National; Leaking Like a Sieve

Written By: - Date published: 1:02 pm, December 4th, 2018 - 60 comments
Categories: accountability, class war, Deep stuff, Dirty Politics, Judith Collins, Politics, same old national, Simon Bridges, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: , , ,

Someone claiming to be a National Party MP has sent media outlets more embarrassing internal information from the Tory caucus.

A few days ago, it was last week’s Curia polling (Labour 44, Nats 41) and a now, a handy set of talking points on how to deflect away from the Maggie Barry bullying claims. Obviously, the leaker is not Jami Lee Ross, as he doesn’t have access to this stuff anymore and that fact alone raises more doubt about the identity of the original expense claims leaker.

I don’t know who the leaker is. More importantly, Simon Bridges doesn’t either. It could be from the Collins faction or it could from be the Anyone But Collins faction, who don’t think much of Bumbler Bridges either. We can only hope it’s not Bridges himself, flying a false flag, because that would suggest depths of cunning that we had not hitherto noticed.

The Barry bullying talking points are as follows:

Given the focus on bullying in the media lately and the launch of the Speaker’s inquiry, please see some lines below in case stopped on your way in in the morning, if useful.

  • Parliament’s a robust environment and it’s demanding. We’re working very hard for New Zealanders and the demands on the time of MPs and staff is extensive but we have a strong culture and people like coming to work because they know they’re making a difference.
  • “At the same time, we need to make sure we have an environment where staff feel able to come forward with any concerns and that those concerns are dealt with appropriately.
  • “We sought assurances about that recently and we will take any feedback on board as a result of the inquiry under way at Parliament.”

The leaked email also said out what MPs should say when asked if National had a culture problem:

“No we don’t.”

If only it was that simple, Simon, if only it was that simple.

 

60 comments on “National; Leaking Like a Sieve ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Cinny 1
    4 December 2018 at 1:13 pm

    LMAO !!! Ouch. Someone else sick of them spinning shite.

    Good on them for speaking/leaking.

    simon will be feeling rattled just prior to question time. Christmas BBQ?

    TRP, am looking forward to Q2 today.

    Do you know if Winston will be standing in for Jacinda today please? Would be ace if he was, on this particular occasion.

    https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/list-of-oral-questions/oral-questions-4-december-2018/

    • te reo putake 1.1
      4 December 2018 at 1:23 pm

      Is Jacinda elsewhere? I assume Winston will be the stand in, if so. Kelvin Davis would be the other back up. I see there’s a couple of questions about Sroubek. Can’t help thinking that’s last week’s issue, whereas the Maggie Barry case is going to run and run.

      • shadrach 1.1.1
        4 December 2018 at 1:33 pm

        I’m rapidly coming to conclusion Jacinda is a waste of space. Winston, on the other hand, is gold. The debating chamber is his ball park, and he makes absolute mincemeat of Bridges. As for Kelvin Davis, I’m reasonably confident the Government would want anyone but him answering questions about just about anything.

      • alwyn 1.1.2
        4 December 2018 at 2:10 pm

        Your comment certainly illustrates the accuracy of the one from shadrach that follows doesn’t it?
        He (or she) says “I’m rapidly coming to conclusion Jacinda is a waste of space”.
        This follows immediately after your remark “Is Jacinda elsewhere?”.

        What could be more illustrative of the fact that she is a total irrelevancy than the fact that someone as interested as you in the finer details of what goes on in Parliament hasn’t even noticed that she has been missing in action recently.
        Tsar Winston is now flexing his muscles and taking over the leadership of the Government again. Given the numbers that came up in the CB poll it is hardly surprising that he feels he has to try and right the sinking ship.

        Still, I suppose that someone has to do the puff pieces for the woman’s magazines and the tabloids and Winston is probably a bit old to spend his time on that.

        [Rather desperate attempt at diverting attention. Stick to the post contents – MS]

        • Sacha 1.1.2.1
          4 December 2018 at 2:25 pm

          “Given the numbers that came up in the CB poll ”

          You mean the changes within the margin of error?

        • Cinny 1.1.2.2
          4 December 2018 at 2:58 pm

          Alwyn, I asked because Winston raised the Q2 narrative in Qtime last week. So thought it would be great if he would be responding.

