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 ”

  1. Cinny 1

    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/

    • 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

        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

        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

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

          You mean the changes within the margin of error?

        • Cinny 1.1.2.2

          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

            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

            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

              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

                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

                  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

                  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

          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

            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

              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

                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

                  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

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

                  • shadrach

                    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

        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

          ‘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

            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

              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

                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

                  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

                    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

                      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

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

                    • shadrach

                      “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

                      shadrach, that is total rubbish.

                    • shadrach

                      “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

    “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

    Typical National Party

    All talk and bravado, then BANG!

  4. Michael 4

    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

    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

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

      Quick launch an investigation Simon, hahahahaha.

    • Paul Campbell 5.2

      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

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

  6. cleangreen 6

    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

    “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

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

    • peterlepaysan 7.2

      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

    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

      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

    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

      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

        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

          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

            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

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

  11. Sanctuary 11

    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

      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

    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

    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.

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    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 ...
    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 ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

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

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

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

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

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

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