

      I am from a really intense Irish Catholic background. Went to catholic schools, was even an alterboy. And I have cousins who studied to be priests and nuns. Good on Cunliffe for voting for same sex marriage. It is what JC if he is real would have wanted.

      • Tanz 10.2.1
        18 April 2017 at 9:13 pm

        Really? I somehow doubt it.

        • ropata 10.2.1.1
          18 April 2017 at 10:37 pm

          Galatians 3:28

          26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

          Also, in a free society sexual partnerships are a matter of conscience not religious compulsion. For Christians there may be an argument to be made against certain behaviours but again this is a matter of conscience. I respect the struggles of many devout believers on this topic, but they should not seek to impose their own restrictions on others. The NT advises not to judge those outside the Church, nor to expect them to act like believers.

    • adam 10.3
      18 April 2017 at 8:11 pm

      What does that line even mean “not exactly Christian” . Does that apply to Orthodox? Coptic? Hasidic? or other Christians. What sort of Christain do you have in mind? A fascist one, or a communist one? What is you definition of ‘not exactly Christian’.

      I think you will find those who have their heads locked squarely in the old testament not only have theological issues, but problems with reality.

    • millsy 10.4
      18 April 2017 at 11:25 pm

      Do you think homosexulaity should be recriminalised Tanz? Should people be locked up for having sex outside of marriage? Perhaps stop teaching evolution? Would you disown your son if he became gay?

  11. Tanz 11
    20 April 2017 at 8:20 am

    Nope. But I think the electorate should be listened to. The majority were against gay marriage (which even flies in the face of nature), but the majority view was as usual, ignored. This is what is causing revolutions such as Trump and Brexit – the silent majority are frigging sick and tired of their elected representatives, (supposedly), giving them the fingers and running roughshod over their wishes. Something as significant as gay marriage or say the anti smacking law (a huge failure by the way, nothing has changed), should be done by binding referenda. But these days our leaders seem to think they know best, hence Brexit, Trump etc. Frigging sick of being ignored and frankly, treated with contempt. The Nats are just as bad, full of contempt for the very people (I was not one of them) who voted for them in good faith. Only Sweden has it rgiht – letting citizens vote on all the important, society changing issues.
    It’s all about wrecking Western values and turning the traditional family upside down and tipping them out. That is the real agenda, rebellion to the max.

  12. Dusty 12
    21 April 2017 at 2:48 pm

    Why is the fact that he’s Christian an issue, if he was a devout Muslim who believed in Sharia law, anyone who criticised him would be slammed as racist??

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    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
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

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

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 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
    23 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

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

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