          Edit; it was during the debate last Wednesday that Winston raised it….

          Holy moley maybe I should have searched and googled as to her whereabouts today, but no I took the easy way out and asked here instead.

          Quick use it as an attack against me and deflect and distract from the poison ivy and a leaky opposition.

          TS is the only social media i engage with, no FB, no Twitter, so I don’t ‘follow’ any politicians to keep tabs on their whereabouts and posts/updates.

          Jacinda was around yesterday, she gave a post cab presser in the beehive. That I know, cause I watched it.

          I don’t read or waste my money on women’s mags JS.

          So you really read it wrong where I was coming from. Better luck next time sunshine.

          Alwyn, any comment about the post, maggie, leaks etc?

          • Anne 1.1.2.2.1
            4 December 2018 at 3:07 pm

            Jacinda flew up to Auckland to meet the Sth. Korean leader this morning. Plane delayed an hour due to thunder and lightening in Auckland. Her luncheon date with leader an hour late so she couldn’t get back to parliament.

          • alwyn 1.1.2.2.2
            4 December 2018 at 5:07 pm

            I wasn’t using it as an attack on you Cinny.

            I wasn’t even talking to you. My comment, as you will see if you look at the numbering of comments, as in reply to one by trp and referenced a comment by shadrach.
            Thus I didn’t read you wrong. Until just now I hadn’t even read through that comment of yours to the point where you mentioned the possibility of Winston filling in for her.

            So sorry, but I didn’t even realise you had suggested the possibility. Sorry if you think my finding your comment not worth reading completely upsets you.

            By the way. Do you have any comment on Winston smearing Sroubek’s wife in Parliament under the protection of Parliamentary privilege?

            • Cinny 1.1.2.2.2.1
              4 December 2018 at 5:24 pm

              All good, thanks for clearing that up. Text has no tone, which can be a real bugger sometimes for all of us. Please excuse my interpretation of your above comment, in that case.

              Wasn’t upset, so no worries, but was pissed off TBH. Thanks for the apology much appreciated.

              Before I answer your question…

              1. Do you have any comment on said topic re this latest leak?

              2. Any comment re nat mp’s talking about jacinda not being at question time today, but knowing full well a thunder and lightening storm delayed her flight?

              Or saying she wasn’t at Qtime Thursday just been, knowing full well PM’s and opposition leaders don’t usually go to question time on a Thursday, examples… john key, bill english, simon bridges.

              • alwyn …
                4 December 2018 at 6:11 pm

                Parliament always leaks like a sieve.
                If an e-mail was sent to all the MPs in the party it would be seen by everyone of them and everyone in their offices and most of the people in the building.
                Nothing seems to be the stuff of any moment, does it?

                re “nat mp’s talking about jacinda not being”.
                I am amazed that Trevor allowed that. It may be slightly relevant but it is unusual. It is a bit hard to claim that you shouldn’t draw attention to the matter when the fact that someone else is answering questions because you aren’t there is so obvious.

                “saying she wasn’t at Qtime Thursday just been”. As you say they are almost never there. That didn’t stop anyone complaining, on this site at times, that Key or English or Ardern were supposedly “hiding” on occasions.
                Actually she wasn’t there on Wednesday last week either, which is more unusual. That was 3 days in a row which is not a common thing unless you are overseas.

                I wasn’t commenting at all about her not being in the House. I was merely commenting on the fact that trp didn’t even seem to have noticed which is a little odd for anyone who follows politics closely.

                • alwyn …
                  4 December 2018 at 8:50 pm

                  I suggest Cinny, when you get round to telling me what you think of the behaviour of your sides deputy-PM that you read Q2 in Parliament today.
                  You are going to do so are you?
                  https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20181204_20181204_04

                  Then you might care to read this story.
                  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12171177

                  Do you really think it is acceptable to describe a woman as an “informant” without treating it as an attempt to intimidate her into shutting up and embarrassing the Government? Your mate Winston seems to.

                  You might, in the Herald story, want to treat the National Party claims with a little reserve, particularly when they say
                  “When told that the wife had first contacted a former Labour Party Minister for help, but was told to contact the Opposition because the Government wasn’t going to change the decision, Peters said: “So she is the informant, then.”

                  However it was an Immigration Department Officer who said
                  “Immigration NZ general manager Nicola Hogg said officials visited the wife with police after a “thorough risk assessment”, which was standard practice.
                  “On this occasion, one Immigration NZ official was accompanied by two police officers during this visit. Immigration NZ stands by this approach.”

                  One Immigration Official and 2 Police, No doubt fully arrayed in their equipment. If that is not intimidation what I?
                  The standard approach of this Government is it? Intimidate anyone who embarrasses you until they shut up?

                  You commented, I believe, on how badly you thought the woman who testified against Kavanaugh was treated in the US. Are you not going to say the same about this current Government’s misdemeanours?

                • Cinny …
                  4 December 2018 at 10:41 pm

                  Am sure her talks with the leader of South Korean went well this morning.

                  Which was prior to being grounded by a lightening storm that killed animals and injured people.

                  No doubt many catching flights out of Auckland would have missed meetings/appointments/connecting flights etc today.

                  Still working on the teleporter or I would have given her a lift myself.

                  Re the nat mp’s moaning…. it wasn’t in the house, least I didn’t hear it. But they be busy sharing a tweet trying to distract, including poison ivy.

                  Re the ex wife of the kickboxer and current partner of a nat member.

                  Did you hear at Qtime that she did not co-operate with the officials that turned up? JS. Maybe the police had to be there, I mean would it be or feel safe for the immigration official to want to go alone, considering the whole nature of the case?

                  Anyways will have a read and get back to you in the morrow on the rest an your dig re kavaugh. Nitey nite.

                  PS if the herald is just an interpretation of Qtime, I don’t need to read it, I watched all of Qtime today. So all good. Nite.

        • cleangreen 1.1.2.3
          4 December 2018 at 2:58 pm

          Alwyn.

          What a lot of “tommy rot” you speak!@!!!!!

          Jacinda is absent?

          Where has she gone I ask?

          “Tsar Winston”; – where the F—ck are you smoking now?

          Winston is there when Jacinda is unable to be there so get over it man!@!@!@!!

          Winston knows the parliamentary system better than most there now so needs to give his input.

          Do you use your best skills also???

          Get a real job will you.

          • shadrach 1.1.2.3.1
            4 December 2018 at 10:20 pm

            I think the point Alwyn is trying to make is that the PM appears to be increasingly absent from QT. That is concerning, even more so given the other government MP’s who are frequently absent when their performance is under scrutiny. It is one of the things I have admired about Ian Lees-Galloway. Whatever one may think about his decision in the Sroubeck case, he has fronted up at QT and faced the music. Good on that man I say.

            • Muttonbird 1.1.2.3.1.1
              4 December 2018 at 10:24 pm

              QT seems a waste of time with Bridges and Seymour being singled out by the speaker as the primary cause of disruption in the house.

              Not sure why JA would bother with these university student types, tbh.

              • shadrach …
                4 December 2018 at 10:29 pm

                I’m not sure why you would consider the current speaker’s opinion of any value. Trevor Mallard is either totally out of his depth, or he is deliberately running cover for at least some government MP’s.

                • Muttonbird …
                  4 December 2018 at 10:37 pm

                  He’s better than the last speaker but that isn’t saying much I agree. The last speaker had his nose so far up John Key’s arse he lost his job right after Key lost his.

                  • shadrach …
                    5 December 2018 at 10:21 am

                    I’m not sure claiming Mallard is better than David Carter is any kind of defence of Mallard! But I take your point.

                  • shadrach …
                    5 December 2018 at 4:05 pm

                    Did you watch QT today? Mallard is a disgrace. He is obviously running interference for some government members, and that now looks to include the PM.

      • Cinny 1.1.3
        4 December 2018 at 2:46 pm

        Thanks TRP,

        Winston is filling in, perfect as Q2 related to a comment he made last week during Qtime.

        Totally agree with you re Sroubek being last weeks issue.
        Public seem to be satisfied and have moved on. Government has done it’s homework, nat’s looking like they are digging an even bigger hole.

        Meanwhile was wondering if maggie had ever challenged our new government re it’s conservation decisions.

        The link you gave via the Herald and it’s media interview of maggie, is a goodie, she appears to be very practised at denial and deflection.

        The spin lines that were leaked, some people won’t even be aware such things go on. Others may have been ridiculed for even suggestion such a thing.

        Good on the leaker and the media for bringing awareness to some of such procedures.

        • shadrach 1.1.3.1
          4 December 2018 at 10:24 pm

          ‘Public seem to be satisfied and have moved on. ”

          That’s not what at least one Labour MP thinks.
          https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12170542

          I suspect there is more to run on the Sroubeck case.

          • Muttonbird 1.1.3.1.1
            4 December 2018 at 10:41 pm

            Depends what else his ex-wife is prepared to give the National Party I suppose.

            And what they are prepared to pay for.

            • shadrach 1.1.3.1.1.1
              5 December 2018 at 10:23 am

              I’m not sure what they are ‘paying’ for, but given the latest revelations about the wife’s ‘secure’ address being given to Immigration by someone (??), yes there’s plenty more to run on this.

              • Muttonbird …
                5 December 2018 at 10:54 am

                What evidence is there that the address was secure? There are claims she’s “in a safe house” but is that actually true?

                I’d assume immigration would have her address because she filed documents in support of Sroubek’s case.

                • shadrach …
                  5 December 2018 at 11:37 am

                  I’m basing that on a conversation on radio (Newstalk ZB) this morning between Stuart Nash and Mark Mitchell. There seemed to be general agreement that Sroubeck’s wife was in protection, and that no-one outside the police should have known her address. Nash, to his credit, seemed quite alarmed that her address had been disclosed.

                  Edit – just saw this https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12171177. Looks like Immigration were told by Police. Winston Peters accused Sroubeck’s wife of being the ‘informant’ in Parliament, when she is in police protection. Nice.

                  • Muttonbird …
                    5 December 2018 at 11:50 am

                    It would be interesting to know what the ‘initial contact’ was about. Mitchell is saying she approached a former Labour minister but what about? That she wanted Sroubek out of the country after supporting his application?

                    • shadrach …
                      5 December 2018 at 1:40 pm

                      Yep. “”She doesn’t want him to stay and has changed both her phone number and address, because of what she says are threats to her safety.” From the same Herald article.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      5 December 2018 at 2:30 pm

                      Presumably these threats occurred after she went to the National Party?

                    • shadrach …
                      5 December 2018 at 3:38 pm

                      “Presumably these threats occurred after she went to the National Party?”
                      No, before that. Apparently she went to a Labour MP first, who refused to help.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      5 December 2018 at 4:11 pm

                      shadrach, that is total rubbish.

                    • shadrach …
                      5 December 2018 at 4:52 pm

                      “shadrach, that is total rubbish.”
                      Sorry…forgot to write ‘former’.

                      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12171177

                      “When told that the wife had first contacted a former Labour Party Minister for help, but was told to contact the Opposition because the Government wasn’t going to change the decision, Peters said: “So she is the informant, then.””

  2. Anne 2
    4 December 2018 at 1:38 pm

    “At the same time, we need to make sure we have an environment where staff feel able to come forward with any concerns and that those concerns are dealt with appropriately.

    Hahahahaha…. excuse my hollow mirth but neither has been the case in the parliamentary arena nor the Public Service. If a staff member dares to come forward with “concerns” they are almost always hounded out of their job.

    I note Maggie B is lamenting the fact the complainants are anonymous so she can’t respond to their claims. Why are they anonymous? Because they know the moment they identify themselves she will use the power and resources she has at her fingertips… hire the most expensive QCs in town… and commence defamation proceedings against them. Bullies who have the backing of the state behind them always win.

  3. Fireblade 3
    4 December 2018 at 2:08 pm

    Typical National Party

    All talk and bravado, then BANG!

  4. Michael 4
    4 December 2018 at 2:31 pm

    A lot of people love the fact that the Nats are a nasty pack of bullies, especially when they are not the bullied ones. In this case, Barry’s alleged victims are public servants, albeit political hirelings, so everyone knows they are lower than dog shit in the hierarchy. I’m sure many of Barry’s constituents on Auckland’s North Shore are thrilled that she represents their values so closely.

  5. Anne 5
    4 December 2018 at 2:59 pm

    Simon says:

    The new leak didn’t come from National. It’s Labour wot done it. Now where did I hear him say that before?

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/377459/new-leaks-didn-t-come-from-national-mp-bridges

    • Fireblade 5.1
      4 December 2018 at 4:01 pm

      Hahahaha, anonymous text message from a Nat MP, hahahahaha.

      Quick launch an investigation Simon, hahahahaha.

    • Paul Campbell 5.2
      4 December 2018 at 6:44 pm

      I think we should all remember that JLR was never proven to be the previous leaker, nor did he admit to doing so, in fact he denied it …. I don’t think it’s impossible that there’s just one leaker who just hasn’t been caught yet …

    • Muttonbird 5.3
      4 December 2018 at 10:01 pm

      The Nats need to invest in some incontinence trousers. They have the money.

  6. cleangreen 6
    4 December 2018 at 3:03 pm

    Michael yes!!

    There are now so many ‘nasty’ people around here now so they are gravitating to National more and more sadly.

    But the double edged sword may come back to get them back one day as the clock goes around.

    “What goes around comes around”.

  7. Puckish Rogue 7
    4 December 2018 at 3:19 pm

    “It could be from the Collins faction or it could from be the Anyone But Collins faction, who don’t think much of Bumbler Bridges either.”

    you missed out the Everyone Loves Collins faction, it’s a pretty big faction 🙂

    • You_Fool 7.1
      4 December 2018 at 3:31 pm

      Hey now PR, don’t be so down on yourself… some people are just big-boned@

    • peterlepaysan 7.2
      4 December 2018 at 8:51 pm

      To PR
      How many of the ELC faction can you name? I don’t want to embarass you (heh) by asking for names, just the numbers will do. You clearly have very good insider info about Nat internal wranglings given your thoughtful insights to this site.

      Approximate numbers from 0 to whatever would suffice.

      Would be interesting to compare the estimates at (say) 6 monthly intervals.

      I dare you to take up this challenge.

  8. JustMe 8
    4 December 2018 at 7:16 pm

    Some weeks ago Simon Bridges and other National MPs claimed to not know who the young man was who sexually harassed a young woman at an event. The next item on the same news was that National had been in touch with the unknown young man and he had been spoken to.
    That indicates that Bridges etc had known who the young man was but pretended not to know. Talk about bizarre and childish on their part???!!!!!
    Maggie Barry claims to have not known about any bullying whilst there was a National government. Does that mean she turned a deliberate blind eye to the bullying of Running Late for a Plane Gerry Brownlee, Do You Know Who I am Aaron Gilmore, workplace office bully of his staff Paul Foster Bell, sexual deviant ponytail puller John Key, Tau Henare’s bullying actions???!!!!!
    In fact I doubt there is one National MP who has never, ever resorted to bullying because it, bullying, seems to exist in the National Party Requirements for an MP.
    Will she(Barry)next claim that she never introduced the Dalai Lama at Auckland Girls Grammar School in the 90s?
    Out of all this there is the strong nauseous smell of lying going on and the bad smell comes from within the NZ National Party MPs and their supporters. Lets hope the bad smell lingers around the National MPs for NZ voters to realise how selfish, self-serving and especially arrogant the National MPs truly are.
    At least this latest leak puts JLR in the clear and he cannot be used by even Maggie Barry as a scapegoat.
    And yet it now brings up the question of who is the leaker??? Is it the shifty looking botox blonde who looked ill at ease standing behind Bridges in a recent photo opportunity?
    Still who knows but National might just wheel out David Seymour to say that he has never ever seen bullying during a National government.

    • Muttonbird 8.1
      4 December 2018 at 10:14 pm

      Some weeks ago Simon Bridges and other National MPs claimed to not know who the young man was who sexually harassed a young woman at an event. The next item on the same news was that National had been in touch with the unknown young man and he had been spoken to.

      This hasn’t been resolved. Such a small matter really – the behaviour of someone who the party isn’t really able to control but the Nats just had to lie about it.

      That’s what defines that party. A default position of deceit and lies.

  9. DJ Ward 9
    4 December 2018 at 7:25 pm

    Maybe the original leaker wasn’t JLR, after all the report said they didn’t prove that he did it. It does look like he is the leaker. The evidence looks compelling.

    JLR was talking to one Journalist, but someone else was talking to another journalist.

    What if someone was plotting against JLR all along. After all a Journalist was working on things for a year. Waiting to spill the beans. Denigrate him, and shame him.

    Nasty, dirty, revenge, and persecution.

    So what’s the female MP up to these days, just interested.

    • BM 9.1
      4 December 2018 at 7:36 pm

      Dude, you’ve had a bad experience with a woman. get some professional help and try and move on.

      You cannot hang your shit on all females, it’s not fair and it’s not healthy.

      • DJ Ward 9.1.1
        4 December 2018 at 7:54 pm

        How was that me hanging stuff on females. I wasn’t involved in those events. Bitch to them, not me.

        It’s the topic.

        Someone leaking.

        Today’s pointless personal attack telly 1, that I know of.

        • BM 9.1.1.1
          4 December 2018 at 8:00 pm

          People who are interested in politics in NZ are few and far between, I’ve read your comments on Kiwiblog.

          You have had a really bad experience with a female which as rather distorted your view towards all females.

          For your own health, you’ve got to take steps to get that anger and resentment under control, otherwise, it will eat you up and destroy you.

          • DJ Ward 9.1.1.1.1
            4 December 2018 at 8:27 pm

            I don’t have anger and resentment. That’s in your mind not mine. I have sadness and compassion.

            JustMe ….8
            “Sexual deviant ponytail puller John Key,”

            Go annoy that person. Some real personal issues in that one.

            Let’s see if you know what gynocentric means.

  10. Muttonbird 10
    4 December 2018 at 10:16 pm

    Brett. DJ is one of yours. Deal with it.

  11. Sanctuary 11
    5 December 2018 at 7:34 am

    Part of these leaks are of course just deliciously cold Karmic revenge being served to National, a party which in power displayed a fantastical level of bluster and strutting arrogance which, in retrospect, must also have been played out in private with their staffers.

    But also, destabilising leaks combined with Simon Bridges desperately trying to constantly outflank Judith Collin’s on the right means to me it is crystal clear that Bridges is being undermined by what can only be described as the delusional Auckland Tea party faction of the National .

    let’s pray that the assorted deitritus of the Auckland National party – that delightful assortment whhose individual members are made up of various proportions of corrupt loser, swaggering braggadocio, delusional foolishness and desperately untalented ambition – manage to roll Simon Bridges. We will then get to see the Collins/Slater/Hooton school of mad dogs self-destruct in public whilst reducing the National party vote to it’s core of 20%.

    • Doogs 11.1
      5 December 2018 at 8:43 am

      Delightful summary of the reality of National, Sanctuary. You have encapsulated the ethos and the MO of these unappealing people. My only criticism of your summation is that I believe the core support for these arrogant rejects is closer to 40% – unfortunately!

  12. Muttonbird 12
    5 December 2018 at 11:07 am

    This is insane. Another text today/yesterday to RNZ.

    After RNZ ran the story with Mr Bridges’ comments, it received another text from the same anonymous person saying Mr Bridges was foolish for thinking the polling leak did not come from a National MP.

    The texter offered details of what happened in yesterday’s caucus meeting as proof they were an MP.

    Umm. This is the same method and wording the original limo expenses leaker used. It’s not JLR so Simon is back to square one. Will he bring in the auditors again? He has to just have a caucus vote on his leadership, doesn’t he?

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/377531/leaker-claiming-to-be-national-mp-sends-another-text

  13. Michelle 13
    5 December 2018 at 3:41 pm

    lets hope she( maggie whose nicer to her plants ) gets hounded the same way Meka Whaitiri did somehow I doubt it and she has s being doing it for years you would think she should know better.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • The Art of taking no Responsibility
    Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    27 mins ago

  • The shabby “Parliamentary urgency” ploy – shaky foundations and why our democracy needs trust
    Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust.  The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    56 mins ago

  • Jones has made plain he isn’t fond of frogs (not the dim-witted ones, at least) – and now we lea...
    This article was prepared for publication yesterday.  More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written.  We will report on these later today ….    Buzz from the Beehive  There we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 hour ago

  • Infrastructure & home building slumping on Govt funding freeze
    New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 hours ago

  • Brainwashed People Think Everyone Else is Brainwashed
    Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 hours ago

  • Peters’ real foreign policy threat is Helen Clark
    Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 hours ago

  • NZ’s trans lobby is fighting a rearguard action
    Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    14 hours ago

  • Your mandate is imaginary
    This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    19 hours ago

  • 14,000 unemployed under National
    The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    22 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Discontent and gloom dominate NZ’s political mood
    Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    22 hours ago

  • Taking Tea with 42 & 38.
    National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    23 hours ago

  • Beware political propaganda: statistics are pointing to Grant Robertson never protecting “Lives an...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”. As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    23 hours ago

  • Winding back the hands of history’s clock
    Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    24 hours ago

  • Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
     Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    24 hours ago

  • Business confidence sliding into winter of discontent
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the coalition’s awful, not good, very bad poll results
    Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • New HOP readers for future payment options
    Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • 2024 Reading Summary: April (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    2 days ago

  • At a glance – Clearing up misconceptions regarding 'hide the decline'
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Road photos
    Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
    The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • NZDF is still hostile to oversight
    Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Winding Back The Hands Of History’s Clock.
    Holding On To The Present: The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Sweet Moderation? What Christopher Luxon Could Learn From The Germans.
    Stuck In The Middle With You: As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • A clear warning
    The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Poll results and Waitangi Tribunal report go unmentioned on the Beehive website – where racing tru...
    Buzz  from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example.  This shows National down ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Listening To The Traffic.
    It Takes A Train To Cry: Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Comity Be Damned! The State’s Legislative Arm Is Flexing Its Constitutional Muscles.
    Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Ending The Quest.
    Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Will political polarisation intensify to the point where ‘normal’ government becomes impossible,...
    Chris Trotter writes –  New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, April 30
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:30am on Tuesday, May 30:Scoop: NZ 'close to the tipping point' of measles epidemic, health experts warn NZ Herald Benjamin PlummerHealth: 'Absurd and totally unacceptable': Man has to wait a year for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Worst poll result for a new Government in MMP history
    Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Pinning down climate change's role in extreme weather
    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Serving at Seymour's pleasure.
    Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Webworm LA Pop-Up
    Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • “Feel good” school is out
    Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • 6 Months in, surely our Report Card is “Ignored all warnings: recommend dismissal ASAP”?
    Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy. Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    3 days ago

  • Bread, and how it gets buttered
    Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Justice for Gaza?
    The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
    Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Reti
    span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
    Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
    Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
    You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Of the Goodness of Tolkien’s Eru
    April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Pastor Who Abused People, Blames People
    Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • Vic Uni shows how under threat free speech is
    The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Winston remembers Gettysburg.
    Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • 25
    She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8.  The universe was ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Is Antarctica gaining land ice?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Policing protests.
    Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago

  • Open letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith
    Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: FastTrackWatch – The Case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Luxon gets out his butcher’s knife – briefly
    Peter Dunne writes –  The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • More tax for less
    Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Real News vs Fake News.
    We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Another way to roll
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Cutting the Public Service
    It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago

  • Luxon’s demoted ministers might take comfort from the British politician who bounced back after th...
    Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious:  we live in a troubled ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • This is how I roll over
    1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • The Waitangi Tribunal is not “a roving Commission”…
    …it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition   NOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes –  The High Court ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same? Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Three Strikes saw lower reoffending
    David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Luxon’s ruthless show of strength is perfect for our angry era
    Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 'Lacks attention to detail and is creating double-standards.'
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • One Night Only!
    Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • What did Melissa Lee do?
    It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #17 2024
    Open access notables Ice acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment: In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Maori Party (with “disgust”) draws attention to Chhour’s race after the High Court rules on Wa...
    Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say.  “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government saves access to medicines
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.    “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-05-01T23:47:59+00:00